Summer 2012

This is Lainie standing in front of the Mississippi Queen while it was docked downtown.  She kept fidgeting and mumbling something about her hair.  The result... blurry Lainie.

We came upon this while hiking at the Nature Center in Cape.  In case you cannot tell, it's a snake eating a toad.

The launch of this blog is dedicated to Anne Marie Reynolds.

Thank you, Anne Marie!

the Mississippi River, August 18, 2012

Lainie, standing in the middle of the Mississippi River on a spot that is normally covered in feet of water.  While we were walking around on these sandbars, she found a beached alligator gar that was over a foot long.  I should've taken a picture of it before she pushed it back into the river because if you don't know what a Gar looks like, they're a pretty wicked looking fish.  Here's a link to a news video from a local TV station that has more information about these sandbars and their dangers:  http://tinyurl.com/d6rsjln

Tower Rock, November 5, 2011

This is how it looked last november.

The river was below average here (2011) but nowhere near low enough to walk out to the Rock.

 

Tower Rock, August 18, 2012

The extreme drought has created a rare opportunity for people to actually walk across from the Missouri side of the Mississippi River out to the Rock.  A local TV station did a news piece about it.  Here's a link to it:  http://tinyurl.com/9ayepb3              Can you spot Lainie in this photo?

Another view of how we were able to walk across the river.  Earlier in the week, word began to spread like wildfire that the river was low enough to walk out to the Rock.  The day we were there, cars were lined up along the railroad tracks and there were a lot of families taking photos in front of the Rock.  The nearby wineries and museums were bustling.    Where's Lainie?

Lainie, looking out toward the Illinois side of the river while talking to Shelby on the phone.  I like this shot.

Lainie offered to take a picture of a couple that we'd met there.  They returned the favor.

A closer shot.

I discovered a GeoCache on top of the rock.  If you're not familiar with the term, here's a link that will explain what they are:  http://www.geocaching.com    It's a pretty cool thing.  We made an entry and signed and dated it and placed it back where I found it.

A view from the top of the rock looking out toward the southwest.

A view from the top of the rock looking out toward the east.

A view from the top of the rock looking out toward the west.

A little closer to the edge than she was comfortable with.

Tower Rock, August 18, 2012 (cont'd)

Lanie, talking to Debbie on the phone as she teeters precariously on the edge of one of the cliffs.

"Now I know what a cat feels like when it climbs a tree.  HELLO!?... Little help?!!"

Look how proud she is.

This is about where I began thinking her adrenaline rush hadn't wore off yet.

And, there you have it.  A rare event in nature's history that we were both thrilled to be a part of.

the Azalea Farm, April 8, 2012

Now THAT'S a beautiful sight.......and the azaleas are pretty too.

Hot Springs, Ark., September 4, 2011



This was right after we checked into the hotel.  This is one of my favorite pics of Elaine.

Our first meal after we checked into The Arlington.

Our first day after we check into the hotel.  Here we are at the foot of Hot Springs Mountain as we eagerly anticipate the thrill of hiking all the way up the mountain and then going all the way up in the Mountain Tower.

Okay, this is me before the hike...

and...me, after the hike.  Even though Lainie wouldn't let me take her picture, she looked the same as she did before we started up the mountain.

Lainie, reading some of the read-abouts inside the tower.

You can see The Arlington on the left with the rust coloured roof and the pool behind it.

Somewhat hazey but still a spectacular view.

The trails were very nice and well kempt.  It's a hiker's paradise.

This one's for Hannah.  You may want to zoom in for a better look.

Hot Springs, Ark., September 4, 2011 (cont'd.)

 

 

 

This was a big Koi fish pond.  Whoever had the food is who got their attention.  Here, they are rushing over to Lainie when she started feeding them.

 

 

 

 

She had a lot of fun doing this.

 

 

 

 

This place was SO neat.  I think Lainie's grandchildren would really enjoy it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had a hard time finding photos of Lainie that she would let me post.  This was one of the few that passed inspection but I still like it.

 

 

 

 

You can see the Tower in the upper left off in the distance.

 

 

 

 

 

She said, "Smile!" so, I did.

 

 

 

 

When she finds out I posted this pic, the effect will register on the richter scale.

 

 

 

 

 

I don't think we've found the words yet to describe how wonderful this whole trip was for the both of us.