Groovy Gams

I'm Baaaaack !!

2010-10-01T07:46:00.000-06:00

Long time, no post! I have been spending much of my time down with my mom since Daddy passed. When I finally return home I spend so much time catching up on the blogs I love that I neglect this poor wee bit of cyberspace I call my own. Here are a few of my favorite shots that I've captured lately.

Mom and Leia

My grandpup, Faolan

"What color's my tongue, Gams"?

Mom at her old school house in Knott County, KY

Mom in Madison, IN

Sunset in Versailles

My dillybar wanted a mohawk

Self portrait...one of a few I like

The Many Faces of Niko

2010-06-26T07:13:00.000-06:00

My youngest grand baby has one of the most animated personalities I've ever encountered. This makes for some pretty cute photos and will likely be the subject of my next photo book. Enjoy and feel free to leave caption ideas in the comments.

My Photo Garden

2010-06-23T09:06:00.000-06:00

My parents, being from the South, have always had a knack when it comes to gardening. I grew up with the most wonderful fresh vegetables and a home surrounded with gorgeous flower beds. I did not inherit my mom's green thumb so rather than torture the poor wee plants I take great delight in capturing them with my camera. I hope you enjoy the "boo-kay" I've picked below.

A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words

2010-05-23T11:01:00.001-06:00

While words have been evading me of late, my camera has been busy. Below are a few shots taken recently. Perhaps the old adage, "a picture's worth a thousand words," will become my new moniker. I hope the few of you who stop by will forgive my long absences and accept my thanks that you do.

This handsome young man is Leia's nephew, Tyler. I snapped this while at the St Louis Zoo with Leia and her husband's family.

I am helping this gorgeous gal with her portfolio. It is very easy to get beautiful photos when the model looks like this!

One of my favorites of the day.

For Rachel at LAWN TEA no post would be complete without an appearance of "Mr Concweet."

My Dillybar will be starting school this Fall. He loves math and is constantly asking us to quiz him with math problems. I hope his teacher can find ways to keep him busy and engaged or he/she will have their hands full!

Click on the images for a larger view.

Happy Birthday, Little Man

2010-04-20T10:15:00.002-06:00

My littlest man turns 3 today. Happy Birthday, Nikolas Lee!!! Gam's loves you bunches!

I think Niko would make a great fireman...he was very concerned that the candles were left burning while we sang happy birthday! He is saying, "We need to blow out the candles first!"

My Sister's Babies

2010-04-15T18:34:00.000-06:00

I spent the day with my sister's family this last week. My oldest nephew was home from Purdue so I took the opportunity to visit and take a few photos. My baby sis and her hubby have a 4-acre "spread" 30 minutes north of me with many beautiful backdrops for photos. Some of my favorite shots over the years have been taken there. It's difficult to believe that I used to change the diapers of these 3...where does the time go?!

Meet Nathan, Caleb and Shelby. 3 of my favorite people :)

A St Louis Easter

2010-04-07T13:20:00.001-06:00

I spent Easter weekend in St Louis with my Monkeys Jump. The weather was gorgeous so we strapped on our cameras and headed to The Missouri Botanical Gardens on Saturday and then to the St Louis Zoo on Sunday. Below are a few of my favorite shots of the weekend. To view the full size image, click on the photo. Blogger has cut the left side of the images off... grrrrrrrrrrr... and I can't figure how to fix it!

The Lake at the Japanese Garden

The lake is filled with gorgeous Koi.

Beautiful Tulips

One of the many trees in full bloom. Such a treat for the senses!

I got to play with Leia's new macro lens!

The lions were given paper mache' eggs filled with grass and spices. Catnip for big kitties!

Moody

2010-03-29T12:07:00.001-06:00

This week at I Heart Faces, the theme is dramatic black and white. My entry is of one of the "moodiest" lil guys I know. He can go from happy to pi**ed in 2 seconds flat! He skipped right over the terrible twos and landed smack dab in the middle of the trying threes (although he's not quite three just yet). He is seen in this shot contemplating whether to smile or scream! Thank all that is good that this phase generally doesn't last for long. I think the moods of a toddler are one of the most "dramatic" things life holds.
Just click the button below to check out all the other drama!

Mr Concweet

2010-03-23T15:42:00.001-06:00

Had the nickname not been given by someone I admire greatly, I would contemplate changing "Mr Concweet" to "Mr Sticks." Can someone tell me what the fascination little boys have with sticks is all about? All sticks, twigs, branches etc are quickly turned into weapons becoming swords or "swipe baybers" (bless his heart he still can't say light saber) used to slay all munsters and bad guys in the Indianapolis Metropolitan area. At least I can sleep peacefully knowing the dragons have been slain by my littlest knight!

Long Time No See

2010-03-20T12:01:00.000-06:00

I have been absent from my blog for way too long. There have been many changes in the land of Gams and now that life is settling into a more comfortable routine, I can finally pick up my camera and blog once more.

My daughter, Monkeys Jump (aka Leia) and I recently attended and photographed the wedding of her dear friend Megan from high school. Leia was also a bridesmaid - talk about multi-tasking! Brian and I took the shots of the ceremony and any that Leia had to be in while she took the gorgeous posed photos (we had 4 Nikon cameras between us not mention misc lenses). I am including a few of the photos below. Leia did all post-processing as she is the Photoshop guru of the family (and has a much better eye than me) while the shots are a mixture of those taken between the three of us.

