Christie Leigh McCardle-Toole

Sadly, last weekend a childhood friend of mine, Christie Leigh McCardle-Toole, passed away suddenly. She and I were friends in junior high and high school, but had lost touch after school. Thanks to Facebook, Christie and I reconnected about a year ago and talked or commented on one another's posts often.

Christie was truly a wonderful person. She always had a kind word and a positive attitude. Soo many people have commented on how happy she always seemed to be and how she had a contagious and constant smile. I remember that smile. I remember her kind words to me just days before she passed and I will always be thankful for this last year which allowed us to share small pieces of our lives with each other.

Since I was not able to attend the funeral services, which were held yesterday in Columbus, Georgia, Jack and I planted a beautiful tree in memory of Christie in our backyard. This is our way of showing respect and continuing life in her name.

The following was taken from Christie's funeral program...

The Final Flight Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free I'm following the path God laid for me. I took his hand when I heard his call, I turned my back and left it all. I could not stay another day, To laugh, to love, to work, to play. Tasks left undone must stay that way, I've found the peace at the end of the day. If my parting has left a void, Then fill it with remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, Ah, yes, these things too I will miss. Be not burdened with times of sorrow, I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow. My life's been full, I savored much, Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch. Perhaps my times seemed all too brief, Don't lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your heart and share with me, God wanted me now, He set me free.

May you rest in the everlasting peace and love of our Lord, my sweet friend.

Dad is great! Give us the chocolate cake!

Today is my Dad's Birthday! It's the first time he's been at home for his Birthday in many, many years, which makes today even more special!

When I think about my Dad I think about his strong, silent personality and hard work ethic. I guess that's because those are the qualities I witnessed as I grew up and the qualities I most admire about him.

But, Dad also has a funny, goofy, playful side. He always has. He loves to cut up and can be quite a character, as you can see in the picture above where he poses with a new "Dawgs" coffee mug and models a new hat.

Every time I see or hear something of Bill Cosby's, I think of my Dad and laugh. When my sisters Melanie, Gennie and I where growing up, my dad was famous for passing gas and blaming it on imaginary animals. Usually an elephant.

As a child, I had never seen (or, if I had I was too young to remember it) the "Bill Cosby:Himself" stand-up act. However, about four years ago I had the opportunity to watch it. It is Hilarious! The funniest thing ever!

When Bill Cosby said ~"My father would pass gas and then blame it on imaginary animals" I laughed hard and thought, "WOW, my Dad did that too!!" um, well as Jack pointed out, he probably got it from this hilarious skit performed back when I was just 6 years old.

I think one of the reason's I found the stand-up routine so funny was because it was so spot on! So indicative of the lives of parents and their reactions to things.

In celebration of my Dad's Birthday, here are a few funny Bill Cosby quotes that remind me of my Dad and the role he played in our family...

*I am not the boss of my house. I don't know how I lost it. I don't know where I lost it. I don't think I ever had it. But I've seen the boss's job... and I don't want it. ~HA! I know this is exactly how my Dad viewed it! *Every father says the same thing: "Where's your mother? ~I heard this and, "Go ask your mother" a lot from my Dad! *I asked my father for a dollar for the school picnic, he told me how he killed a grizzly bear with his loose-leaf notebook. ~Oh we heard all about it, except his story involved bare feet, a hill, miles of railroad tracks and peanuts! And here are a few things I know my Dad witnessed and, what he must've thought... *My wife grabs a yard stick... holds it like a samurai warrior... and announces that the beatings will now begin... by saying, "I HAVE HAD... ENOUGH OF... THIS!". Now these three brain-damaged people have the nerve to looked surprised! ~HA!! This one cracks me up every time! Just for the record though, it wasn't often and it was with a belt and not a yard stick! haha! I know having three girls, for my Dad, wasn't easy. He was the only male in an otherwise all female house. That couldn't have been easy! But, he did it and he is still mostly sane today! (again refer to the photo above) :) Dad we love you and wish you a very, very happy Birthday today and a loooooong nap in your favorite chair!!!!

