2B Challenge 2 - My Mick Mick

MICK-MICK MAR 2012
AV, F/6.3, ISO 200

Aperture Priority is my favorite mode and I love working with my macro lens.  I was looking forward to doing some work behind the lens for this week's challenge ... and I hope I will still get to it, but for now, I remain focused on my Mick-Mick.  We are a family with rescued pets, he's one of five dogs and two cats.  Unfortunately, we are losing our special boy to cancer and it's breaking our hearts in a million pieces. He's been sick on and off since June and then recently started losing weight ... rapidly and he's little anyway.  We just learned Saturday that he has cancer and that he won't be with us much longer.  For those who have lost a pet, you know what my husband and I are experiencing.  For weeks, I have fallen asleep at night praying that God will heal my Mick-Mick, tears upon tears have been shed to which I can find no end.  My heart remains so heavy and I still pray for a miracle, trying to accept that God perhaps has other plans for one of the biggest loves of our life.  After all, we know he's an angel.  I have so many photos of Mick-Mick.  He has always been one of my favorite subjects to photograph, never shy around the camera at all.  For some reason, the one above is the image that spoke to me the most for this post.  Before getting sick, he was a strong young man with a personality that could never be matched.  When I say that he will be sorely missed, that's an understatement.  As he slowly and surely slips away, I consider each day we have with him a blessing with hope that we may still experience a miracle.    

 



Beyond Beyond Challenge 1

I am currently taking a class given by Kim Klassen called Beyond Beyond http://www.beyondlayers.net/.  Our first challenge this week was to capture a shot and experiment with the same subject from different perspectives, changing the angle, focal point, etc ... without moving the subject.  Then, create a collage or pick our favorite image.  I decided to go with the collage after a photo shoot with a collection of old medicine bottles I have.  I love old, vintage items and they can be such fun to photograph.  I worked in a variety of applications, using PSE 8, RadLab and Pixlr.  Had a blast with this assignment.

Photographing Dogs: Techniques for Professional Digital Photographers Lara Blair

For all you dog lovers and photographers, check out http://susantuttlephotography.com/book-giveaway-photographing-dogs-by-lara-blair/.  And if you are not familiar with Susan Tuttle, this would be a great time to check her out too.  She's one of my favorite Photographers, authors and online photo/digital art instructors.  This book by Lara Blair on dogs and photography looks great!  It's certainly right up my alley, considering my favorite thing in the whole wide world is photographing my family of rescued pets.

One Image 3 Different Ways

The below  images are a result of a class project this week from Kim Klassen's Beyond Layers Day 27; Pick one image and process it 3 different ways.  I photographed a peony (one of my most favorite flowers to photograph) in a Mason honey jar.  You can check out the awesome Kim Klassen at http://www.kimklassencafe.com/.

10 Truths About Me

I am currently taking Kim Klassen's http://www.kimklassencafe.com/ class "Beyond Layers" and each week she presents us with a new and exciting challenge.  This week our challenge is to reveal 10 truths about ourselves and share with our classmates, so here it goes:

1.  I absolutely adore and love my family of rescued pets, which includes five dogs and two cats.  My life literally revolves around them.  They all have me wrapped around their paws.

2.  I have lived in the country the past ten years with my best friend and husband, John.  We were both suburban dwellers prior to migrating a little south of the hustle and bustle.  I love being surrounded by the beauty of nature and the peace and quiet ... ah, yes, the sound of silence.  Silence truly is golden and something I dearly cherish.

3.  Yoga and meditation are key to my emotional and physical well being, but I do not make time to practice near enough.

4.  I have a passion for photography and so wish that I would get around with my camera more often.  I truly believe that being behind the lens is a beautiful, and in many ways, meditative experience.  One reason I signed up for Kim's class is that I knew I would get involved again with some of what I need to get back to doing.  And, that would be living to do the things I love to do.

5.  It's difficult for me to stay focused.  I go in way too many directions and yet at the end of the day, I feel like I have accomplished nothing and am totally exhausted.

6.  I'm tired of cleaning, cleaning, cleaning ... did I mention cleaning?  Oh, and organizing too.   I'm a good cook, but have gotten somewhat burned out.  Wow, sounds like I might be in a rut, huh? Maybe I have a problem with procrastination:)  You know, like getting to those things I really desire - my photography, blog, art, starting a business,etc ... which leads to ...