I'll be visiting with Dejah and the boys later today so will hopefully have a few shots of my fellas posted soon. They are getting to be so big! "Mr Concweet's" fan club has done without news of his shenanigans for far too long!

Good to be back... I've missed you all !

The Pioneer Woman Loves my Monkeys Jump!!

2009-12-19T09:53:00.000-07:00

Check out The Pioneer Woman's Photography Page - you will notice a certain young, mohawked, bespectacled young man sticking his tongue out (you can't help but notice the cuteness)! Tis a photo of Jalen taken by my Monkeys Jump (aka Leia).
Way to go Leia for an awesome shot and way to go Dejah for an awesome kid!! Gams is one proud mama :)

What Are You Thankful For?

2009-11-26T08:00:00.001-07:00

This year has been full of challenges and changes in the world of Gams. Amongst the tears and tribulations I have found many blessings to be thankful for. I have prepared a feast of images this Thanksgiving. Pull up a chair and enjoy the bounty that fills my life.

Butterflies Are Free

2009-11-25T06:41:00.004-07:00

I spent the last two weeks in St Louis visiting my eldest and her husband. While there, we took a few day trips to places we had not been before. The weather was freakishly warm (80 degrees in November for goodness sake) so we took full advantage and had some wonderful adventures. I'll provide more details and photos in posts to come.
Below are a few images I shot at the Butterfly House in Chesterfield, MO. This was my first butterfly house experience - I had no idea how breathtakingly beautiful a thousand butterflies in one location could be! There is a butterfly exhibit at The Hilbert Conservatory in Indianapolis and it is now on the top of my "need-to-see" list!
There is simply no way to capture the experience "on film," but the images will serve nicely as a reminder. I hope you enjoy!!

Little Boy Blue

2009-11-10T15:28:00.000-07:00

We had a family birthday party this last Sunday - my niece Amaya turned 7. My sister-in-law originally planned the party at a local indoor recreation facility but upon hearing the weather report, she quickly moved it outside. It was an unbelievable 70 degrees (in November... in Indiana) !! There is a wonderful play park in Oaklandon that gave the little ones hours of fun! I have quite a few photos to process and will post more as I get them done. Niko is the only one I can easily catch when he's on the run, so I tend to get more shots of him - I'm sure it won't be long before he, too, will be able to outrun Gams. In the meantime, I'll enjoy the

photo ops his short legs afford me!

They Are My Sunshine, My Only Sunshine

2009-10-27T10:19:00.000-06:00

While life has not been so "groovy" for Gams these last months, it has not all been tears and sadness. There are 3 little rays of sunshine that come shining through the darkness to illuminate even the blackest of days.

Niko has come into his full super hero powers. The Nikoman is enamored of all things Superman, Spiderman, Batman and Robin, Power Rangers etc. He gleefully runs through the house with his cape (whatever piece of clothing he can find to tie around his neck) just flying. He most often refers to himself as Batman - and Gams is his loyal sidekick Robin. My front room is now the "bat cage" and we spend many hours looking for the "bat car" or "hellicopper." The imagination of this 2 year old is a wonder to behold!

Jalen and Dylan recently celebrated their birthdays. Jalen turned 8 on the 8th and Dylan turned 5 on the 10th - both in September. They will likely spend the majority of their childhood with combined parties and they seem to be okay with that. Dejah and Joe put on quite a bash this year with face painting, cupcake decorating, tons of outdoor and indoor games, balloon decorating and quite the appetizer buffet. Both sides of the family gathered at their beautiful home in Ingalls and a good time was had by all. Auntie Leia drove all the way from St Louis to attend - she's been there for every birthday, including the very first one!

Kathy's Clowns

She Did It Again

2009-10-18T02:43:00.000-06:00

I've not posted in a long while. My words and photos have taken on a rather "grey" cast these days - much like the cold, rainy weather this Fall has been. I have only been whispering into the interwebs lately, visiting my blog friends as a quiet observer without much to say. Today, however, I am prompted by motherly pride to break my silence!

The Pioneer Woman is one of the first blogs I discovered (thanks Leia!). I sat quite a spell that first visit...reading, laughing, gaining weight just looking at the recipes, and adoring the images she captured of her "punks" and life down on the ranch. Her photography page is one of my favorites and I look forward to each new post. She has recently started a "photography assignment" feature and subsequent page on flickr where her readers can post their photos. I admit to flooding that pool during her portrait assignment! She then takes some of her favorite images from the pool and features them on her blog. Her most recent assignment was to post "texture" photos. Images that have been post processed with textures added via Photoshop or perhaps some other digital media program. As I was browsing through her photos of note, there was a particular image and name that literally JUMPED off the screen at me! Monkeys Jump had a photo posted on The Pioneer Woman!!!!!!!!! (For those who don't know, I have 2 beautiful daughters and Monkeys Jump -aka Leia- is my first born - Dejah is the youngest and the giver of grandchildren) The little poop didn't even tell me she had posted anything to the pool so while I was browsing the gorgeous images it nearly took my breath away at the familiar photo I saw! This is the second image of Leia's that Ree has admired. The first was this one entered over at I Heart Faces the week that Ree was judging.
So... she did it again.
Congrats baby girl!!!

