Wichita Falls Pet Photographer | Sonny D, Patience is a virtue I don't own!

I've been trying to get a decent portrait of Sonny D -- but, sad to say, I've run out of patience. He's just not willing to cooperate!

I tried taking a picture of him yesterday, but he started shaking, and his nose started dripping like a leaky faucet. I thought maybe he was under the weather and started to feel sorry for him.

About 10 minutes later, some bicyclists zoomed by on the bike trail out back -- and everyone came alive -- including Sonny. No shakes, no runny nose, no poor ole me! He was back to his old self.

I told Rick about how weird it is that Sonny can come down with the "doggy vapors" when it suits him -- and then spring back to life when it's all clear!

So -- I was determined to get his 2010 portrait today -- no matter what! And guess what? The shakes started and the nose started running!

Well, you know, sometimes you just have to work with what you have! Here's Sonny D's 2010 portrait (runny nose and all - and yes, I could have been nice and edited the run out in Photshop)!

On the baseball front -- the Rangers aren't doing so well in the World Series.  Two games, two losses.  I'm chalking it up to nerves!  Let's hope they shake this before Saturday's game in Arlington!

Have a great weekend

Wichita Falls Pet Photographer | Hankidy Spankidy

Working my way through the pups! Day three -- Hank! He's my ham, goofball, trouble maker, dork, and believe it or not, patient! He's kindof like me (not the patient part), in that every morning, he wakes up with bad hair. But, unlike me, he looks great with bed head!

For his 2010 portrait, I thought he might be willing to sit for a while if I pulled out his trampoline.  Note -- I said "his".  I originally bought it for me -- to exercise on -- but sadly, the dogs have long since claimed it as their bed.

On a side note -- The Rangers will play their first World Series game tonight against SF Giants. Keep your fingers (toes, legs, eyes, arms) crossed that they win game 1 (actually, win the World Series)!

Have a great day!

( %~P) Frances

Wichita Falls Pet Photographer | Two Down, Two To Go - Lola

I had a brain storm (I'm allowed one a year). Instead of trying to get all four dogs' portraits updated in a day -- I'm carving it into a one-a-day project. I think maybe I'll sweat less, keep my blood pressure down, and keep my sanity in check (well, the sanity thing is up for your interpretation)!

Now up -- is the lovely Lola, probably the oldest of the pooches. She loves barking, chasing (and killing) squirrels and birds, and enjoys dinner time. Hates -- bathtime. Wow, sounds like I'm trying to get her a love connection.

Anyhoo -- here's Lola 2010.

Have a great evening!

[:}] Frances

Wichita Falls Pet Portraits | Blue

What a great week for Texas!  The Texas Rangers made it to the World Series!  We are soooooo excited and proud of the Rangers.  It just seems like this group of players really have heart, love and respect each other, and are committed to the team.

We were able to make it to two playoff games, and would you know it, they lost both games.  So, maybe we should stay put and watch the World Series on TV. 

Ok on to pet portraits -- all I wanted was to update the pups pictures today.  Did I get any cooperation?????  Uh noooooooooo!  I'd get the equipment set up, ask (ever so kindly) one of the dogs to sit and stay,  I'd get in place, and then  --- in a flash, the dog would take off.   After about 65 takes -- I had one that was worthwhile.

Here's Blue, getting ready to jump up.  Luckily (or is that skillfully), I got a shot of him before he left the stage.

I really need to put them through obedience training.  They know sit -- and that's it (hey that rhymes).  I watch  Cesar Milan the Dog Whisperer all the time so you would think that I could follow his instructions and get mine reigned in!  Oh well, at least I shoot digital -- so there's no cost in film processing.

Anyhoo -- here's to our furry friends!

Have a wonderful week!

