Sunday, September 30, 2007

Last weekend of September...

My mom is back home from North Carolina. Although she lives in Pensacola (about 1hr 20 minutes away...) it is much closer than the 9 hour drive to N.C.


Mom decided to drive over Saturday and spend the weekend with us. I had to work, Hubby had to work, but we were all going to meet at home around 5:30.


I get a call from mom about 4:30 - she *thought* she had a flat (heard a pop and then the car started shaking violently...) but saw no evidence of a flat tire... hmmm... what to do? Well, she inspected the tires a little closer and saw that the front driver's side tire was shredded. (Good thing she didn't lose control of the car!!!)


Told mom to wait (what else was she going to do, right?) On the way to meet Hubby at his work - pack up and get to where mom was ASAP. Mom called while I was en route and said a nice fella stopped to help her. He was glad to have a reason to stop because his bum had gone to sleep! =)


I don't know this gentleman's name, but I am thankful for him stopping. Mom said that he wouldn't take any money. He was driving from Dallas, stopping for the night in Tallahassee, then going to drive the rest of the way to Miami. His mother in law was in very poor condition last week - told them to get there ASAP. Made the trip - MIL got a bit better, so they went back home to Dallas. A couple of days later - they called to say MIL had passed away. So the trip had to be made again.


Thank you kind sir, for helping my mom.


That was about all the excitement we could handle for a Saturday night! So today, we went to Walmart to get a new tire, went to the bookstore to pick up Gregory Macguire's new book (which turns out is a book for middle school aged children - jenn - maybe gabi would like it! It is called "What the Dickens" and it is a funky story about the tooth fairy. His books are amazing.)


We also had lunch at a local chinese restaurant. (Can't wait until P.F. Changs opens!!! Anyone ever eat at one? The rumor is that once you eat at P.F. Changs - you will never want to eat at another chinese joint again...)


After some serious shopping at Walmart we stopped to get some ice cream at Marble Slab... Hubby's fave - black cherry ice cream, dark chocolate ice cream, graham cracker and strawberry mix-ins. My fave - chocolate dipped rolled in nuts waffle cone - dark chocolate ice cream with a snickers mixed in. Mom's fave - white chocolate dipped rolled in sprinkles waffle cone - strawberry ice cream and chocolate ice cream. Not thrilled with the snotty girl behind the counter swimming in attitude, but we overlooked that and enjoyed ourselves.


We also picked up the Halloween version of Yahtzee at the bookstore! Just like regular yahtzee, but the die have Halloween pictures! A haunted house, a spider, a headstone, a witches hat, a pumpkin, and a bat! Mom kicked my butt! As usual.


After mom left, Hubby and I were out in the yard admiring our flora. He just got a 'forest pansy' redbud tree, a 'brown turkey' fig tree (stinking birds already ate all the figs!!!!!!) a strawberry bush (not the kind that produces strawberries, but the blooms look like strawberries...) and a couple of butterfly bushes (one is 'bi-color' -lavender and orange, and the other is called 'midnight magic' - blackish purple.) The monarchs have begun their migration - we are on their way to Mexico. Hopefully I can get some great shots before too long.


I was, however, able to get a few shots of this cucumber beetle. Not sure if he is harmful for my roses or not, but isn't he cute???

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

New Look! New Cards! Get yours today!







My design style has progessed a bit over the past year and while I love love love the look of my old business card and logo - I felt it needed to be updated.


It is time to order more business cards, so no time like the present!


[I secretly hated my old post cards (which is why I have an entire unused box sitting around here somewhere...) so I wanted to update them to go with my business cards.]


So tell me what you think. And to make it more real - leave me a comment on any of my blog posts, then send me an email with your mailing address (amy@sunandsandphotography.com) - I will snail mail you a business card and a post card!


Love all you can.
and then some!!!

Sunday, September 23, 2007

The Storm After the Storm Before the Storm




This hurricane season has been nice and mild - but we aren't out of the woods yet! Hurricane Opal devestated our area in 1995 - in October!


We had a tiny storm this past week and we got some much needed rain. Rain is not only great for the environment, but fantastic for our economy. It's a little silly the frenzy that happens at retail stores when it starts to rain.


Driving home from my day job - I was in awe of the gorgeous clouds on the Gulf of Mexico - I just had to stop and shoot!


Wide open spaces... you can see 2 systems coming together.


Behold the beauty she gives us.
Peace, my friends!

Monday, September 17, 2007

Pappa's Birthday!









Sunday was Pappa's Birthday! It was a good day! I helped Oma make "rouladen" a german dish that is sooooo out of this world! Of course, I didn't document that... I should have - but Hey! It's a top secret recipe... and man, I tell you I was craving another helping around midnight... :)

Anytime we are at Pappa and Oma's house... I get to take pictures of the nephews!!! (They live 2 houses down!)

Aren't they just the cutest?

Oh, and there is always cool stuff in their yard, too.

Happy Birthday, Pop! Love you!








Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Great Crocs!


No, not really. I don't like "crocs."

I was never interested in owning a pair. Swore I would never buy a pair.

They are not attractive, and while everyone raves about their comfort, they are not very nice to wear to the office.

Well Shawn and James decided to buy me a pair. I am not singing in the streets about crocs, but they are comfy and they finally made something that looks nice enough to wear to the office.

Visit http://www.crocs.com/ and see what you find!
Love!

Sunday, September 9, 2007

My Best Friend













































My Best Friend...
I love her! And I love her family! I had a blast this weekend!
Shawn came to town with her Hubby James, her son Connor and "baby on board" Zoe.
Connor is the cutest 6 year old there ever was! So of course I had to take a zillion pictures! Just wait until Zoe gets here... NO ONE is safe!

"YELLOW!"

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

A day of Goodness


Hubby and I enjoyed our day together! We had a great lunch at Firehouse subs... a great adventure at the Gulfarium and a great dessert at Marble slab!!! HMMMMM!

Enjoy the shots we got today!

Love!

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Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

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Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting



Saturday, September 1, 2007

Untold Stories of the ER


My mom is moving out of state on Tuesday... so today, she drove over (takes about 1 hour 20 minutes...) to go to the beach!


So we met at my brother's house. He will be storing her vehicle for a month or 2... she had a few packing boxes in the car that we threw in the back of my truck. These were boxes she bought from a moving company.


Before we got to the beach, we were caught in a deluge. No problem - looks sunny over across the bridge... but so much for the cardboard boxes...


Over the bridge and through the traffic lights... there it is in all it's glory on Labor Day Weekend... our beautiful beach.


Trying to find a place to park at a public access is just about impossible. But, we find a spot and I parked my dodge quad cab dakota - parrallelly - without a hitch! (ba-dum-bump)
The plan is to eat lunch at the restaurant, eat too much and then nap out on the beach.


Turns out my mother in law was enjoying the day at the beach as well. So up the boardwalk we went to meet her... I was ahead of mom (cuz she walks slow!) and went to hug my MIL...


"Ouch!!! &*%^#@ Dang it!"


Oh geez...


Mom has ripped her toe nail on her left foot just about all the way off. Bleh. Blood. Bleh.


So I got to have my first photojournalistic shoot in the ER.


Enjoy!
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Had to leave my gun in the truck... LOL
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Her name tag said "Cinnamon"
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Listing all the medications she takes
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My phone and my lens cap
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Waiting for the DR.
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Ugh - I can't stand to look at it!
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Being in the ER is like playing 20,000 questions
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This is my "artistic" take on the procedure... The next image in the series is graphic and I will save you the sight!
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All done!
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Keep it clean!
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Now we can go eat!
Love you mom!