The other day was a really hot day. When I was down on Browns Island I saw some people cooling off in the James River. They looked like they were having a good time, I was able to catch one guy as he was climbing up a rope hanging from the rail road tracks above them. What a way to stay cool!

Balloons Everywhere

They were giving away free balloons at the festival on Saturday. Having that many children resulted in a tent FULL of helium balloons. The children were loving it; as were parents who were chasing run away balloons.

Big Brother Big Sister Race

Yesterday was the anual Big Brother Big Sister Duck Race. People from all over Richmond gathered at Brown's Island to help support the orginizations that pair mentors up with children who need a postive role model. People can buy a duck to help support the program, and at the end of the festival all the ducks that are purchased make a great big drop into the Canal and "race" to the finish line. Their are various prizes awarded to the first 16 ducks (and their buyer) that cross the finish line. It was a great time, with lots of FREE fun things for kids to do, and lots of photo opprotunities for me! These are just some shots; I have way too many to even begin to share or even show you how great it was. Maybe in the next few posts I'll put some more from yesterday.

Waterfalls

Once you've gotten through the bamboo forest, you come upon this beautiful waterfall. It's wonderful to be able to sit there and just enjoy the sights and the sounds of it. There are a bunch of places to sit on huge flat rocks and just relax. It's the perfect hiding spot when you want some peace and quiet, and you can still see all of the chinese garden. I will post the pictures of the flat rocks in another post.

After you climb down the stone stair case you can follow the wooded path down to the Chinese Garden; or for those who are adventurous you can go through a bamboo mini forest where a path is not as trodden. It pays off in the end when you come to a clearing in the bamboo and lay eyes on this beautiful water fall.
Being right there is almost enough for most people, but it's not even the best part. But that picture comes tomarrow.

Stairs

This is the staircase that runs beside the lion fountain. It's very interesting in the way it moves with the landscaping. I love the smoothness of the rails of the stairwell. The children especially love running up and down these steps, although I wouldn't recomend it if the stairs are wet, then they tend to get a little dangerous. Tomarrow I'll post where the stairs lead....

This water looked so refreshing on a hot day of trudging kids up and down hills and in and out of bamboo forests. Unfortunatly you can't swim in this water. It's a fountain type of water fall in the Italian Garden at Maymont Park. This is such a great place because of all the great flowers and a wonderful stair case that runs right along side of this fountain through a bamboo path, past a great waterfall, and into the Japanese Garden. I'll post a picture of the stair case tomarrow .







Here's another view of the fountain with the Lion at the top.

Caution

This was on a car in our church parking lot. I liked it because someone was actually borrowing this car from a co-worker and they were embarassed by it. I thought it was great, and said I should get it on my car because I'm always stopping on the side of the road to get some shots. I especially like the reflection of the sky, it's twighlight, and you can also see the reflection of part our church in the bottom left hand corner.

Cottage Window

This is a window at a little cottage that's inside of Maymont Park. I don't believe this cottage actually serves any purpose but it's pretty anyway. I think I could go here everyday for the next year and still find things that I've missed in previous visits.

Bee

It's not always easy to get these kind of shots; especially for me since I'm allergic to bees and I shouldn't be stung. But these paticular ones don't really sting you, so I figured I was safe.

Three Sisters

This is a close up of a new statue at Maymont Park. It's just outside the mansion next to a reflecting pool. It's called the three sisters.

Here's the full view; it's still being installed and things are still being put in but I still couldn't help taking a picture.

Sunflower

Nothings better than going out on a hot summer day and taking pictures. Yes ok there were children everywhere when I was trying to do that, but still, I had a good time taking the pictures. I had never really seen a sunflower this color before.

The other day at work the kids were playing basketball, and while I was watching them I noticed how colorful the baskeballs were against the blue sky. Of course to get this shot I was practically under the basket, and the children were having a great time while I was dodging the oncoming balls.

I was driving down 64 the other day when I couldn't help but take a picture of this. It was so beautiful, I think it's my favorite time of the day because you never know what color the sky is going to be. I have to say though I did pull over in order to take this picture, so I was safe I wasn't driving and taking pictures and the same time.

This is an interesting tree I came across while walking in the park. I thought it was neat how it was growing. It's almost as if in the middle of it growing the wind just came and bent it just enough to continue on that path.
This also makes for a great climbing tree for those into that!

These are more photos from the other day when I watching people throw clay. Though you can't see it from the photo, but when you are watching them form these clay pots they are using the most gentle of touches and subtle movements to create the dips and the curves that they want on the pots. If they pressed any harder, or spun the wheel any faster the clay pot would just fall apart and you would have to start all over. This reminds me of the ultimate Potter. He uses the gentle touches to form us and mold us into something wonderful.

This is hilarious to me! You don't even have to put change in a parking meter anymore! This reminds me of a friend of mine, who if he went downtown alot would do this. It's not even the point that he doesn't have change, it's just that it's technology and he can do it so he will. It takes longer to actually call up the place to pay for you to park, then it does to actually stick the quarter in it to park for 25 minutes. The things we do to make life "simpler".

I was watching people throw clay today and thought it was very intersting. It amazes me that it starts out like this and then because of gentle hands and skillful work it becomes an amazing vase or pot. This was actually spinning and the person working on it took their hands off at just the moment I was taking the picture. This is the inside of this paticular one, and when she is finished with this, it will be 3 times larger.