DaShané and Java

My granddaughter, DaShané, spent a few days with me last week.  Besides swimming and playing with the animals, we took lots of pics.  We attempted to take some pics of our dog, Java, outside on the small red couch, but Java wasn't very cooperative though we nearly exhausted our dog treat supply.  We did get some good shots of her inside the storage cube.  Here are a few of my favorites of DaShané and Java.  Enjoy!

Unfolding The Rose

I hope this poem and photo will bless you today.  My husband planted a rosebush for me last month.  With all the rain we have been having, it finally decided to bloom yesterday.  I took this pic after the morning rain.  Enjoy and may God bless you richly today!!!


It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so sweetly,
When in my hands they fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I think I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust in Him for His leading
Each moment of every day.
I will look to him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me,
Only my Heavenly Father knows.
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.

The Country Life...

We added two more horses to our family recently.  Dakota, who looks like Emily, then Ace, a beautiful blond Palomino.  I don't have pictures handy of Dakota, but wanted to share a few pics that I've taken recently on our ranch.  Enjoy!

8th Grade Graduates

Boy, I didn't realize I would be so busy as a retiree!!! :)  I want to take a few moments to share some of my favorites from each session of 8th grade graduate portraits.  There are more but I need to ask for parental permission before posting and time is getting away from me.  I will be posting some on my website also, but that will have to wait until June.

I must say I really enjoy doing 8th graders as they are so excited to get their portraits done and it makes it so much fun during the session.  I felt privileged to get to do Dorisa (last pic) as it wasn't planned.  God worked it out in such a beautiful way, as He always does.

Enjoy!

Alisha's Senior Portrait Session

Alisha came in for her final senior session last Saturday.  She had wanted to do the four seasons; however, we missed Autumn.  So to improvise, I took some fake leaves and scattered them on my fake barnwood floor.  Using my 50mm lens, I shot wide open and blurred the leaves so you couldn't tell they were fake.  Here are a few favorites from her session.

New Family Additions

Meet Blue and Ozark, two donkeys (jacks) that joined our family last Saturday.  Since then we gained another addition, Emilie, a show quarterhorse.  We had all of them in the corral for a couple days to get used to us.  We let them out last night.  It was so fun to watch all of them interact.  I captured some of their personalities while they were in the corral.  Enjoy!

Lauren 2010

I thoroughly enjoyed myself during this photo session.  Lauren is such a sweet and pretty girl, it wasn't hard to get some good shots.   I've included my favorites from the session on Saturday night.