Here is the link to Ree's post (Monkeys Jump is the 7th image) and to her winning image at I Heart Faces.

Rocky VII ~ Starring Niko Balboa

2009-10-06T12:31:00.004-06:00

Little ones have the most amazing ability to heal. Sometimes the healing process is quite "colorful," to say the least - as evidenced by the rainbow currently present on Niko's gorgeous little face.

He looks like he just went a few rounds with Apollo Creed! I'm going to teach him to scream, "Adriannnnnnnnnn!!!" and if I manage to capture that on video, I'll be sure to post it (I know, I'm so wrong in many ways - a Gams with a camera can be a dangerous thing). In the meantime, enjoy the video and pics below!

The Boy Without A Face

2009-10-03T14:49:00.000-06:00

My daughter and I spent several hours at the Emergency Room with Niko last Thursday evening. He managed to pull a heavy oak stool-height chair down onto his face. He was simply trying to get up from the floor and some how things went awry. First he fell back and hit the back of his head on the tile floor. If that wasn't bad enough, the chair then fell on top of him hitting him square on the nose! Needless to say there was a lot of screaming (probably as much from my daughter as Niko), swelling, bleeding etc. While Dejah isn't one to run the boys to the doctor for every little thing, this particular injury warranted a "look see" to ensure that no serious head injury was involved. Thank God it was nothing serious and we were sent home after 2 hours of Niko entertaining the ER with his very nasal commentary on everything and everyone. As we left he cheerfully waved and said, "buh-bye, people!"
I only have one question....
Why is it always his face??!!!!! If this keeps up, he'll certainly be known as "the boy without a face!"

"Take Picture of Niko"

2009-09-29T19:37:00.000-06:00

Given my love of photography, I am most fortunate that I have cooperative grandchildren! Niko has recently developed quite a love of the camera. This is what happened the last time he said, "Takey pitchur of Niko."

I ♥ Faces Week 38

2009-09-28T04:32:00.000-06:00

This weeks theme at I ♥ Faces is "Blue." Blue is one of my favorite colors and I just happen to have the cutest little guy with the brightest blue eyes! This weeks entry was the easiest choice of all my entries to date. I can't decide which is more stunning - his eyes or the blue of his Colts attire. I only wish the background had been better - I could have gotten a more satisfactory crop! I did bump the blue levels and brightness just a bit in post-processing.

I'm anxious to see if there will be any other "Colts Blue" entries. Click the link below to check out all the blueness!!

Click the image to view full size.

I ♥ Faces Week 37

2009-09-21T11:18:00.002-06:00

This week's challenge at I ♥ Faces is "Completely Candid." Nearly every photograph I take would be considered "candid" as none of them are posed - I gave up trying to pose the boys a long time ago. I'm lucky if I manage to get more than one of them in the frame at once! I took this photo of the Dillybar while he was playing "Spy Kids" with his brother. He looks so serious and intent on catching the bad guys-click on the image for a closer look.
Follow the link below to see all the other awesome entries!

I ♥ Faces Contemplative Photo Challenge

2009-09-14T17:38:00.002-06:00

This week's theme at I ♥ Faces is "contemplative."

This image of Niko is one of my favorites. Makes me wonder just what is going on behind those beautiful blue eyes!

Click the above button to check out all the other great entries!

This Old Guitar

2009-09-10T18:39:00.004-06:00

It belonged first to Daddy. He taught me to play it when I was barely old enough to hang my arm over to reach the strings. I, in turn, taught my oldest. Now it looks as though Geeko may be next in line. He will sit and strum to the music playing in his head... eyes closed, with a look of pure rapture on his face - yep, I think he's the one.

This old guitar taught me to sing a love song
It showed me how to laugh and how to cry
It introduced me to some friends of mine
And brightened up some days
It helped me make it through some lonely nights
Oh, what a friend to have on a cold and lonely night

This old guitar gave me my lovely lady
It opened up her eyes and ears to me
It brought us close together
I guess it broke her heart
It opened up the space for us to be
What a lovely place and a lovely space to be

This old guitar gave me my life my living
All the things you know I love to do
To serenade the stars that shine
From a sunny mountainside
Most of all to sing my songs for you
I love to sing my songs for you
Yes, I do, you know
I love to sing my songs for you

Words and music by John Denver

Splish Splash, He Loves Taking A Bath

2009-08-30T10:54:00.004-06:00

I've never met a child that didn't LOVE bath time and my 3 boys are no exception. Geeko, however, would spend his entire day in the tub if we let him. He asks, "Unna takey baf?" numerous times throughout the day. Some days it is just easier to let him splash his cares away - plus it gives Gams and his Auntie Leia some cute photo ops!

