denise

When @ the ocean...

Monterey Bay Whale Watch

Cypress Grove Trail - Point Lobos State Reserve

Point Lobos State Reserve is located on the central coast of California in Monterey County. The entrance is located three miles south of Carmel on Highway 1.

These are a few pictures taken on the Cypress Grove Trail. The Cypress Grove Trail winds (8/10 mile) through one of the two naturally growing stands of Monterey cypress trees remaining on Earth.

Point Lobos State Reserve was originally acquired to protect these gnarled trees. This particular grove is a memorial to Mr. and Mrs. A.M. Allan.
Source: Point Lobos State Reserve - Cypress Grove

Street Market

The Tuesday afternoon street market in Monterey

Car Show

I walked outside during one of the breaks from the work conference I was attending and was greeted by this colorful surprise.

Baby Shower

My niece, Brooke, is expecting her second child in just a few short weeks. Her due date is November 12. Our church had a baby shower for her today. Here's a layout I did of the most important people there.   :)

The Great-Great Grandmother, the Great Grandmother, the maternal Grandmother, the paternal Grandmother and of course the Mom-to-be.

Syrup Soppin'

Every October (usually on an away game weekend), the town of Loachapoka, Alabama, holds its annual Syrup Soppin' Festival. There are mules or horses turning the poles the old-fashioned way squeezing the liquid out of the sugar cane. Kids get an opportunity to ride the mule/horse as it makes tracks around the press.

There are arts and crafts booths as well as a chance to get a sweet potato biscuit or if you aren't that adventurous, a plain sausage & biscuit. As we walked by the food booths with funnel cakes, lemonade or in my case pork rinds. This year I bought BBQ and Cajun pork rinds. I couldn't believe it but the three youngest (4, 2.5, and 1) ate the entire bag of BBQ rinds. I held out on the Cajun. They are for my FIL.

There wasn't much of an opportunity to take photos this year with all the kids. The only pictures I got were those made after they got their faces painted.