Ruby (part II) ...

Dad, Scott's hand and baby Ruby's hand...


Mom, Becky and Ruby


Hello Lil' Cutie...

Emily gets a warm snuggle from her new niece...

Abby: Ahhh.... that 'new baby' smell... :-)

Proud Nonie, Laura...

Me and my favorite granddaughter... Isn't she cute!

Newest Blog subscriber... :-)

Daddy, Scott, checking Ruby's vitals... :-)
Ruby Aline LaBonte, 8 lbs., 15 oz., 21 inches, August 28th at 9:48 pm


Becky and Ruby's first snuggle...


Aunt Emily getting to know Ruby Aline LaBonte...


Aunt Abby holding a future ballerina...


Ruby with Memere and Pepere LaBonte...


Ruby checks out Nonie Laura...

Cedar in Southwest Harbor...

Is that a stick I see floating in the water... I'll get it!


Hiking Flying Mountain trail to Valley Cove.


View of Southwest Harbor from Flying Mountain.

Somes Sound from Flying Mountain.

King of the [Flying] Mountain...

Seawall shots...

Southwest flight from Sacramenta, Ca to Chicago, Ill.


Seawall Road during high tide after hurricane Bill.
Rocks were pushed up onto the road...


Cedar surveying the ocean...


It's always a good time to chase down a few pieces of driftwood...

A little risky considering the ocean floor is rock... not sand!

Recent Readings...

I travel tomorrow to see family and friends on the East Coast.
It's been nine months since I was last in Maine. (I've been assured that summer has finally arrived!)

The long distrances I've travelled recently have provided me with time for reading and audiobook listening. If you're looking for a good book... I can recommend the following bestsellers:


Lunch with the Stationmaster:
http://www.bookworm.com.au/Book/Lunch-with-the-Stationmaster-9780732275457.aspx
In a Sunburned Country:
http://www.amazon.com/Sunburned-Country-Bill-Bryson/dp/0767903862/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1250629443&sr=8-1
The Girl Who Played with Fire:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307269981/ref=s9_simz_gw_s0_p14_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1XMF1XF3QK3C9GKJMBNT&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

Wind Power Row...

After thoughtful consultation with my niece, Sadie, ("Duh! Uncle Jeff. Why don't you just fly to Maine instead of driving 4,000 miles!") I've decided to fly to the east coast instead of driving cross-country for the upteenth time. (With the price of petrol averaging $3 a gallon, it's a $600 credit card tab to get from California to Maine. Thanks to Southwest Airlines, I can fly for $169 plus tax!) I'm soooo glad I... I mean Sadie, thought of this option. :-)


75-turbine Shiloh II wind farm near Suisun City

California Rte. 12, a 'short-cut' from Stockton (and Interstate 5) to Fairfield, drives past Enxco's 75-turbine wind farm. I took this route last night as I returned from my visit with Ben in San Diego. I suspect 'wind farms on the horizon' represent the future of our country's landscape?


http://www.sacbee.com/378/story/1657563.html

San Diego Zoo

Ben and I spent Tuesday at the San Diego Zoo. The zoo has an extensive collection of animals from all over the globe, but the Pandas draw unprecedented attention and for good reason. They're impressive to view first-hand, especially considering their endangered status.

I was suprised to learn that Pandas in U.S. zoos, as well as any offspring born, belong to the country of China. (Four zoos in the US have Pandas; San Diego, Washington, DC, Atlanta and Memphis.) The zoos 'rent' the Pandas for a million dollars a year... and if there are any offspring born, the zoo pays an additional $600,000 'baby tax' as well. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/03/0313_060313_pandas.html

Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing, the first two pandas in a U.S. zoo, were presented as a gift to the United States in 1972 by the Chinese government. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving... (or taking, as it were?!?)



Hi Mem... the Flamingo picture above is for you!

Australia

Images and Anecdote...

By Life is a highway...

Book Preview

Hotel Del Coronado

The cool 65-degree water temperature didn't draw Ben or I into the surf beyond our ankles; instead we opted for walking San Diego's iconic Coronado Beach and 'topping-off' our tans. The 120-year old Hotel Del Coronado (above) served as a 'not too shabby' backdrop for a couple of tourist photos!
http://www.hoteldel.com/History.aspx

San Diego... by BMT

Naval C-1 Trader Cargo Transport Plane... Used to deliver passengers, cargo, parts and most importantly mail to the service men and woman of the U.S.S. Midway.

U.S.S. Midway

"The Kiss" ca. 1945 made famous in Life magazine...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%E2%80%93J_day_in_Times_Square

Coast Guard Response Boat...

Life is a Highway... the Book

http://www.blurb.com/books/801162

I have decided to print a selection of images and reflections from this blog and from my travels during the past 6 months, in book form. The book is 11"x13" overall and 80 pages in length. There are over 170 images from my travels in Australia.

Blurb.com: http://www.blurb.com/books/801162

You can preview the first 15 pages by clicking on the link above. Click on the cover image and the book will open... you can skim the layouts by clicking on each page.

Australia

Images and Anecdote...

By Life is a highway...

Book Preview

Day in the Pool...

After viewing my pictures of the Great Barrier Reef... Lise and Will decided to build a 'reef' in their pool... complete with colorful fish, coral and a reef snorkeler!

Back in the USA!

Boeing 747-400 Longreach

Sharing the ride with 353 other passengers

Across the Pacific Ocean

The golden rolling hills of California