The Way I See It...

"Oh, Christmas Tree..."

2010-11-26T06:16:00.000-08:00

It is the day after Thanksgiving, and we all know what that means! At this house, it's time to decorate the Christmas tree; it is a tradition I started when my oldest child was born. As I passed by a tree farm the other day, memories of searching for "the perfect tree" came flooding back...we always took the kids to the tree farm to pick out the tree. Yes,with trees being cut down every few minutes, it smelled like Christmas at every turn...they also let the kids "help" cut the tree down, much to their delight. We would go home, make hot chocolate and play Christmas music while decorating the tree. Hopefully, these are the memories they will keep in their hearts forever. The squeals of delight when it was decorated, and the anticipation of what Santa would bring, were so sweet. I've kept every one of their keepsake and handmade ornaments and it's not Christmas to me, if I haven't decorated with them...(glitter on eggcartons, popsicle sticks, you name it)along with the traditional Hallmark ornaments. Thankful for these traditions, but mostly thankful for my children who made it all possible! Here's to peace, health and happiness this holiday and always...we never forget that Jesus is the reason for the season!

The Good Old Days

2010-09-23T13:23:00.000-07:00

As I drove by the baseball field recently, I was reminded of the not so long ago days when my children played sports...softball and baseball. We enjoyed their games so much (they might say too much)! It was really sad when the last child played his last high school game...I cried like a baby about half the way home! When I cleaned out the closet a couple of days ago, I found my shirt that all the Moms proudly wore, mine of course had his number, 33 on the back...you never know when I may want to wear it again. Before you feel sad about all this, let me share with you that we now have a 2 year old grandson who will surely follow in his Dad's footsteps on the ball field...the child can throw a ball like nobody's business! Certainly, he'll be an All Star pitcher like his Dad was, and the whole family will get to relive those days again...I wonder if he'll say, like my son did, "Mom, I always knew you were there, even if I was concentrating on the game and couldn't look...I recognized your scream". Yes, I think I screamed louder and longer than some of the Moms, but there were a couple with the same amount of spirit that I had. The most embarrassing moments for the kids were when things went wrong, I would still yell something positive, like "that's ok, it was a good try!!!" Deep down, I think they appreciated it so much...

Steve Vecchi

2010-08-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Recently, I had the honor of being commissioned by Steve Vecchi to photograph his concert. I must say, it was the most fun I've ever had on the job! He covered several Frank Sinatra songs and performed some of his own...he is so talented. Enjoy the photos!

Got It !!!

2010-07-24T07:43:00.000-07:00

It took a few tries, but I got the hummingbird shot!! It's a lovely Saturday morning and she looks very happy!!! Have a great weekend...

Hummingbird Watch

2010-07-15T06:29:00.000-07:00

Sitting on the porch in the mornings is one of my favorite things. I love drinking coffee in my rocking chair, and listening to the sounds of nature-birds singing, crickets, and whatever else is out there that day! A couple of days ago, as I was sitting there, I heard a different sound...low and behold there was a sweet little hummingbird drinking out of the feeder...I never dreamed I would live in a place so quiet, that I could hear the whirring of hummingbird wings!!! It really is all about the simple things...Since then I've tried to capture a shot of him (with the camera of course) to no avail. Will post a pic whenever, if ever, I can get one. They are truly elusive and much faster than me! Stay tuned...

Bayou Country

2010-07-12T18:13:00.000-07:00

Bayous are common here and sometimes we take them for granted...this week I really have enjoyed the bayou that runs across the farm where I raised my children. The most delightful part of the day, was holding hands with my precious grandson while we looked for baby "duckies"! He loves this sort of "duck hunting" whenever we visit. And, indeed, there are 19 baby ducks. Thanks for stopping by, enjoy the bayou pics!!!

More Flowers!