; ~D Frances

Sheep Herding in Colorado

We'd been on the road for probably an hour or so, when Rick said "look, sheep". He found a safe place to pull over so we could watch a couple of cowboys with their dogs herd sheep down the rail road tracks. It was so fascinating watching the cowboys work with their dogs to keep the sheep together and headed in the right direction. We were amazed at how the cowboy's hand gestures or whistles would direct the dogs to move by and through the sheep.

Just days before, Rick and I talked about how neat my first trip to Colorado was, because I got to see cowboys start up the mountain with sheep. Who knew I'd get to see cowboys working cattle down the mountain six years later.

Here's a few pics from that very special sighting.

Here's to cowboys and their faithful dogs!

Yippee kai yea ya'll!

:~) Frances

Up in the air and on my derriere

I'm still on cloud nine from yesterday's heli ride! I buzzed through the pictures I took and worked on a couple that I found interesting.

These two shots were taken up in the air.

Plowing

 

 

And these two shots were taken from about my derriere level.

This is my neighbor's new puppy.  I call her Minnie Pearl.  I know I should probably ask my neighbor what here real name is, but to me, Minnie Pearl fits her.  She's a calico colored, cow dog that is just busting with personality. 

Well, it's Saturday and it's going to be another day of 100+ temps.  I'm getting ready to do my woo hoo weather dance, because we should dip back into the nineties next week!

Have a great weekend -- Ya'll!

|' ;^)  Frances

Hatched!

I've been trying to get the ole caboose back into shape (one week and counting) -- so most mornings, I head to my friend Carolyn's house and we walk her dogs. This morning, as we headed out, she showed me the egg shells that had been kicked out of the yellow-crowned night heron's nest!!!

We found two empty eggs -- so, I'm assuming we have at least two babies in the nest (the egg shell portions we found appeared to be from two eggs, and not halves of one).

I hope at some point, we'll get a glimpse of the babies before they take flight and head out of town.

Have a great week!

;~) Frances

Random Thursday (really random)

Sleep, must have sleep!!!!! I haven't had a good night's sleep since we got back from Missouri. Don't know why -- wish I did -- but maybe tonight will be the night!

Last night -- was almost a great night of sleep until 3:30 ish -- when a thunder storm rolled through and knocked out the power (for a few seconds). Of course, all the clocks in the house now need to be reset. Blue, my weather alert dog started his panic attack -- the other three dogs could care less. Sleep was not going to happen until the storm blew past -- and Blue calmed down.

So -- since I'm now wide awake, I grabbed my camera, set it on a tripod, and started taking 4 sec exposures out my back door (the camera and I were inside the house looking out the glass door). Chicken you say!!!! Why yes! This girl has no desire to star in "Being Ben Franklin"!

With the camera securely on the tripod, I just kept pressing the shutter release -- hoping to catch a lightning bolt. As luck would have it, out of 190, I caught 5 bolts!!! Woo hoo!

I so wished I didn't have a telephone pole smack dab in the middle of my fence line. It kind of screws up the lovely view I have of the golf course. Hey, did I mention, the hike an bike trail is now right outside my back gate? Number of times I've gotten on it???? ONE!!!!!! Am I sounding sleep deprived yet? Why do some words look weird when you put them down on paper -- and sometimes they don't? Do you think Tony Shalhoub misses doing Monk?

Now -- on to much more exciting things!  Last Saturday, I had an unbelievable opportunity to see Wichita Falls from the sky!!!!  My friend Elizabeth arranged for me to go up in her husband John's helicopter.  Oh my gosh was I excited.

One thing you have to know -- is that I have a fear of heights when it comes to standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon or walking to a window on the 20th floor of a building.  But planes, hot air balloons and helicopters don't frighten me.  John and Elizabeth's explanations as to why I have this fear is that in a plane or helicopter -- if you are strapped in, you feel as though you are a part of the aircraft.  With buildings or other high structures you don't feel as though you are one with the structure. I think this is a great explanation for my "situational" fear of heights!

