Our Photo Journey

Oh I really gotta check this old shack out. It’s not like trespassing or anything Mom. The fence was already down.

C’mon! Where’s your sense of adventure? You aren’t scared are ya?

Okay, so maybe it is a bit darker in here than I was expecting it to be.

Hey! Let’s check out the deer stand. Ya think there is anything in it?

What am I gonna do if the sheriff shows up? Is that what you asked me? Well first I am gonna bat my long eyelashes at him . . .

Then I am gonna show him my killer smile! Ya think that will work?

We’re not hunting dang it!

Okay, we may be kind of, sort of trespassing, but not hunting.

Ya know, I may be a blond, but I think someone has been hunting!

Can I finish my Caramel Macchiato now Mom? Oh wait. Too late!

Can I just finish this chapter real quick? It will only take a sec.

Okay, fine . .  I will explore for a bit.

Mom thinks I am looking for snakes, but I am really I wondering if HE is gonna call . . . (The cell phone is in my pocket just in case)

Hold on a second, the world must pause because HE is calling!

Oh yeah! I knew he would call! Okay forget the river Mom. Can we pick him up and and head to the lake? Can we Mom? Can we?

We could just sit here and talk like we are mature individuals . . .

Oh we can say to heck with it and run in the water!

Dang it JJ! You got my hair wet on purpose! Awwww Haley girl . . .

The day started out innocent enough as we headed out to one of my favorite places in the country, but then we realized we had wandered further than we had ever been, and we were pretty sure we had taken a few extra turns.

Turn left Mom. Let’s see what’s up this way!

When we came across this old train track, we had a pretty good idea that we didn’t have a clue where we were, but we were definitely in the mood to do some exploring.

Hey Mom? Where is Calhoun county?

I don’t know Haley. I have never heard of it. Why?

Well Mom, that county road sign over there says Calhoun county.

And Mom? I can’t remember the last time we saw a car.

Ruh roh . . .

I gotta get a shot of this old railroad bridge.

I can already see this old bridge in black and white, so wait a sec.

Umm . . .

Haley? Did you say Calhoun county?

Yeah Mom? I told ya we should have turned right!

Ya say what Haley??

You know dang well if ya don’t smile for the camera it’s gonna be black and white, right?

Hey now Mom! I am the one that found the train tracks!

Yeah, turn left. I remember Haley.

As soon as I mention we need a new pic for Mikey, you suddenly find a huge smile huh? I’ll remember that girl!

So Haley?

Yeah Mom?

Did we bring the cell phone?

Nope Mom. Ya said we wouldn’t need it.

Haley? Ya happen to have an idea which direction home might be?

Go straight Mom. The road has to end up somewhere eventually.

Not in Alabama though, right Haley?

Haley?

Did we happen to pass a gas station?

I love wandering up a trail and coming across a scene like this.

Well, at least I do until Miss Haley starts hissing at me about stuff like private property, trespassing, and the local county sheriff.

Spring is definitely in the air when the daffodils start blooming!

Ya wanna be friends?

Oh yeah, I like the green stuff. Gimme some more!

C’mon! Let me out of here. Ya know ya wanna!

Hey! You aint gonna leave me here. Right?

Just a little bit of winter still hanging around.

My camera and I have a thing about fence posts and barbed wire.

Hey! Do you know where they took my mama?

Now you knew dang well I couldn’t make it through an afternoon in the country without taking at least one picture of a calf. Aint he adorable? Yeah, I know he is just itching to try out those new lil horns of his, but he is gonna have to wait a bit longer yet. 🙂

Thanks for sharing our afternoon in the country with us!

The best laid plans don’t always end up the way we expect, but that doesn’t mean things can’t still be good. Haley and I set out to find the signs of Spring that have been popping up all over here.

Since it was a gorgeous sunny day, we knew we were headed straight for the country. In fact we figured it was a perfect day to show you pictures of Taylor, Mississippi.

HOWEVER . . .

A few wrong turns, (okay, maybe more than a few) and we discovered the longest possible round about way to end up in Oxford, Mississippi.

It took Haley all of about five seconds to spot the infamous Square Books store, and she was off and running.

Before I knew it, she was already inside, and I had missed the shot of her walking in. Talk about ignoring the camera!

Eventually I found her holed up in a little corner upstairs, peaking through the books. She didn’t have much interest in looking up at me by this point. She was lost in a world of books.

But then I spotted Neilson’s and was instantly drooling all over my camera. My credit card was more than pleased that they were closed.

Haley relaxing on the steps before we move on with our adventure, while at the same time trying to convince her mama of the many reasons she needs a signed copy of the new John Grisham book (The Appeal) in hardcover.

There is something so regal about the Chancery Building in Oxford.

I even convinced Haley to run up to the balcony steps for a quick picture. I love that smirk! 🙂

You know there was no way I could leave that shot alone right? I am addicted to cropping and editing snapshots. It’s an affliction of mine!

That same addiction made we wanna see this picture in purple.

Okay, I had to try the shot full length too. Lord, I need help!

Thanks for sharing our day with us!

Thirty minutes away from your work won’t make much difference to your business, but it can make a huge difference to a child. One of the best parts of working for yourself is being able to stop what you are doing when your child wants to share something with you.

Haley was so excited to find a Praying Mantis lounging on my old rocking chair out front that she wanted me to show it to all of you!

I spent 30 minutes trying to get this critter to let me take a picture. Initially, the darn thing would not have anything to do with me.

He was bound and determined to head anywhere, as long as it was as far away from me as possible. (I don’t think he liked me much!)

Then all of the sudden he sat down and looked right at me.

I had a very difficult time trying to focus in on something so small, so I kept trying to get closer and closer to him. Now, if I would have known ahead of time that these guys can capture and eat a humming bird, I don’t think I would have had my face quite so close to his.

We kind of enjoyed out visit from a Praying Mantis. Even more though, we enjoyed this special mother daughter time.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, one interesting fact about the adult female Praying Mantis is that they often kill and eat the male after mating. 😉