Above photo by Monkeys Jump
Above photo by Monkeys Jump

Brothers

2009-08-26T15:37:00.003-06:00

My goodness would you look at those faces!!!? From a totally unbiased observer (cough,cough) these are 3 of the most gorgeous little guys I've ever seen! The camera just loves them... and so does their Gams :)

above photo by Monkeys Jump

I ♥ Faces Week 33

2009-08-24T12:50:00.002-06:00

This week's theme over at I ♥ Faces is "Nostalgia." I am usually johnny-on-the-spot when entering and have planned what image to use etc. This week's theme gave me pause and caused many hours of going through archives to determine what image best fit the theme.

I finally decided on this image of Niko. As a child, I spent many hours in the back yard playing badminton (I want to spell it badmitten!) so when I found an affordable set, I couldn't help but buy it for the boys.

You can tell what Niko thinks of the whole thing!

Check out all the other entries by clicking the button above!

State Fair 2009

2009-08-24T08:15:00.004-06:00

"Our State Fair is a great State Fair...."
I tagged along with the youngest daughter and her family while they visited the Indiana State Fair this year. Dillybar and Geeko had a great time seeing the animals and playing at the Pioneer Village.

Because We Love Him So...

2009-08-15T16:09:00.003-06:00

There have been many wonderful things done by a lot of wonderful people in honor of my daddy.

A lot of food donated to feed hungry people... he would have been both pleased and surprised at the response. I just don't have the words to properly express my thanks for the words of comfort and the donations made in his memory.

My daughters and I decided on a more permanent memorial. Daddy so enjoyed the hummingbirds that came to his window feeder - it was one of the things he looked forward to when we brought him home from the hospital so we situated his bed in the front room so he would have a clear view.

Our memorial may seem strange to some, but the idea came to us all simultaneously and we just felt compelled and knew it was "right" for us. Three identical hummingbird tattoos... because he loved them so.... because we love him so.

It's So Hard to Say Goodbye To Yesterday....

2009-08-08T06:45:00.004-06:00

While I knew I would one day write this post, I hoped that day would be far in the future. There are so many words, thoughts, images and songs flitting through my brain I only hope I can sift through them enough to make some semblance of order befitting the subject.

I wrote this post not long ago. My Father's Day wish was granted, although not in the manner I had hoped, when the Lord cured Daddy by taking him to Heaven on Wednesday, Aug. 5.

The weeks leading up to his departure (it was, after all, only a departure from this life to the next) were filled with love, laughter, hugs, kisses and many trips down memory lane. My sister and I left are daily lives to spend every last day we could with Daddy. We were blessed beyond measure to have had the opportunity to say the things we wanted to say and to hear the things he wanted to say. There is no doubt in my mind he left this world knowing how very much his girls loved and appreciated him. I was witness to God's love and mercy as he gently led Daddy home.

My brother-in-law, Kyle, wrote the obituary below. He also read the scripture at Daddy's service and gave us all comfort and food for thought.

Bennett Ray Collins, 71, of Versailles, Indiana, passed away peacefully August 5th in his home after an extensive battle with cancer. He was born on April 20, 1938 in Isom, Kentucky to Luther Collins and Mae (Sexton) Collins and he married the love of his life, Thelma Moore, on July 1, 1960. He retired from the IUPUI Medical Center in 1988 after 20+years of service. Bennett was a loyal Christian and a faithful member of the North Madison Church of Christ.

Bennett Ray is survived by wife Thelma (Versailles, In), daughters Kathy Smith (Indianapolis, In), Kendra C. Marks (Frankton, In), Sister, Francis Moore (Indianapolis, In), Brother, Lloyd Collins (Indianapolis, In), Grand Children; Leia Duty (St. Louis, Mo), Dejah Smith (Ingals, In), Nathan Marks (Frankton, In), Caleb Marks (Frankton, In), Shelby Marks (Frankton, In), Great Grand Children; Jalen T. Johnson (Greenwood, In), Dylan Smith (Ingals,In), Nikolas Wilson (Ingals, In)

Private Family Services will be held Friday, August 7th at the Harry W. Moore Funeral Care and Crematory (Allisonville Road Chapel @ 8151 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, In 46250*317.849.6800) with burial at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens.

Family request that no flowers be sent to Chapel or burial site, nor any food items be delivered to any family member. Monitary donations can be made to the Open Hearts Helping Hands(http://www.openheartshelpinghands.com/), any local food pantry or to the American Cancer Society.

While he may be gone from my sight, I am so thankful to have the many photos I can visit from time to time.

I love you Daddy...

On the Road Again

2009-07-21T03:43:00.002-06:00

Just wanted to let everyone know I will be away from home and blog for the next week. I'll be with Mom and Dad so no internets for me :(

His Future's So Bright He's Gotta Wear Shades

2009-07-18T04:32:00.004-06:00

Some folks have difficulty getting their little ones to wear hats, sunglasses and other protective gear. This is not the case with Gam's boys! Geeko, especially, loves "stylin" with the numerous pairs of sunglasses, reading glasses, hats etc that he comes across.

Photo by Monkeys Jump

Photo by Monkeys Jump

Playing Catch Up Minus Photos!

2009-07-17T16:30:00.000-06:00

This post is long over due. I'm trying something different this time out - no photos... just words and horrible punctuation (sorry, Francis - just look the other way ) and run on sentences etc. You'll soon realize why I post so many photos! Photos will return shortly, I promise!

