lily and the football

Lily received a gift of a small plastic "football" from our friend Tracy. In the past she has been more partial to playing keep away with stuffed toys rather than the more traditional retrieve the ball-dog games (although she makes daunting soccer opponent when kicking 'round two cloth blocks baby toys on the slick kitchen floor). Today, however, she took to her new football like a soccer player with four feet. The ball is missing some air allowing her to clamp down on it without pulling a jaw muscle. After rounding the ball up from multiple throws she plunked down on her cushion to catch her breath and patiently (well kind of patiently) waited for me to take some photos of her with her newest toy.

a barrel of fun

This morning we drove to Maricopa to pick up some 55 gallon barrels. When we arrived at the address we found on Craigslist we found a backyard saddle and tack shop with interesting things to photograph.

photo tip number one

Our friend Tracy relaxing outside with Lily.

From a book on black and white portrait photography I learned that using a redish-brown hickory color for backdrop gives a nice tone.

75 and counting

There are 75 days before Tim and Siera's wedding.


Seventy-five days for me to sharpen my photography skills.

75 days to research, practice, and plan.


Seventy-five days to play with different angles and lighting.


75 days to work with my model...

for my dad

This month marks three years since I laughed with my dad.
I miss having his humor as a part of my life.

Recently I ran across this video clip that he would have loved.
Then he would have enjoyed it
over and over again
as he shared it with others.

Today's post is in celebration of my dad the funny stuff of life.

planting seeds of hope

My greenhouse is still in the process of being built, but I decided to get some seeds started so that I'm ready at completion. Yesterday, I lined small pots in rows of circles and squares, pushed tomato, melon, and pepper seeds in rich dark soil, and turned on the grow button with a good douse of oxygenated water. Now for the waiting....

I think I'll go read the Frog and Toad story where Frog is anxiously waiting for his seeds to sprout. Come to think of it I have a Messianic radio station playing for my seeds.

cool junk

While in the city this weekend, we stopped by my favorite second hand strip mall to pick up a friend. The string of unique treasure-laden stores never fails to provide a delightful spread of delicious eye candy for the lens of my camera.

unplanned joy

Photos from Phoenix Right to Life Rally....

waiting in line

Toys patiently
waiting to be
played with as we
pray
& jump
through more hoops
in order to be licensed for foster care.

night chipht

Photo credit: Jay (from on top of the house roof)

The sun went down ending the sabbath and we headed back down in the wash to shred away another pile of brush. Jay set up a couple of flood lights so that we could see. The spotlight on the machine made an interesting photo.

a chipper off the ol' block

Last weekend a friend who is an arborist visited our house. He noticed that the trees in our wash really need trimming and offered to do the work for us "because we are always helping other people." So, Thursday afternoon, armed with chainsaw and clippers, he headed into the untamed wilds of our wash. By the time the sun went down the ground was covered with prickly piles of Palo Verte branches.

Jay had Friday off, having already put 40 hours in at work. He rented a chipper and together we chipped away at the piles of branches.


Not long before the sun set the chipper motor stopped. Jay said, "The chipper says it's time to stop working, the sabbath is about to begin'

another beautiful start to the sabbath

Shabbat Shalom

and then it was my turn...

snow shoot

My friend Renalee called me on Monday with a request that before her birthday on Wednesday we would do a "Glamor" photo shot session. We made plans for a photo shoot in the snow on Tuesday afternoon. After searching multiple malls for white boots we headed north to snow country.

Two hundred miles, a dozen pink roses, and twenty frozen toes later....

Happy Birthday my friend!