Photoscape Design

Want to Feel Like a Kid Again?

2011-11-15T13:14:00.001-07:00

Go on a Disney Cruise!

Sweet Sasha

2011-09-09T17:31:00.000-06:00

Our beloved Sasha - she gave us 15 1/2 years of love and companionship. She was a pound puppy, and was such a good girl. We are all going to miss her terribly. The years finally caught up with her in September, 2011. RIP dear girl.

The Rainbow Bridge - Author unknown

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor, those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing — they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent, his eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face, your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together …

Thunder, Lightning, Wind and Rain - Oh My!

2011-06-23T09:09:00.005-06:00

It's not unusual to have evening storms here, particularly in the summer when it's very hot during the day. Yesterday was one of those days, with a high of 95 degrees. You know something is brewing when the skies look like this:

Sure enough, we were in for an electrical storm, the likes I've never seen before. A solid two plus hours of thunder and lightning, with some heavy rain, and 40 mph winds. The rain and wind stopped, and we then had a front-row seat to an unbelievable light show:

Sadly, one person was struck by lightning, and several fires were ignited in the foothills around town. Mother Nature had quite the attitude last night. Here's hoping she finds herself in a better mood for the rest of the summer.

My Search For The "Perfect" Camera Bag(s) - Is It Over??

2011-05-18T18:31:00.002-06:00

I've been on the search for the "perfect" camera bag (for me) for years. I can't count the number of bags I've purchased - and then returned or sold - because they're just not "quite right". It's kind of been an obsession of mine :P What I have found is that there is not one single bag that will fit my every need. So, instead of trying to find something that doesn't exist, I've caved in, and found the "bags" that will work for me - in just about any situation I find myself in. Now granted, I don't have tons of photo equipment, but I have managed to collect a couple of camera bodies (Canon 7D and Canon Rebel XSi w/battery grip) and a few lenses, along with various and sundry other photography-related items. I've tried them all (it seems to me, anyway): Tamrac, Case Logic, Kata, Canon, Crumpler, and probably a few I've forgotten.

What are my requirements? Simple (you would think).

1. I need one bag that will hold ALL my equipment, plus my MacBook Pro 15" laptop, for traveling purposes. It has to fit in the overhead bin of any airplane (regional jets included), or under the seat in front of me. I want everything together - nice and neat - in one place.

2. I need one bag for walkabouts. This bag needs to be comfortable to carry all day and have some room in it also, for my wallet, phone, trinkets, souvenirs, a bottle of water, etc. Oh, and it MUST hold one camera body and my walk-around lens mounted. Would be nice if I could also slip my 70-200 F/4 in there, as well. A sling, or shoulder-type bag - purselike - would be great.

3. While the above bag will likely take care of most instances, there are times where I need a little more room. A backpack-type case is good, with plenty of room for camera, with lens mounted, extra lens, and also more room for a jacket (beach towel?), lunch, water, wallet, phone, etc. I need a bag like this when riding scooters around Key West, or day stops on a nice island while on a cruise :) Also, a "rain cover" would be nice (would not have thought this until I got caught in a torrential downpour one day with my camera equipment).

4. Bags No. 2 and 3 need to be flexible enough to be folded, stuffed, or otherwise packed into my suitcase to be used when I arrive wherever.

What have I come up with? Lowepro to the rescue!

1. Lowepro Fastpack 250: Albeit a bit snug, everything I have, camera-related, fits into the bag, along with my laptop (plus charger). Room for wallet and phone in the top compartment. Can even squeeze my iPad in alongside the laptop. One bag - carry-on - no muss, no fuss.

2. Lowepro Passport Sling: Almost like carrying a purse! Hiding inside is my camera with lens mounted, an extra lens (70-200 F/4), wallet, keys, phone, etc. It expands another 30% with a zipper on the end (in case I have the need to buy something I can't live without - depending upon the size, I have a place to keep it).

3. Lowepro Versapack 200 AW: For those day trips when I need just a bit more room. The top section of the bag holds quite a bit of personal stuff - would hold a light jacket, bottled water, wallet, phone, snacks, and even more. The bottom holds all the camera equipment I would need for a day. And yes, my iPad slips into the front section. Should I get caught in a rainstorm - it even has a raincoat :)

BONUS: Both bags No. 2 & 3 are pliable and collapsible enough to fold and fit in my suitcase. This means, I have both bags with me, and can choose what works for me on any given day :)

I'm deliriously happy - I do believe my obsessive search may be over (for now anyway - wouldn't want to dismiss the possibility of finding something newer and better down the road). I highly recommend all the above bags - the quality is excellent on all three. Of course, everyone has their own personal needs in a bag(s), and you need to find the one(s) that work best for you. It took me awhile, but for now - success! Yay Lowepro - and thank you :) Hmmm, wonder what I can obsess about now ...