2010-07-10T13:51:00.000-07:00

Local Flowers

2010-07-10T13:25:00.000-07:00

Most flowers here are suffering from the extreme heat. Today I thought I would share some of my favorite flowers. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do...some of them are photos which have sold, others are just snapshots of flowers I love. Taking time to smell the roses, literally, is such a joyful thing. Enjoy!!!

Louisiana Tourism

2010-07-02T06:50:00.000-07:00

The most wonderful, surprising things happened this week! My blog was recognized and chosen to be part of the Louisiana Tourism Blog. I'm so honored and excited. My blogs will continue to be simple, every day life stories with photos with a bit more focus on Louisiana. So glad to have you along for this journey!

In addition, I was invited to be a resident artist at Red Door Art Gallery in Alexandria! Another huge honor! It's a great, talented group of people who just happen to be alot of fun. My good friend from college is also a resident artist there so we are both excited to be involved in this together. Lots of opportunity for the community! Will post pics of my studio soon. Have a great week!

Summer

2010-06-27T06:11:00.000-07:00

It's another beautiful day, but it's 100 degrees! We are embracing the great things about summer. Enjoying Dad's homegrown cucumbers, squash and tomatoes, the peaches from a local peach farm, and the mayhaw jelly our neighbor made for us! We have had bunnies playing in the backyard many mornings. A couple of days ago, we had quite a bit of rain, followed by the biggest rainbow I've seen in ages. We are thankful for the fans on our front porch...it makes our porch visiting more pleasant! So far, we have managed to have a wonderful summer, but I am looking forward to Fall!

Country Girl

2010-06-15T13:48:00.000-07:00

Some of my favorite childhood memories involve my Grandfather's farm and how much he and my Daddy loved that place...they taught us to do the same. We were there almost every weekend and we spent hours walking through the huge pasture as Gramps reminisced about days gone by. My cousins and I would always walk to the barn and climb the sturdy old ladder to peak in the attic. There were cattle, chickens, pigs and sometimes a horse or two on the farm, and always a nice garden. The table was always full of "home-grown" veggies and we loved it! There was a pond where we had many fun fishing sessions and actually caught some! Grandma would fry them that same day! Gramps always took us walking down the road to talk, sing and look at the "Old Place" where his childhood home had been. Mostly, I remember the feelings of peace and freedom to run and play...at night we enjoyed watching and catching fireflies and keeping them in Mason jars. There was no air conditioner in the bedrooms, so there were a lot of hot, sweaty Louisiana nights with windows open and fans on...I loved being sung to sleep by the crickets outside...absolutely undisturbed by the heat. Today, I'm not sure I could sleep like that! How I miss those days and my precious grandparents. When I miss them, my Dad or my husband will take me to see the farm and guess what? We reminisce about the old days... I'm proud to say that when the barn had to be torn down, (because it was old and about to fall down)I kept one of the weathered boards as a keepsake! Before it was demolished, I took plenty of photos and painted the barn on canvas for my Dad. Now that we live in the country, I feel like I'm finally home. On nights when the crickets and fireflies are out, I'm instantly taken back to the lovely times with my grandparents...and yes, now and then, I tell Frank that we need some baby chicks or ducks to start our own little farm. For now, we take long walks and are planning a garden...he loves this country girl!

It's Snowing in the South!

2010-02-13T06:56:00.000-08:00

In recent history, there hasn't been this much snow here! We've really enjoyed our Winter Wonderland, mostly because it's temporary. As some of you know, we are not big fans of snow and ice after having lived in the North for awhile. There's something to be said for sunny, blue skies and warm, humid days! The blanket of snow is truly beautiful on the rooftops and yards, especially in the country where it is heavier and lasts longer...can't wait for spring!

