More editing...

A couple more edits that turned out pretty cool...

Before...

And after...

Before...

And after...

The waterlily is from the back pond and cropping it looks so much better. Love the detail of the flower. The barn/peacock were from our drive out to Bedford Lake yesterday. And I actually originally edited it with another program with a crop and level. I haven't figured out the leveling process in photoshop yet and picasa is real easy. The kids were able to talk to the peacock and it responded to them. VERY obnoxious!

Editing...

I decided to work on my editing skills and do some before/after shots. The first one was from our hike the other day. I really like this picture, but it was so bright out that it was casting horrible shadows and making the ballcap look pink instead of red. So, when all else fails...go b&w! Much better!

These next 2 are a before/after also. I had read an article about using a cloudy day as a "soft box" (basicallybouncing the cloudy sky off his face to avoid having to use any type flash. I think it worked pretty good.

Before...

and after...

He.cracks.me.up!

So I downloaded the pictures off of Hunter's camera

and all I could do is laugh! He had umpteen self portraits

with Suki...here's a couple that cracked me up!

Not too bad for a 9 year old!

Mother's Day!

Mother's Day always seems to come and go without a lot of fanfair around here. This year it snuck up on me after having been gone the week before. Wednesday afternoon, it dawned on me that it was this coming Sunday...not a lot of time to do much. But I was asked on Thursday what I wanted for Mother's day. "Nothing" was my response. I'd rather not spend the money when I've got everything I need. Then it dawned on me, after the last week, I did want something...$20 in gas. His look was priceless. I wanted T.I.M.E. for Mother's Day. Family time.

Here is our time...in pictures.

Our first hill...11:47am

Coming up on our first waterfall... .3 miles in...so far so good!

The trail to Suter Falls...Thomas and one

of the boys are already headed over...almost

in the middle of the picture. It really gives

you great perspective on size. (You can

click on any picture to enlarge it.)

I think the bridge was someone's ladder, pieced together!

Suter Falls

Such a cutie...

Suter Falls...other side of the bridge

Questions, questions, questions...

Rocks and boulders galore!

Not just a flat path!

We came upon several caves...time to investigate!

Someone had made a fire pit inside. Not sure

that's allowed anywhere other than the

primitive camping sites.

Horsepound Falls 2.5 miles in...and we've

got to turn around and head back!

He's always looking for critters!

We made it back out 5 hours later...tired, sore and out of water!

Hunter asked if he could fill up his water bottle in the creek...

I said no, it would make you really sick...he said...

"It would sooo be worth it!"  :)

Still .3 miles to go...ughhh...

last picture @ 3:47pm out of park at 4:50pm!

It's a really good thing that we went on Saturday, because when Sunday rolled around, we were too tired/sore to do anything! I really hate that some of the pictures were kind of dark, but it was so bright out that it's really hard to take "good" pictures. I did salvage some of them via Photoshop at least, but we will mark this set of falls off our 617 TN waterfalls list. We DON'T need to go back! :)  On a side note, the map said this trail was "moderately difficult"...I really think they need to take "moderately" out of that statement!!

What a beautiful weekend we were blessed with!

The memories...

The boys loved going to the park with Grandpa, so we spent a few hours out there.

Grandpa 4/24/24-4/27/10

Thanks for the memories...you were loved and you will be missed...especially by 2 little boys who loved you with all their hearts.

Photo courtsey of Debby Stewart

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”