Posted via email from 43° North

Barber Park - Boise

2011-05-07T09:08:00.001-06:00

Such a peaceful place this time of year. No cars, no people, just you and nature.

Posted via email from 43° North

Barbacoa

2011-04-11T19:35:00.001-06:00

See the full gallery on Posterous

Out of all the restaurants in town (and there are many!), this is one of my favorites. I mean, any restaurant where the ceiling is lined with wine bottles has to be good, yes?

Posted via email from 43° North

Long Haul

2011-02-24T13:21:00.001-07:00

Two more weeks in this lovely boot, then hopefully I'll find out if I can walk again on both feet! What a LONG recovery for this injury. Happened December 6th. Some advice? Don't break your foot -- ever. And live in a warmer climate where there isn't any ice :)

Posted via email from Random Rambling

To and From Key West

2011-02-16T12:18:00.001-07:00

Water like glass ... this is part of the Islamorada Fish Market in Islamorada, Florida. This is a stop for us, always, on our drive to or from Miami to Key West. The food is great, and the view is ahhhhhhhh.

Posted via email from Random Thoughts and Pics

Nice Day!

2011-02-13T13:26:00.001-07:00

Wow, I almost feel like digging out some shorts!

Posted via email from Random Thoughts and Pics

Bath Time!

2011-02-12T18:52:00.001-07:00

Bath time for Miss Phoebe. She's not a big fan, but tolerates it because she knows a treat awaits her when over :)

Posted via email from Random Thoughts

Love My Car

2011-02-11T16:46:00.001-07:00

Pretty sure I have the most awesome license plate in the state :)

Posted via email from Random Thoughts

Summer Bridal Shower

2010-08-06T09:15:00.001-06:00

One main event down - my daughter's bridal shower. Next up: The Wedding :)
Was a beautiful day, in a beautiful setting, with family and friends.

Our Beloved Juno

2010-04-27T21:34:00.003-06:00

Rest in peace buddy. You will forever be missed and will always be loved.

The Rainbow Bridge - Author unknown
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor, those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing — they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent, his eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face, your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together …

It's official - Spring is here!

2010-04-17T16:08:00.004-06:00

SmugMexico Retreat

2010-02-25T05:02:00.018-07:00

Back from seven glorious days in Sayulita, Mexico, this year's SmugMug retreat location. That's right - seven days South of the Border where we worked & played. An incredible trip with awesome co-workers ... can hardly wait to see where next year takes us :) Lots of photos here and here.

Ahhhhh, what a game it was!

2009-12-23T14:32:00.006-07:00

One of the top videos on ESPN's "A Decade of Moments" videos.
We are back to the BCS this year ... same bowl, same place, different team to beat :) GO BRONCOS!!!!!!

My Favorite Time of Year - Autumn

2009-11-19T11:53:00.006-07:00

I'll Take a Latte - Thanks!

2009-11-18T11:50:00.000-07:00

The Lone Cypress

2009-07-21T16:26:00.004-06:00

Just back from vacation. Saw lots of sites, and took tons of photos! This is one of my favorites -- "The Lone Cypress", found along the 17-Mile Drive that runs through Pebble Beach, California.

One of Nature's Wonders

2009-05-19T17:29:00.000-06:00

My son and his family sent me Stargazer Lilies for Mother's Day. Absolutely gorgeous! I've loved watching the three different types bloom, and the fragrance is out of this world. Two of these popped open today.

My Town - Boise

2009-05-09T18:39:00.001-06:00

I love this time of year. Lots of Lilacs in bloom, beautiful skies, poofy clouds, perfect weather. This is a view of downtown from the train depot.

Boise Train Depot

2009-05-09T16:51:00.004-06:00

This is part of the grounds around The Boise Train Depot. So beautiful ... almost feels like you're in the forest. It's actually pretty much in the middle of town.

Of course, what would a train depot be without a train??

Spring ... finally!

2009-05-01T19:31:00.002-06:00

Last year about this time, my kids planted a lilac bush for me for Mother's Day. It's very happy in its new home :)

At least it's Spring somewhere ...

