asking permission...Cassie's tail UP and wagging - permission granted.
This is not Sam, it's Dakota - our charge for the past week... it's been such fun having three of them! They have such mild dispositions it was a real pleasure.

I know this is a little silly, but often when I'm walking the dogs down that very familiar path - I already know a lot of the sights... and overlook them - deep in thought. This is the smiling woodsman - you see the little tiny smile there on the tree in what is probably bubble gum? I always remember to look up when we round the bend - and smile back.

Unlikely little green visitor... brought to my door by one of the little boys in our neighborhood a few years back... he (froggie) sat briefly for me under the lamp on my desk for his official portrait. Colorful little guy, eh?
It was amazing, I had posted this picture on a chat forum, and within a few days the people online had almost pinpointed the fact that 'home' was in Southern Germany at the time!

You know how you sometimes see snowflakes in movies that seem to meander - as if gravity has no pull? This was one such snow. It was taken in bone chilling temps on a ranch in the remoteness of the panhandle of Texas. Not that it does matter - but the horse's name is Romeo. It is a very quiet and lovely memory.

If one is good, two has to be better - right? Yes, that is the thinking that led to Cassie... the smaller golden. She was located online - and shipped from Rochester. Sam decided that if he didn't look at her - she would 'go away'. Two weeks into this - he looked pleadingly at us "She IS going home, right??".
She played Alpha dog almost immediately - stradling Sam's head/shoulders - so that he had to peek out from below... but he didn't mind. Then she became his shadow - and it's been that way ever since!

Why, when this is a nation at war does our neighborhood not allow the flag to fly in the front of the house?

It just wouldn't be complete without introducing Cassie also. She'll be two in September, and justly fitting her feminine nature - she's a petite 55lbs. The best thing we did was obedience training for her, she will stop on a dime to come when called! I only wish Sam were so predictable.

This image has been changed to monochromatic, then dry-brushed in Photoshop - if you click on the photo, you will see that it looks like a painting. Such a pretty and willing subject makes it much easier to get good shots, no?

This lends so much warmth to the room. I love how nothing 'matches'... yet - it's such a harmonious existence. Lots of little clay drawers... perfect for storing those perfect little nothings that we all have (and don't know where to store). ((Pier One a few years back))

Color, texture & intensity... the trio for photographic happiness. I'm anxiously awaiting the flowering of this plant as well as have a keen eye on the beauty bush that's along the path we walk daily... you'll see just how 'worth it' the wait will be!

Color and nature, amazing once again. I love the way this beauty didn't take his eye off me the entire time I was getting set. He had a ladylove - and her eyes were so feminine... it was like looking at a little granny with full battle make-up on. Amazing tho - they can live upwards of eight decades years!

don't ask me why. Just let me explain. It's part of that love affair I have with my Sony... it was Halloween timeframe and we'd just staked out the heads... I just couldn't resist. Who would've thought that they'd turn out to be so cool??

It all has to do with perspective. These crocus were screaming to be photographed, and for all their colorful beauty - I was later devastated when I took them from the camera into editing mode... as saw that there was a horrible cigarette butt amid the flowers on the left hand side. But it's all about how you choose to look at things. It's still a wonderful picture - even if I hadn't told you that I'd cropped very carefully, and chose to show only the beauty.

A little out of season, but still timeless and elegant. Ice tinged edges of a glorious holly bush. I went a little further with this image, and changed it to B&W, then used a history brush to bring back some of the color... less is always more.

I felt so like an intruder. I had been teaching my youngest about how your 'eye' is perceived in photography, 'birdseye view' etc. So we were walking early one morning, AND since I love droplets... this caught my eye. I crouched down and snapped away. Not until I pulled it into editing, did I notice that I had disturbed the peace of the little spider on the backside. He must've just scooted around when I came bursting into his little world. His presence was a little 'extra' that I hadn't anticipated... and now when I look at this image, I'm not so fascinated by the droplets - but more how accommodating the spider had been for me! (yeah, that's the way I see it!)