It's Serious Business . . .

this cherry picking business.

If it weren't for the Cherry Pickers of the world, we'd be bereft of those deliciously edible and tasty bing cherries we're so fond of.

We decided we needed to give 'em a hand this year. Even if just to show our appreciation. Of course, we may have been much more keenly concerned with giving an appearance at the orchard, than actually getting down to work to pluck those juicy globes from their branches.

But . . .no . . .wait a minute! We'll be the advertising campaign models for the industry! Yes!

We're so smart. (And serious about this cherry-picking business, you know.)

Case in point: Glamour Girl Tiffany, arrayed in the latest fashion statement, prepared her cherry-picking bucket like a pro.

Yes, it was all about the latest cherry picking fashion, my friends. BeautyBeth models the cherry picking seasons' greatest little sundress.

No proper advertising photoshoot would miss the Cherry-Picker-In-The-Branches-photo:

And, every good advertising campaign adds a model to appeal to all generations of would-be-Cherry-Pickers, too, I might add:

The ever popular These-Cherries-Are-Succulent photo is very important:

As well as the Down-To-Earth-Girl-Picks-Cherries-With-Delight photo:

Yet when the day [er, hour] was over, and we'd carefully avoided any cherry stains on our sundresses, our fingers, AND our teeth, the true form of art was found not in front of the camera, but behind it.

BeautyBeth utilized her artisian sense of depth and color to capture our harvest glean at the weigh station.

I must say. This cherry picking business certainly is serious.

The [Paparazzi] Empire Strikes Back

Notorious for stealth shooting photographs when one feels *most* protected and at ease, it should be of no suprise that the despised yet secretly loved gypsies of stardom should strike again, when we least expected it.


Fortunately, Keeton had been properly versed in the matter by his uncle, Keller, some days prior. Therefore, heading poolside for an afternoon sunbathe and swim posed no particular problem for the up and coming star of KBoys "Konversation Korner" fame.


His security?


Those shades.


Gotta have 'em.

Thankfully, the paparazzi had already vamoosed when that cute babe of a 9 month old arrived, all dolled up in her pink bikini. The Star Magazine would have jumped all over photos of that sort . . .and who knows what type of gossip they'd spread!

Reunion

How sweet it is.

Spotted In The Greater LA Area

Taking on a new culture, new surroundings, always brings about awareness of differences and similarities. Sight of an object or area instinctively brings about a memory of something familiar - either to validate or discard the sight in question.

For instance: the chapparal covered hills that surround us here in California keenly remind me of the hills of Chadron State Park in the Nebraska panhandle.

So, sometimes, one looks at an object with a sense of familiarity, even though the object really is a foreign sight.

Such has been the case with a few items of note, which I'll share with you today.

Up first: The pigeons. They are everywhere. Any big city has a slew of them; they live in Mississippi; they take up residence for the sheer joy of having found a home. So, I'm accustomed to seeing them.

I'm not however, used to their state of accustomed to humans! While I was slow on the draw getting my camera out on this event, you can see that Israel is less than two feet away from this female.
Just moments before, she had been seated on the ground, comfortably preeening herself, whilst two nearby suitors beckoned her. In this state, Israel began gently moving toward all three of them ~ almost close enough to reach out. I daresay that if he'd had a food morsel, they very well may have eaten out of his hand. Well, that is, of course, if they'd had a mind to. they seemed very intent on their courting procedures! Their nonchalant attitude toward pedestrians is one of those 'familar unfamiliarities.'

Next up is the momentary blip of *not quite* realizing that the following image was sighted on the street corner, as opposed to the desktop:

Ah. Our favorite search engine on the 'net. Convieniently located on the corner of 6th and Arizona.

And finally, a sight seen regularly, several times a day, in one form or another in the Bible Belt. Painfully missing on a broad scale here in the southern california regions:

Both Israel and I were so suprised to see this blatant statement that Israel retrieved the camera while we were still 2 miles behind the semi in traffic. We knew if we patiently waited, we'd soon be near/pass the guy.

*Sigh* Gotta love that LA freeway.

:D

There you have it.

I'm sure you've a few in your neck of the woods. What have you seen lately, that you haven't really seen at all?

Morning, Love.

Some cozy mornings require no explanation.

Yum.

Children's children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers. Proverbs 17:6

Words.

Bumbling out of bed at three am to catch a plane, returning home with a wide-awake baby who finally allows you to sleep about an hour, but then demands that you bumble out of bed once again to make sure he has his daily ration of Cheerios, has the ability to render one incoherent and wordless.

Such is the case and condition with which I find myself in this morn.

Hmph.

