The Peter Journals: This Time's Just Lots of Pictures

Usually I spend most of my time writing about what I'm thinking and what the people in my life are doing--this time I've just collected a dozen pictures or so focusing on Meg, Lauren and Nate.

The last time Meg was here in Florida we all went to the beach. Megan made a Sand Bunny, Jon ate sand, and I got to wander around and take pictures of everyone. Brent shot this one of me and Meg.

These next few are of Nathan--he discovered how to dig a sand "trap" from solid packed areas of the beach. He digs a hole underneath a bridge of sand and then always trips it by stepping on it himself. He then covers up the colossal hole that's left. It's one of his favorite things to do at the beach--that and finding wonderful shells.

Nathan was walking with me at night and he spotted a good sized toad. It turned out that the fellow was blind in one eye. It was just a dark, dried up spot. At least it didn't look like it hurt at all. Nathan has an amazing ability to find and capture and then release all kinds of reptiles. I love going out to photograph with him because he sees things that I never even notice.

I got camera silly one night when we were just coming out of Publix--a place we usually visit at least once a day. He has an immense amount of patience with me. I really enjoy bring with him.

We regularly have visits from a few pair of sandhill cranes. Nathan loves to mess with their minds--sitting close to them as they eat--letting them pull at his shoe laces. He also is the most vigilant of all of us where it comes to making sure that seed is out every day for the birds to eat. They pretty much take all his antics in stride. Nate will jump up and raise his arms, emitting a loud "WAAAAAAAK! WAAAAAAK!" if one of the males decides to try and impress his girlfriend and make an aggravated advance at Nathan. The cranes enjoy having Nate or me sit close to them as they eat so that they don't have to watch out for danger while they down as much cracked corn and millet as quickly as they can.

I needed a photograph of someone that looked like me posing in a thoughtful mood for my Advanced Photography class. She has the ability to portray an angelic and pensive woman. For all of her daily dedication to a small human who demands all of her energy and creativity--she still maintains an inner energy that keeps her an artist and incredible young woman all to herself.

Jon loves to explore and experience everything around him. On the beach? Eat the sand. In the park at the fountain? Dip the car . . . and maybe try for a swim. Meg keeps a close eye on Jon's adventures.

We were at Florida Power and Light (Brent's work) and found a place where they were putting in a new place for parking. We couldn't go over and interact with the construction machines, but Meg could get Jon up higher to see all of the action. Cool trucks. Cool mom.

As they arrived at the airport on the way back to Maryland, Meg took care of checking the luggage at the curb. I followed Jon around has he checked out the luggage carts, wheelchairs and all of the people walking by. At the conclusions of the transaction, Jon decided that he needed to see exactly what his mom was up to. He will be a good big brother--knowing everything, he will be thoroughly prepared to teach his sibling that jello makes your buns wiggle and meat served with dinner is either "chicken" or "chicken with bones in."

Now for my Lauren. She is safely dwelling in Utah right now. Her husband is in school and she is busy taking care of three baby birds (helped along, of course, by their mother, Onyx) and lots of big Doberman dogs and some smallish cats that do not appreciate the beautiful sweaters that she makes for them (especially Skeet, who is obviously deeply offended by Lauren's disregard for his preferences). She also makes her home in the clouds and mountains close by her.