New Orleans

2010-02-01T12:19:00.000-08:00

As a child, I remember going to New Orleans with my parents. My mother loved the history and antique shops, especially the ones on Canal Street. We would walk through the city and shop for hours and I loved it. My parents spent their honeymoon there and little did I know that many years later, I would too. Since then, I'm continually inspired by New Orleans and it's people. Rich with architecture, history, and art, endless opportunities await us...We visit a few times each year, sometimes with family and friends. I love sitting down to edit and really examine the images. My husband and friends have been infinitely patient with my photography excursions,and they have a great time(in fact they end up scoping for good shots and sometimes are inspired to take their own photos). NOLA is and always will be my muse...

Headed to Church

2010-01-28T05:47:00.001-08:00

Hope you enjoy these images from various churches. Candles and the sacredness of church really inspire me. To me, the most beautiful churches in Louisiana are the old cathedrals. The art and history are rich with details. Where is your favorite church? May blessings and peace be with you!

Roses

2010-01-26T12:36:00.001-08:00

Roses evoke many thoughts and feelings for most of us-maybe that's why they are such great subjects for photography!

What is your favorite flower? I've gotten some beautiful shots of roses and other flowers. It's also fun when you capture a bee or butterfly, just stopping by, when photographing flowers. Try using a flash even during the day-it will make the flower "pop" and the background more distant.

Magical Porch Evenings

2010-01-24T18:31:00.001-08:00

I'm missing our informal artists' gatherings, otherwise known as "Magical Porch Evenings". We hang out, drink a little wine, share our latest works-poetry, photography and paintings. Bonding through art is the best! We'll get together again soon, (albeit on a different porch) since B and I have both moved. Can't wait for Spring...

Weekend Adventures

2010-01-23T19:37:00.001-08:00

The lake was beautiful yesterday and I did get a couple of cool pics of an interesting bird and a couple of people fishing. The quality wasn't very good because we happened to be there at noon and it was too bright. My favorite time for shooting landscapes is evening, or really anytime on a cloudy day. After the lake, we resumed our search for a cool fireplace mantel. We ended up at Ms. Lilly's Antiques in Alexandria. She was very gracious-her store has some of the neatest old treasures, including antique mannequins. I got several good pics for a new collage I'm planning. Today I finished setting up for a still life entitled "After Dinner". It is one of my pieces for the Contemporary Artist's Guild show in February. The next couple of days will be sorting through the photos from the weekend. Looking forward to the week. Will be heading to Natchitoches Wednesday with Marilyn and Malcolm...should be good weather for photography! There's an old church there, St. Augustine, that they really want pictures of for painting.

Fun Things

2010-01-22T08:17:00.000-08:00

Ok, I've committed to updating my blog more frequently, and to spend more time writing... I've been working on a book for over a year (after encouragement from Ms. Ethel, family & friends) and need to wrap it up-oh, and the names have been changed to protect the guilty! LOL! Stay tuned...

This week's project involved making bows for the grands. The balloon bows were a big hit with my girls, and turns out the grands love them too. Alaina reminded me of the clear plastic bows I used to make, filled with water and beads-the part I had forgotten was that she asked once if I could add a goldfish to the next ones. LOL (Of course she was about 7 years old and it sounded like a great idea, animal lover that she is!

Spent quality time with our Biddy and SoSo this week-(it's such a surprise when your teenage granddaughter thinks your cool...)she is one of the few people on earth who can make me laugh until I cry. Happy Birthday Biddy!!!

Looking forward to a photography trip to the lake today! Need some new images-received an invitation from LPB to submit art for their auction this year. It's always fun, it's televised and it's fun to find out who bought your art-last year someone from South Louisiana outbid my friend Carolyn and she was not too happy. It worked out great, because I was able to give her a print! Anyway, I have to get busy shooting...

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

2009-12-24T20:31:00.000-08:00

It's been a great year, it just went by so fast!! Settled in to the new house and feel like I've been here forever. So grateful for good health and happiness - wishing the same for you and yours this year! A couple of photography trips are coming up and I'm preparing entries for Tom Peyton and the CAG bank show. It's gonna be a great year! Blessings to all of you this Christmas Eve...