Therefore, to sum it all up, I present two pictorial thoughts, in an effort to bypass my brains' bumbled mechanisms. Please feel free to add any commentary or discourse of your choosing, to make up for the lack of intelligent descriptive rendering I may have added on my own. Thank you. :D

Exhibit A:

(Oh, come on, now! I know someone has some witty, catchy phrase to highlight that particular look that Aubrey gives. And, CameraBoy? Sure. Try your hand. I dare ya!)

Exhibit B:

(It's just too serene. Too beautiful not to stop and smell. Enjoy this moment with me, please! :D)

Pray for my brain please. I enjoy using it. I'd like it put back in it's former condition. :D

Enjoy your day!

The Quest For The 4077: The White Flag Of Surrender

Peering throught the boughs of the trees, we could hear and see a helicopter cruising overhead. Between pants of breath, someone offered: "It's a reenactment of the opening credits!" Another remarked, "Nah. It's the Red Cross 'copter, coming to get me!"

Try as I might, I could not get the hovering craft in the frame of my camera. It was obvious that we were going to have to pause, if only to gain our bearings.


Besides, even though the traffic was slim, we were definitely an obstruction to those deft bikers and experienced hikers who passed us up. Occassionally, an individual or two would be coming from the direction of what we thought was our intended destination. "Are we there yet? Is there really a M*A*S*H* set? How much farther? " Questions queried of each as they manuevered their way past our little entourage. We considered abandoning task. But the thought of the return trip, without the delivery of goods just couldn't be grasped. We must. carry. on.


The river bedrock finally gave way to pebbles, then to gravel . . .and soon, a flatter plain with which to walk. Replacing Keller in his stroller, we gained a bit of speed, and rounded a corner.

There it was.

Suddenly.

Without warning. Without fanfare.

The staging area of many a 'copter landing, a surgical slice, a drink taken at the emotional bereavement of soldiers missing their loved ones stateside.

In that instant, our weariness melted away. We were suddenly energized, and engaged, and chatty with the other hikers, who'd also gained triumph by perseverance!

There it was, a valley area, with staked out markers where the Mess Tent was; the Infirmary; the Barracks. An old burned out jeep; a rusted ambulance . . .all memorials to a long-running hit television series of days gone by.

Several M*A*S*H* groupies were misty-eyed as they chatted among themselves. We encouraged them in the championing of their quest, a dream now realized. As for us? We needed a seat, and PRONTO! We broke out the water bottles and toasted to our accomplishment.

Keller, of course, posed dutifully for the camera, the knowledge of this auspicious occassion near and dear to his heart.

After refreshing ourselves, the mental acuity began to actualize the fact that now we had to retrace our steps!!!

EGADS!

Surely we could now travel with a spring in our step? We could carry the stroller once again over crag and cranny? Well, whether we thought we could or not, the task had to be done . . .

unless of course we could flag down one of those helicopters . . .which seemed awfully far-fetched.

So, retrace we did.

Choosers! Our "thirty-five minute, one mile hike" to the M*A*S*H* 4077 was, and I quote: A THREE MILE, FOUR HOUR venture!

Stumbling back to the car (which we thought we might not ever see again) (not that we are out of shape, or anything) and dropping our weary bodies into the seats, we high-fived each other. Surely, we had accomplished the most important task.

Making a memory that could not be erased.

Off the beaten path? Yes.

Written upon the heart? Oh yeah.

Perfect.

The Quest For The 4077 continued . . .

When we began our alleged thirty-five minute, one mile walk to the film set of M*A*S*H*, the crowds came along with us. Wide was the path ~ a host of folk were gaily enjoying the Sunday summer breezes. But once we had made our choice as to which direction we were to go at the fork in the road, the company began to slim considerably.

This should have been our first clue.

We were distracted by the beauty of nature all around us. Reaching the oak covered bridge, we stopped to take in the refreshing sound of rushing water, and cool ourselves in the shade.

The cattails stood tall in the water, taller than any of us could have ever remember seeing. It was the perfect moment for photos:



Yet the trail beckoned us to continue - even though the pathway seemed to have lost some of it's definition and width.



We soon found ourselves hemmed in on one side by a steep rock-laden cliff. Israel, of course, felt compelled to scamper it:



It was about here, at this juncture, that Keller could no longer tolerate the jostling. Even though we had an all-terrain stroller, the rocks from the dry riverbed were large and looming. A L'il Man can only conk his head on the side of the stroller so many times before he lets out a protest! {Insert "HURRAH!!" for Grandmas here}




It was just as well. Very shortly, we would be carrying the stroller . . .and as we rounded yet another shade covered corner, Keller, his instinctual survival skills in a heightened state, took one last look back at the wide path . . .



