Nieces :)

Fun at the park yesterday!!

This was a pose, she wasn't really pouting :)

Posing again ...

... and again ....



Goofy girls



So serious.



And not so serious.



And cheesin!

Awwww

I just had to share this photo ... Shawn taking a nap with his Pops.

Cheesy flower pics

This morning I went on a walk by myself, without the dogs - not quite sure how I managed to pull it off, but oh it was lovely. Liberation! Saw some lovely flowers, so I had to come back home and grab my camera ...

The land of daisies

Check out this photo ... I love it, of course.

2 Happy Things

(1) I have just now discovered comments on my blog postings! Wahoo! Much love, my friends, much love!! Since I made the switch to blogspot, I don't receive e-mail updates on comments .... so hopefully I'll figure all that out ...

anyway, on to happy thing numero dos -

(2) The tree in the front yard was trimmed yesterday, which has flooded my room with natural light! YESSSSS!! So I made Rico pose for me - he was a bit sleepy and not all that up to it, so my lofty ideas of a fancy dog portrait didn't quite work out. Ah well.

Happy Hump Day! Have a nap, like Rico rama here ...

I was going for something like this - a photo you might recall from awhile back !

Great words

"
That is perfect. This is perfect. Perfect comes from perfect. Take perfect from perfect, the remainder is perfect.

May peace and peace and peace be everywhere.

The Self is everywhere, without a body, without a shape, whole, pure, wise, all knowing, far shining, self-depending, all transcending; in the eternal procession assigning to every period its proper duty.

-Upanishads, translated by W.B. Yeats

Reels

Trying to take some pics for things I'm going to sell on ebay, and I'm getting distracted by making them too artsy ...

(film reels)

Playing with the gals

Had a lovely evening with friends and kiddos - couldn't wait to share so I'm posting before I go to bed !

Some little thoughts of Mexico...

Lately I have been getting lost in thoughts of Mexico. Thoughts of traveling. Thoughts of exploring.

My curiousity about Hispanic culture and Latin America began quite awhile ago. Right out of high school, I made a week-long trip to Cancun, with other graduating seniors. Okay, I know what you might be thinking, Cancun is a bit cheesy. But it was a first step for me, a small step that would make an impression for years to come. I remember spending one afternoon exploring outside the typical touristy area - I hopped on a bus by myself and didn't get off until it was clear there were no more cheesy vacation resorts in sight. I wandered among city streets without the clutter of tourists. I recall being fascinated with the way the houses looked. The way the kids looked at me. The way everyone seemed to be waiting on a bus, on every block. The way every building was painted a different color. It was all just so different from any place I'd experienced before. It had energy and vibrance. I was immediately in love.

Many many years down the line (about 10, to be exact) - I would hop on another form of transport - this time a plane, to spend two months in Guatemala by myself. Again, I was in love. Maybe terrified at moments, but in love. (Isn't that how love can be, anyhow?) My Spanish began to flow. I overcame many doubts about myself. Oh, the colors, the chicken busses, the lush growth of nature, the fascinating people.....

The last trip I made outside the U.S. was almost two years ago - I made a short trip across the border with some co-workers and spent an afternoon in Reynosa, Mexico. I've never had so many people beg me for an interest in their clothing/manicures/dental services ....



So here's a photo to express my dreams of traveling again to Mexico: a little knick-knack that my mom gave me recently. It is supposed to represent Mexico, some little collection from Hallmark or something .... anyway, this is my way of putting this little dream into the universe, and having faith that if I am supposed to go again, I will go.


For now, here I sit, having taken on another semester of school and a seasonal job lasting until November. And my dad is not in the greatest health, so it's important to me to be here for now.
So Mexico will have to simply remain in my thoughts for now ....

When in doubt ...

... take pictures of shoes. that's what I do. (either shoes or fake fruit, and the fake fruit was lookin pretty dusty today).

I am a sucker

Every time I put on my shoes to leave the house, the dogs assume I'm taking them for a walk. They get all riled up and excited and give me these exact stares ....

"Where are we goin??!!"
(try to ignore the dirty carpet, if you can...)

"I'm ready, whenever you are!!"


I am such a sucker, and I think they know this. How do you say no to these faces, even if it is the middle of the day in the blistering Texas heat?

A new paint cup image!