7.  I want more than anything to start my own online photography and art business, adding some vintage and retro finds here and there, and the wonderful artwork my husband creates.

8.  My husband and I both love to go antiquing.  There's nothing quite like the hunt of a great find.

9. I love Amazon and books!  One could say I'm somewhat of an Amazon book junkie.  Someday I see myself sitting by the ocean with a stack of books, and spending lazy days with my toes in the sand with one great read after the other.  Oh, and Etsy rocks for art and vintage finds.

10.  I'm kind of a groovy, peace-loving chick with a great sense of humor. I enjoy being around people, but for the most part my country life is where it's at and would most definitely consider myself a home body.  Whenever I leave the house, I am always grateful to return ASAP:)

In Memory of John and Flo Scott

Our Wedding January 16, 2001
Chapel By The Sea

This is a postcard of the church where my husband and I were married 11 years ago, which I scanned into my computer and digitally manipulated.  The ceremony was actually conducted inside the church, but here, as you can see, I moved us in front and also added a bird on top of the church sign.  I'm combining my love of digital photography and sharing a story of God at work.  Now for the story ...................................

My husband, John, and I got married on Captiva Island in Florida on January 16, 2001.  This small and quaint historic church was originally constructed as a county school in 1903 and purchased by the Methodist Church as a mission in 1921.  Since we eloped (certainly not done because we were too young, we just wanted to sneak away and do it quietly:), we needed witnesses which the minister arranged.  So, we show up the day of the wedding, and the cutest, most charming elderly couple named John and Flo are introduced to us.  They were going to be so kind to witness our day of marriage.  The minister had explained that John was there everyday and was the caretaker of the small cemetery, located next to the church.  There was another couple present who were vacationing from Canada. They were there to visit and see the church their daughter, Susan, wanted to be married in. 


The couple from Canada (I'm ashamed to say I don't remember their names), offered to take pictures of the ceremony for us and afterwards John and Flo, whom we had just met,  invited us all back to their house to celebrate our special day.  They brought out a fruitcake (our wedding cake) they had gotten for Christmas and wine.  We just had such a grand time with these unbelievably generous and kind folks.

What we learned from them later broke our hearts.  They also had a daughter named Suzi who had died falling down the stairs while working on the house she was having built for her parents.  She was only 48 at the time and was buried at the cemetery next to the church.  Suzi was their only child and, of course, they never recovered from such a great loss.  John was able to cope with his grief and continue to live a somewhat productive life, but Flo remained in a constant state of depression.  In fact, she didn't leave the house except to visit the cemetery, so witnessing our marriage was something very different for her.

We also learned from John that he and Flo were going to be married somewhere in the area of 60 years on January 18 (again, forgive me for not knowing exactly.  I know I have notes somewhere, but where, well ... I'm sure I put them some place logical where I would find them:).  To continue, we offered to take them to dinner to a popular restaurant on the island, "The Mucky Duck."  By the way, most delicious bbq shrimp ever!  John said that if he could get Flo to go, he would love to accept our offer.  Again, Flo had gone nowhere since Suzi's death in 1994.  Much to John's pleasant surprise, Flo agreed and we picked them up at their house.  She was glowing, dressed in red, her hair pulled back and up ... and John, well, John had the biggest smile on his face.  He was so thrilled to see her dolled up and willing to go out.  He said red has always been her favorite color.  This beautiful, lovely woman was once a fashion designer in New York.  From that time on, we frequently referred to her as, "the lady in red." Though it was obvious that Flo felt a little uncomfortable being out (and some of the locals were being so rude by staring), we enjoyed each other immensely.  After all, this was a celebration of people being brought together for a higher purpose.

It's hard to believe that all of this occurred in a period of a week.   I believe, without a doubt, that God orchestrated this whole unforgettable, forever cherished, event.  John and Flo moved back to their home town of San Diego and we stayed in touch for a few years.  Flo had the beginning stages of Alzheimer's when we met her in Florida, which John also developed later as well.  We did stay in contact, though, for some years to follow ... and for a couple of years, we received roses on our anniversary and a Collins Fruitcake at Christmas.   However, the last time we spoke with them, it took John a long time to understand who we were, so our communication dwindled at that point.  We will never forget and always cherish the short time we spent with two of the most beautiful and incredible people we've ever met.

Wow!  What powerful memories this all brings back.  God bless you John and Flo Scott.  We miss you and you will always remain near and dear in our hearts.

"The Lady In Red"