The past 2 weeks were busy ones for me - taking me away from home and blog. I apologize to my online pals for not posting my absence beforehand. I'm so new at this "blog thing" that it never occurred to me that I would cause anyone any worry - I'll do better next time!

I took the JayBob to visit his auntie, Monkeys Jump, and her husband, Brian, in Saint Louis over the 4th of July. I thoroughly enjoyed giving him my undivided attention for 4 days. While he loves his little brothers, he also loves being an only child for a while. We took him to see the new Ice Age movie (awesome show and so funny) which he enjoyed immensely. He opted to purchase fireworks to do himself rather than go see "the big ones," which disappointed Gam's just a bit as I had heard St Louis has one of the best displays in the country. What is it about boys that causes them to revel in blowing things up?! Uncle Brian had more fun than anyone being the designated pyrotechnician - giggled like a little kid!! I challenge any city in the country to put on a better display than the one I saw on JayBob's face that evening - so little money for so many smiles :)

After returning home from Saint Louis, I left the next day to stay with Mom and Dad for a few days. They live about an hour and a half South of me so it was an easy drive through beautiful country scenery. I mentioned in a previous post that Daddy has been battling Colon Cancer for over 6 years now. While he has managed, for the most part, to not let the disease slow him down, he has had a time of it due to some physical changes that have made day to day activities much more complicated. I'll not bore you (or gross you out) with the details - but the changes make it so difficult for him to leave home. You wouldn't believe what he has to go through. While Daddy has never been a "social butterfly," he and my mom enjoyed travelling the country for many years before his illness. I know he misses that. He has lost a lot of weight lately, making him very weak. The last chemo treatment prescribed was just too much for his body to handle so he has made the decision to leave things in God's very capable hands. There will be no more treatments.

While Daddy is content with his own company, Mom has always been the social one. I know it has to drive her crazy not being out and about. I was hoping she would take the opportunity to get away for awhile while I was there - no such luck. She still ran errands with the same sense of urgency - feeling she needed to get back in case Daddy needed anything. There are no adequate words to express my admiration for my mom and the way she deals with this. Unfortunately, this is not the first time she has sacrificed her own time to be with a family member suffering through cancer - it is actually the fourth go around for her not counting moving in with her own mother at the end of her life. I cannot fathom the strength needed for such an undertaking! While mom is no saint (she tends to hold onto hurt feelings for far too long) I only hope that I am half the woman she is. They say that God won't give you anything you can't handle in life...if that is so, then He certainly must think Mom has the strength of an army!

Please forgive me if posts are sporadic in the future...I plan on spending a lot more time "down home." Unfortunately, home may be where my heart is, but it's NOT where the internet is! I'll be back later to post some photos of my very gorgeous little men and update everyone on their shenanigans.

I'm Back Plus I ♥ Faces Sports In Action

2009-07-13T04:18:00.003-06:00

I've been away from home for various reasons the last two weeks - it's good to be back!! It may be difficult to believe, but there are actually people who have no Internet connection!! I've felt so "unplugged" from the world so have spent a couple of days catching up with all my online friends - I've missed you!

One of the sites I've missed is I ♥ Faces. This week's theme is Sports In Action. My little guys are too young yet to participate in organized sports; however, being boys they give me ample opportunity to capture action! Showing action and adjusting shutter speed is one area of photography that I am still exploring and experimenting with (although not always successfully). This entry is of my Dillybar enjoying his favorite summertime sport. Taking photos at the pool is definitely challenging! While the composition isn't the best, I love the kamikaze look on his face!

Follow the link below to see more action!!

Splish Splash

2009-06-24T09:26:00.002-06:00

Gam's spent her birthday at the pool with her boys yesterday! Nothing like a day spent in the water with 3 energetic little fishes to make a body feel old!

Week 24 Photo Challenge: “Let's Hear It For The Boys!”

2009-06-22T07:19:00.002-06:00

My entry for the kids category at I Heart Faces is one of the few photos I have of all three boys together. They are all so busy it is difficult to capture all of them at once! Nothing screams "boy" like football so the Colts attire seemed appropriate for the theme. I wish I'd set the aperture differently (so all their faces had been in focus) but I kinda like the effect. This was my first attempt at selective coloring - not too shabby if I do say so myself!
Click on the link below and check out all the other gorgeous guys!!

It's Geeko's Turn and Happy Father's Day!!

2009-06-21T09:39:00.004-06:00

My father and my youngest grandson share the same birthday, April 20. It seems appropriate for them to share this post. In keeping with my theme of the last 2 posts, it is, in fact, Geeko's turn; however, it is also a special day for Geeko's birthday buddy, my daddy.
Geeko, at two years old, has the good fortune of having 2 very loving big brothers who willingly include him in all their shenanigans (like they could stop him). He is a very quick study and has no trouble keeping up physically or verbally. He loves to sing and dance and does so with abandon! "I lika dis song," is heard often and his current favorite is the Subway jingle, "Five dolla, Five dolla, uh long" (I'll have to get him on video and post it as it is the funniest thing)!