Peaceful, easy feeling...

2009-10-03T20:35:00.000-07:00

The country is calling my name! Yes, we are moving to the country-so looking forward to the peace and beauty. Hate saying goodbye to this house, but living on the corner of such a busy street has gotten old! Anyway, we can't wait to settle in at the new house-looking forward to 4 generations of family living within 2 miles. Will have great photo ops out there-the countryside is beautiful. My favorite thing is the big front porch with ceiling fans! Looking forward to years and years of gatherings with family and friends at the new house.

Road Trip New Orleans

2009-05-10T17:58:00.001-07:00

Had a great Mother's Day weekend with the family in New Orleans. Stayed at one of our favorite hotels-after 17 years we still love staying there. NOLA is so rich with history, art and music. I continue to be drawn to photograph the street musicians-they are always wonderful, willing subjects and love to pose for pictures!

Columbia photos

2008-09-01T06:51:00.001-07:00

Back in Time

2008-08-31T14:47:00.000-07:00

Went to Columbia last week for a trip down memory lane. I'm preparing a retrospective of Columbia for part of my show at the Schepis Museum. The curator invited us in, as we took pictures down Main Street and some of our best shots were in the unfinished second story-grand adventure! Forever, my grandparents had P.O. Box 1 and I even got a picture of that.

This week, we are currently on hurricane watch! Had a couple of small pre-hurricane gatherings with friends. We are praying for everyone, especially the people of New Orleans & Mississippi who are still suffering the effects of Katrina...Will keep you posted.

Collage is the word!

2008-08-19T10:29:00.000-07:00

This week I completed another collage, "Once Upon a Wedding" (above). I have added an album of collages to my website. My friend Karen will be joining me soon for a collage session-she has an idea and has collected all of the "ingredients" for her collage. I will be taking photos of my childhood weekend "stomping grounds" in Columbia and Grayson this weekend. These will be a special part of my show at Schepis Museum this spring!

Summer's End

2008-08-11T11:40:00.000-07:00

Greetings everyone! It's been a busy summer. "Dreamer" was sold this week and I just finished "salute di seno", a collage for this year's "Paint Pink" for breast cancer awareness. The CAG show is ending this month at the Alexandria Museum of Art-my pieces in this show are "Distinguished" and "Bourbon Street Feet". I completed a painting this week-"Stormy Seas" and I'm now working on a collage titled "Once Upon a Wedding". My collages are unique in that they all feature photographs.

The family is doing well-we are all ready for fall. My first grandson was born in March and we've enjoyed him so much this summer-he is a beautiful baby! Will keep you posted on the fun and the photography!

Happy 2008!

2008-01-02T13:54:00.000-08:00

I don't believe in New Year's resolutions-most are broken within a week-but was are starting the New Year with a focus on exercise, family, and, of course, art! I've started a painting for my Dad and his twin brother-it's a rendering of the house they were born in. Also, today we got the prints made for my new portfolio. So far, a very productive year. Will meet with my friend B on Friday to discuss a new photojournalism project-very exciting stuff! Photoshoot at "The Nest" planned for tomorrow. The grounds there are beautiful so it should be big fun!

Happy Christmas!

2007-12-24T06:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Christmas! My greatest gift is truly my healthy, happy,
loving family and friends. Embracing joy and gratitude will be
my ongoing goals for this year. My favorite is a lovely painting done by my friend, Anne. I'm not
sure what other gifts Santa has in mind for me, but I can't wait to
open them! The favorite gifts I'm giving are a cherished, refurbished
heirloom for my Mom and a painting (still in progress) for my friends D and B.

Photography is going well-I'm currently working on some things for
corporate purchase. This week's self-study involves portraits. Be
careful everybody, you know you are up for grabs when I walk in with
my camera!

Planning trips to Austin and New Orleans after the New Year!

Wishing you love, peace and happiness...