Westfield, NC

This is me and my ol' dog Sam aka Samantha aka Sammy hanging out at my Mema's just before a family dinner. She appears to be quite give out. Probably had a rough day of napping, eating, and lying around the yard.






Here's my first cousin, Nate. He seems more like the nephew I never had. He likes long, quiet dinners by the bay and short walks around the house. He'll be 2 years old this February. His favorite books are "The Great Gatsby" and "Green Eggs and Ham."





Here's my Mema Cooke and Nate just before bedtime. Everyone's been fed, and we have nothing to offer but smiles. Ain't they just so sweet!

Horne Creek Farm Corn Shucking--17th Annual

Ah, we descend to the main event of the annual Horne Creek Farm Corn Shucking Frolic. Around 10,000 folks showed up for the gala, taking part in old time music, food, and historic tradition.




Here's Uncle Rick(the man who makes this event possible) and myself getting a smile in for the camera. We are the smartest people in the family. Two geniuses of different generations, sharing the warm sun.

This is a little farm girl, quietly praying to the Blue Grass Gods.

This is RyMar. Voted "Best of Their Generation" by People Magazine, 2007.

Not sure who this guy is. He just sort of jumped ship to be there. Love you, Dad.

This guy walked from Scotland just to be seen in Shoals, NC, wearing a kilt. After a long day of bagpipping, he said the only thing left for him to do was "lay down."

Here's the famous Nunn Brothers doing what they do best: pickin', grinnin', and tellin' muscial stories. Rock On!

Yeah! Shake whatcha mama gave ya! Uncle Rick doin the boot, scoot, boogie. Get er done!

This was quite the multi-cultured event. Nothin but love from Asia!

These kids must not have any allergies! Playin' in all them corn husks would have sent me straight to the hospital.

A little jump rope anyone? The Ladies of Shalot were tearin' it up!






Whatchoo lookin' at fool? Whatsamattta you never seen a stressed out lamb?

Moo Cow and little girl conversing about the Bush Adminstration.

"We have been together for over forty years!" Now that's true love!

"This sign has got to come down," the goat said. "I told Rick if the people fed us and we got sick, we wouldn't blame him, we would blame the state."

This cat was getting ready to be fed to the massive "Horned Creek Monster," lurking somewhere within the blue grass midst.



The Three Amigos smile and wonder when there will be a sequel.

Here's the parents Cook enjoying the music and festivities. All they wanted was to eat some Mexican.

In closing, from left to far right then front and center: RyMar, Dad "The Commander," and Mema Jones "The General."

**Note: My wife will have you note that she did the pics, and I did the commentary. Seasons Greetings! Christmas Time's A Comin'!

Destination San Francisco

Vacation this year was San Francisco. Ryan surpassed his most western point of travel, previously Branson, Missouri. With cooler weather and a long anticipated destination of choice of our teenage years it proved to be a great time. With the luck of an early Christmas gift from Mom and Dad of a new and really cool camera, we were able to get some really great shots to document our time. I think you can click on most of these to enlarge them for a bigger view. There are six posts total. Enjoy!

Our first day we took the trolley to Lumbard Street--the "crookedest street". We were told we would be let off at the top, but apparently we missed that stop and found ourselves at the bottom. Like troopers, we decided to make the steep climb to the top--we knew it was going to be steep, but we were winded only a quarter of the way up. Jackets were coming off, sweat began to drop, but it was a beautiful view from the top and definitely the steepest climb of the trip was out of the way the morning of the first day.


All smiles at the bottom....























View from the top.


And on to Fisherman's Wharf .
















The seals were our favorite thing at the Wharf.













Our first view of the Golden Gate.

Alcatraz

We took the "night tour" which sounded scary, but it really was beautiful as the sun was only setting as we departed for our ferry ride back to the wharf. We got some great views of the city, the bridge, and of course, a great and very thorough tour of Alcatraz.

Our first sighting of the island.

The cell house.

The veiw from the island.

On the ferry back, sunset over the Golden Gate.

Pacific Heights, Golden Gate Park, City Lights Bookstore

"....Everywhere you look...." Can't you just hear the theme song from Full House looking at this photo? I am a child of the 80's, what can I say? We're standing in Alamo Square w a postcard view of the sterotypical row of victorian row houses.




And a stroll through Golden Gate Park with a stop at the de Young Museum.

Next stop--North Beach--to the famous City Lights Bookstore, another must visit stop for Ry. With the largest poetry section of anybookstore we've seen, he was pretty giddy.

Half Moon Bay and Mavericks

Driving Day! We rented a car and were so happy to see the coast and be behind the wheel of our awesome rental- the Chevy HHR....I jest. We like to call it our ride in the "top hat" due to the striking resemblance.



The coastline of the small town of Half Moon Bay.





One of the main reasons Ryan has always wanted to go to SF was to see Mavericks, the (in)famous surf spot that in the winter can reach 50-60 foot waves and has taken a few lives. Unfortunately, in October, the waves only reach 5-6 feet, but it was still a beautiful view and having seen enough video of it myself it was easy to imagine how scary it would be to see the waves at their highest point. From where you park, it was nearly a half mile walk around the bay to get to the rocky surf spot.