Being Father's Day, I am also posting one of my favorite shots I have of my daddy and me. He has always been a big influence in my life ~ I am probably the biggest "Daddy's Girl" there is. He has been bravely battling cancer for the last 6 years and it pains me to see him suffer, so my only wish for him today is for the cursed disease to be cured and for his health to return to him so he can enjoy his life and family as he used to BC (before cancer). He doesn't have internet so will likely never see this - he will however know beyond a shadow of a doubt that..."I love you, Daddy!"

Send In The Clowns

2009-06-19T14:49:00.005-06:00

The oldest grandson, JayBob, has left his super hero suit in the very capable hands of his 2 younger brothers while picking up a new mantle for himself...that of the comedian! JayBob's funny bone is in good working order and he spends his time finding ways to make us laugh - be it made up jokes, drawing his own comics, or just making silly faces. He usually cracks himself up in the process, forcing us to wait until he regains his composure to deliver the punch line. He LOVES being the center of attention and LOVES having his photo taken. He is the most willing of my muses to pose as the following shots demonstrate.

Literally ROFL

Photo by Monkeys Jump

Photo by Monkeys Jump

I called him my little monkey and this was his response.

Just look at that face!! The camera just loves this guy!!

Dilly's Gonna Knock You Out!!

2009-06-18T06:10:00.003-06:00

Of my 3 grandsons, Dillybar is the most difficult to pose for pictures. He just doesn't have time due to the many bad guys that have invaded my home. His days are spent ridding the world of evil doers and consequently most photos feature his intense, "I'm gonna knock you out" face. I rarely capture images of his mild-mannered alter ego. I get lucky sometimes and catch him with his guard down!

KODAK ESP 9 All-in-One Printer Giveaway

2009-06-17T06:08:00.002-06:00

I Heart Faces is having an awesome giveaway that anyone can enter. A Kodak printer as listed in the title of this post. Click on the above link to visit their site for all the details.

Memories in Sepia

2009-06-15T10:48:00.003-06:00

This weeks theme at I ♥ Faces is Sepia Toned. Sepia is one of my favorite post-processing techniques - fits with my love of history and all things old, I guess.

My entry is of my son-in-laws nephew, Tyler. He is quite the handful and getting him to be still long enough to get a photo is an accomplishment!! I love the way this one turned out.

Check out the other awesome entries by clicking the link below!

A Monkey's Proud Mamma

2009-06-14T04:47:00.005-06:00

IHeartFaces, one of my favorite websites, recently held a Blurb Photo Book contest. The number of entries they received was astounding and the photos are gorgeous! They chose one winner from each of two categories and are now accepting votes for the "Readers Choice Award". They narrowed down the hundreds of entries to only 8 to be voted on. My oldest daughter, Monkeys Jump, is one of the final 8!!!!! Her entry (as seen above) is one of my favorite pictures of Jalen, my first grandson.

Please follow the link below and vote for her... many times!

"I Eat Concweet"

2009-06-13T07:13:00.003-06:00

While I know, "boys will be boys", the physical evidence of that statement is, at times, horrific - as evidenced by the photos below. I am thankful for several things:
1. He is fine, no emergency room visit required.
2. I wasn't there to witness the injury and all the blood, screaming, tears etc. that accompanied the fall...on a concrete driveway...chasing a basketball.
3. Babies heal quickly - with minimal scarring. At least I hope that gorgeous little face won't have a scar.
4. His sense of humor is intact as he proudly tells everyone, "I eat concweet."

More of St Louis

2009-06-08T17:57:00.004-06:00

While in St Louis, I visited the Shaw Nature Reserve with Brian. We hiked a couple of miles and viewed the wetlands. While long, it was an easy hike and it was misting rain part of the time so we were able to stay cool without being drenched. There were thousands of waterlily in bloom on 2 or 3 lakes. The view was breathtaking!! I attempted to capture some of the beauty I saw in the photos below.

Angels of Blue

2009-06-06T17:43:00.004-06:00

I went to see/photograph The Blue Angels yesterday at the Indianapolis Air Show. I had not been to an air show in years and had never tried to photograph one before yesterday. Since I went only for fun, I decided to bite the bullet and put my camera in full manual mode to see what I could learn. I am pleasantly surprised at the number of good shots I managed to get.

If you have never been to an air show or seen the Blue Angels, you are truly missing an incredible display of precision flying! These guys are amazing and their stunts must be seen to be believed!

Some of my favorite shots are below.

Gams is Getting Back in the Groove

2009-06-04T10:53:00.004-06:00

I'm back home again in Indiana! While it is good to be home, I'll miss seeing my Monkeys Jump.

I had a full schedule in Saint Louis - so much to see and do. I'll write more detailed posts in the coming days but for today, I'll post just a couple of the photos I was able to capture while there.

At Forest Park in downtown St Louis

Meramec State Park

Missouri is a beautiful state! Now I need to arrange for a "baby fix" to make up for the days I was away from the boys. I feel a sleepover coming up soon!

Blast From The Past Saturday

2009-05-30T05:05:00.002-06:00

Today I am taking Monkeys Jump and Brian to Meramec Caverns. This will be my second visit to the cavern. My first visit was many years ago on a family vacation with my parents and my sister, Kendra. I was probably 7 or 8 years old, so my memory is sketchy. We'll see how much comes back to me once there.

While I'm spelunking (there will be a full report with pictures), please enjoy the following images from days gone by...

