Waiting on Laundry

I have finally found a few moments to pull out the camera today. Yesterday? EXHAUSTED. I didn't even bring my camera to a big event (which is unheard of). I didn't even think I'd pull it out for weekly puppy pictures. But I'm glad I finally did. Waiting on laundry has its merits - especially when it means I can capture a moment like this.

The pups are 5 weeks old now. They can't climb the stairs (well - don't know they can climb the stairs) but they can climb the couch! Daisy used to be able to find her retreat here.

My cousins visited earlier and fell in love with the pups. It made me realize how quickly time is passing. Yes, we will need to find homes for the pups, but I almost don't want to think about it! I will definitely miss the cuteness.

Girlie Treatment, Puppy Style!

I missed getting a photo of Miss M's friend, Lauren, while she was here enjoying puppies after her birthday party but here is some of her handiwork! After rollerskating, playing with puppies, swinging, doing hair and makeup ... two puppies also got the girlie treatment! Here is Juliette (named for two very tiny heart-shaped white markings on her chest) in a ruffled pink halter top borrowed from one of the build-a-bears.

Weaning

Some of the most hilarious moments have come watching Daisy and the pups when they're nursing. If one happens to get it's mouth on the goodness, they all come running. Even now, when they are pretty much weaned, they still flock when they hear the sound.

I wish I had a video camera handy to share one moment in particular. After their nap, the pups found mama Daisy while she was resting. They latched on and she got up to leave. All but two dropped off and Daisy walked off. Usually that was enough, but the pups are getting bigger. Their feet can touch the ground ... and this time the tenacious two ran along side sucking with all their might while they still had the chance.

Let's just say I'm glad I'm not a dog!

Toys Are A Big Deal ...

But the big black dog (who is not so scared of the pups now) is an even bigger deal than the toys! Now that's some fun playtime! Hank still has to keep his eye on them, though. If they sneak up on him, it creates quite a moment ... He flies out of the room, regains composure, and cautiously re-enters the room to play again.

King of the Backpack ...

... or the pillow.
... or the blanket.

That's been the new fun games the pups have discovered, King of ANYTHING! It's a climb to the top and a proclamation. I wish I had a video camera of the first one I witnessed. It was a solitary triumph over the pillow. And as soon as the thrill of victory emerged with a miniature bark, the abrupt movement would shake the unsteadly little legs.

One bark. Slip and roll down the pillow.
Climb and conquer.
One bark. Two barks. Slip and roll down the pillow.

Preciousness at my feet ...

I have to say, even though the morning is full of dog-related duties, sitting down for a cup of coffee and having companionship like this is pretty special!

"I cleaned my plate!"

Each weekend is a new milestone. They are 3 weeks old and ready to begin weaning. Some have some little chompers starting to break through, so I'm sure Mama Daisy will be happy to have them eating puppy food! The first feeding was rather hilarious. I was expecting more tentativeness and surprise, but ... well? ... WOW! They dived right in and had a free-for-all!

Puppy Love

This is what we're seeing a lot of at our house (along with the steam cleaner). The puppy world has been more fun than expected and I don't even mind cleaning up after them so much ... at least not yet. I'm sure as weaning begins, that will change the whole ballgame!

Open Eyes!

They are becoming little explorers now ... Oh, the adventures we've had just by week 2! If there's time, I'll share some more CUTE pics. In the meantime, I'll log the places we have found the explorers curled up and sleeping (following an escape from their "pool"):

Bedposts
Behind Doors
In Storage Bins (under the bed)
Inside a Large Stuffed Horse (There's a story there!)

Egyptian Princess (and "Moses")

It's costume time. Her favorite Bible character? The princess who rescues Moses from the river.
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One Week Later ... GASP ... 10 DOGS!

Yes, I do know how this happens. But my mind still staggers at the numbers (especially when there are times I wish we had ZERO dogs)! But they are absolutely adorable. And I believe they just might be the best hunters ever. With the Coonhound-Labrador mix, they can track AND retrieve!

Eternal Words ...

Remember when I said I hoped to share photos from a wedding on New Year's Eve? Well ... they are FINALLY done and in the bride's hands. I know. I know. That's a horrible timeline! I thought I scheduled surgery with plenty of time to finish but it turns out that there was more to life in that week than I had anticipated! And it turns out that the fabulous new computer arriving as a Christmas gift which could handle all the photos wasn't SHIPPED in 24 hours, it started the build process. So, I didn't have a computer to use until after the surgery. Add a couple of serious complications along the way that kept me horizontal, and the timeline exploded!