Happy Birthday Jack!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK! I'm so proud to be your wife and so very thankful that you chose me to spend the rest of your Birthdays with!

Thank you for all that you are and all that you do for Madi and I. You are a special guy and deserve all special things on your special day!!

~I love your smile, your silly faces, your shy faces and your serious faces ~with or without glasses!!

~ People always say they "fall in love."

Well, I saw you and saw how crazy adorable you were,

and talked to you and realized how ridiculously smart you were,

and kissed you and discovered how wonderfully addicting you were...

and I didn't fall into anything!

I JUMPED into love with both feet,

Screaming "YahooOoOOoOoo!!!" all the way.

~taken from an American Greetings card (which is perfectly true and says is so much better then I ever could).

~

Madi and I love you so very much and wish you the happiest Birthday yet!

Happy Birthday Jack!

Easter with our peeps.

We started the Easter weekend off by dying our eggs. Madison's best friend, Carly,

spent the night with us and when they got up

on Saturdaymorning, I put them to work. They didn't consider it work,

they were

thrilled to do it. They are two very creative young ladies.

~Madi and Carly

~Carly dippin' her egg.

~our organized mess ~We think the girls did a great job on the eggs! While the chicks and hen were in the house working on the eggs, Jack (the Rooster) was outside strutting his stuff in the yard and working on the new beds for our garden. He did a really good job building and laying out these beds. Thanks to Jack's hard work, we'll enjoy a much bigger garden with lots of spacious rows this year. The rocks that litter the back yard in these pictures are not normally just lying around. Along with putting in the garden beds, Jack created four new raised flower beds around the back yard using the rocks as a border. I took these pictures just after he layed the beds out, before leveling them and before he created the flower beds. So, other than the grass still being very brown it looks much better now! Jack worked really hard and I'm super proud of him! He was able to accomplish all of this on a very busy Easter weekend. That tell's ya, he was focused. Focused...like a duck on a June-bug! Like Bella on a cat turd! Focused! Good job honey! I'll take pictures of the completed garden and flower beds and post them, but maybe not until the grass is actually green again! ~ We had our Easter dinner a day early, on Saturday evening at Jack's Mom and Dads. I didn't get any pictures (which I could just kick myself for!) but, we had a great time nonetheless with two of our favorite peeps! On Sunday (Easter) morning, Jack and I gave Madi an Easter basket with a few goodies.

~Madi's Easter love basket.

~This bunny was Bella's Easter gift. The Easter Bunny loves Bella too! ~Madi had just gotten up, so her face is still puffy with sleep...cute. ~Goofy and his Easter card. He was ready to get the Easter gift giving over with so that he could get back in the yard before church.

~Happy Easter Madi!

~Bella getting her gift. Daddy had to hold her so that I could get a picture of her getting her toy.

~Bella wearing (or being forced to wear) her bunny ears. She hated it and they didn't stay on long. She's so cute - looking over at me as if to ask me not to take a picture of her in the silly bunny ears! After church and short trip home to change, we went to my parents house for "Easter Dinner part Two (The Feasting Continues until someone loses a button)". The food was soo delicious and there was soo much of it that we continued to enjoy the leftovers from both our Easter meals for days! Since the kids (Jason and Madison) are much to old for an Easter egg hunt, my sister, Virginia, came up with a really great idea for the kids..... A Pinata!! Jason and Madi took turns "trying" to give this pinata guy a beat down. There were some hilarious moments where they totally missed the pinata and were beating on the tree, thinking it was the pinata! During which my mom and dad would yell - THAT'S IT, YOU GOT IT. Poor tree! ~Jason spinning Madi. Madi's blindfold - a lavender scented, soothing spa-mask belonging to her Aunt Gennie. How relaxing...now give me that stick! I want some candy! I don't care who I have to hurt to get it! ~Other way Madi! Other way! ~And this is right about the point where we had to take a break to rush a hapless squirrel to the emergency vet. Sorry about that, little guy! ~Mom (a little fuzzy in this picture) and Gennie laughing and teasing the kids.