My Daddy and me

My Mom, me and Mamaw Collins

My Aunt Francis and me

Maternal Great Grandmother

To Boldly Go Where No Gams Has Gone Before

2009-05-25T14:39:00.002-06:00

I am having a wonderful time in Saint Louis! My daughter and her husband actually live in a little village called Charlack. The house they live in belonged to Brian's grandfather and before that, it belonged to the mayor of Charlack. The community is peaceful and quiet - so quiet, in fact, that you easily forget that you are so close to a large metropolis like Saint Louis! The house itself sits on a beautiful lot that is longer than it is wide with stately old trees that provide shade from the hot summer heat. One of my favorite spots is their front porch swing where I enjoy the cool evening breeze while watching the multitude of birds, squirrels and rabbits as they frolic - so peaceful and akin to a small slice of heaven on earth!
Saturday we went exploring (read Leia's account here) and had an awesome time just driving and taking in the scenery. We visited Grafton, IL by way of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway. The view was breathtaking with limestone cliffs on one side and the Mississippi River on the other.

One of my favorite places to visit while here is Main Street in downtown St Charles. The quaint shops, the folks in period costumes, and the city's historic significance are just a few of the reasons I love it. There were 2 couples being married at the gazebo and then enjoying a horse-drawn carriage ride while we were there.
We ended our day with a late-night viewing of the new Star Trek movie. Being a Trekkie, I enjoyed it immensely and appreciated the "back story" for the characters. If you are not a fan of the series/franchise, there is no need to worry - the story and action are compelling! There will be some "inside" jokes that non-trekkies won't get, but you'll never know that you missed anything! I highly recommend the show to anyone!

Blast From The Past Saturday

2009-05-23T18:28:00.002-06:00

My Mom's parents and siblings

My Mom and me

Me and my Chatty Cathy

St Louis Here I Come

2009-05-19T13:56:00.003-06:00

I will traveling to St Louis to visit my eldest daughter (Monkeys Jump) on Friday. I plan on staying a week. The drive is not too bad - only 4 hours from Indy and pretty much a straight shot on 70 West.
I am looking forward to spending time with my girl and her hubby but am looking forward to the wonderful food just as much! Indy just doesn't have the restaurants that St Louis does. My all-time-favorite pizza is from Nick and Elenas (I had her bring me 2 large pizzas the last time she came to town) and I can't wait to have it again. The crust is super thin and crispy and they have this wonderful cheese product called Provel that they use instead of mozzarella - it is glorious and melts to a creamy goodness instead of a rubbery, stretchy goo.
I'll have loads of pics to share but until then I'll be busy packing and visiting with my little guys before I leave.
See you in St Louie!!

I Heart Faces Entry Week 19

2009-05-18T05:47:00.002-06:00

This is my entry for week 19 and obviously is in the amateur category. It was difficult to pick an all time favorite, but I kept coming back to this one for some reason. Hopefully the lack of technical skill will be overlooked and the cuteness of the face will prevail! Follow the link below the picture to see some amazing photos!!!!

I am submitting this photo into the http://www.iheartfaces.com/ Blurb Book photo contest. I am granting I ♥ Faces permission to use my photo in a printed version of a book for commercial use and possibly advertising of a photo book on both the Blurb and I ♥ Faces web sites.

Blast From the Past Saturday plus Proud Momma!!

2009-05-16T19:05:00.005-06:00

Random shots of days gone by....

Gams and her JayBob

JayBob and my niece, Shelby up on the farm (my sisters place)

Daddy and the Dillybar

Big brother JayBob with the little Dillybar

My youngest daughter and my oldest nephew at the Indianapolis Zoo. She is now the beautiful mother of 3 sons and my nephew is now like 7 feet tall and in college!

Monkeys Jump when she was just a wee lass.

The above photo of my youngest and the Dillybar taken by http://monkeys-jump.blogspot.com/ who also happened to place 2nd in the I Heart Faces contest this week with another photo of her sister (this is the proud momma part)
http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/2008/01/week-18-top-ten-winners-adults-category.html.

Some day I hope my photos will be as good as hers!

How Grows Your Garden?

2009-05-15T11:28:00.004-06:00

I've not done much this year in the way of gardening. If my employment status doesn't change, I may have to make other living arrangements so I didn't bother with planting anything extra this year (why bother if I won't be here to enjoy the fruits of my labor). I have a few flowers that I planted last year that are coming back nicely.

I love the color of this Clematis.

Hostas have always been a favorite and are thriving.

If I do relocate, I will likely leave the plants behind in hopes that future tenants will care for them or at least appreciate them; however, this guy is coming with me! Geeko calls it the "beebee." He stops to say hello whenever he visits.

Last year I purchased a few flats and I thought it looked very nice - especially considering it was my first attempt outside of potted flowers.

I'll make due without the landscaping for this year in hopes that next year I can color my little corner of the world.
So, internet... how grows your garden?

Raining Again with Purty Birds

2009-05-13T16:47:00.003-06:00

Poor Rugby has been practicing his rug impression all day...

The geese are scarce today (perhaps they've found a bigger, better home!) but this handsome fella showed up.