2009-03-22T20:02:00.003-06:00

Just returned from Southern California where, even though the weather was a bit on the cloudy/cool side, so many flowers are in bloom, and the colors are incredible. Of course, flowers are pretty much in bloom all year round there, but certain ones only bloom in the spring. Saw a couple that I had not seen before when visiting that were in full color.

First Snow

2008-12-14T11:17:00.001-07:00

I love the first snow of the season. For me, it's like a big cozy white blanket :)

Winter Garden aGlow 2008

2008-12-05T20:10:00.011-07:00

I attended a private Christmas gathering at the Idaho Botanical Garden the other night and was witness to a spectacular showing of Christmas lights, called the Winter Garden aGlow 2008.

Unfortunately, my night-shooting photography skills are, well, let's just not discuss them, mkay?

I did manage to get a few shots that didn't look like the result of paint gun war.

There are a few more here, if you're a glutton for punishment!

College Football Rankings

2008-10-05T11:17:00.011-06:00

We're moving up! Go Broncos!!

Painting the Sky

2008-09-07T09:52:00.004-06:00

We get some beautiful sunsets here in the summer, and this one was no exception. Straight from the camera - untouched. Pretty amazing ... nice work, Mother Nature.

Lunch With Mom & Jen

2008-08-29T15:13:00.003-06:00

Jen joined Mom and me for lunch today :) Next restaurant on our list: River Rock Alehouse in Eagle, Idaho. Weather was perfect for sitting outside on the patio. The patio sits along a beautiful bike/walk path. Family, good conversation and good food -- pretty perfect lunch, I'd say!

Restaurant: "River Rock Alehouse"
Eagle, Idaho

Visit their site!

River Rock Caesar Salad With Fire-Grilled Shrimp

Football Season ... Finally!

2008-08-22T15:35:00.011-06:00

For those of you that know me, you know that I pretty much bleed blue & orange. Yes, I'm a total BSU football fanatic. I can't wait for football season, and so sad when it's over! It's not just the football games that I love, it's the passing of summer into fall (my favorite season), time with Jen, the friends, the tailgate parties, the camaraderie, the crisp air later in the season, and all the wonderful memories I have of years past attending the games with my Dad. I know he'll be there with me this year, too.

First game is a week from tomorrow, so today, my daughter and I had a bit of a shopping spree at the BSU Bronco Store.

Wowza, so fun!! Got some new bling for the season. It's a bit hard to shop for the season here. The first couple of games are usually blazingly hot; the last couple of games are freezing. So, of course, when shopping, t-shirts and sweatshirts are both necessities ;)

And a BSU shopping spree would not be complete without a new BSU collar for the SmugPug :) My, doesn't she look sharp in that blue and orange??!!

Lunch With Mom

2008-08-15T13:43:00.010-06:00

Today, my Mom and I ventured back to Eagle, to check off our list one of the many restaurants yet to try :) This is a WONDERFUL place! So much character, and the food was top notch. Will be going there again for sure.

Restaurant: "The Blue Moose Cafe"
Eagle, Idaho

Visit their site!

Moose Garden Melt
Mountains of grilled onions, avocado, tomatoes, olives and your choice of muenster or cheddar cheese grilled on delicious garlic cheese bread.

The Blue Moose Maytag Salad
Their signature salad! Crisp romaine lettuce, craisins, diced apples and chunks of bleu cheese, sprinkled with a special crunch topping and tossed with bleu cheese dressing.

New Pup in the Family!

2008-08-09T09:53:00.002-06:00

I've always been an animal lover ... especially dogs. I'm so glad that gene got passed on to my children :) Meet Jamba [full name - Jambalaya Jones], my son's family's new Yorkie. Don't you just want to pick him up and snuggle with him??? C'mon, I know you do ... !!

RECIPE: Andy's Penne, Sundried Tomatoes, Broccoli and Pine Nuts

2008-08-05T12:23:00.011-06:00

This has turned out to be one of my favorite recipes of all time. Dead easy to make, and oh so good!

[Image and recipe courtesy of Andy]

Ingredients

Whole wheat, whole grain penne pasta (read the box label!)
1 large head of broccoli (can substitute broccoli rabe, too)
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes (use fresh tomatoes in season, if you wish)
1/4 cup pine nuts
Tiny bit of olive oil (use it sparingly);
Salt and pepper to taste.