~ and my dad...well, that answers the question as to why my mouth is always hanging open in pictures.....;o) ~ Madi got in a few good hits on the actual pinata. ~Jason's tie-dyed bandanna didn't work very well, so he also wore the spa mask as a blindfold. Nice! ~Madi giving Jason a good spin.

~Jason finally found the target and went to town beating it.

~you can see, the bottom of the pinata is just opening... ...and the candy pours out! YAY Jason! ~that's one proud guy!

~the pinata was full of candy and MONEY that Aunt Gennie stuffed into it. The money was snatched up quick! So quick that I didn't get a chance to take a picture of it.

~Jason and Madi picking up the goods.

~Mom watching the kids pick up candy while Leo gives her a hug. Poor Leo had been extremely sick the whole weekend so, he wasn't feeling like doing much other then laying in moms arms. Poor guy, we were really worried about him, but thankfully, he is much better now.

We all hung out on Mom and Dad's gazebo and I tried to get a picture of some hummingbirds. Those jokers are just too quick and so, I was only able to get a few. I got one of a hummingbird setting in a tree, which I forgot to attach to this post (it's too complicated to attach it now, so it will have to wait) and this one...

~you can barely see it, but it's there, drinking from the feeder. It's on the left side of the feeder almost covered by the bush.

~Dad and Jack chewin' the fat.

While I was patiently waiting for the hummingbirds, a small group of Cedar Waxwing birds came flying in to eat the berries on one of the trees. It was amazing sight to me! I had never seen one of these beautiful birds before and was thrilled at the opportunity to capture pictures of them!

Mom made a delicious coconut cake for dessert which we enjoyed with coffee and conversation.

We had a great Easter weekend with our peeps! It really made us happy to spend it with Mom and Dad Johnston, Mom and Dad Lewis, Gennie and Jason and Carly! You guys make all of our holidays extra special and memoriable! Thank you. ~ I wanted to share that on the following Monday, I came home from picking Madi up from school and saw three Cedar Waxwing birds in our Wax Myrtle tree! Wow! It was pretty amazing that we saw them just the day before at my Mom's. Even more amazing that we don't have any berries to offer on our trees and have never noticed these birds in our yard before so, they obviously liked having their pictures taken so much that they followed us home. What camera hogs!

We hope you enjoyed your Easter weekend!

To boldly shoot where no photographer has been shot before

One day a few weeks ago, Madison and I took a drive down some old dirt roads that I had wanted to explore for some time. The weather was perfect and since Madi and I were out of school for spring break, it was the perfect day for a drive. I've always loved to drive/ride down old dirt roads. I think this is mainly because I love old stuff; old churches, land, houses, barns, cemeteries, farm equipment, bridges, and so on. Dirt roads always seems to lead to at least one of these treasures. Madison was kind enough not to complain when I told her what I wanted to do for the day. She knows that taking a drive usually means that Mommy is going to be stopping to take pictures. A lot! But thankfully, for now, she likes to go places with me and is always up for an adventure. I try to make it fun for her and try to engage her as much as possible in what I’m doing. Sometimes I see a spark of interest, but mostly I see a twelve year-old who gets bored and wants to DO something. She hasn’t learned to be patient, which is pretty much a requirement when you’re taking pictures. But, she’s a kid and wants to do kid things, which I totally get.

Bella also came along for the ride. No complaints from her either! She loves car rides and trips down dirt roads, just like her Momma. She’s a great car rider and is very well behaved. She usually just sticks her head out of the window sniffing the air and looking curiously at the people and animals as we pass; her beautiful amber eyes always watchful and inquisitive. She usually brings a smile or a laugh to the people we pass, which in turn, makes me smile or laugh. On this particular dirt road trip, we found lots of interesting things to take pictures of. I will confess that I am sometimes afraid to stop and snap pictures of people’s homes/property because I’m fearful they might come out with a shotgun pointed at me. I like to think that I’m pretty brave, but I’m not totally fearless. I’m definitely fearful of a shotgun and whoever happens to be holding it. I think that’s pretty normal. So sometimes I don’t get the picture(s) I want because of that fear. Sometimes I boldly get out and take pictures (boldly only if it is completely deserted), sometimes I sit in my car and try to be inconspicuous and sometimes, no matter how much I want that picture, I keep driving.