I'm rambling. It's my public apology.

Weddings are always so beautiful ... and challenging! It is such an important day, and one I tend to shy away from as a photographer because there are more moments than a camera can capture. Maybe one day there will truly be an invisible suit I can wear so that absolutely everything I shoot will just be an unaware moment in time as life unfolds into a new eternity.

Last of the Vanna Hands ...

It's furlough day ... My one opportunity out of the month to have a day for whatever I need to do. Last month, I had my nails done (a generous "girls' day" gift). This month, I will have my nails undone! As pretty as they are, it's more upkeep than I have time or money to do. Plus, I'll be anxious to utilize my nails for all their useful purposes again! So here is my tribute to the beauty on my fingers with my best Vanna pose. (Maybe I should have worn makeup! Oh well.)
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Missing Reality

There are struggles. There are mistakes. There are memories. There are treasures. I miss all this when we are not all together. And I miss it when we are together. Somehow reality never quite seems to match my desires ... at least not yet. And at the same time, I deeply desire reality whether it be painful or joyful. Maybe I just need to know how to embrace it better without trying to change it!

"I help my brother clean his room."

A borrowed scanner and a slightly damaged memory has me wanting to make sure I don't lose those things that make me laugh. Today's gem? This wonderful commentary from my daughter. A couple of years ago, she brought home a worksheet with quotes from classmates about how they can be helpers. Her quote? "I help my brother clean his room." The wonderful illustration with "ewe boxcers" completely cracks me up!

First day of dangly earrings!

Have 6 weeks already passed? She has been waiting for this day when she can wear fun earrings!
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Movement ... Motion ... Momentum

My little dancer ... sometimes when I look at photos, the life moments come to me.  I love freedom, and when I saw this image, it struck me how there's a commitment involved to enjoy that freedom.  This kind of liberation moves.  And it won't be experienced until a person puts something into motion and generates momentum.  Yes, the momentum will carry you, but you'll never get there without committing to movement.

Am I talking in circles?  Hopefully only the kind I've illustrated - spinning some kind of artistry or inspiration without second-guessing what's inside of me.

The girl has earrings!

Adorned with Minnie Mouse and brand new holes, she is LOVING this ear piercing adventure!
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I'm right here!

Weddings ... and rehearsals ... and dinners ... and photos. I get to be the photo part of a celebration tonight, and while I hope to be the invisible one that no one notices taking their photos, I have to admit there are some precious interactive moments. This photo isn't one of the "money shots" from the rehearsal dinner (no, photos weren't required, but I can't NOT take them - especially when there is a casual atmosphere and family is interacting naturally) but it's my special moment.

This little one (who will ultimately be the star of the evening tonight) was going about her socializing and spied my camera. "Will you take pictures of me?" OF COURSE! She didn't know I had been taking plenty already (good photog!) ... So, with my long telephoto lens, I backed up and started shooting a few. Edging nearer and nearer, I'd have to back up more and more.

"I'm right here!" Her exclamation made me smile.

It seemed odd that I didn't have my camera right in her face. I showed her the long part on my camera and told her because of it, I have to be a little farther away. She asked, "Don't you have flashes?" And I told her I do, but I like to take pictures without flashes. She looked at me like I was quite an oddity.

I turned the camera around and showed her this photo. Her face BEAMED with a wide-smiled surprise! There really were photos happening! My little friend and I have a photo date tonight ... this one with fancy dresses, a few cameras, and even some flashes!

Sloppy Dog - It's a DIY Dog Wash!

It was the crowning moment of holiday vacation time together ... Sloppy Dog Wash. Definitely an adventure, but I'm not sure who was more exhausted after the excursion - the dogs or the people!

VOTE QUICK! (you can keep my grinchy song - FREE!)

I'm a finalist! Enjoy ... and vote for me until Noon (PST) Thursday, December 17!
VOTE HERE (look for Ingrid): http://hightechdad.com/htdhpv
LISTEN HERE (can you guess the vocalist?): http://soundcloud.com/indigobleue/youre-a-lean-one-old-pc

Yes, I REALLY want to win. No, I won't tell the sob stories (though I am VERY tempted) ... but it is the holiday season! There's enough to be sad about already. And when it comes down to it, I've been so busy that I haven't had fun like this in a while. Enjoy the song!

YOU'RE A LEAN ONE, OLD PC

You're a lean one, Old PC. You've lost all your appeal. Your motherboard's a cactus, Your OS is an eel. Old PC.

You're a bad banana With a greasy gigibyte peel.

