Go Fish!

This morning I met Dave and Caleb and Spencer at his office and we drove over to Lehi to the Lehi Pond and went fishing. I had no idea they had created the pond and it is quite nice.

Here they are on on of the little platforms that are around the pond (kind of a big pond, small lake actually) dock gearing up and getting ready to go.



It wasn't long before Caleb caught the first fish! It was a little Black Crappie. He has done something Grandpa has never done - caught a Crappie.




He caught it but would not touch it.


But Spencer wanted to touched it!


We could see fish, like this albino rainbow trout, but just couldn't get them to bite. The baby bass in the lake weren't shy, though and kept stealing the bait.





Caleb is hungry, and doing something about it.


Spencer was just posing.


Even though Caleb's fish was the only one we caught, we all had fun and will certainly do it again!

July 24th

Rosemarie had the whole Smith family over to celebrate the 24th. Rebecca made these really cool salad kabobs


The whole group together on the deck having dinner and chatting.


The grand kid's table.


Eating ice cream and visiting.


Cute couple. So nice to see them smiling!


Grandma was describing something interesting.


Hanging out with Dad (pun intended). You can tell he liked the ice cream!


Caleb playing with the other kids.


Getting ready for the big fireworks show. The bigger kids had them all lined up and ready to go.


All ready and just waiting for the grownups to show up.


Intent on what is happening in the street!


Best buddies watching the show.


The whole gang out watching the big boys play with matches!


Thanks Rosemarie for a fun evening enjoying good food and company!

New Favorite Song

Marry You Again
by Joshua Creek

I never thought a piece of cake could taste so nice,
After so long in the freezer stuck behind a tray of ice.
But the frosting's just as sweet, and my knees just as weak,
As the day that you first offered me a slice.

Oh, tonight we're gonna celebrate the best day of my life,
And if I could I'd go back in time. . .

And do it all again, take you by the hand,
In exactly the same way, on exactly the same day,
I wouldn't change a thing, savor every scene.
Watch you in that dress, slowly catch my breath,
and then, I'd marry you again!

I never thought a piece of stone could mean so much.
How that diamond on your finger reminds me of your touch.
Though the passing years go by, it still shines just as bright,
As the day I saw forever in your eyes.

Oh, tonight we're gonna celebrate the day we made our vows,
And if I could I'd go back right now. . .

And do it all again. Take you by the hand,
In exactly the same way, on exactly the same day,
I wouldn't change a thing, savor every scene.
Watch you in that dress, slowly catch my breath,
and then, I'd marry you again!

Take you by the hand,
In exactly the same way, on exactly the same day,
I wouldn't change a thing, savor every scene.
Watch you in that dress, and slowly catch my breath,
and then, I'd marry you again!

Lauri,

This expresses my thoughts so well! I love you Sweetheart!

Kerry

July 10, 2009 Night Dives - Deep LCU & Black Rock Arches

On Friday, July 10, 2009, I dove with Chris Mazerolle and Shawn (divemaster) from Ocean Concepts. We did two dives, the Deep LCU, a 106 foot deep dive on a Landing Craft Utility that was intentionally sunk as an artificial reef and Black Rock Arches, an 45 foot deep dive on a coral reef.

The sunset was spectacular from the boat as we were gearing up for the first dive.

Sunset Off Leeward Coast

Chris and I were in Shawn's group, so we were first in the water. There were 6 divers and one "guide", so we all went together.

Chris and I dropped down and immediately came across this enormous White-Spotted Hermit Crab (new). It is in a Trident's Trumpet shell that is at least a foot long. It is one of the largest hermit crabs in the world!

White-Spotted Hermit Crab

I also got this photo of a Rusty Guard Crab (new) hidden down in a cauliflower coral.

Rusty Guard Crab

There always seems to be at least one Frogfish hanging around on the railings of the LCUs. This big old red one was posing for me.

Commerson's Frogfish

There were several Palenose Parrotfish (new) tucked away in little spots sleeping peacefully. The flash probably bothers them, but they did not stir.

female, Palenose Parrotfish

supermale, Palenose Parrotfish

Chris ran out of air way before I did and everyone else was bailing, so ended early and did my safety stop in the dark watching the phosphorescence in the water and then swam up to the ladder and climbed out. I still had 1300 psi of air.

The second dive was my first at this particular site. It is the most shallow site that Ocean Concepts uses. Chris pretty much hung out with me and pointed things out from time to time, but for the most part this was a group dive and as long as we could see other's lights, no one seemed to care.

Right after beginning the dive, I came across this odd looking critter. It is a hermit crab with several sea anemones on its shell. They are symbionts - the crabs always have the anemones and the anemones only live on the hermit crab's shell.

Hermit Crab Anemone & Jeweled Anemone Crab

This little guy was guarding his hole. Not very big, but a little bit of a nasty disposition. This is only the second one I have seen, both at night.

Yellowhead Moray Eel

This little Day Octopus was out scuttling along on the top of the reef. When I stopped, he curled up in a ball.

Day Octopus

Hawaiian Swimming Crab

These are always hiding in coral heads during the day, and getting a photos is very difficult. It is nice to see one out in the open. One of the big advantages of night diving.

Speckled Scorpionfish

The largest nudibranch - about 10 inches long! Usually you can make them dance in the water column, hence the name, by rubbing their stomach, but this one was stubborn. It just would not dance. These are fairly common at night, but I have never seen one during the day.

Spanish Dancer Nudibranch

This big Yellowmargin Moray Eel was tucked back under this overhang with just his head showing.

Yellowmargin Moray Eel

And this Red Reef Lobster (new) was under there with the moray!

Red Reef Lobster

Another new discovery! An Eared Sea Hare (new).

Eared Sea Hare

Chris ran out of air early again, but so did someone else and we rearranged buddy teams. I finally started to get cold and ended my dive with about 700 psi left.

These were both fun dive with quite a few new critters.