Happy Halloween...

MM and her autumn experience

She said 'star' as she pointed to the sky and looked at me. It just is the best moment I've had in a long time. She is 14 months now!

The best things in life are just the simplest .... and free!

she thinks she's always been walking!

aww, look up at all the pretty leaves

some blue eyes, okay, so I popped up the color!

Seeing God's beauty in the simplest things

Hannah and the bug

I love this photo. I don't think I have posted it before, not here anyway! But Hannah saw this bug and flipped out, then decided that a photo of her looking at it would be OK, as long as her mom didn't get it too close!

Little Fire Chief pup

roman

Everything is still here. The items from the side are now at the bottom. That would be photo link to my etsy shop, my blog archive, my blog list of favorites that I visit, the gas prices (by the way, I will be removing that after election day).
Meanwhile, enjoy the large photos and Halloween colors I've set up! These are of my grandson from Saturday afternoon. We had fun. But he still needs a haircut!

Sit Up video

Bark in the Park. Duncan, Oklahoma. Cute pooches! I made two videos,this one has a song titled "Sit up" and the other is just some fun Latin music. Enjoy!

Desktop background for you!

Well, apparently, if you didn't grow up with the Fonz and Ritchie, the video clip below was completely lost. SOME (and they know who they are) didn't find it funny. Oh well!

Here's a few photos I shot yesterday in a neighborhood in Duncan. If you look closely enough at the world around you, you will find the autumn beauty. I was beginning to think Oklahoma was not going to get much of it. I love the one of the little red leaf in the sea of green. I had to search for that one! It was about 20 feet over my head.

Too funny!

OK< before you watch this. Just because I'm posting this does not mean I have made up my mind. I am one of the undecided STILL! But, this is priceless video! I laughed so hard when I saw it on TV just now. First off, Ron Howard was born here in Duncan, and all I could think of was, oh wow, the Duncanites? who love 'little' Ronnie are just going to cringe, because I'm sure many of them are McCain backers. I could be wrong, but that's the majority of signs I see around town. So without any further delay, hit play!

Faith Hope Love

Exhibits and Chuckwagons

My Photograph!





At the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center:

Dennis Quaid and Ellen team up

Has to be one of the funniest clips I've seen in awhile! You can also see it at the official ellen site. Be ready to laugh!

Autumn day drive in Oklahoma

No cheese allowed

I swear I know this 'kid-duck!!!'

Umm. what to post!

Wait, I know!! My photo Purple Beauty won first place in Professional Photography division in the Waurika Juried Arts Show! The judge was Dr. Andrew Phelan who is Director of the Arts Management Program, Coordinator of International Programs in the Arts for the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, Professor of Art and Emeritus Director of the School of Art at the University of Oklahoma. Wow, that's a lot of credential and that is just the tip of the iceberg. I am so honored to have earned a First Place based on his judging/opinion! And he awarded Best of Show to a photographer also! Congratulations Jacqueline Calhoun, fellow Duncan resident!

So here's a couple, and more are on my flickr stream for a few days. I'll bring them back over here to my blog with a slideshow later this week.
http://flickr.com/photos/tphotos/
Oh boy, give a Nikon girl a Canon and look what happens! Just Kidding Jacqueline! See the glare on my winning image?! ummm...


Below, Shannon Smith, I remember the first show she entered. Also this one, when it was at the Chisholm Trail museum in Waurika, about five years ago. I LOVE this image! Congratulations Shannon! That wine oil painting is gorgeous!

And meet Shirley King, another fabulous Duncan artist! She got a third in professional watercolor for "The Price" great title! So glad we met!

Trading fun!

I stumbled onto this photographer's work this summer and during the course of e-mail conversations back and forth, we decided to do a trade. Heather picked one image I had featured in my etsy shop at that time, and I found an image off her Web site that I loved! Well, the trade is complete. I got this in the mail this week! It's gorgeous! We both sell cards and prints, and I'll tell you this, I love her photos, which are mostly food related. She inspired me to do some food photography and for those who haven't done this, it is a challenge!

But it is so much fun!
So thank you Heather! Everyone, be sure to visit her site! I have a permanent link in my blog list to the right. heatherbydesigns. Oh and she wrote the nicest thing in the card she sent me: "I am enjoying my print immensely!" So am I!

The one she chose from my shop:

Storms

This was a couple nights ago, just now getting around to doing anything with them. Most were dark, grainy, blurry. I bumped up the iso really high and was pleased to see some turned out!

How do you like?!