You're a monster, Old PC. Your hard drive's an empty hole. Your brain is full of spiders, You've got viruses in your soul. Old PC.

I wouldn't touch you, with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot widget pole.

You're a vile one, Old PC. You have termites in your drive. You have all the computing sweetness Of a seasick crocodile. Old PC.

Given the choice between the two of you I'd take the seasick crocodile.

And your router, Old PC. Can't connect your sinful dots. Your network's a dead tomato splot With moldy purple spots, Old PC.

You're a three decker software and hardware sandwich With arsenic sauce.

You nauseate me, Old PC. With a nauseaus ASCII-naus. You're a crooked jerky jockey And you drive a crooked horse. Old PC.

Your C-drive is an apalling dump heap overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of deplorable rubbish imaginable, Mangled up in MFT knots.

You're a foul one, Old PC. You're a nasty, Windows skunk. Your hub is full of unwashed socks Recycle bin's full of gunk. Old PC.

The three words that best describe you, are, and I quote: "Stink. Stank. Stunk."

Happy Holidays!

Little Miss M and I had a fireside night ... which for us is still pretty busy! We burned 12 CDs of the songs she recorded, did 12 CD layouts, and cut 12 CD inserts (part of her Christmas gift project). We ate a lovely meal of couscous and shrimp. She stabbed herself with her fork. And she just reminded me that she lost her tooth (that's where she "stabbed" herself)! The dogs were ever so cute, sweet and lovey-dovey (while smelling the food, of course).

I was inspired by the fire and got my camera out ... and then decided to make a little Christmas card for everyone. I always want to send cards and rarely end up doing it. BUT - this I can do! I have received the cute letters from my relatives telling about the year ... in poetry, in drawings, in pictures. It inspires me! But I rarely am able to find time to get it all done.

So, here's my candle, and my wall
And my wishes for y'all!

How's that for a holiday rhyme? Maybe in the coming days, I'll find time to sit and write (and I know I owe some emails to several people when I get some quiet time). But the fire is slowly dying and it's time for a game of Battleship!

Recluse Photog

I'm a sucker for romance and coffee ... and the combination was enough to draw me out of photography hibernation! When an artistic and gifted photographer in her own right asks me to take her photos, I consider it a huge compliment.

Yes, I often decline photography requests. And if I have declined such for any reader, please don't be offended! If I were building a business, I'm sure I'd have to shed my reclusive comfort zone. But when it comes to people, I don't want my moments behind a lens to be driven by dollars. I have never liked selling anything ... not directly, anyway. And if I do not have the time or energy to freely give myself to a project, or if I feel like people could be better served by another, I feel obligated to direct them to someone else.

The truth is, I purposely shy away from the traditional business of photography. I've been spoiled by magazines. They need photos, work with a budget, have to pay SOMEONE (why not me?), and there's no financial pressure on the subject for the photo session. I can think in terms of print layouts and graphic design instead of framed portraits. And when it comes down to it, even I the recluse photog have to admit that seeing my work massively in print - especially if it was part of a great layout - gives me a charge!

So every once-in-a-while, I take someone up on a photography request ... especially when I can do it in a way that brings my own kind of blessing to them.

My Own Snow Fairy

These days are fleeting ... the innocence of fairies and fluff ... and moving toward lip gloss and fashion. Before I know it, this little toddler who danced in a tiny pink tutu - all smiles as she twirled on the thick green carpet of our Georgia home - will be soaring toward her dreams on her own wings. Today, a snow fairy in the Nutcracker. Tomorrow? The sky is the limit.

Mom Moment ...

Why can't kids just do what they're supposed to do? (Notice the solitary child's footprint? I'm guessing a parent snatched the child back quickly.  Sometimes I feel like that's all I do!)

Truly Mobile Pics

I have discovered that I can take photos while driving (yes, I am bad that way) by referencing my rearview mirror! Awesome.
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I've Got Crabs!

These were my little friends in Hawaii. I showed M how they would bring sand out of their holes and toss it. Even last night she was saying that she kept thinking about the photo of that and laughing (little crab with an armful of sand - next shot, TOSS!). I don't know what it is about them, but they can be funny! The mornings on the beach were both relaxing and entertaining. Maybe that's what I'm searching for today.

Peace ... Interrupted!

NO! Not the Bible! HAAAAANK! Hank The Tank, aka Runs-While-Peeing, has left his mark again. My tranquility from a lazy morning is now severely challenged.
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Twirl & Swing!

Suddenly, she is herself again. All it took was a few twirls and swings! Amazing.
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