Ripley the Rain Frog.
It was already dark and the crickets were chirping. I can't seem to remember exactly why I was outside that night, but maybe it was to cook on the grill. I noticed this frog was hanging on the back of the lakehouse door. Each and every time I opened or closed the door, he continued to hang on. Even after I tortured him by taking picture after picture, blinding him with the flash...he still hung on! Click after click, I just wasn't sure I was getting the one picture I wanted. After I marveled at him for a while, I went inside not thinking about him anymore. Maybe assuming he would go away somewhere and play. Lots of time pasted and I had forgotten all about my friend Ripley, the frog outside.
Later that evening I was resting on the couch, enjoying the dinner that was prepared and some TV. All of a sudden, I thought I saw something fall from the ceiling. Not knowing what it was and being afraid, I pulled my legs up on the couch. Oh no! I thought I saw it move again. What was it? I couldn't see it...and then it moved again! It was Ripley!!! He wanted to come in and watch TV with me! YAY!!!
After much laughter and fun, I finally caught my new friend in a food container and sent him on a new adventure to a different place in the yard. I truly hope I didn't hurt him in the move, but he hopped off as if it had been fun getting to know me.
I hope everyone likes the picture as much as I loved this moment in time. Maybe it will remind you to HANG ON whether your door is open or shut and just maybe...help yourself to a little relaxation...ha ha ha...
Have a great day!
I am so excited to share this picture! It is probably one of my favorites! These are my two boys with my best friend. He took them on a walk through the woods one Sunday afternoon. I trampled along behind them... just to take pictures. I really love the intensity in their faces. I love that they are listening to him explain and explore. I should have taken a picture of the tree they were discussing. I wish I had. It was crooked and all of them had different theories about how it got that way. It is wonderful to see this bond between the three of them. He allows them to have an opinion and listens to why they think what they do. They talk about all the options and then he may suggest what he thinks really happened. It is AMAZING how much love and respect can come from just a walk in the woods. I hope one day they will walk together in the woods again, so I can tag along behind...just waiting for that special moment. ~Sunshine~ 
Last fall, I was standing on board the USS Yorktown and I saw this bird perching on the fence, so... I took this picture. Taking pictures is one of my favorite things to do. But, I thought I was just taking a picture of a silly bird for grins and giggles! Surprisingly, when I had the pictures developed, I saw this amazing picture of the Charleston Harbor in the background. Oh! At the things we miss that are in plain sight. That day, I took lots of pictures aboard the ship and on all of the other military vessels. I even saw some dolphins playing. But, I never thought about what was in the background. Sometimes, that is the way life is for me. I get busy...always focused on things to do that I miss something wonderful hiding around the corner or in the background. Try to stop today and look around...you might see something great or better yet...experience something new!
This is my friend MONDAY. I think he is a box turtle. I saw him at the lake with my best friend a few weeks ago. It was raining that day and he was hiding under the steps. I think I would have been hiding there too. I am not really sure why I assume it is a boy turtle, but since I found him, I think I can say he is a boy if I want. I named him Monday because at work on Monday morning, I always feel like he acts....slow and easy and never in a hurry...maybe even trying to hide!
