Photography

The Day We Almost Caught a Fish

/ Jodi / 2 Comments

Yesterday was such a great day on the lake.

What an enjoyable extra day off Marty and I had going out for a late breakfast and then heading to Moraine State Park for a boat ride/fishing trip.

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Of course we took our trusty First Mate Mikey with us too, who attentively tried to sniff out the fish.

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The sky was blue, the water was calm, and there was just enough of a breeze to make it even more pleasant.

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While Marty baited his hooks….

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and threw in his lines…

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I read about 12.5 pages of a book I’ve been meaning to get to.

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And then……….

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It happened!

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A bite!!!!!!

It was a BIG one!

It had to be about  20-24 inches…  at least!

A Striped Bass.

The biggest one Marty ever (almost) caught.

He pulled the line, grabbed the net, and just as he was pulling it up into the boat………..  SNAP!

The line broke, and Mr. Bass got away…..

I tried to get a picture, but to no avail…….

So I guess our story will just have to remain…

a fish tale.

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And after a gloriously relaxing day with this hunk of a guy – – – who I remembered especially today how much I adore 🙂 – – –  our pizza was delicious for dinner.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

The Next New Action Drama

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JMW Nick Jake

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Clean or Dirty…..

I think these two are ready for the next new action drama!

Or ….

maybe I’m just

Anudder #ProudMudder 🙂

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Dazzling Dahlia

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dahlia

Is there any more beautiful art than that created in nature?

(Thank you Gary for the beautiful bouquet!  Your dahlias are stunning!)

Real Life ANGRY Birds!

/ Jodi / 6 Comments

ab 3So at first I thought these new Blue Jays that started visiting the feeders on our back deck were so beautiful.

ab 1Look how dainty this one looks tip toeing across the deck railing.

ab 0and stopping to pose, but then…………….

SHEEEESH!

They sure get mad when the other nice birds (that all got along before) come to the feeders!  And this new GANG in town gets angry and mean with each other too!!

ab 6They holler at each other

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The pick and peck at each other!

ab 2I actually had to holler at them several times and tell them to share nice!

(even Mikey was yelling at them!)

I shooshed and shooed them a few times, and they seem to have left this side of the forest for now…..

And the sweet ones are happy — – the grosbeaks and wrens and cardinals and goldfinches and woodpeckers and hummingbirds all take their turns nicely.

Anybody else experience this?  Have suggestions for how to get everyone to get along?

I guess there’s always at least one in every group – eh?

Even in the bird world.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

 

 

Morning Walk with Mikey

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Mikey and I often enjoy early morning walks.  One day this past week,  we took the camera along with us, so we could share just a small taste of the beauty we enjoy along the way.  Blackberries are done here in Western Pennsylvania, and now the wild black raspberries are prolific along the wood’s edge of our lane.

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Mikey loves berry pickin’ – –  and he only eats the ripe ones.

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I thought these were stunning with their purple bloom on top.  It is so amazing to see the colors change weekly on our walk as different things blossom and bloom.

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I never grow tired of the simplicy of daisies….
He loves me…. He loves me not….

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These Brown Eyed Susans still had the morning dew on them and just popped out at us in a field of green.

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And I loved the way the sun hit the dew on little spider and cob webs showing their fragile and delicate intricateness.

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The sky was so blue above us with a few puffy white clouds to just make it look that much bluer.

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And wild morning glories were open and welcoming the sunshine.

MWWM Morning Glory

A Daddy Long Leg and an Ant were sharing time on this beautiful orange wild flower.  Do you see how Loooooong that one leg is?

MWWM Orange Wildflower

There is so much beauty to enjoy in the simplest of moments.  And Mikey is such a good partner, who waits patiently while I stop to photograph, soaking up the sun, and possibly wishing for some shades!

MWWM Sun in Eyes Waiting

Happy Weekend!  Hope you take some time to enjoy the simple pleasures along your walk, wherever it takes you to and from…

at Life In Between…

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

How does your Garden Grow? With Prickly Cukes and Juicy ‘Maters and Spicy Peppers all in a Row

/ Jodi / 4 Comments

Ok – so I’m not quite the “Mary Mary Quite Contrary” Nursery Rhyme Poet that Mother Goose was…

But OH How I LOVE to watch my Garden Grow!

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I only started vegetable gardening – again – a few years ago – and my garden is just a tiny, manageable patch…

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with enough tomatoes and cucumbers for fresh salads by mid to end of summer (and OH I just can’t wait for these to turn RED! – and my Orange Pineapple Heirloom tomatoes to emerge!)

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and some spicyJalapeno peppers to zip up fresh salsa!

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and some banana (Hungarian Wax?) peppers to stuff with spicy sausage!

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and I love how fresh and clean everything looks in the morning after a night of nourishing rain.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

 

 

Girlfriend Camp 2014 #GFC2014

/ Jodi / 9 Comments

Oh what a glorious TWENTY FIVE hours I got to spend from 11 am Saturday to 12pm Sunday with some of the best of besties at our Annual Girlfriend Camp 2014!