These pictures were taken from within the car. There was a possibility that there was a person in the house or on this property…a person and a shotgun.

~If you look close enough at this picture, you will see a little bird sitting on the steering wheel of the tractor.... ~Here's the same picture cropped to get a closer look at it. Wow, right?!? Madi and I never even saw the bird. In fact, I didn't notice the bird until just before I loaded the picture unto this post! Jack thinks it's an Eastern Bluebird and from the pictures I've looked up, that seems right. It's beautiful and I wish I would've seen it when I was out there taking pictures so that I could've gotten a close-up picture of it.

~I love birdhouses. I thought the color of this one was gorgeous. I played with this shot in order to really make the birdhouse pop out.

I was able to get out of the car for these...

~I'll also admit that I don't know much about farm animals, so I thought this might've been a buffalo. Go ahead, I know you want to laugh... ~ This longhorn was a little apprehensive about me, but went back to grazing after a brief stare down. ~At first, this calf was a little shy. Then his curiosity got the better of him and he came in for a closer look at me and the weird thing in my hand. ~this longhorn was taking advantage of the beautiful day, perfect for lazing around. ~I just thought this was an awesome site. I didn't see a house close by, just acres and acres of farm land. The flag was positioned on the tallest point of the land, obviously so that people could see it. Pretty cool.

After driving down just a few different dirt roads, we stopped at a piece of property that was for sale close to our favorite hiking spot, Dana Peak.

~This old water well is what drew my attention to the property and what made me stop for a closer look.

I pulled into the drive thinking I would just park and get a closer look at the well, but as I pulled around the drive, behind the well, I noticed that the property was full of abandoned stuff. There was no house, just a foundation where a house had once been. Apparently, the house had burned down.

The property was pretty big with lots of neat abandoned things to check out. Madi was just as excited as I was to find it! And since it was for sale I figured I could explore it as a "potential buyer" and not as a trespasser! ~ old mailbox and crape myrtle tree.

~close up on the old water well. It looked as if it actually caught on fire too. The wood was charred and the plastic pulley was melted. It was odd to me because the house and the well were pretty far away from one another.

~I can imagine how these old, broken-down and abandoned bird feeders might've looked when they where new, but I'm glad I found them this way. I love their old wood, chipped paint, lose nails and rusty metal.

~I found these little purple flowers here and there on the property. It's probably a weed, but it's pretty to me. ~an abandoned barbecue grill.

~a slide on a makeshift hill

~the abandoned swing set ~ an abandoned dog (I think we'll keep her).

She's patiently waiting to move on to the next exciting thing this place has to offer.

~ I took a picture of this knowing that at one point it served as a flower bed, but didn't realize what it was made from. Jack pointed out that the container/holder is an old tire! Not something I would have laying in my yard, but I have to admit that's pretty thrifty!

Here's the FUN part. A little way down from the house Madi and I found an old rope swing, hanging from a large oak tree....

~Madi walks over to it and taps the rope...

~she checks out the rope to see if there's anything on it, like a bug or bird poop,while Bella stands guard...

~She looks up at the tree to see if the rope is really attached.

~I asked her to pose with the rope. She did. Cute. I think this picture is adorable.

But, she wouldn't swing on it for fear that it would fall. I was dying to try it out and with no hesitation jumped right on! and boy was it fun!!

Once Madi saw me do it, she was ready. It took her a few try's before she got up on the rope, but once she she did, she had a blast and was all smiles and laughter. It was really cute to watch.

We spent hours exploring this place and swinging on the rope. We had a blast! Now, if I could just get Jack out there for a few pictures of him on the rope swing. Something tells me that will never happen. But, if it does, something also tells me he'll be wearing nothing but a loin cloth and a knife in his teeth. Scandalous! :)