And very soon, even DangerBoy would hedge just a hint of concern/foreboding about how this was all going to turn out in the end:

Yes, the afternoon was becoming a bit more than we'd anticipated.

Would we soon be in need of our rusty survival skills?

Hey! Did you hear a helicopter overhead??

. . .to be continued

The Quest For The 4077

The GilGuy is extraordinary. An 'internet' surfer before there ever was an internet, he can locate just about anything his little 'ole heart desires. And usually, that means something for me.

I really wanted to do something different while my Mom was here. Something, say, off the beaten path. But try as I might, I just. couldn't. find. what. I. was. looking. for.

It couldn't be tourist-y.
It shouldn't be run of the mill, or something she's already done.
It certainly should be a memory maker with a punch, a fun component that would serve as a bookmark in our minds for years to come.

The 'net was dishing up nada.

Enter the Extraordinary One. In a flash, he uprooted a website that served champagne and caviar! As I browsed the contents, I smiled contentedly. Surely, out of this fantastic offering, we could settle upon a venue for the day.

{enter dramatic music here}

It was The Quest For The 4077.

You may recall the long-running hit television series. Alan Alda and Loretta Switt to name a couple big names from the hit.

Yes, M*A*S*H* was forever etched in my mind. It probably shaped some of my humor, it definitely served as a staple of weekday tv fare. So, this website says, of all things, that we can take a delightful 35 minute/one mile hike to the film site of the now infamous show. As a matter of fact, just February of '08 saw a reunion of the cast in the area, and they had pictures to prove it:



Bingo! We were on our way! The drive to the locale was a breeze; we had the sun and no clouds; and we were happy. Of course, the trailmarkers were a bit unclear, however, speaks with Ranger Renee solved that little problem. We were off! You can see we had beautiful panoramic vistas to behold:



And comfortable hiking conditions:



And an attitude of frolick surrounded us:



Here are some of the beautiful sights we saw:

A babbling brook ~



and canyon crevice rock ~



The path began to gain a bit of steepness, but we were up for the task. Particularly since we were willing to work as a team:



Whew! Making it up that incline was a bit more than I'd anticipated! I had to stop for a breather. Not that I'm out of shape, or anything. I just, well, needed a rest.



Besides! The view from up here was SPLENDID!

Gaining our breath, we continued onward. Around a curve, up a quaint knoll. We were working those major muscle groups in pleasant fashion. Yet, we were quite intrigued when we saw the Arabian appear from about the corner.

She was covered in a light sweat, as though she'd been working, but she wasn't drenched. As a matter of fact, she was rather spry. Peppy, and all. The kind gentleman giving directions mentioned that we'd have to continue upward and onward!

Easy peasy! So we set out to continue our journey. But what was this?? A "Y" in the road? Hmmm.

We'd need to consult a map about this. No one mentioned the fork in the road . . .

{insert dramatic music here}

{voice over dramatic narrator here}

Will they take the right turn? Will they make it to their destination? Will they still love each other when they arrive??

Stay tuned for our next episode of: THE QUEST FOR THE 4077!!

______________________

and that is all I'm going to say about that for today ~

:D

Interviews of the inDellible Kind

All he needs is a pipe, a pair of 50's style heavy rimmed glasses, and a smoking jacket. Oh, and a British accent. PBS could have a star on their hands.

It was a close race, but Dell's "interview" picture came out on top.

No doubt he'll need to be interviewed, after this adventure is said and done! Oh, if dogs could talk . . .what tales they could tell!

Having my Mom arrive late last night put the DellDog over the top in terms of excitement! He's sure to suck up all the extra Grandma cuddles he can get for himself~ second in line of course to Keller, who is gently taking to the idea that this other woman in his life could possibly has some kind of benefit to him. ")

So, since we've a full agenda today, and you all are wishing I'd be quiet and just announce the winners already, I'll do just that. Planning on snapping a few pics of our day, to mesmerize you all tomorrow am.

And IF you're lucky, I *might* just tell you about my run in with Johnny Law. *Maybe*. *If you're good.* We'll see.

:D

Ready? Will the following fantastic choosers please stand up! -er, send me your addy to JaJireh (at) yahoo.com, to receive your happie!

KAREN: flutter2you! and

CHARLOTTE in MN!!!

YAYAY!!!

My lifetime friend (rockers and all!) and a new friend in the past year or so! What a winning combo!!!

Til tomorrow, top o the morning!

Brunch.

Good Morning! I'm cooking up a delicious breakfast for my MOM!! Choosers! Back in a few hours, with the latest and greatest.

:D