Christmas Focus

Before we took the ornaments off the tree and put everything up, I took out my lens baby and took some photographs. I liked these two because they show the different focus of Chrismas. . . focus on Jesus Christ and focus on Santa Claus. I struggle with the two. I do focus on Jesus Christ . . . He is after all my reason for the season.




With family, two daughters and one grandson, it is easy to get caught up in Santa Claus and lose focus otherwise.




I hope you had a good Christmas and that you have a peacefilled New Year.

Cloudland Canyon Fog

This is another image of Cloudland Canyon. It was an early morning with a fog rolling through the valley. It was a beautiful morning! You can see the sun on the mountains in the distance.

Contemplation of Thanks

I am, like a lot of people, busy this week preparing for Thanksgiving. At the same time, I am contemplative . . . thinking of the things I have to be thankful for. This image is of our dock . . . come, sit with me awhile and give thanks.

Mountains to the Beach

This past week, I went to Holmes Beach, Florida. I was near there to speak at a luncheon and since I had to drive down the day before I was to speak, I took the opportunity to go over to the beach. The beach is where I get renourished - salt air and salt water feed my inner self. As it turned out, a storm was moving in from off shore. There was not much color in the view so I converted this image from color to black and white.

Cloudland Canyon & Turkey

Here is another picture from Cloudland Canyon State Park. The image was taken from across the canyon from where we stayed in a cabin.

Then on Thursday we went to DeSota State Park in Alabama. As we were driving over there I caught sight of some turkeys in a field. This turkey was one of several. The cool thing is it was almost completely white.

Mitch and I went to Cloudland Canyon State Park in northwest Georgia this week. I had been told it was lovely place, yet I was still surprised at how beautiful it was. The color -- fall leaf color -- was outstanding. Here are a few images from Monday, at an overlook near our cabin.

Monarchs at St. Mark's Lighthouse

If you saw Mitch's blog (http://fishponddrain.blogspot.com/), you are aware we went down to the St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge this week. The Monarch butterflies take off from here and migrate down to Mexico. I had not been to St. Mark's at this time of the year before, though we at one time we were frequent visitors. Here are a few images from my perspective.

Sunset Cove

Last week, Mitch and I went up the road just a short piece. There is a small inlet which has a few houses around it. This is an image from the sunset hour.

We are still having summer temperatures much of the time, so the "hot" feeling from this image is as it should be.

Swan

I am a fan of black and white pictures. I am not sure why, since I love making quilts and using all the colors of the spectrum in them. Still, I am a great fan of black and white.

This image of a Swan was taken at Bok Tower, near Winter Haven, Florida. I hope you like it.

Somesville, Maine

In the fall of 2007, we took a trip up to the northeast United States. One of the places we visited was Somesville, Maine. Since it was in the fall, and here in southwest Georgia it actually felt a bit like fall this morning, I decided to post this photograph.



Becky

5 Year Celebration

We went to Destin, FL, and Panama City, FL, to celebrate last week. I go to the beach for renourishment or celebration. This time it was to celebrate five years of my being cancer free.

This is an image as we crossed over a bridge. The crystal green water at Destin is always beautiful.

Crescent House Valdosta, GA - Church

Last September, my husband had to go to Valdosta, Georgia, for some training. While there I went to the Crescent House. It is an "ante-bellum" style house in the downtown area. On the same property is an old schoolhouse building and this small church.

Bank's Lake - South Georgia

This image was taken last year at Bank's Lake, near Valdosta, Georgia. It was early morning. I looked at the house in the woods and thought what a wonderful place to live.

Fun

This was some fun I had a few weeks ago. This first picture is the photo as taken.




This second image is one worked in PhotoShop, having some fun.



I am not a fan of a lot of manipulation in PhotoShop, but this was a lot of fun.

Pink Pig

A few weeks ago, we were riding around the country side, here in southwest Georgia. We came upon several pink pigs. Thought one of them might brighten your day.

White Egret at St. Augustine Alligator Farm

Mitch and I went to the Alligator Farm on our way back from south Florida a few months ago. I took four or five pictures of alligators and lots of pictures of Egrets and Herons.

Ray's Lake Sunrise - Earlier

Mitch and I were up before sunrise in order to catch the sunrise. The image I posted last week was after the sun had actually made way over the clouds. This image is taken a bit earlier in the same morning.



