CLARISSA'S CORNER

So, first I must apologize for being so long in updating this blog...busy has been an understatement but that is no excuse. January, February and March have passed in a blur for me and now I am headed off on another "trip of a lifetime". But before I go, there are a couple things I would like to share. So I decided to share a late February/March in Review. Now I must confess that I may revisit some of these in future blogs...but I just couldnt wait any longer to share!

CUMBERLAND FALLLS

The very first bright sunny weekend we had in February, spring fever caught us all! Jeanette and I took her nieces, Makala and Morgan to visit Cumberland Falls...for their very first time. I still find that so amazing....just how many people have not seen Cumberland Falls...and it is in our own backyard! Maybe I am blessed, Maybe I take my privileges for granted...but enjoying the beauty of creation never gets old! So I love being tour guide for the day! Oh, what a day! Makala and Morgan are both tomboys...kind of like I used to be. Wait, did I say used to be...I must confess that I am the one who climbed a mountain face just to get the right angle for the icicle pictures and I was totally with the girls when they wanted to climb closer to the mini waterfall (which I am sure has a Real Name). We made a trail where there was no trail just to find out there was a trail! :) Leave it to us! As warm as it was that day, ice was everywhere and every time an icicle dropped into the water...we all jumped thinking we had been shot or attacked by a bear! But what a fun, relaxing, good day we had with these two young rambunctious girls..hopefully, only the first of many good memories to share.




WINTERJAM 2010

I love Christian music and I really enjoy a good concert. So to be able to attend WinterJam each year is always a treat. It is the ultimate best of the Best and for only $10! How can you miss with such artists as NewSong, Newsboys and Third Day and that's not counting all the rest. There are always a few that are a bit "wild" for my taste...but this year was a real treat. Although we were "early", we still werent early enough but ended up with seats kind of like backstage! It was the best of a bad situation! and Very Very Loud!!! But that is WinterJam! Newsong is always great. I had never seen Michael Tait and the Newsboys together but it was memorable. Third Day stole the show and I was able to share a part of that concert with family in NC and Ohio. Already counting down the days until next year's winterjam!!


But here I am out of time and so much yet to share...so stay tuned as there is much more to share: birthdays, special visits from my Kentucky family, Princess Classics on Ice, Spring has Sprung, all kinds of new pics from the area lakes plus a weekend I will never forget....a weekend with my cousins in Ohio!

Thanks for your continued support and patience as I get my act back together! In the meantime, enjoy spring! enjoy family! Make some memories of your own!

May God Bless and Keep You in my Prayer,

Recently, one evening as my parents were watching Kentucky Afield, the program featured s special segment on the migration of the Sandhill Cranes though Kentucky. The thought of hundred, possibly thousands of cranes feeding and resting in a corn field in Kentucky was just mind boggling and simply irrestible.

So, on the spur of the moment, my dad and I set on a road trip...armed with cameras, video cameras, snacks, boots, coats, maps and as much information as I could find. It is always special when my dad gets to accompany me on a photography outing, especially since it doesn't happen often. Of coruse, he still doesn't understand why I need 100 pictures of the same thing when surely just five would do! :)

We made excellent time heading to Glasgow. Not exactly sure where to start looking, we headed out toward the Barren River State Park.


Beautiful country and doesn't it make sense...birds need water so where there is water there should be birds...Right? WRONG! It might have made sense to us, but we searched high and low, an off road here, a pasture there, following the suggestions everyone had given. My dad was getting a little nervous...he wasn't real sure we were going to find any cranes...how was I going to handle the disappointment?

I had to take a moment and remind him of my white squirrel story....just when it seemed hopeless, the Lord came right on time! and it helps, that I am not afraid to ask for help or directions!

As a final resort, we stopped by the Barren River Resort where the lady directed m eto the Bear's Den! No Kidding! Down those steps, follow a long hall..until you see the Bear's Den (aka the Ranger's Office!) Believe you me, it was a ranger's office...critters and books everywhere. Talk about timing...it was just perfect! The ranger had just arrived and was accompanied by Mr. Romer, a local photographer who had been scouting area cornfields for the cranes. Wow...that is just all I can say! Wow!

It is also unbelievably cool when you meet a fellow photographer who is willing to share information and this gentleman was very, very helpful. He not only told me where to go, he asked about my equipment, and he drawed me a map that was quite detailed and took us right to the cranes! Without this map, we would have never found the cranes...especially since they were on the "other" side of Glasgow! And then to beat it all, we very nearly missed them.

In fact, if we hadn't noticed a van pulled off to the side of the road, we would have missed our first field. But then suddenly, there were Cranes, Cranes Everywhere! I couldn't even begin to count the number of cranes! Their coloring of browns and grays blended in so well with the cornfields, it was the perfect camouflage.



