When Chris called to ask if I did pet portraits, I said "Of course!"
What about a BIG dog?
Now that would pose a challenge, but I'm always up for a challenge. And as it turned out, photographing Cooper with his people was no challenge at all! This big Ridgeback was a delight to capture: he was calm, intelligent, expressive, fun, and a real ham.
I couldn't wait to get back to the studio to see the images, and now I can't wait to share a few with Chris, Craig and all my blog readers!
By now, most of the people who celebrate Christmas have taken down the tree.
Not me -- we're having too much fun with it!
But then, we don't have to worry about needles dropping on the carpet. For the second year, we've put our Christmas tree on the patio. Kai still thinks glass ornaments make perfect projectiles, so there's no point in having our traditional Frasier fir loaded with German glass ornaments dominating the living room. But we couldn't forego the tree entirely, so...
We turned our tree into a buffet for the birds and squirrels. We hung strands of cranberries and popcorn, along with pinecones loaded with peanut butter and birdseed. It's been a blast to sit by the patio doors and watch the birds and squirrels enjoy the food and shelter the tree provides.
Last year, the tree lasted into March. As long as the HOA doesn't take up arms, we'll leave it up for a month or two again this year. And enjoy those Christmas lights all winter long.
There was a gorgeous Monarch flitting around the sunflowers in our backyard yesterday, and I managed to grab a few macro shots.
I love the colors and design on the wing in this image (click for a larger image) and I keep thinking they'll inspire a design or two for me. In the meantime, I'm just enjoying the image...and thinking that anything that gets me off my butt and out of the house is a good thing!
Well, we didn't have a winter for so long (no snow at all until late January) that I shouldn't complain. But the two winter storms we've had so far this season have featured some beautiful fluffy snow that was promptly sealed with an inch or more of freezing rain and ice. So, no snowmen or snow forts. Sledding is out -- too dangerous for really small kids (although *I* should try, it looks fast and fun this year with all the ice!)
So we've tried to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors from indoors, watching little critters from fingerprinted windows and enjoying the icicles while sipping on hot chocolate...all the while keeping our fingers crossed for some REAL snow this year!
Defying Gravity
Idina Menzel: Wicked (2003 Original Broadway Cast)
