My Sons and I in one of our fields along the Illinois River (in 1994). Its a 12 hour roundtrip voyage that we make almost every year....its normally worth the trip in points.

 My Sons and I in the same field in May 2003. They have
grown up...I have grown out! The farm was sold and the
new owners do not allow people to walk it anymore.... this
was our last trip there.

20 Feb. 2010
Jeremy's first art exposition!!!
Destinations bookstore in New Albany is displaying Jeremy's work now until late March. He's only the 3rd artist to be displayed there...this IS the start of much bigger
things to come!!!

We are so proud of you Jeremy!!!!

24 June 2009
Joann and I on vacation in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. We had a wonderful time....thanks for all the hospitality shown by Vicky & Jay!!!

The Men of "Salmon Hunt 09"
L-R: Chad Russell, Steve Russell, Me and Dr. Brian Groggins

Real men, real fish on a real boat riding really big waves!!!

01 August 2009
A nice size King Salmon caught about 12-14 miles out into
Lake Michigan. Great fishing, good times and way too high a
waves...I'm glad we had a good skipper who will sacrifice
some $$$ for the safeties sake!!!

Jordan backing out a wave-runner while on our
vacation to Lake Monroe on 11 July 2007

Joann has turned out to be quite the "farm girl"!!!

 Here she is delivering "Denali"...a 19+ pound female
 alpaca out of Hope (the brown girl in the photo). She is
holding Denali upside down to ensure any remaining fluid
in her lungs can drain out (it's technical "farm girl" stuff)
Notice that Denali's birth sack is only broken around her nose...she was a perfect birth!!!

~LEGAL NOTICE~
No alpacas or "farm girls" were harmed while
taking this photo.

Photo taken: 18 June 2008

Joann (AKA "Farm Girl") takes Denali for her first
weigh-in. This photo was taken with in one hour of
the one above on 18 June 2008. 

Jordan trying not to smile...
October 2008

Joann and I after our helicopter ride over Orlando Florida
on 22 July 2009. This was part of our "Adrenalin Vacation"
as we did an airboat trip, the helo ride, fished for monster
bass (didn't catch any) and rode some real nice jet ski's.

What a great trip!!!
 

30 Sep. 2009
My greatest gifts from God!

30 Sep. 2009
Jeremy and Jordan heading out for our "last supper" before Jordan heads out to Navy boot camp.

I am so blessed with and proud of these two men!!!

25 Nov. 2009
Jordan's first civilian meal in two months!!!
We left his graduation ceremony and headed out for some
fattening food...since Jordan dropped 20lbs in training!!!

27 Nov. 2009
3 of my most favorite people!!!!
This photo was taken outside of the Chicago Museum of
Contemporary Art while we were visiting Jordan after his graduation from Navy boot camp.

We are so blessed when the four of us are together!!!!

My Boys: Jordan & Jeremy
They say there are two sides to the human brain...the "Artistic/Creative" and the "Practical". Here are perfect
examples of both!!!

They could not be more different...and I could not be more
proud of them or love them more!!!

Photo taken: 27 Nov. 2009

Jeremy getting ready to head out on the lake.
Photo taken 11 July 2007 on Lake Monroe.

Christmas 2008
We are BLESSED!!!

23 June 2009...
Jo and I visited the spot where I proposed over 26 years ago.

I got down on one knee and asked again...again she said yes...
she is either a glutton for punishment or doesn't feel like
investing the time in training another man!!!

Either way I'm blessed!!!!
 

Taken 22 July 2007:
Joann aka "Fly-Fisherwoman"!!!
Brevard N.C. in the Pisgah National Forest.

Dec. 31st 2009
Jordan and I went to the range to plink away at some mud
covered targets. It was very cold, very wet and very muddy...
and a very good time!
 

Yes....I own a poodle.
This is Cinder...our 5 pound intruder alarm who truly
believes that everyone exists for her warmth and comfort...
the ultimate lap dog!!!
Taken: May 2009

Note: My grass is not tall...she's just short!!!

November 3rd, 1984, Pictured from left to right are:
B.L. Godfrey (Joann's Father), Joann (Beautiful Bride),
Me (Bearded Navy Stud), Marilyn Godfrey (Joann's Mother)
 and Frank Upson (Joann's Brother).

