24 - Family

"You don't choose your family.  They are God's gift to you, as you are to them." ~Desmond Tutu is a South African activist and retire Anglican bishop who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, (and subsequently has won many other humanitarian awards).

Family is a favorite theme for a lot of photographers.  They are the people that are usually in front of the camera.  Enjoy!

These sisters can take anyone down.  Photograph by Dolly Blaydes

Sisterly love.  Photograph by Dolly Blaydes

 Thanksgiving reunion 2011. Papa and his grandchildren. Photograph by Dolly Blaydes

Zamadics family cousins hanging out in the park 2011. Photograph by Dolly Blaydes

 Photograph courtesy of Mary Kay Clemens Mathis

 Photograph courtesy of Mary Kay Clemens Mathis

Photograph courtesy of Mary Kay Clemens Mathis

Every year Dan's family gets together for Halloween.  This is the second year I attended - 2010.  Can you see Dan and I kissing in the back?  Photograph courtesy of Robin Anderson.

2010 was the year that Morella made both of these costumes.  Photograph by Robin Anderson.

I think it rained in 2011, so I don't have a group photo in front of the house...  (or maybe this was the year we were late).  Dan and I dressed in a "couples costume".  We are a smiley face, can you tell?  Photograph courtesy of Robin Anderson.

The yearly group picture.  We have one taken every time Uncle Gary comes in town from Florida.  It is fun to see how everyone has grown.  Photography by Ellen Palmer.

Kids with the cousins from London. It is always a great time when they come to visit. Kayleigh, in the pink shirt also shares a birthday with Katie. Someday, I will visit them. It's on my bucket list.  Photograph by Ellen Palmer.

Kids and nieces. Nicolle, on the far left, and Katie share the same birthday. Kara and Mitchell are both October babies. My sister and I would have matching Mother's day rings if I had one. Photograph by Ellen Palmer.

"First Wave" of cousins migrate from the Philippines in 1978. What a joy to have all of them come join us in the USA.  Photograph courtesy of Grace Dorado-Foster.

"Second Wave"- panoramic cameras came out and was the only way we can take a photo of most of the family.  Several of us married with children, too.   There is a few people missing here.  Photograph courtesy of Grace Dorado-Foster.

Christmas 2011-  Last big family photo with still about 30 people missing here.  I know there is an ap to do a panoramic...one of the cousins will have to do that this coming Christmas.  Photograph courtesy of Grace Dorado-Foster.

Mother and child. Kathy and Kristin "Kiki" Quindoza. Such a cherished relationship. A bond that is eternal. I know because Kristin passed away from cancer at the age of nine. Always cherish every moment.  Photograph by Kathy Quindoza.

Kiki Quindoza and her cousins :)) Kiki's birthday.  Photograph by Kathy Quindoza.

  

23 - Mailboxes and Lawn Ornaments

One St. Augustine, Florida landscaping company says that they create, "Lawns that neighbors envy and passersby admire".

Thank goodness for fun mailboxes and lawn ornaments to keep the whimsical alive in our lives.  Enjoy!

This was taken at the “Crazy House” down the street from my mom’s house. Interesting, huh?!  Photograph by Laney Griffin Robinson

This was also taken at the “Crazy House” down the street from my mom’s house.  Photograph by Laney Griffin Robinson

Sylvania, Ohio.  Photograph by Dan MacKillop

Somewhere between Harbor Beach and Port Austin, Michigan.  Photograph by Dan MacKillop

A dolphin mailbox in Atlantic Beach, Florida.  Photograph by Grace Dorado-Foster

Beach Ave and 19th  Photograph by Grace Dorado-Foster

A barrel full of monkeys from 3rd street in Neptune Beach, Florida.   Photograph by Grace Dorado-Foster

An eclectic Florida mailbox in Atlantic Beach.  Photograph by Grace Dorado-Foster

A typical Florida painted mailbox.  Photograph by Grace Dorado-Foster

Ocean and 12th.  This house used to have all kinds of lawn decorations, today this is all that remains.  Photograph by Grace Dorado-Foster

A typical farm in Michigan.  Photograph by Robin Anderson

Old West End in Toledo is an artsy community.  Photograph by Robin Anderson

Michigan farmers are all about function rather than form.  This mailbox is a far cry from the decorative ones in Florida.  Photograph by Robin Anderson

22 - Keep Cool

Man is a fool, when it's hot, he wants it cool
when it's cool, he wants it hot
always wanting what is not

~Gabe Baluyut

Sometimes keeping cool ain't pretty!  Photograph by Dan MacKillop

If anybody needs to keep cool, it would be this lady.  Photograph by Dan MacKillop

Lake Huron at Harbor Beach, Michigan.  Photograph by Dan MacKillop

After temps nearing 100, there’s nothing like a dip in the Atlantic Ocean to keep you cooled down.  Photograph by Dolly Blaydes

Cooling off a Canaveral Beach, Florida.  Photograph by Ellen Palmer

Swimming in the pool.  Photograph by Ellen Palmer

A Jet ski ride, a swim or a float on the party raft are all ways we keep cool in the summer.  Photograph by Ellen Palmer

This is my neice keeping cool on a hot summers day in my mom’s “pool”.  Photograph by Laney Griffin-Robinson

This is my son’s Sam and Tripp keeping cool in a fountain in Vilano Beach.  Photograph by Laney Griffin-Robinson

This is my nephew Zach keeping cool playing with Elmo.  He kept saying “Elmo HAPPY!”  Photograph by Laney Griffin-Robinson

Photograph by Mary Kay Clemens-Mathis

At first, I thought this was a naked woman in the background....  it's not.  Photograph by Robin Anderson

On Lake Huron, the water can be shallow for great distances.  Lots of people take their shoes off and wade.  Photograph by Robin Anderson

21 - Red, White & Blue

Freedom, the American flag, patriotism, stars & stripes, liberty - these are the things that come to mind when you say red, white and blue. As Americans they mean more than the naming of 3 colors. The following is a great quote to go with this week's theme:

"We take the stars from heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity, representing our liberty". ~George Washington

Photograph by Dan MacKillop

Photograph by Dan MacKillop

Photograph by Dan MacKillop

Fireworks in Bedford, Michigan.  Photograph by Ellen Palmer.

This was a cake my friend made, very patriotic!  Photograph by Laney Griffin-Robinson

A display of flags at Michael's.  Photograph by Laney Griffin-Robinson

This was a red, white and blue wreath that my dad's boat buddies at Camachee Cove Marina put on the back of his boat after he passed away.  My dad LOVED that boat!  Photograph by Laney Griffin-Robinson.

This was taken in London at the Changing of the Guards ceremony.  My husband said I should send this picture, because the are ENGLISH flags, and being that it's Independence Day, and we got our Independence from England, I thought it was sort of appropriate!  Photograph by Laney Griffin-Robinson

 Photograph by Mary Kay Clemens-Mathis

Photograph by Mary Kay Clemens-Mathis

Photograph by Mary Kay Clemens-Mathis

Photograph by Mary Kay Clemens-Mathis

Even Uncle Sam is waving in this parade!  Photograph by Robin Anderson

Hot, hot, hot, but you couldn't tell by looking at this cool little girl.  Photograph by Robin Anderson

The 4th of July Parade in Dundee, Michigan 2012.  Photograph by Robin Anderson