I don't see them often, but the Blue Herons that visit are just glorious! What purty birds they are!

Goose Poo Redo

2009-05-12T16:36:00.005-06:00

I finally captured a picture of the "Octo-goose" and her gazillion offspring! They've obviously decided to give Brad and Angelina a run for their money - either that or there's some quacky goose fertility experiment going on. Seriously, I have never seen so many goslings belonging to one set of parents! Instead of a field of dreams, I'll be having dreams of a field...filled with poo!!!

Click photo for a better view

Week 18 Laughter - My First entry at I Heart Faces

2009-05-11T05:00:00.003-06:00

I struggled with which picture to enter out of the thousands I have archived. Ree at
http://thepioneerwoman.com/ is this weeks judge - picked a heck of week for my first time entry, huh?! While photography is just a hobby (ok, an obsession) I do try to get quality shots with my limited knowledge. So... here goes nothing!

Be sure to visit http://www.iheartfaces.blogspot.com/ for some really awesome photos!

Obi Wan Do-You-Know-me?

2009-05-10T11:17:00.007-06:00

Obi Wan do you know me? Well, let me introduce myself. I am Gam's to 3 young Jedis. While I have attempted to guide my young charges in the ways of the Force, I didn't sign up for this and wish you would holograph yourself here immediately (or send Yoda if you're busy)! The light saber battles are too much - I am posting my proof below.

The photos above were taken by my talented daughter, Leia.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/monkeysjump/

The Battle Ensues

The Littlest Jedi

Oh, and Obi Wan, about the littlest Jedi.... you'd better be quick as the Force is strong with this one and I'm afraid he may be leaning toward the Dark Side.

Happy Mommy's Day

2009-05-10T09:12:00.004-06:00

Wishing everyone a beautiful Mom's day. Thankful for the woman who is my own Mommy...

So proud of the beautiful girls that are my daughters and their mothering spirits.

A Blast From the Past Saturdays - A Trip Down Memory Lane

2009-05-09T16:36:00.008-06:00

Saturday's posts will mainly be pictures from the many thousands I have archived. Most were taken by old point and shoots and many were film shots I had transferred to disk.

A toddler train.

Come on let it rain.

Pappy's Boy or Stop and Smell the Roses (or whatever the heck that flower is)

The Dillybar Boogie

2009-05-08T16:44:00.001-06:00

The Dillybar sleepover has ended. The funnest part of a sleepover at Gams' is getting to stay up as late as you want - thanks to Pappy who is a "twittering" night owl (check out @IndyEnigma on Twitter) who lovingly carries the very heavy 4 year old upstairs after he has finally crashed.

I am suffering with "day-after-a-sleepoveritis," and will shortly be seeking my bed. I will leave with you my all time favorite video of the Dillybar hoping it will bring you a chuckle or two. He is about 20 months old, or there about.

We're Having A Sleepover!!! Dillybar Edition

2009-05-07T09:06:00.000-06:00

Guess who's having a slumber party with Gam's tonight?!

Dillybar, Dillybar, Dilly, Dilly, Dillybar....bah bump bump bum!

There will be games and cuddles and lots of Nickelodeon! Unfortunately there will also be repeated watchings of the same episode of Drake and Josh (argh... I wish On Demand would change episodes weekly instead of monthly)!

The sleep over tradition started a long time ago...

...things were a bit calmer then. There is nothing like a nap in the recliner with a sweet, cuddley baby!

These days, the activities are bit more rambunctious.

I am surrounded by Power Ranging...

Colts playing...

Bike riding...

Tree climbing...

Cuteness!

I'll let you know if I survived!

Rainy Days, Not Monday's, With Goose Poo

2009-05-06T12:59:00.000-06:00

There is a Christian school just up the street that has an almost lifesized Ark on it's grounds. If the rain keeps up it's good to know I'm not far from safe harbor. Geez, enough of the wet already!

These little guys are lovin it though.

At last count there were 34 babies that live at the lake behind me.

They are the cutest little fuzzies! Hopefully they will grow up, leave home and become responsible young geese and NOT move back in with the folks when times get tough. There is more goose poo than grass right now. I don't want to think about the massive amount of poo generated by 34 additional full grown geese. My patio stays relatively poo free thanks to the efforts of Rugby.

At least it did until his run-in with a momma goose. Now the poor fella just lays around waiting for the little poops to grow up and leave the neighborhood.

I'll have to tell you about the other wildlife that comes around to torment him in another post - who knew squirrels were so mean?

Let Me Entertain You

2009-05-05T06:26:00.000-06:00

Who needs tv when you have this around?
Or this....

The Force is strong with this one. I've lost count of the number of Light Saber battles I've witnessed - Obi Wan would be so proud!

And this guy... Mr Attitude/Personality/Imagination. I could devote an entire blog to this one! Stay tuned for details of his antics.

To Blog or Not to Blog

2009-05-02T03:47:00.000-06:00

I have been an avid reader of blogs for years. I am finally jumping into the blogosphere myself, if for no other reason than to have yet another venue to post pics of the grandbabies. At times I may even be witty, who knows?! This is my first attempt so be gentle!

Gam's Boys are, from left to right, JayBob, Geeko and DillyBar (not their real names). More about them in the days to come.