Opposites attract, or so the saying goes. Mitch likes the other image, it is brighter and warmer. I like this one as it is moodier and quieter.

Hope one or the other is to your liking.

Ray's Lake

This is a picture of some boat docks on Ray's Lake, a part of Lake Seminole. We have been trying to get up during the "approximate" middle of each month and take photographs around Lake Seminole. Some are on the lake, some on the surrounding area. This month we picked Ray's Lake.

The sun was rising but it was behind a cloud. The bottom of the sun was hitting the boat docks and the cloud kept the sun from hitting the trees. There was a very slight fog on the water. A fisherman who was launching his boat told my husband, "This is the best part of the day." It was a beautiful morning.

I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy this "best part of the day."

Hotel Rooms

Seems to me I wrote about sitting in hotel rooms some time ago. Here I am again.

Tomorrow I am speaking in Winter Haven, Florida, at a ladies' luncheon. It is at a Christian Women's organization luncheon. I have been sitting here thinking about home and tweeting with my family. I enjoy these trips to speak with other women. I do miss home though when I come off by myself.

So, I decided to share an image from "home". This is a image taken over Lake Seminole on a day back in February 2009. We had decided to try and take sunrise pictures each month somewhere around Lake Seminole. This is a composite of three pictures, in order to get the right color.



It is nice to think of home when you are away!

Baby Bird at St. Augustine Alligator Farm

Whew, I have been busy. I can not believe it has been almost a month since I posted anything. I have been working on my SoFoBoMo (Solo Photo Book Month) project and was only one day (I think) late. I had my images all ready but getting them into a PDF for posting on the web page (http://www.sofobomo.org/2009/) was very difficult.

Then I was also working on a presentation for a ladies’ tea at our former church. I spoke there on the topic “Passing on Our Remarkable Christian Heritage – May the Lord Find Us Faithful.” I use quilts as a motif in giving my testimony for a ladies ministry group. This time I used quilts as a motif for passing on our heritage. I had about a month from the time they asked until the time I presented, so that was busy. Plus it fell during the time I was doing the above project.

But, you know what, EVERYONE is busy. I don’t know how your life is but I can pretty well guess that you are busy. Enough about that!

During the month of June, on our way back from a Daytona Beach, Florida, my husband and I went through St. Augustine, Florida. We stopped at the Alligator Farm. There were lots and lots and lots of alligators. However we can see them at home almost any time we want to. (Yeah, why would we want to?)

Also in the Alligator Farm are LOTS of birds, mainly Egrets, some Herons. This picture is one of several that I took. I will post more later.



I hope you are having a good July. I am incredibly thankful that I live here in the United States of America. We have problems, who doesn’t, but I am glad to be here.

Creamed Corn

This image is one that my husband shot, while I was creaming (scraping) an ear of corn. The corn is in – meaning that the corn crop is ready to be harvested, at least some of it. We went to the “corn cooler”, a place where the farmer’s fresh picked corn is taken for distribution. This is actually a commercial establishment, but individuals can go and get a few crates. We have gone there for the last several years and bought corn.

Then we sit on the back porch and Mitch shucks the ears. He then hands them to me and I run them across this “grater” to cut the kernels and then again to pull out the middle (just want to be sure I get all of the good stuff) of the kernels. It is hot and messy work.

I use a “grater” or “scraper” that was my Grandmother’s. I enjoy sitting there and thinking about her using it and now I am using it. While it is hard work, it is peace giving work for me to think about her.

I don’t get carried away by my recall – when the peas come in, I buy them already shelled. Then Mitch and I blanch them and put them up – freeze them.

I enjoy summer, fresh peaches, fresh corn, fresh tomatoes, fresh peas, and so on. I simply can not get enough.

However, the key to this is that in the middle of winter, I get the taste of summer, right out of my own freezer.

I hope you have memories that come to you this time of year and give you peace and pleasure.

Black and White Gardenia Petals

Our Gardenia bush is so loaded that when it rains the limbs almost fall to the ground. Last week, I went out and took some photographs and am working with them. This is an image of just petals singled out. I love black and white pictures, thus I converted it to a black and white. I like this, though I am still working on other images.

It has been a blessing in our house this past week and a half. My house smells so good with the Gardenias in it. Also, when we walk outside, especially after a fresh rain, the blessing extends out over the yard. There are so many blooms they just “smell up” the yard.

I hope you are receiving blessings this week.

I do not have a Memorial Day image to post, but I must remind each of us that because of those who have given their lives for us, we can celebrate this day as we wish. Please, remember you are blessed because of the lives of others.

William and the Lizard

Spring is a time for new beginnings and I love Spring. Children, baby animals and birds, new growth on trees, flowers, all of it, it is just all wonderful. New discoveries are made.

Here is a picture of our grandson and his first discovery of a lizard. William had no qualms about touching the lizard. Part of that is he hasn’t been hurt by one yet. However, a major part of that is his mom. I would find frogs, lizards, and eventually snake skins in her pockets or in her bedroom. William has a great role model for his years ahead.

Here is a toast to new things – William was two years old in March – so he is a part of the wonders of Spring.

I hope you still have the wonder of a small child in yourself!

Sunrise on Lake Seminole in May

This is the April edition of the year’s sunrise images. We went to Sneads, FL, and shot back toward the east over the lake. So far all of our focus has been on the lake. I hope to move away from the lake in May to shoot some of the surrounding area.

Our area is an agricultural one and I think there are some beautiful sunrises waiting out there over fields and pastures.

After the 15th of May, I will be focusing on another project though. You can see it at my other blog, set up specifically for the project, http://swgeorgiacourthouses.blogspot.com. I have 30 days to take and publish in a book form 35 images. I have selected southwest Georgia courthouses as my subject. I signed on for this project in an effort to get me out photographing more.

I will still add photos here once a week, so please do come back and look.

I hope you are having a great spring. As you can see, it is beautiful here on the lake.

Baby Egrets

On the theme of babies, here is an image of a couple of baby Egrets. This picture was taken at the Venice Rookery, back at the beginning of April.

There were two here together that the parents would come and feed. One of them was much more active than the other. Here you can see that one "trying out his wings."

I couldn't help but be amused. Mom and Dad go off and like most children he tries to see what he can get into.

Hope you are having great spring weather.

Baby Geese (and babies)

Yesterday morning, we went over to Sneads, Florida, to take pictures of the sunrise. This was a part of our year’s commitment to taking sunrise pictures around our area.

There were two sets of Geese with babies. One pair had one baby and the other pair had two babies. I took several pictures of the Geese families. This one actually wound up with the two babies being together and no parents in the picture. This set me thinking . . .

Last week we kept our grandson as his mom had a work commitment that complicated getting the little man to daycare. The parent geese reminded me of my husband and me. We were everywhere that our grandson was. He could not (not that he wanted to) get out of our sight. He loves being outside, so we spent much time outside. Sometimes just being on the back porch was enough. However, he also wanted to go for an ATV ride, so he got to do that. He wanted to swing, so we did that. Whatever he wanted it was pretty much his time to do.

We introduced him to boating and took him on his first boat ride. He liked it a lot, but it was better when “Grandpa go fast”.

So, back to our geese. Let’s all watch out for our babies like they do. (See the second picture.) Keeping a look out for trouble and keeping them close to us as we guide their steps.

As I was taking pictures, the babies kept getting closer and closer to me. Finally, I heard a “hissing” noise and took my head out from behind the camera to see one of the parents “warning” me to leave. So, I did, promptly!

Have a good day, and watch out for others.

SoFoBoMo

Is that it? Yeah, it is as good as any for the title.

I have signed up for the SoFoBoMo. What!? You ask, with both question mark and exclamation point. SoFoBoMo is short for Solo Photo Book Month

See further explanation here:

http://www.sofobomo.org/2009/

I considered a book last year, but just procrastinated, and procrastinated, and procrastinated. Did you understand I procrastinated?

This year I decided no procrastination. (Well, not in regards to the book. Other things? Yeah, it is still on!)

Okay, let us move onward.

I have a couple of ideas in mind. By the end of May, I must have decided what I am going to photograph. By the end of June, I must have completed my book.

Ah, yes, there is room for some more procrastination. Isn’t life good?

You may be seeking my regular photograph; usually I add one per week. Well, this comment is about the SOFOBOMO, yet to be determined. By actually posting this I am attempting some “accountability.” Now there is a word to love.

So, bear with me. I will keep posting my blog as usual. However, there will be extra blogs as I explore this new adventure. Come with me and let’s see what we find.

I certainly do not want to explore alone.

Which reminds me, why don’t you consider a SOFOBOMO of your own????? There is still time to sign up!

Relationships

Some friends of ours recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. My husband and I were asked by their granddaughter-in-law to take pictures of the celebration. We were more than happy to do so. One of the highlights of the day was the cutting of the “wedding cake”. This couple had eloped and not had a “wedding”. Thus, there had been no “wedding cake.” For their anniversary, a beautiful, three layer cake was decorated with gold bows and a big “50” on the top. We did the usual “bride and groom cut the cake and feed each other”. I would venture to say it may have been more civilized than a newly married couple. These two people knew the ramifications of . . . whatever might have passed between them.

This week, my husband and I have been in Venice, Florida. We went to the well known Venice Rookery. It is a small bird rookery in the middle of civilization. We had a really good time taking pictures of Great Blue Herons, White Egrets, and Anhingas, just to name a few of the birds we saw.

As I watched some of the Great Blue Herons, I thought about relationships. So, here are three pictures about relationships. I think in all relationships, whether marital or friendship or even familial, there are several important methods of communication used. First of all (see the first picture), there is talking, where one is talking and the other is listening. Then, to make this relationship work well, you both have times when you are going in the same direction, i.e., have the same goals or outlook in mind (second picture). However, there are also those times when you need to be alone, to think for yourself, not to be together but to be “apart” (the third image).

My prayer is that you have someone to enjoy life with. Maybe it is family (spouse, brother, sister, etc.) or a friend (the true friend that understands these times as explained), both are important and each can understand us well enough to share life.

Anniversary Quilt - Our Waltz

Lately, I have been struggling with my photography. Just a temporary difficulty I am sure.

I thought, in the meantime, I would post pictures of the anniversary quilt I made for my husband and me.

These pictures reflect the two blocks that were used throughout the quilt and then the complete quilt itself. The blocks are called “Cannonball” and “54-40 or Fight.”

The Cannon ball is also called a Snow ball.

The “54-40 or Fight” refers to the battle between between the US and Canada in the northwest regarding establishment of the border, in the early 1800's. A lot of people wanted the border set at the 54 longitudes and 40th parallel which would have taken all of Southern Alaska and British Columbia. Eventually the 49th parallel was used.

When used in the pattern as I did together these two blocks make a Tennessee Waltz patterned quilt.

I was amused when I realized that the anniversary quilt is made of two blocks that seem to reflect “fighting”. However, the first time my husband and I danced a slow dance together it was to the music “Tennessee Waltz.” When I saw this quilt pattern I just knew that I needed to make a quilt like this.

It actually was intended for our anniversary a couple of years ago. However, life got in the way “so to speak”. A wedding quilt needed to be made, baby quilts needed to be made, a “going away” quilt for our Pastor’s wife needed to be made.

Our marriage was going to last and the quilt could wait, though not be left undone.

Weddings, new babies, the loss of a friend’s presence, these needed to be seen to right away.

As has been for years, our marriage, it was our support and strength through all of these.

Sunrise over Florida Bay

It is hard to know which is more beautiful: sunrise or sunset.

They each have their own merit. With a sunrise, you are greeting a new day, a new chance to . . . whatever it is that you are needing to do. Perhaps you need to forgive a friend, for you have been forgiven. Perhaps you need to mend a family relationship, this is vital to each of us. Perhaps you just need a new start.

Sunset – perhaps it means, “Whew! This day is over.” Perhaps it means: “. . . After all tomorrow is another day.” Perhaps it means, a fresh start . . . in the morning, with the sunrise.

All I know is: I love to see either one of them over the water.

This is sunrise from the balcony of our hotel on Islamorada, in the Florida Keys.

Please put yourself in this chair, I left it empty just so you could join me. I even brought you a cup of coffee.

Have a good day, whatever you new day means to you.

Sunset at Pine Island, Florida

Last night I went to Pine Island, on the Gulf Coast of Florida. From there I could see an “uninterrupted” sunset. There were no condominiums rising in the distance. There were no evening lights coming on. There was just ocean and sun, with a boat now and then. I don’t get to see many sunsets like this any more.

Don’t get me wrong, I love living on the lake: the eagles, the osprey, the quiet in the middle of the week when the weekenders go home. All of it!

There is just something about sitting and watching the sun melt into the sea that is beautiful in a unique way. As I wait for the sun to go “down” I feel myself calming down, relaxing, taking slow breaths. There is nothing else to do. The sun dips slowly, ever so slowly, down toward the horizon. My breathing slows. I am totally focused on the miracle. The colors are incredible. I can feel them in my bones. Then . .

It’s gone.

However, just sitting here writing about it brings it all back. I hope you can breathe deep and enjoy it.

Black & White Calla Lily

I realize that flowers are particularly glorious because of their color. There are some incredible colors in the world in flowers. I think of the various shades of roses. One can not merely say red, there are numerous “shades” of red, from bright to subdued. There are even roses that are classified as blue and purple.

Then there are lilies. Consider the Bible verses Matthew 6:28-29.
28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

They are as beautiful as roses and just as varied. Even some that are striped or spotted, with various colors in one bloom.

Yes, flowers have a glory all to themselves as far as color goes.

However, I couldn’t help but publish this Calla Lily. There is a beauty in its simplicity of form that I tried to capture in black and white.

So, in addition to God’s glorious work in color, consider His glorious work in form. I can but in my small way capture a representative image of His incredible, awesome work.

Lilies

When I bought a pot of Calla Lilies yesterday, it was a whim. We were shopping in one of our favorite Publix Supermarkets and there the lilies were. They were absolutely beautiful.

I decided to get a pot of them and take them home to photograph. At one time, I would have thought this an odd thing to do, but it has become quite common place around our house. So, this morning, after a sunrise shoot, Mitch and I both spent some time photographing the lilies.

Here is one of my efforts. I hope you enjoy them. I hope that they give you the lift in your spirit that they did for me.

'Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they toil not,
neither do they spin:
even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
~ Matthew 6:28-29

White Egret at Ding Darling

These are such stately birds when they are stalking along the shoreline. We see them frequently near our home on Lake Seminole. However, this image was taken at Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge. I like the clean look of this image. Just the bird and water. I do certainly wish I had gotten all of his tail.

Valentines Day

A friend gave me a lens set to go with my new Lensbaby (a type of camera lens). I then went to the store and bought a pail of red tulips to practice taking pictures of, with my news lens set. I had a great time. Tulips to me are one of the signs of Spring that lift my heart. Taking pictures of tulips with a new lens from a friend – well, what a great time.

Thinking of friends and people I love brought me to this coming weekend.

Valentines Day is this coming weekend. This is a difficult day for many people. There are those who have never found that special someone to be with, married to, engaged to, or just “in love” with. There are those that may have found that someone but lost them, perhaps in death (we went to a funeral today and there have been several losses of friends in the last week). Perhaps that special someone they love is far away, I think of our men and women in the military or in service to the Lord as missionaries. There are so many reasons to be away from a loved one. Then there are those who are divorced, not by choice but whose marriage fell apart due to things they could not control.

Valentines Day is a “Couples Day.” And it can be very sad.

However, if you can learn to love yourself I believe you can be alone and be okay. I found the following quote today:

You cannot be lonely if you like the person you're alone with. ~Wayne W. Dyer

I have not learned this yet. I still sometimes do not like myself. I still sometimes think I am too . . . Though; I am more comfortable in this skin than I was as a young woman.

My Valentines greeting to each of you is:

Find yourself and be pleased with yourself. In essence, love yourself.

Buy yourself some tulips and enjoy the day!

Bit off more than you can chew?

Do you ever have days when you seem to have bit off more than you can chew?

I sure do.

When we were at Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge, I caught this picture of a Woodstork that had grabbed a hold of what looked like a Gar fish. In subsequent pictures the Stork actually ate the Gar. However, for a bit there it looked like a toss up as to who was winning.

This is how I feel sometimes in life. I get a hold of something, it looks good. It looks like something I want to eat or something I want to do, something I want to have, etc. Then I realize that it is much larger or more difficult or more time consuming or more expensive than I had thought it would be. And there I am, holding on to it because I can not or will not let go. What gets in the way? I truly want it and do not want to let go? Or maybe pride gets in the way? Or maybe stubbornness gets in the way? Maybe, just maybe, I do not know how to let it go, but I want to.

