Fall with the Robinsons

 A few weeks ago Gene and Pati brought Eloise and her friend Lucy to see us. It was beautiful weather, and everyone pitched in attacking the massive amount of leaves we have in our yard. We also went to Goshen Pass on the Maury River.

Gene is the master raker.

Eloise and Lucy sat on a picnic table looking at the river after E. fell on the rocks and cut her hand. There was blood everywhere. She is smiling in this shot with her hand wrapped, 

but she was not smiling earlier.  Those rocks are so slippery.

Pati, Gene, and Jack setting up the yellow tent. It is definitely camping weather.

This post is linked with Shadow Shot Sunday, Mellow Yellow Monday, and Mosaic Monday.

Shaking Sunday Bridges ~ 12-11-11

More Photos from our Hikes

Part I  

Goshen Swinging Bridge

All I can say is this bridge is old and way too high to suit me! This is the first time I have been with the family while shooting it, though I have posted shots of it from a different perspective in the past.

This is what it look likes as you start across.

It does not bother the kids at all, and Eloise loves it!

 These wires are rusty and old!

You all know how I love to photograph simple and mundane gadgets, nuts, and bolts that do big jobs. I was determined to get these shots even though everyone else was walking ahead of me shaking it more and more with each step. Buddy had to lead a hike up on another mountain, so he did not get to go on this adventure.

I think this shot tells it all....yes, I was white knuckling it. Somehow I managed to pull off this shot, but my legs were trembling at the time. Gripping a swinging bridge with one hand while clicking the shutter of a Canon Rebel XSi with the other one leaves much to be desired.

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 Part II

The Hike up above our House

(This is going to make you all laugh!)

To get to the gate-fence I posted for "Friday Fences," you have to cross Kerrs Creek. Since we have had so much rain lately the water is up, I didn’t have the option of walking from rock to rock to get across. They were well under water.  Here we go....

 The “V” for Victory Magical Pipe Bridge 

 Genie Crawling across on Hands and Knees 

Buddy took this lovely shot, God bless him. You see Eloise and the guys waiting for me on the other side and not coming to Mom/Baga. It was our bachelor friend who came to the rescue, but it backfired. He grabbed my right arm, and I screamed in pain...the old arthritis did not like that movement at all. It took me quite a good bit of time, but I did finally get across, and I DID IT BY MYSELF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

When are my male children aged 39 and 46 going to get the message their mother is now 72 and CANNOT do all the things she always did in the past with a smile? This was pure torture and my legs were black and blue the next day.

This post is linked with Sunday Bridges, Macro Monday, and I Heart Macro.

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ 12-11-11

More Memories from Our Hike

Eloise lost her “special” barrett while hiking in the woods. Her daddy is helping her search for it, but they had no luck. She was sosososo upset. 

Gene always carries a special “care package” for emergencies, and in there are lollipops. That seemed to calm her down. She is wearing one of the scarves I knitted years ago out of cashiering. She will not wear anything that is scratchy.

This post is linked with Shadow Shot Sunday over at Hey Harriet.

Eloise and Her Weekend Reflection ~ 12-10-11

More from Our Hike

Have you ever tried to get a grandchild...or a child, for that matter...to get in a certain spot for a picture. Well, this is the perfect example.

As Eloise was walking towards the swinging bridge, I noticed the trees’ reflections in the puddle.

Before I could stop her, she was headed around the curve to the bridge steps.

I called out to her to come back so I could take her picture with her refection in the puddle. I tired begging her to move a bit so her face would be in the shot, but she had one thing on her mind...

climb those steps and get on that bouncing bridge.

 So, her reflection is complete, but her face is missing.

I decided to flip the shot and see what it looked like, and this is the result. It may not be reality, but you can see how she was posing for me. From the look on her face, I do not think she was very happy with her Baga.

I have not done this before, but after reading John’s (Sinbad and I) and Francisca’s comments I decided to go back into the file and crop the picture more. This is the result. Thanks for your help. This is definitely a learning process for me. I really do appreciate all of your suggestions. 

This post is linked with Weekend Reflections.

Weekend in Black and White ~ 12-9-11

More Pictures from Our Mini Family Reunion

All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth

Before going for one of our hikes, Eloise and I got up early for her to make Christmas cookies to take home to her first grade classmates.

 Time to get out of the car...

 Watching her hiking steps...

 Uncles are for loving...

 Uncles are also great at soothing the pain 

of little boo-boos on the knee...note he loaned 
Eloise his “cool” sunglasses which helped, too...

And a tickle with some pine really helped...

Can you tell I adore my only granddaughter?
Why, she’s the apple of her grandmother’s eye!

This post is linked with Weekend in Black and White.

Blue Sky Hiking

My son who lives in Washington came home for 2 days this past weekend. We all had a wonderful time and spent most of our time in the woods. Both of my sons were here as well as my granddaughter, and I had the time of my life. The weather was perfect as you can see from these three shots. Beginning with my post for "Signs, Signs," yesterday, many of my posts in the days to come are going to be centered around this mini family reunion and our hikes.

This post is linked with Skywatch Friday.

Signs from Our Family Hike ~ 12-5-11

You know us...we will always go hiking where there is a swinging bridge.

We used to go swimming here for years and years, and then this sign appeared. Trust me...we never camped here!

The yellow swaths of color represent property line. We stayed on the trail and did not go over where the posted signs were or the yellow markings on the trees. 

We carried out all we carried in.

The date on this license plate was 1980.

This post is linked with Signs, Signs.

Macro Monday ~10-28-11

Can you guess what this is and what it is used for?

Here is your answer. It is a pipe resting on two round pieces of wood barricading cars from entering this area by the river at Roshen Pass. Another one of those simple things that fascinates me so.

This post is linked with Macro Monday.

Nature’s Beauty Is All Around Us

The Fence and Gate That Gene Built ~ Richmond, VA

(Eloise and her mommy are walking to the house.)

View of Sky and Mountains from Bridge over the Maury River at Rockbridge Baths, VA


Our task must be to free ourselves...
by widening our circle of compassion
to embrace all living things
and the whole of nature and its beauty.
~Albert Einstein

This post is linked with Friday Fences, Skywatch Friday, Weekend Reflections and Shadow Shot Sunday..