New (Theme 109)

Here is the new engine for Alcoa Fire Department now known as Engine 2. They sure have had a great year because not only did they get this nice new truck they also got a Bronto 135' Ladder truck and Duley support truck.

Bark (Theme 206)

My son like to climb our cherry tree and one day he came in and said I was in the tree and I peeled the bark. Well, my reaction was not a good one and I proceeded to tell him that it would kill the tree.......he said he didn't know. He does now!!! I sure hope this tree is ok. May have to seal this new wound!

Butterfly (Theme 326)

On night a storm rolled in and dumped about 1 inch of hail and about the same amount in water. Ryan said, "What was that" and I looked and it was a butterfly coming in to escape the storm. It did just fine and after the storm it let me take a few shots and it flew off.

Sleep (Theme 127)

What a face....he looks so cute. Well, I think so anyway so that is why I took the photo. He was lying at the end of my bed. This is Bo and he is now 15 years old.

Pain (Theme 275)

On June 5, 2008 I had surgery to fix my cubital tunnel syndrome. The cubital nerve was being crushed between the bones and causing nerve damage. Symptoms were numbness and tingling and some really intense pain at times in the ring and pinky finger going down my arm. The surgeon did a nerve transposition and reattached it to the inside of my arm. Talk about pain after surgery and during the removal of the stitches. Now the pain is moving it. I have a hinged brace now that I feel really safe in but its not the best thing to look at. I will have to wear it until the end of July. Talk about a long hot summer in this thing. I'm just glad I have feeling in my hand and the pain is gone. Recovery is the hard part now. Wish me luck.

Wild (Theme 173)

Just look at those eyes. I have not done anything to them. What that is, is the tempatum on the back of their eyes and the flash from the camera really made it shine. Now that is really wild to see......great halloween photo!

Retainer (Theme 281)

Back in the day when I had my braces I never had the fun choice of picking a color for the retainer. To beat all they have even put her name on the appliance in the even she lost it. Better not even be out of her sight for as much as we have invested in those teeth.......whew-eeee!!!

Honey (Theme 285)

This is my honey........no there aren't any bees but we do have 2 pests that are 13 and 10....does that count? Isn't he handsome????

Flower (Theme 265)

For some reason this year we didn't get many clematis flowers on any of the vines I have growing. I did manage to get a few photos and this actually makes it look like we have nice large blooms.......well this is pretty much it!!

Spray (Theme 130)

Here is a detailed look in the nozzel compartment of the fire truck. I don't know the sizes or what type of fire you would use each one for but they sure rattled them off for me when I asked. You can tell how much I retained........you got it......just the photo!!!

Buttons (Theme 6)

I know I'm really behind and I wanted you to know I have my list here daily but being out of service with the surgery on my arm I have not been able to hold the camera. I'm using all the themes I can find in the photos I have taken this year. I will be up and running soon.

Here are buttons, knobs, levers and whatever else is on the pump panel of the fire truck.

Camp (Theme 157)

Just a few photos to show you a glimpse into our camp sights. We love to spend the summer here but lately it's been so hot and humid that even a dip in the water would not help. I'm sure we will have plenty of time for fishing, boating, tubing, lounging and whatever else we can find to do while we are there.

Caged (Theme 191)

Hi Lucky, and no he is not caged all the time. He has the run of Queen Elizabeth's Farm. He is very vocal and likes to dominate the conversation no matter if your inside or outside. He is a really pretty bird but don't tell him or he may get a big head and it would be hard to get him out of the cage. HA HA HA

Comfort (Theme 250)

That is the best place to sit when you visiting the Fire Department. It has room for you and a few others and it's a wide seat. Not that I need a wide seat but it's there for anyone that does...........no comments from the peanunt gallery!!! And you know how you are!!!!!

Creative (Theme 239)

Camp Yarberry has a floating barge and this is the control center of that barge. I think this is really creative. You would definitely do a double take when you see a semi in your mirror while driving a boat.

Dance (Theme 215)

This is a young duckling and it was darting away from a Canadian Goose at the time I shot this photo. It almost looks like he is dancing. To cute watching these ducks grow up and let me tell you these birds are well fed in Alcoa.

Dirty (Theme 252)

A day at on the farm and just look at what they do to themselves??? Dirty and I really think they love it. It was raining and if you look closely you can see it coming down.

Friend (Theme 43)

These 2 just hung out at the barn. Funny to watch because they would follow one another like they were big buddies. It almost looks like they are saying something to each other here doesn't it?

Look Like? (Theme 339)

Every time I drive into Nashville, TN I think of Batman. I don't call this the Bellsouth building it's Batman's tower. Looks just like it doesn't it? If you have not been here, it's a great place to visit.

Loud (Theme 57)

I used a soft foggy outline to the outer edges and then framed it. Why not, it's Loud so I made it a little softer. Not that it helps when the fire truck is moving.

Poison (Theme 299)

At this point I am doing my own thing and some of the themes are being changed to things I can photograph....but I will continue to post my daily theme. Sorry I get behind but I will try to be better at posting. Here is my theme and it's poison Ivy.....uck. See the three shiny leaves and the furry looking stuff on the tree truck. Don't touch it.

Balance (Theme 166)

This is balance when you pitch and end up on your foot and have to remain there for a little bit. If you don't think it is try pitching one or practicing it. Part of Ryan's homework from Cherokee is to practice balance among many other things.......he's getting it.

Discovery (Theme 366)

If we aren't at home, camp, ballfield or maybe the library then we are at the pool. I loved the water coming off his face in this photo so I created this layout and used the water works font I created. It's fun and it looks like water.