John Hawley in front of his helicopter

The reason for the helicopter outing was to capture some shots -- that I hoped would work into a cover design for the next Wichita Falls Literature and Art Review magazine.    The new cover is ready to go -- but you're going to have to wait until Fall to see the final product.

photo shot just before taking off

downtown Wichita Falls, Texas

It was an amazing and totally thrilling morning!  Thank you John for the tour and thank you Elizabeth for the invite and letting me use your fantastic fish eye lens (add that to my when (not if) I win the lottery, this is what I'm buying list)!!!!

Did I mention random (oh, it is today's blog title)????  Yep, I'm all over the place!

Photoshop CS5 is out -- and my, oh my!  I've got to have it!  I downloaded the trial version
about 10 days ago -- and am loving it!  I keep thinking that there is no way possible that the program can get any better.  I've been wrong every single time!  If you haven't checked out any of the CS5 videos, head over to Adobe TV and get ready to be amazed!  Another great training video site is Mark S. Johnson Photography.  Mark is doing a ten part video series of  "What's New in Photoshop CS5".  I learn (and retain) tons  more watching training videos and then immediately applying what I've learned.  I'm  thankful that there are so many wonderful people who give of their time and talents to complete strangers!

Next random item -- I ran across this blog yesterday that I thought contained a lot of useful information.  Check it out -- it's Go{4}Pro Photography by Leah Remillet.

Well, it's time to shut down  (with a random shot of my dog Lola)-- as my brain is getting a little tired from jumping from one random thought to another!

TTFN as the Pooh would say!  Have a great weekend!

;~\  Frances

The Beauty of Nature

Ok -- to start things off, was I complaining about the rain, gray skies, etc. a couple of months ago?  I take it all back.  I want more rain!

I don't want torrential, flooding rains, just the nice, soft, pitter, patter, soak into the good Earth kindof rain.  Why oh why the change of heart?  Because everything is green and glorious!!!! Flowers are blooming, trees have budded out -- and it's just gorgeous (sans - the mowing the grass duties).

We were slightly ahead early in the year, and now we are slightly behind the average rainfall.  But, (fingers crossed) it looks like we will be treated to showers this weekend.

Before I get back to work -- here's a couple of pictures I shot today -- showcasing the beauty of nature -- all created by our magnificent God!

A Yellow Crested Night Heron that has made it's home in a tree in the front yard of my friend Carolyn's house.  He and his mate appear to be setting up home in one of the large trees.

Here's to a great weekend!

:^ \  Frances

A Day with Roby and Renee

Matthew 5:14-16

14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

When I think of Roby and Renee, this verse always comes to mind. Their love for the Lord shines like a bright light, radiating and touching everyone they meet!  Rick and I are so blessed to have them as friends!

I met Roby and Renee some 15 or so years ago, when I got involved with the Hotter 'N Hell 100, and we've been friends ever since.

Roby with his 2nd catch of the evening.

 

Renee with Maggie (black lab) and Zoe (Min Pin Mix)

We were thrilled to get a call from them to come out to their Jack County Ranch and spend an afternoon riding around checking out the sights and sounds, and feeding the turtles and fish.  I enjoyed Renee's story of the animals that have made the ranch their home.  Renee told us about some orphaned baby birds (and I can't remember what kind -- but they look like tree bark)   that they rescued and took to the Wild Bird Rescue.  The WBR nurtured the baby birds and sometime later -- Renee and her grand kids were able to release them back out on the ranch.

Renee also told us about a beat up raccoon they named Troubles.  Why Troubles -- well, the poor little guy evidently was not a fighter and was getting licked by some other raccoons.  He was missing an ear, his tail, and eventually lost an eye in fights with the other raccoons.  Renee made sure he got plenty to eat and drink -- and tried to make his life a little easier.  Eventually, Troubles passed away.

Roby and Renee had so many interesting stories about the vegetation and animals.  I wished I had a photographic memory -- so I could retell them here on my blog.  Unfortunately, my brain is full -- and something has to fall out before anything new can go in!!!!  Quite honestly, I think if anything falls out -- it'll be my entire brain -- so I guess I should be content with my really crappy memory!