We drove on a little ways where we found a 'couple'...just two cranes strolling through the pasture with the horses...like they had not a care in the world....Beautiful and amazing! and Unbelievable...if I had not seen it with my own eyes, not sure even I would have truly believed the numbers.


We traveled the whole area marked on our little map. Some roads had only a few cranes and others had multitudes. To see all these cranes literally sitting in folks backyards and pastures..can you imagine? If I had lived in the area, I would have been hard pressed to go to work until they left the area.


One of the coolest things was watching their mating dance. They would coo and dance and sway and just show off!

Here are just a couple videos that show off the cranes so much better than the actual pictures.





After several hours, dad who had been extremely patient and an awesome chauffeur, finally asked: Reckon you have enough pictures yet? So although it was hard to tear myself away, just as the cranes themselves were flying off to settle in for the night, wisdom dictated that as the sun was setting, we begin our long drive home.

Spring is here and with it warmer weather..when was the last time you had a spur of a moment adventure? Why not take one today!

Go Adventuring,

I still remember the text message, Chrissy (which is what my family still calls me) you are so awesome with the camera, could you please take my senior photos? What? Me, surely you have texted the wrong number. Girl, dont ya know...I am a nature photographer! All of these random thoughts flew through my head in the space of seconds.

But how to say No to a young a lady I care about so much and has become a great friend...I just could not do it! So, Sara...who is also my cousin, along with her mom and I went to Renfro Valley for the first portion of our shoot. Catching the fall foliage at its peak requires perfect timing and somehow we managed to get there at just the right evening! The sun was just beginning to set which made the lighting by the Renfro Creek and bridge a great place for pictures. Then we went out to the garden pulloff at Lake Linville. This has become of my favorite to shoot the lake and it was even more beautiful with the final rose blossoms still hanging on. While out and about, we also took some pictures of Sara and her mom, Tammy together! All in all, I think they came out pretty good! But we didnt stop there, as Sara became my "senior guinea pig", we did a photoshoot with horses, on city walls, and in Nashville, TN at the Opryland Hotel.



Congratulations Sara and to the rest of the Class of 2010.


Signature

This winter has been one memorable snow event after another. Thankfully, most have arrived on the weekends so I could actually enjoy them with the worries of driving in it. The other reason I am thankful is for one of my dad’s brightest, most inventive ideas.

Our home is situated on a hill with a pretty steep driveway which can be quite treacherous when covered with snow and ice.

So my dad had an idea one day to cover the concrete portion of our drive with plastic. Then when the snow’s come and go, all we have to do is sweep off the snow, scoot over the plastic…and Voila…a clean driveway!!!

Well, our last snow was some heavy stuff and, of course, dad’s snow blower tore up! That meant some muscle work and a snow shovel was involved! As I was already bundled up and out taking pics anyway, I “assisted” my dad with the snow removal (in between pictures!).

With some good team work, it didn’t take long to get the snow off and the driveway cleared but it will be a long while before I forget the special time together!



Make a memory with someone special in your life! This very day!

One Friday evening, we girls (Jeanette, Makala and I) decided on a girls night out…but what to do? Being it was January, there was not a lot on…but then I saw it: Motorcross Championships at the new Corbin arena. Why not? After a delicious fish dinner at Cracker Barrell, we were off to our adventure. For a Friday night, I was surprised at how few people were out and about – mostly teens and young families. I must confess, having never been to a motorcross event, I was a little nervous about this being a “Family-Friendly” event. I should have had no worries. The evening started with a devotion from the Bible, prayer, and a salute to the flag. Wow! I was totally impressed! (just about as impressed as I was the night we went to the radio and had a similar experience!) Of course, if I were out there doing the stunts these guys (and gals), I would have wanted to start the evening with prayer as well.



From the Peewee Division (who were too cute and determined) to the Juniors (who were quite competitive) then on to the pros. I kept finding myself holding my breath over and over as flips and jumps kept happening, near misses on curves, and, of course, the accidents (you kept hoping the guys on the ground would get out of the way in time and sure enough they did!) The pics make seem like the action was slow but there was was no doubt these riders were moving on. And the Noise..you need to know sign language!

As the evening progressed, I don’t know who got more excited, Jeanette, me or Makala. (Actually, I am thinking Makala won by a landslide!) With bikes, dirt bikes, four-wheelers, and some strange contraptions, we saw a little bit of everything! I must say the lady riders were just as exciting as the guys! (Almost! but they did really well!) By the time of the finals, we were cheering the guys on with the best of them but #355 totally stole our cheers! He was definitely one talented, awesome rider! Of course, he wasn’t the only one but what can I say! He won!!! Oh Yeah Baby!

So, if you are looking for some good clean fun, family atmosphere, exciting, sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat-adventure, check out the Victory Sports sponsored motorcross coming to you!

Joy 2 u!