Fountain (Theme 321)

Here is our front garden fountain and look what I found??? Go wash up kids.......that's what I get don't I. These are my nieces Riley and Avery with Ryan. This is another layout for the creative team at ashaleeandsweet.com and the kit is Hipp Chick

Library (Theme 51)

This is the Blount County Library and I gave it a soft edge since the walkway is so long. This new library is HUGE and such a great place to spend a few hours. Even the kids like it and they have coffee. So when the weather is too hot I may be here!!!

Rock & Roll (Theme 97)

I just did this layout for a creative team I'm on and it fit this theme. The kit is from ashaleeandsweet.com and it's called school of rock. Regan loved it and Ryan said, "Cool" so I guess it's ok.

Statue (Theme 183)

This is in front of the old Blount County Court House and since it looks vintage I gave it a vintage effect.

Tool (Theme 126)

Regan is actually using a nail gun to help her Grandfather at camp. We spend a lot of time here in the summer and Grandma and I whined about real steps all last year. I guess it paid off, LOOK MA.......WE HAVE STEPS!!!

Touching (Theme 186)

I consider this one touching because the ball really touched him rather hard in the right hand......he got on base taking one for the team. Way to go Matt.

Summer (Theme 342)

I created this wet font and had to do a layout with it so what better than the with the photos I took that day with Ryan and Bryce having fun at the pool. This year it's great because I can capture their faces and actions as they jump off the high dive. The other photo is of Ryan coming down the slide at the other end of the pool. This will be our summer at the pool but look for summer on the lake and at camp.

Fences (Theme 42)

I can't think of a better fence for this theme than the one we look thur all the time. Here he is looking back while chatting away with his buddy.

Uniform (Theme 183)

I'm posting 2 because they go together. Here is Tom looking at us as we are up in the bucket of the ladder truck and since he didn't have his turnout coat on I decided to show it in a second photo. He does look rather small in this photo but we were rather high up when I shot this.

Toy (Theme 325)

This is our neighbor Sarah and she is just a few months old. My cats are 14 and 15 so the play with anything factor is long gone. Sarah chased this gatorade top all over the yard for about an hour and would have gone longer if my kids would have thrown it. She is so fun to watch along with her orange brother Gary.

Sunset (Theme 192)

Again we are up in the Fire Dept. ladder truck at 135' looking at the runway of the Knoxville, TN airport. You get quite a wide view being up that high. I almost felt like I could touch the plan as it made it's decent into the airport.

Skill (Theme 308)

Skill is what this job takes and our Fire Department is constantly training and making sure their skills are sharp if they are ever needed to save a life or property. Here, they are in a burn box set up so that they can practice their techniques in total darkness.

Rose (Theme 258)

My neighbor has the green thumb, so green that I use their garden to photograph. Thanks a lot Dennis & Trish for your outstanding gardening skills. I did a little filter action on this picture to get the swirl effect. You just have to love photoshop.

Feather (Theme 320)

The Duck pond has many residence and this one was somewhat friendly. He actually came to me and sad down about 2 feet away so I took his pictures. The colors are always so nice on the mallards.

Emergency (Theme 291)

In the Church theme (Theme 301) we were up in this aerial truck at the height of 135'. Here is what it looks like all closed up and ready to move. It's quite impressive to see it in action and now we know that there is not a place in the City that our Fire Fighters can not reach.

Collections (Theme 64)

He has thousands of these legos and when he sits down to build something is like magic..........so I had to add the bolt of lightening and I'm sure that he will enjoy seeing that. He's really creative with these pieces and he could play for hours to days if we let him.

Church (Theme 301)

Here are some local churches in Alcoa from a view of 135'. We were up in the new ladder truck that the fire department has and I had my camera.......now did you doubt that? I had these 2 and I couldn't decide which one to use so you get both.

Childhood (Theme 137)

Growing up we loved to play with chalk on the driveway and so do my kids. Here we were in New York where they have black top driveways instead of concrete like we have so the chalk really shows up. Ryan drew his Delta planes all over the driveway along with playing tic tac toe with his cousin.

Tattoo (Theme 152)

Ryan and Bryce wanted tattoo's but there were both so sweaty that it would have been a waste of $3 to let them get one on their faces so they chose to be partriotic and had one painted on their arms. What stud muffins they are.......

Sinking (Theme 149)

The Annual BBQ has been a wealth of great photo opportunities. Here is the canoe race around the pond and we had a few casualties.

Rubbish (Theme 55)

How about a UT Tailgate Garbage Truck for your next tailgate party? This truck is so clean and has a lot of UT detail on every side all to support the the University of Tennessee teams. We bleed orange around these parts of town, what color is your blood???

Retro (Theme 83)

Ok for all intensive purposes he shall remain nameless. Boy does he know fashion. He has on my daughters sunglasses that she fully believes are COOL. I hate to tell her that all I think about when I see them is how retro and Austin Powers-ish they are.

Geek (Theme 357)

I don't know a better definition for Geek than Barney Fife. We were at the annual BBQ for the city and Barny came to keep order. He did a great job not only looking and sounding just like Barney but he had all the mannerisms down pat. I really felt old when all the younger kids look around and said, who is that???

Frown (Theme 132)

It's a very bright day for the BBQ and Hannah just wanted her sunglasses. Dad thought they looked great on him but I really hated to tell him that they look better on her. He did give them up when Mom took over. Thank you Hanna for give me your frown face.

Doubtful (Theme 259)

My friend whom I call Happy Gilmore gave me an Amish Friendship starter for a bread several weeks ago. I'm still making these breads every 10 days because they are so good. I used this for the doubtful theme because it's highly doubtful that there will be any of this left after 2 days. Each time I make on I end up with 4 starters. I give 3 away and keep one for the next baking. I don't have any idea what generation I'm on now but it's great to have and give away.