My new BANNER! I did it tonight. Took a bit of time to get everything placed just so. Of course, come December, I'll probably change it again! I am already thinking about holiday stuff. Trying to keep it very simple this year, what with the economy and all. Just getting back to basics. To me, apples are as basic as it gets! I remember plenty of days in apple orchards in Sebastopol, California. Such fun!
Then, when I was pregnant with my first baby, my sister and I frequently went to apple orchards in NW Arkansas. Wow, that was a long time ago! And all the applesauce my mom and I made, well, I believe it was my son's first food!
My husband's favorite memories of apples, I believe, involve apple butter his German grandma and mom made when he was a kid. Funny how a food such as simple as apples can bring with it the greatest memories. Truly a comfort food and definitely a staple!
I love Washington state apples. Oh, wow, don't even get me started there. Delicious doesn't begin to describe the yumminess!
Apples are also probably the 'healthiest' food nature ever gave us. My mom and my husband's stepdad both liked apples on a daily basis. They both lived long stubborn lives! Some of my favorite images are apples! I don't have them sized, or I would share them here. Maybe another day - soon, very soon!
What is your favorite apple, recipe or food-related memory? Post a comment and I'll publish it for all to see!

A reason to be MAD!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081007/ap_on_bi_ge/meltdown_aig
Have you seen this story or heard the news today? This really makes me mad! There are Americans across this country unable to pay their UTILITY bills because of the soaring costs associated with fuel and oil and EVERYTHING else (do a Google News search on 'utility shut-offs' or look for the Associated Press story) and meanwhile, we, the PEOPLE, are paying for such luxury on top of the bailout! There needs to be MORE ACCOUNTABILITY!
People are attempting or succeeding suicide because of their own personal financial problems - like the 90-year-old woman who tried to kill herself because she was being evicted from her home that was being FORECLOSED. She had been paying on it for 38 years!

It's just not right. And what is this winter going to be like? Where is the government going to be then? Will there be a bailout of the American people when it comes to heating their homes this winter? Probably not! Guess who suffers the most? The elderly and children.

There's a program across the country that assists many with their home heating costs, but it's a drop in the bucket and I see fault with it on many levels. Not everyone is on public assistance, so not everyone will benefit from the low income energy heating program. The program first kicks out benefits for those who do get PA. But what about those on disability who don't go through their local DHS resource office? In Oklahoma, that's the agency that handles the program. Other states have other agencies handle it (or did in the past).

And what about the working class poor - hey, don't most of us fit in that category these days?!
And everyday I hear of people in my own community who are losing their jobs because "it's slow"... it is such a vicious cycle.
Thanks for reading my rant, but now I must go tune into the Presidential -ah-hem 'debate'....
I think we are all screwed! Democrats, Republicans ...sorry, I don't have much faith right now for either side.
We've got Barack preaching 'change' and McCain who refuses to even tell his running mate he's getting ready to cease campaigning in Michigan and the list goes on and on for both sides. I'm holding my breath, have been blue for a few weeks now! ....
And to those of you who were not expecting my rant, I apologize. I know, usually it's just photos! But maybe I will share photos later!
I'd love to hear comments, just keep it from being too ugly or I won't approve it for publication!

Happy

I decided to try my hand at Dictionary of Image, a flickr group. I came up with this. It's a blend of different images and textures, then a cutout of Hannah. Decided to go with a word using her name initial and came up with Happy. After I created it, I realized the image was too small, resolution, so I am not sure about the final printing size of it. But it was fun!

And, if you haven't registered to vote, you have until Friday in Oklahoma!

I love pets!

I haven't had a dog in a couple years. And if the economy/read-my budget-wasn't so tight, I'd probably get one immediately! I've got three cats (outdoors) and right now that will just have to do. I shot this photo a couple years ago when I was the photographer for Bark in the Park, Stephens County Humane Society's annual fundraiser. I 'revisited' it and jazzed it up just slightly to repost it. I love this photo, so cute! This little dog won the best dressed? contest, and part of the win was to have a photo taken. But the owner never claimed her photo! It was FREE! Go figure! I called her several times and left messages. I just can't imagine someone not wanting such a cute photo of their pet!

Anyway, since it's fall and Bark in the Park is around the corner, I decided to share this one again in its new improved form. I believe the event is Oct. 25, so bring your dogs and head to Fuqua Park for a great time and worthy cause. I won't be the photographer this year. As much as I enjoyed doing these events, they are a lot of work and I don't have the assistants now that I once had. One of the pet owners who always had her pugs pictures taken when I did Santa Paws asked if I was going to do these events this year. She said she really liked it when I did them. That was so sweet!
So, I won't be doing them as events. I would like to do some pet portraits, so just ask!

Friday Fun

I only have time for posting one right now! I shot these on Sunday and am really pleased with the set. I hope you like this as much as the other textured images! I just wish I could get some more sales! They make great Christmas gifts! I offer blank greeting card sets, images on canvas/gallery wraps, large prints and small prints. And if you like to collect the large 5x7 postcards that are hot items these days for decorating, I can do that too! Just let me know!

Just 5 friends

NOTE: There are a few colorful words used, only a couple times, but for those who would rather not, then DON'T watch it. I happen to like the meaning of this! I do know a few people who plan not to vote this year. I will be voting, what about you?

NEW NOTE: So, apparently Glen Beck mocks this clip! Well sure to some people, it might seem stupid, so if you don't want to watch it -- JUST GO REGISTER to vote. In the state of Oklahoma, you have until Oct. 10. My problem, I just don't know who I'm going to vote for in the Presidential election yet. I'm still trying to make up my mind! What about you?