Roby hand feeding one of the gi-normous catfish

Gi-normous catfish eating

And -- to top it off, we got a glimpse of some black-bellied whistling ducks that have made Roby and Renee's ranch home!  I should mention that it is not common to find these ducks this far north.

 

Anyhoo -- it was a fantastic, peaceful, and totally fun day. Rick got to get in some fly casting time, I got to play with my camera, and we were treated to a great meal cooked by Roby and Renee! I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

 Renee and Maggie watching the fishermen

Rick practicing his casting

Zoe contemplating world problems

Roby checking out some flies

Roby and Rick talking fly fishing

Well, got to get back to work -- but, I wanted to get this post out there.

Thank you Roby and Renee for a splendid Saturday -- but most of all, for your friendship!

Have a great evening!

: ^ }  Frances

Summer has Sprung -- I think we missed Spring!

We have two seasons in this area. Summer and Winter. The other two seasons creep out for a day here and there, but basically, it's hot or it's cold.

I think it was less than two weeks ago when we had snow -- today, it was 90 degrees and windy.

But, the good news is that the trees are budding out and it's starting to green up around here!!!!!

As I was walking around the backyard looking for picture opportunities, I noticed this white fluffy nest in the cedar elm tree.  I have no clue who or what it's for.  It sure looks like it beats the twig nest for comfort!

Lola, my chunky monkey dog -- loves being outside!    All the other dogs are very, very domesticated and spoiled.  They prefer soft, fluffy pillows to the grass. 

I shot the picture of Lola wide open at f/2.8 so you can't really make out how tall the weeds are around her.  It looks like I'll be mowing this Friday.

Ok, let's see.  I shot plants, pets and hmmmmmmmmm -- need a people shot.

This is  a shot I took of Rick this evening while we were on the back porch enjoying the evening.  I think he's thinking happy thoughts, or is that annoyed thoughts? 

 

Here's to things that start with P's -- plants, pets, people, potato chips, pizza, popcorn, pie, pudding. 

Have a great evening!!!

; ~D Frances

F3 Day 24 -- man do I feel stupid

Yup, uhhhhhhhhh, how long have I had these earphones???? Oh at least 4-5 years! When did I finally figure out the correct placement of the phones on my head. Uhhhhhhh Wednesday.

I'm not sure why I never thought about how weird they felt on my head until I sat in on a web seminar -- and got tired of the headphones slipping. Well, duhhhhhh -- after I figured out which way was correct -- the slipping stopped.

I hate when that happens (me being stupid). Oh well, at least I can now use them in comfort!!!

I'm sure that most of you, would have used them correctly.  I'm not sure why I didn't.  But, just so I have a reminder of the correct placement of headphones to head -- I added some ears and a mouth via Photoshop.  Now I've got a visual reminder just in case I have a memory lapse!

 

Well, one more day and I'm half way to the end of the "what ever possessed me" photo project!!!!!  Think I'm going to do a "woo hoo" dance tomorrow!

There's a little bit of sun out today (but, really mostly cloudy) and I noticed how pretty the dogs looked sitting on their trampoline (really -- I bought it for me, but they claimed squatter's rights).

Here's Blue and Lola taking in as much sun as they can get today.

Have a great day!

Oh, and please feel free to let me know if you have any bonehead revelations that you'd like to get off your chest (you know, to make me feel better)!

;~D Frances

F3 19/50 - My Neighbor Bailey

Bailey is a pretty, sweet little thing. Whenever the dogs are out back (and she's out of course), she'll run up to the fence line and tries to play with my dogs. Mine just happen to be aloof. They'll walk up to her, go sniff, sniff, sniff, and then get back to the business at hand.

I try to squeeze my fat hands through the fence to pet her under her chin because she always looks so disappointed that the dogs won't run the fence line with her.