How blessed I am to have been accepted into the Godfrey
Family. They have always made me feel like a son...I could
not have asked for a better Mother & Father in law!!!

Jeremy sporting that "Professional Bass Fisherman" look!!!
Taken 6 August 2008 on Hardy Lake near Austin, Indiana

It was great to get out and spend some quality Father & Son
time with Jeremy...I am so blessed!!!!

See Below.......

Jeremy may have the "Professional Bass Fisherman" look...
but has chosen to specialize in the much more elusive
baby snapping turtle. Jeremy was over heard saying...
"anybody can catch a stinking bass"!!!

Taken 6 August 2008

I HATE NO-WAKE ZONES!!!!!
11 July 2007

Joann's first rainbow trout!!! And the first
fish of the day for our group!!!
Photo taken at Dogwood Canyon, MO
25 March 2008

 Our home at Christmas time.
Photo taken 26 Dec. 2006

6 June 2009
Joann and I decided to run away today...
We jumped into her convertible and jut took off. No map, no timeline, no destination. If that little voice said turn left then
left it was! Some 9 counties and 220+ miles later we arrived home.

Here's Joann near Magnet, IN...a beautiful little town on
the Ohio River.

Here is Joann standing next to the smartest purchase that
we have made in some time. I'm not a "car guy" but I can
honestly say that I love this car more than any that we
have ever owned!!!

We just drive, grin and talk for hours!

24 June 2009
Dinner in Mt. Pleasant South Carolina.
What a blessing it was to spend time with Joann's family!!!
(L to R: Joann, Me, Marilyn, Vicky and Jay)

22 July 2008 in the Pisgah National Forest near Brevard N.C.
The trout just weren't interested in me or anything I had to
offer...it was very reminiscent of my dating days long ago!!!

New Fly-Fishing Gear: $1000
Gas/Hotel/Food for fishing trip: $550
Great memories with Joann, Steve & Cheryl: Priceless

Jordan and Jeremy on Driftwood Beach, Jekyll
Island, GA in June 2005.

Dad and Jordan keeping cool on a hot August day.
Photo taken 5 Aug. 2005

-Update-
We lost Dad on the morning of 13 Jan. 2006.  After a long
fought battle his earthly body gave out and God called him
home. He was my father, my friend, my headhunting buddy
and my hero.
I strive daily to become 1/2 the man my father was...

We will celebrate his life for the rest of ours!!

This is my favorite photo of Joann and my parents.
I took this in 1984 while Joann and I we were engaged!!

24 June 2009 at sunrise
Joann on a mission to pick up every shell on the Isle of
Palms (IOP) beach. I have never seen her move so fast...she
filled her little green bucket 2-3 times that morning!!!

 

19 July 2006
A bonus to going out arrowhead hunting is you
never know how you will come in contact with nature.
 We had to get mom to move her babies so we could launch.
Later the same day we walked up on a black
 snake holding onto the leg of a screaming bullfrog.....
you don't see that everyday!!!! 
 The bullfrog escaped!!!

  My oldest son Jeremy driving our boat on the Ohio River in
the summer of 2003....we had a great day!  Jeremy has a
knack for finding the good stuff!

  3 March 2005, Joann hugs Jeremy in thanks for

her birthday present. This is one of my favorite

photos of these two.

OK...so you want more...then hang on!!!
Lake Monroe, 10 July 2007

Whipped out to the side...feel the speed!!!
Lake Monroe, 10 July 2007

I'm old, fat, balding and now need reading glasses to see
just about anything. Yet I have never been so happy....

 Dad and Jordan on the Mighty Ohio. This was
our first trip this year to this part of the river.
It's a long trip via highway and back roads...it
normally produces some very fine artifacts.
NOT this trip...we found 2 hafted scrapers
 and some pottery shards.

This is the way Joann smiles every time she is
at the fence watching our two new cria play!
Photo taken 9 June 2007

Dillinger's Girls!!!
Bella Lana is on the left and Bella Amica the right.
Both are OUTSTANDING!!! See more of these
girls under the "Our Alpacas" tab!!!