Haven't done one of these in awhile ... decided I should push myself to try and come up with another one. I'm not completely sure I like it .... perhaps more later.

New week

This week I'm determined to take lots of pictures!!

A little bit of playing in the front yard yesterday ....

Red Dress

The past week has been nuts. My apologies for slacking on new posts and images. Finally had some time today to explore a few new red dress ideas - here's my favorite.

Human Castles ?!

Today I was exploring another photojournalist's website - Jacquelyn Martin - and I came across a photo of hers from a festival in Spain, where teams compete to build the highest human castle (or "tower") !!! How cool is that?!

So I did some exploring on youtube - check this out!!!

Oh wait !

I do have an image or two that I can share today. Forgot about these. Happy baby Shawn ... his personality is really beginning to shine through. The other day he climbed the stairs a million times, and I pretended to be chasing him, and he was just hysterical. Gotta love it. :)

I just love Elizabeth Gilbert

I've had my nose in a book and haven't taken any pictures .... so I'd love to share some words with you today, rather than images.

"There is so much about my fate that I cannot control, but other things do fall under my jurisdiction. There are certain lottery tickets I can buy, thereby increasing my odds of finding contentment. I can decide how I spend my time, whom I interact with, whom I share my body and life and money and energy with. I can select what I eat and read and study. I can choose how I'm going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life - whether I will see them as curses or opportunities (and on the occasions when I can't rise to the most optimistic viewpoint, because I'm feeling too damn sorry for myself, I can choose to keep trying to change my outlook). I can choose my words and the tone of voice in which I speak to others. And most of all, I can choose my thoughts."
-Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat Pray Love

Levi's family

Here's another from my photo shoot Saturday that I just had to share. Candice, Jason, and Levi were so kind and welcoming, I had a great time taking pictures for them. Much much gratitude to this wonderful new family. :)

Little Levi

Yesterday I had the pleasure of taking pics of this little guy ... he did so well for his very first photo shoot. Thanks Levi. :)

Do - over !

Happy weekend :)

One more dance video

Another favorite of mine - so powerful, I can't stop watching it. Kayla and Kupono.

Asuka and Vitolio

Love this .... one of my favorite dances of the season on So You Think You Can Dance.

Roller Coaster

Today is just a bit overwhelming. To calm myself, I'm going to share my favorite prayer.

The Lord is my Shepherd: I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for Thou art with me: Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the House of the Lord for ever.
-23rd Psalm

Restore my soul, restore my soul....

Bar stool

YES !

Today I am inspired by Sark - I came across my old Sark's Journal and Playbook - I had forgotten how fun she is!!

"Make little signs that say YES and post them all over your house. Yes is contagious on a subliminal level, it affects everything you do. What can you say yes to?" - Sark

Portraits of Stephanie

During my trip to Kansas with the Stephanie Briggs band, Stephanie posed for me, so diligently, again and again ... here's a few of my favorites:

In a random stairwell at the one of the bars

in the alleyways of Manhattan, Kansas

Tonight I am thankful ...

... that I have my face.

Read about Amalia Mendoza, an amazing woman from Colombia. She lost most of her face in a car accident, and her story has been documented by photojournalist Greg Kahn.

Astounding. I have no other words.

Except this: I am thankful.

New bloggity - blog ! Yee-haw!

I have decided to switch my blog host and create a new blog site. wahooooo !! I think I'll be happier with it. So be sure and bookmark the new url: http://worldofdaisyphoto.blogspot.com/ (Can you believe World of Daisy was already taken?? Lame...)

So today I'm posting more photos from the Kansas/Oklahoma run with Stephanie Briggs - mostly shots from the Wormy Dog in Oklahoma City. This place was a LOT of fun - excellent stage lighting, I couldn't stop taking photos ....

The show ROCKED, much thanks to Stephanie (and Allan and Michael), and to Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights for an excellent show.

Steph primping for the show

waiting around in the afternoon at The Wormy Dog - saddles for barstools....

Sound check. Tried to do some cool face blurs for you photo nerds out there. Or maybe just for my own nerd self, haha.

Still doing sound check ... View from upstairs

On stage - Steph you ROCK!!

Allan Goodman, playing bass for Stephanie Briggs

Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights

Gettin a bit sweaty

This dude was intense. Look at that stare into the camera - yikes!