What started like this…

Morning Toast GFC2014

Toasting the beginning of Camp with Prosecco, Limoncello and Fresh Raspberry Cocktails

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What happens @ #GFC2014 stays at #GFC2014

…ended like this…

but I skipped a few things in between….

So first – Meet the campers:  Camp Host – Yours truly… “Tipsy”

GFC2014 Jodi Tipsy

Our Amazing Activities Director “Chitfaced”

GFC2014 Pam Chitfaced

the Baby – or should I say “Babe” of the group – “Bombed”

GFC2014 Renee Bombed

Social Media Director “Buzzed”

GFC2014 Jill Buzzed

The tart “Pickled”

GFC2014 Joan Pickled

The Lovely “Loaded”

GFC2014 Aline Loaded

And the Terrific “Toasted”

GFC2014 Janet toasted

Every camp has to have craft time – right?

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GFC2014 Aline Painting

GFC2014 Janet painting

GFC2014 Pam Painting

GFC2014 Jill painting

GFC2014 Joan Painting

And goody bags and gifts from friends….

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Silly glasses and blowing bubbles…

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And Camp Activities…

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Minute to Win It Buzzed Whippin’ it good

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Minute to Win it Top Technique!

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Minute to Win It Loaded with …. errr…. Vaseline on her nose

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Minute it to Win It Cotton Ball Challenge

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Minute to Win It TEAMS!

And #Selfies…

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And Smart A$$es…

FU GFC2014

And “Take our Picture!” s…

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to refreshments….

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and group photos….

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GFC2014 group

and when in Mars, PA – you must visit the infamous spaceship in town square ….. go there in camp jammies….. in the rain….. and find random (somewhat sober) people to take your picture…

GFC2014 Spaceship

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And the best Chef Merv made us an amazing Morning After Breakfast – and this is the only photo we will share of the morning after…

GFC2014 morning after

Because some things that happen at Girlfriend Camp, need to just stay at Girlfriend Camp!

Thanks for a great time “girls!” Love ya!!! Couldn’t have had more fun – Until GFC2015….

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

 

The Road to a Friend’s House is Never Long…

/ Jodi / 1 Comment
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looking down our driveway to the road

 

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the fence across the street from our driveway

 

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the path of the power line along the country road

 

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along the country road to our house

 

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private lanes on country roads

 

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country road … take me home…. to the place… I belong

 

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Mikey walking to his buddy Halo’s house on the path through the woods

Rompin’ around @ Cranberry Township Community Days & Fireworks

/ Jodi / 1 Comment

Cranberry Township Community Days is a big deal in our local community, and it was a fun opportunity for me to romp around a take a few pictures this past weekend.  Marty, on the other hand, is a wee-bit tired as he is tasked with assuring everything goes right with electricity for the hundreds of food and vendor booths and the variety of bands playing at the outdoor stage, as well as assuring that traffic operations cooperate with the influx of activity in the area.  It was the first year he was able to remotely coordinate the traffic lights to go into “flash mode” after the fireworks show when over 10,000 people are trying to get out of the park at the same time.  It was a great day, and here are some pics to give you a flavor of our local culture.

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loving all the locally knitted artwork on trees and this quaint bridge that crosses a small creek flowing through a part of the park

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adorable face painting and plenty of fun with bubble-blowing and catching

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Art in the Park comes in many forms

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funnel cake wantin’

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a spot for everyone

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We had the BEST Pork BBQ Sandwiches, Homemade Chips, and Coleslaw from the Cranberry Rotary Club’s booth. I so should have taken a picture, but was too busy enjoying it and forgot!

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bubbles and tattoos and popcorn and delightful precious young faces everywhere

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I’m not sure this darling little guy likes the look of that hot dog on a stick

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Momma joy and love

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this little sweetheart had the best seat in the house for the #BonJourney concert

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just wanted to pinch those sweet cheeks on this little guy enjoying his soft pretzel in the grass

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this young guy is just chillaxin’ amongst the activity all around him enjoying the concert in the park

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riding a mini ferris wheel at dusk

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Oh these sweet little ones enjoying the thrill of a three foot dip in the snake roller coaster. I love how big brother in the last seat is watching over little brother who looks completely thrilled (and a teensy bit nervous), the bravery of the one with her hands in the air, the “I’m not so sure about this” look on her seat mate, and the perfectly poised young lady with her stylish glasses smiling at her family in the front. The joys of childhood captured in a split second.

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Carpet Slide Racing

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I ADORED this knit covered bridge

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My first go at trying to capture fireworks. We were RIGHT UNDER THEM. It was a great show!

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laying on a blanket on the ground as the fireworks lit up the entire sky above us

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Another great show from #Zambelli Fireworks!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Hummin’ the Hummingbird Tune!

/ Jodi / 8 Comments

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And doin’ the Hummingbird Dance!

WOOHOO  – OOO – OOO – OOO!

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Captured it!  The elusive (when my camera is handy!), delicate, delightful, dainty hummingbird.

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Score!   Goal!    Touchdown!    Homerun!

Ok – maybe a bit of exaggeration, but super excited if you haven’t noticed.  🙂

And another checkmark to check off on the photography list.

Such a beautiful, tiny creature that brings me such joy!

Hope you enjoy it too.

Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi