A Tale of Two Movies

While we were at the family beach house last month, Amy made this brilliant movie starring her darling little cousins, Kylie and Kade.


And here is a clip that ended up on the virtual cutting room floor. I wonder why.

Just another embarrasing moment in my mermaid life.

BAM-BAM Bamboo

evil grin ;)

Bloomin' Bananas

This is merciful. Just wait till you see the wicket bamboo.

The Great Wall

What I have been doing lately instead of getting ready for the commencement of handbell season, putting together the slideshow/movie for the Costa Rica trip presentation, designing albums, balancing the checkbook and paying bills, housework, playing on my jetski . . .

Hail to the Mortar Momma of Shady Square!

And, just for fun and because I figured it out, you can view a high quality version of this movie on my website: www.cmcphersonphotography.com/slideshows/greatwall.mov.

Action and Adventure on Double Shoals

It's rained . . . and rained . . . and RAINED . . . .A LOT here lately. The Minister of Fun (that would be me, in case it's been so long we all forgot) made a truly valiant attempt to make a run on the Double Shoals of the New River with friends earlier this week. In spite of all our faith, positive thinking, and bravado, it absolutely poured buckets, even though the sun was shining brightly when we left home. We planned the second attempt today for the float party, but wouldn't you know it? It just poured again this morning. They all bailed at noon, but the wheels were already in motion on my part for the great ride, so David and I decided to thumb our noses at the weather, break out the wetsuits, and go anyway. Well, blessed be, by the time we hit the river, the sun broke out, the skies turned blue, and we had the best ride of our lives in high water on my favorite piece of the New River: Double Shoals. What is usually a Class I - Class II, butt-busting maze through the rock garden was a churning, endless roller-coaster of waves today. Yeeeee-Haaaaaaaa!!!!!!
OK. So the pictures don't do it justice at all. What do you expect from a single-use camera?! I wish it were a video, (and next time it will be, because I just ordered an Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 waterproof camera!) but I hope you get a feel for the action and excitement of taking on the big (even some Class III) water today on a little bit of nylon-covered vinyl. (And the wetsuits weren't even needed after all!)
SHOW ME THE FUN!.

Down on the Farm

Where does the time go????
Back in the early summer, before Costa Rica, Arizona, and the Outer Banks, The Sumners invited us to their farm for our annual bell polishing party. Fortunately, it was one of those rare days this summer that it didn't rain. Unfortunately, it was back when I was succumbing to the ravages of Lyme's Disease, and didn't feel much like shooting or editing. And that's really a shame to miss so many beautiful moments. Here's a few I didn't miss:

Good Morning, Costa Rica

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning,

Oh what a beautiful day!

Oh, how I wish I had taken my real camera with me on that walk . . . .

Sunset at Makanda by the Sea

Today's puzzle brought to you by Amy's iPhone because I LOST, *#%*$#*, my CF card with the pictures from that night on it. Here is Amy's shot of me taking those pictures, though.

This was the evening that we checked into the Makanda by the Sea, and decided right away that we didn't want to go any where else in Costa Rica that would require all day traveling on a public bus, night time temperatures in the 50's , lots of rain and fog, and renting of boots for wading through the mud while hiking. No sirreeee!!!!!! Give me perfect sunsets over the ocean,

the perfect terrace and the infinity pool to view them from,

fresh, cooked to order breakfasts delivered to my door every morning,

Fresh flowers and cute little towel creatures on my bed every evening,


my own private cove for swimming,
Fascinating jungle creatures cavorting in the trees around the perfect terrace,


and delectable dining on the deck of that gorgeous infinity pool.
And just for good measure, let's throw in a massage on my terrace while we watch that sunset.


To me; that's a no-brainer!! But I will put Monte Verde on the agenda again for my return to Costa Rica. We'll just do clouds, rain, and mud before we go to paradise.

Froggie in the Jungle

He's so cute, here's another one of him:

Farmer's Market Beauties

Friday is Farmer's Market Day in my fair town.

Doesn't that just make you want to put on an apron and go a little crazy in the kitchen?

Cloud Cover

The view from our beach house this year was the best ever!

Prickly Pears

In case you haven't figured out by now, I have been away from home for about 6 weeks. Thousands of pictures later, I am nearly paralyzed by the shear volume and intensity of experiences that they represent. It will take me weeks to recount. So, I'm working my way backwards through time. This was shot in Tucson while I was at the National Handbell Seminar..

Twilight Beach

The view from our deck this year. Please, take me back.

Stormy Salt Marsh

Yesterday, we had to hoist the anchor and head home from the beach. This splendid view of an impending storm looming over the marsh was my compensation for the pain of leaving the Outer Banks.