Photo taken 9 June 2007

My Father-in-Law, B.L. Godfrey

B.L. was called home by God on the 31st of May 2007.
He was a great man who became a great friend.
When we first met I didn't think that would ever be the case...
I am a Indiana University Basketball fan and he was a
HUGE University of Kentucky fan. He knew more about the
UK Basketball Program than anyone I have ever met.

B.L. was also the track announcer for many years at the Salem
Speedway in Salem Indiana which placed him on a first name basis with all of the Indianapolis 500 drivers of the 1950's
and 1960's.

He was also the only person I have ever met who served with
the Navy Blimp Corp in WWII and was stationed in Rio De Janeiro Brazil!!!

I miss our conversations, I miss my friend.

June 2005...Me and "Bob the Horse" heading
 for the beach for our "Sundown beach ride".
Bob is the big horse that is there to carry the
 "Fat Guys"!!!!

Jordan and my cousin Chuck, who is visiting and hopefully
moving back soon from Florida.  They are enjoying the 98
degree heat with our 95% humidity! Taken 26 July, 2005
on the Ohio River. 

Marilyn presents Marilyn!!!
Marilyn (Joann's Mother) gave Vicky & Jay this neon flamingo after seeing how excited Jay was about one that they saw in
Salem IN on an earlier visit.

Out of gratitude for the gift, Vicky & Jay named the flamingo Marilyn and have mounted it in a place of honor!!!

Photo taken: 23 June 2009

31 May 2007
 The birth of Bella Lana!!! My first "assisted alpaca birth"!
Now I can add "Alpaca Mid-wife" to my always expanding
resume!!!

25 March 2008
Joann and I...relaxed and loving it in Dogwood
Canyon MO!!!
 

Christmas 2007
I snapped this photo quickly since this is the closest
these two have been in years without a "head-lock"
being involved!!!

  I always have this stupid grin when I'm out doing
some "headhunting"!

I love the smell
of Ohio River mud in the morning!!!!

  My Mom....showing some of the points she has
found over the years. She is holding a nice chert
knife in her left hand, this and the point in the top
center of the frame were found by her in our
side yard. One day Dad is going to come home
and Mom and I will be standing in a  hole in
the side yard!
 

I'm so blessed to have this lady as my Mother!

June 2005 on Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island, GA. 
The colors in the sunset are real and untouched.
We were all sweaty due to chasing fiddler crabs
 and playing with a tennis ball on the beach!

Me walking the waters edge looking for....as my
wife puts it "picking up broken ones nobody else
wants...or the small ones nobody else can see"! 
  I'll take all of the small ones I can find!!!!

 Dad and my brother Gus on the banks of the Ohio River
on 08 Oct. 2004.  This was the first time the three of us
have gone "headhunting" together. It is such a blessing to
go out with my brother and dad and get dirty!

My Mother-in-Law, Marilyn and my Mom, Betty and
my dog, Cinder. Christmas 2006

  June 2005...Deep sea fishing off the coast of Jekyll Island GA. This is Jeremy with a small "Bonnet"  shark that he caught
while fishing  for bait. We caught dozens of sharks this day including a few over 4 foot.  That's Capt. Larry (our guide)
holding the shark.

Probably my best fish of the day!!!
A nice rainbow trout caught 25 Mar. 08
at Dogwood Canyon, MO.

My "Ultimate Zebco" Rules!!!!!

Daybreak on the Ohio River. Being out on the
river when the sun comes up is a very special
time for me. Fish jumping, deer at the waters
edge, paragon falcons soaring.......and the
anticipation of finding those perfect points...
WOW!!!

Taken: Aug. 2006

The cup was full of some real nasty water...the
question was who will make a sacrifice (for the sake
of the game) and stick their hand in there to retrieve
the three golf balls at the bottom???
10 July 2007

Playing Joann's favorite game on our vacation
 to the Four Winds Resort on Lake Monroe.
11 July 2007

01 October 2009
Here is Jordan just minutes after taking his final swear-in
into active duty service in the U.S. Navy.

We are so proud of you Jordan!!!!

Aunt "Bert"
1911-2009

I was blessed to know her 25 of her 98 years.
She made me laugh EVERY time I was with her.
I could sit and listen to her tell stories for hours.

Heaven's gain is our loss.