Doesn't she look like she could use a hug????

 

 rruuhhhhh roooooh -- someone's been playing in the dirt!

Have a wonderful, restful Saturday!

:~D Frances

PS -- it's another gray, gloomy day in Wichita Falls.

F3 5/50

Raise the roof, I'm 1/10th of the way to the finish line. Yeah, I know, it's a tad bit early to celebrate -- but I am!

Today's post comes to you courtesy of the pesky squirrels that drove two of my dogs insane yesterday! There had to be at least ten squirrels hopping from tree to tree for over four hours. The squirrels would come down low, bristle their tails, and bark at the dogs (more like a chirp), then leap from tree to tree. It was as if they were playing keep away with the dogs.

Now I know this is not a great picture, but you can see four of the little monsters in this shot of maybe a third of the tree.  

 

Here's Chunky Munky focused on a squirrel.

 

Hank was on the other side focused on a different squirrel.

Hhhhmmmmmmmm -- where's the other two?  For whatever reason, they don't get into squirrel watching.  I wonder why some dogs do and some dogs don't.  I guess that's the same reason some people hunt, and some people don't????  The other two were staying put indoors, in the sunny living room.

 

 What, the floor is too cold or something on your feet??????  Maybe he has been paying attention to the squirrels?????

 

Blue just looking purty and staying warm.

It's Super Bowl weekend -- better hit the grocery stores and stock up on salty, greasy football kindof food.  If you aren't a football fan (or fanatic), there's always the movies.

Speaking of movies, my girlfriend Carolyn and I saw The Lovely Bones yesterday.  It's kindof an odd movie that didn't quite end the way I wanted it to.  I give it a three stars out of five -- I got a little stressed out near the end.  To find out why -- you'll just have to see it.

I went to another movie in the evening with Rick -- this time -- it was Avatar 3D.  It's just amazing.  Truthfully, I was checking my watch at about halfway through (it's a three hour movie) -- after that -- there was no more watch checking!  It's a really cool movie, especially in 3D.  I give this one a Frances four stars out of five.

So -- go out an have a great weekend!!!!!

;~D  Frances

F3 Day 3

Gee -- I noticed something I hadn't before in Adobe Camera Raw the other day.   I normally download images into either a folder or sub folder and convert the image to a DNG file.   After the images have downloaded, I then select all the images I've downloaded and click on Tools, Replace Meta data, and my meta data template.

So, the other day, when I had a rational moment, I went, surely there's a way to cut out this meta data step.  Surely.  Well drrrrrrrrhhhh, deeee, drrrrrrrhhh, drrrhhhh, drrrrrhhhhhhh. There sure is!  Why has it taken me long to investigate?  Uuhhhhhh, I think I must have liked doing it the hard way.

When downloading into Adobe Camera Raw -- there is a little box at the bottom, left hand corner that reads "advanced dialogue".  If you click on it, different options pop up -- one of them -- apply meta data (about 2/3 the way down on the right hand side), template to use, is available.  So -- I just select my template --- and away we go, cutting out an extra step.  Wow -- I've now added a zillion years to my life (not really, but I have added a tad bit more free time to my day)!

Prior to changing, the "Standard Dialog" icon read "Advanced Dialog"

Onto F3, day 3.

These images are courtesy of the trumpet vine that grows along my fence line.  It's a beautiful plant that can quickly overtake the fence.  I noticed that there are a number of empty and dried seed pods still hanging on for dear life.  The photos didn't come out tack sharp, as the wind was keeping them bouncing.  So -- I decided to artsy fartsy them up in Photoshop -- and add some noise.

And -- as a double feature bonus -- here's more gratuitous dog pictures!!!!  I was trying to change the linen on my bed, but Hank the Cow Dog had other ideas.   Since I was on a noise using binge -- I went ahead and cranked it up on his pictures.  I think it makes him look mysterious!!!

 

  

 

Have a great day!

;~D  Frances