Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Looking Through the Gates of Heaven

Sunsets are so beautiful
that they almost seem
as if we were looking through
the gates of Heaven.

John Lubbock


This was the last sunset of vacation.  The amazing thing about a sunset, is that there are several mini-sunsets within the whole.  Ellie with her wonderful technology can capture each stage of the sun setting, and I end up with several sunsets, each image just as beautiful as the other.  Come with me, step by step, through this last amazing sunset.











If I experienced nothing of this vacation except sunsets, I would have been content.


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Friday, September 14, 2012

Last Summer Boat Ride

For my family and me, there are a lot of vacation traditions at Lake Bonaparte.   One of them is the last boat ride.  This usually occurs the day before we leave, and involves at least an hour on the lake, just cruising along.  Well, cruising really is too fast a word.  It's like a stroll, but in a boat.  Is there a word for that?

The last boat ride includes scenery, people and various architecture around the lake.  Enjoy!




The closest I've ever been to a loon (telephoto lens at 300mm!)

Slightly atilt

We saw this young girl learning how to waterski.  I love the first shot; you can see her mom's hands letting her go.  I think she was just practicing, because in the second shot she simply let go of the rope and went into the water.  She had a great take-off!



You need a boat to get to this boat









What a great last boat ride!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Thursday, September 13, 2012

Carthage and Bluegrass

This sign says it all:


Another Wednesday evening concert in the little village of Carthage.  This particular concert had me tapping my foot, clapping my hands, and bobbing my head for two hours.  It's hard to take pictures when you're doing that.  But I did okay.


Meet the Atkinson family bluegrass band.  And Nate--he's the mandolin player on the left.  He also plays fiddle, really well.  Here he is, below.  Too bad you can't hear how he played; it was awesome.


Below is the patriarch of the family, and the banjo player.  He played great.  In fact, the whole band played great.



Many who came to the steel drum concert the week before returned for this concert.  That gave me some opportunities to take some candid shots of the audience.


The bass player (below) married into the family; she played and sang beautifully.


The ladies sing a cappella

Pink must have been the clothing theme of the night; I spotted several girls wearing that color, and couldn't resist taking their pictures.


Love the below!  Talk about candid!







I saved two little pink-clad girls for last, because they were just so incredibly cute.  I couldn't decide which images to choose, so you get them all.  Enjoy the little-girly-girl show!





Okay, I think I just adore this last shot--their expressions, the twirling legs, the flying hair.  Just cute, cute, cute.  :)




Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Summer Stroll Down the Lane

Stroll--an easy, ambling, walk.  Not for exercise.  :)

Just down the lane, to see what we could see.  Just meander, no destination in mind, no idea how far we would go.  Because it was summer, and for no other reason.




















Well, that was the end of our walk.  We spotted my dad in his Caddy at the dock of the above residence, so we went on down and chatted with our neighbors and friends.  Then, we hopped in the boat for a quick ride around and back to our own dock.






 You never know what you're going to find when you go for a stroll.  :)


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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