Gustav

Yet another Tropical Storm is on its way to the Gulf of Mexico....and what great timing it has (I say with plenty of sarcasm). My friend Ranae and her cousin are flying in from IL to spend the holiday weekend with us. I have plans of boating, sunning, swimming, and fishing in store for us and I may have to squeeze that in to two days...not to mention the nightlife and a lunch date with Ranae's in-laws (who are down here right now as well).

Keep your fingers crossed that Gustav will hold off until after Tuesday - Nae has to fly back home Tuesday afternoon and as much as I want her to stay down here...I'm sure Bill and the girls would want their mommy back home :)

On another note:
I'll try to do better with the pictures. I have been very busy trying to touch up photos from previous sessions and get them out to my clients ASAP - I have to build a good customer base! I'll try to do better!

Fay was a tease

Tropical storm Fay turned out to be a big tease.....yes, you heard right, a tease. Am I really an adrenaline junkie? We have been here for two years, seriously...where are all of these "storms"? I know I should be careful of what I wish for, but really...

The eye of the storm was sitting directly on top of us...storms spinning all around us. It was the calm before the storm - or so we thought. Then drizzle, drizzle, and more drizzle. A westerly (sp?) wind came in and, like magic, distanced the storm from us.

Jim tells me there's another tropical storm in the Carribean somewhere. I say I'll get excited when I see it head our way.

(in all seriousness, though...I am happy there wasn't a soul hurt - around here - do to TS Fay)

Tropical Storm Fay

The Eye of the storm has just passed over us......we are just waiting for her to unleash her fury.....

"Tropical Storm Fay crossed into the Florida Panhandle on Saturday, becoming the first storm of its kind in recorded history to hit the state four different times.Fay's center made landfall around 1 a.m. EDT about 15 miles north-northeast of Apalachicola, according to the National Weather Service's National Hurricane Center.Fay was expected to finally leave the state on Saturday as it skirted across the Panhandle's coast and reached the coasts of Mississippi and Alabama on Sunday.Though Fay never materialized into a hurricane, downpours along its zigzagging path have been punishing and deadly."

To see where she's at now, check out the weather channel's website.

On a personal note:
we are excited about this storm....the adrenaline junkies we are -- we are having a TS Fay Party today! Lots of food and drinks :) Pics to follow.......

what I've been doing lately

Engagement Photos

Portraits

full moon + ebb & flow = good fishing!

Friday night was an exciting night of fishing for Jim, Tyler, myself & the Dangle's (Derek & Sarah). We put the boat in the water at about 8pm and headed toward St. Andrews Bay....in the pass. Apparently when there is a full moon, the fish are more abundant (? - and I don't question the 'pros') and if the tide is coming in, it will stir everything up; thus brining in all of the fish! While we were out there we saw a huge stingray (a.k.a. carpet) jump out of the water about 15' from the boat. We also had dolphin surrounding us practically. AND....we (the girls) guessed sharks to be the culprits for a mass amount of thrashing around in the waters just behind our boat - the boys say it was dolphin, but I don't think dolphin move like that - especially after seeing the dolphin swimming right next to the boat so gracefully. Although, one dolphin did manage to take one of our fish AND the lure...it broke the line and pissed Derek off (it was actually quite funny). We were out for about 4 hours and had a BLAST. I would go out over and over again if I could.

Captain Jim

We caught lots of blue crab as they were being carried out in the tide (via nets) - they make great bait. Derek shows me how to get the blue crab ready for bait - kind of gross at first...but then it's fun! Just tear off thier top shell and viola! Exposed crab meat ready for the taking!













Sarah's Redfish LOVED the crab!

Hello Ladyfish - what an ugly fish you are!

The Fight

The reward! And yes, that is a light on my head. You can see the fish's eyes in the water when the red light shines on them. Very strange, but very cool!

Tyler's Ladyfish

Margaritaville

Happy 38th Jim!

"Hey everyone, it's Jim's Birthday! Say 'happy birthday, Jim!'" And the entire restaraunt says....HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIM!































THE best nachos this side of the border!!

Balloon Animals!

See any similarities?










This Bud's for You!


I see you under there Kris!














The plane and the "lost shaker of salt"

































































It's 5:00 SOMEWHERE!
Upstairs seating for us!

Mexico Beach

An evening at Toucan's for dinner, some ice cream for dessert (notice Kammie's blue smile below), and a walk on the Mexico Beach Pier to wrap up the evening.

There's a real toucan behind the glass!

This is the view from our table. Kammie and Addison play on the swings while we wait for our food.

F-22s fly overhead

Tyler gazes out into the water on the pier















Grumpy Jayce, Jim, Tyler, Kris, Addison & Kammie

Practice Shots

One night this summer we walked over to Felix Lake with my camera to take some practice shots as I start up my new photography business. Here's what I got......




















Addison & Kammie, forced posing.

The big gator underwater.

Addison & Kam with the gator in the background. He turned and started to come t'wards us as if there were eggs in grass. A bit scary.

The boys and an onlooker with a fishing pole.

Peaceful Felix Lake - besides all of the snakes and gators, that is.

Baby gator.

The hanging bridge....I love this bridge!

Kammie shots.......

This one with the gator behind her.