Laura learns to sew

I visited with my aunt, Elaine, yesterday & she told me that her granddaughter, Laura, spent her spring break with her to learn how to sew. Elaine took a few photos & sent them to me & I am impressed! I especially love the tunic top & I appreciate the attitude she put into posing for her picture. I'd be tickled too if I finished two tops in one week. I told Elaine that garment sewing often feels too overwhelming for me so I keep putting it off thinking I will find it too difficult. Then when I finally decide to do just a bit I end up working longer than I expected. Elaine said that her mother used to say that if we knew how many dishes we'd wash in our lifetime we'd never want to start on the pile but if we do it bit by bit we'll get it done. Good advice. And I have a couple of patterns I want to get started on.

light . . . and shadow

I would like to do more photography utilizing off camera flash. Daniel was kind enough to sit for a few moments for me recently & I got one photo I really liked. This is it. In reading about flash I ran across this quote more than once: To create interesting light, you have to create interesting shadows. I agree.

Rae & Nick & Maggie

I'm working on a project & want some practice photographing people with their pets. Rae agreed I could practice at her place (she thought I just wanted to photograph her dog, Maggie, though). Maggie is a ball of energy & knows quite a few tricks. (Something our Beagles were always too stubborn to learn.) I was able to get a few good shots of her before she was off running again . . .

March

goodbye, Jack

A week ago today we said goodbye to our best friend, Jack. He'd been a part of our family for over fifteen years & even though we knew this day was coming it made it no easier to bear. I didn't realize how big his personality was until it was gone. He didn't greet us at the door every time but instead stayed in the comfort of his chair & whined at us until we stopped to pet & greet him. He still enjoyed two walks a day. They'd become shorter & slower and I'd learned that I had to go in whatever direction he chose or else I'd just be dragging him by the leash. His favorite foods were peanut butter & chicken. We buried him in our back yard to keep him nearby. I'm not sure why I removed his collar; we'll never have a dog that can wear it like Jack did.