For some reason, I do not think I am the only person that does this. Do you want to know how I deal with it?

I have learned to pray about it. “God, is this really something I am to do? Is this really something you want me to do? Lord, what should I do with this?”

Sometimes, I get answers . . . right away. Sometimes, I get answers . . . but after I have learned the lesson that goes along with teaching. In some cases, I am still learning and have not yet had an answer.

Just a few thoughts to share, hopefully you are better at dealing with such things than I.

Focus

Do you focus so much on where you are going that you fail to see the here and now? I sometimes do this. I fail to “live in the moment.”

This image was taken by a lens called a Lens Baby. It has a “sweet spot” where things are in focus. The rest of the image is somewhat out of focus, depending on several variables.

This image however speaks to me about living in the moment. I fail sometimes to see the trees where I am. I may not appreciate enough the love of my family or the love of my Lord. I may fail to hear my friends when they call out to me. I may overlook a need by one close to me.

Mitch and I got up early and we were sitting on a dock on another part of the lake as the sun rose. We went to take pictures of the sunrise. There were Coots, Herons, and ducks. A couple of fishermen put their boat in the water and took off, in the early morning fog. We also heard the cry of a Loon.

After the sun rose, we came home and had French toast for breakfast.

I am sitting here at my computer listening to a Brown Thrasher. Earlier, I heard Blue Birds. I just enjoyed a cup of tea, listening to the sounds of the morning.

Today, I am going to try and focus on the now. I am going to try not looking around that bend and wondering what is there and worrying about the “what if’s.”

Worrying about the “what if’s” is a major problem about not living in the here and now. Yes, you need to prepare for the future. You can, however, worry yourself, literally, to death by focusing too much on the “yet to come”.

My grandmother used to tell me, “Don’t go chasing shadows.”

Join me in the here and now. Enjoy the gift given to you today!

William

A few days ago, Michelle and I were discussing how our family (the girls and my nephews) are programmed to “pose for the camera.” It is amusing how when I take out my camera or when my sister-in-law does the same, our children know to pose.

Here is a picture of our grandson, William. We were lucky enough to take care of him this past Wednesday. He is a treat! He can count to ten. He is learning his ABC’s. He already knows the “no” word, and he is not yet two years old. In the background is the box his Christmas gift was in. He is still enjoying the box. He goes in it, saying “goodbye” as he does. This is followed by “see you later.” He closes it up. Then out he comes. As for the Christmas gift, well who knows . . .

As you can see, he already knows to pose for the camera. I had forgotten to take my Canon so this is with a point and shoot. However, he immediately knew what it was for. As soon as Mitch took the camera out and pointed it at William, he posed.

I hope his smile is as contagious for you as it is for us.

Captiva Island Sunset

The first day we were in Fort Myers, we went to Sanibel/Captiva Island. It was a nice drive. We also got some of our first pictures at Ding Darling Wildlife Preserve.

We then drove north on the road connecting Sanibel/Captiva, looking for a place to park and take some pictures of the sunset. While the gulf front is “public” land, there was absolutely no place to park. So I took several pictures while Mitch was driving.

This is a sunset from Captiva Island, taken while Mitch is driving south and I am shooting out the window on the passenger side. You can see some people have set up for a sunset viewing. (If you click on the image it will upload the complete panorama.)

It was an absolutely beautiful sunset.

I love sunrises as they bring a new day. I also love sunsets – they are so beautiful!

Hope you enjoy this one as well.

Sanibel Island Causeway Sunrise

This week I am speaking at a Christian Women’s Connection luncheon, in Fort Myers, Florida.

Mitch decided to come with me and we came down early. We were going to use the trip as a short break together and get in some photography. It has been year’s since we were in Fort Myers. The last time was when Brandie turned sixteen and we went to the keys for a vacation. We came back up the west coast of Florida on our way home.

This morning we got up early as we were going out to Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge for a morning boat ride. On the way over, we stopped at the causeway going to Sanibel Island. We stayed there about thirty minutes and caught a few pictures of the sunrise. I almost missed it as I was taking pictures of gulls.

Here is an image from this morning. It was a beautiful sunrise.

Of course, I think all sunrises are beautiful. It means the opportunity of another day and that is grand indeed.