Directions

Cut the stems off your broccoli. Cut tomatoes into bite-size pieces. Boil the water for the pasta, and cook the pasta (don't over do it!). Once you toss the pasta in the water, and it has cooked for a few minutes, it's now time to fire up your wok (a skillet will do, too). A little olive oil (1-2 tbsp) is all you should need.

Toss the tomatoes, pine nuts and broccoli in, and cook over medium to medium-high heat for about 5 minutes or so. The idea is to have the broccoli al dente (not soft and mushy!). I like my pine nuts toasted pretty well, so I put them in first. Be careful, they can burn. Cover the veggies while you drain the pasta. Once drained, toss the pasta in the wok (or skillet), and then keep cooking just a few minutes longer, just to get the flavors mixed in with the pasta.

For other wonderful, healthy recipes, click here.

SmugMug at Play

2008-08-05T10:19:00.006-06:00

Last December, SmugMug celebrated it's fifth anniversary by throwing a big bash at their headquarters in California. Dress up, videos, food, lots of people ... good times! Here's some of the Smuggy crew in their getups :) Who said work isn't fun??!!

Blogger, Wordpress, Something Else, Oh My!

2008-08-04T19:03:00.005-06:00

First, I should say that I'm not a prolific blogger. I do try, but there are large gaps between posts :D I tend to post in spurts ...

For years, I had a web host, where I had a Wordpress installation, and was able to customize to my heart's content. When I moved to SmugMug, and realized that I could do everything I wanted via customization there, I dumped my web host. There went my Wordpress installation and the ability to change it up, so I went searching elsewhere. I ended up at Wordpress.com. You can change the CSS at Wordpress.com, but only for a fee. Ouch. I needed more than just the ability to change CSS, so off I went searching again. Enter Blogger. I've actually had a Blogger account for some time, just never really used it. Silly me ...

This past weekend, within a short amount of time, I was able to completely customize my blog to match my SmugMug site. No fees involved. I was also able to point a subdomain to my blog with my domain host ... also no cost. That's another $10 a year at Wordpress.com.

I'm enjoying the integration of my blog with my SmugMug account so much, I may even start to blog a little more ... well, I'll try anyway!

There is a great thread on the forum at DGrin with instructions on how to customize your Blogger.com blog to your SmugMug site. Check it out!

Just My Dog

2008-08-02T08:39:00.003-06:00

She's just my dog. She is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds.

She has told me more than a thousand times over that I am her reason for being - by the way she rests against my leg, by the way she thumps her tail at my smallest smile, by the way she shows her hurt when I leave.

When I am wrong, she is delighted to forgive.

When I am angry, she clowns to make me smile.

When I am happy, she is joy unbounded.

When I am a fool, she ignores it. When I succeed, she brags. Without her, I am only another person. With her, I am all powerful.

She has taught me the meaning of devotion is loyalty itself. With her, I know the secret comfort and a private peace. She has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. Her head on my knee can heal my human hurts. Her presence by my side is protection again my fears of dark and unknown things.

She has promised to wait for me ... whenever ... wherever ... in case I need her, and I expect I will, as I always have.

Who is she? She's just ... my dog! (author unknown)

Lunch with Mom

2008-08-01T13:27:00.011-06:00

So, my Mother and I have decided to go out to lunch once a week ... each time trying a new restaurant, or somewhere we haven't been in a long time. With the amount of restaurants around here, this should keep us busy for some time :) She has quite a list.

Restaurant: "The Stuffed Olive"
Eagle, Idaho

Eggplant Florentine with Angel Hair Pasta - notice the stuffed olive on the plate? Very clever ... :)

iPhone 3G Love <3

2008-07-22T10:30:00.008-06:00

I have fallen in love with my new 3G pretty white iPhone! The 3G speed is awesome, Apps are great and plentiful, and with the Wordpress app - post right from your phone - nice!

My favorite new app, however, is SmugShot. Along with your SmugMug account, snap away on your iPhone and upload right to your SmugMug galleries in glorious 1600x1200 resolution. SmugShot will even Geotag your photos so you can view them on your SmugMap.

Download SmugShot from the iPhone App Store. If you do not have a SmugMug account, you get to try it out for 14 days for free. So, go play!

New Project

2008-03-23T09:07:00.006-06:00

I've started a new project that I hope I can keep up with: Daily Photos. I wish I would have started January 1st! What prompted me was visiting the Daily Photos Community on SmugMug. Some great folks belong to that community, and they seemed to be having quite a bit of fun. So, I started March 14th. So far, I'm doing great! But let's not kid ourselves ... it's only been 10 days :)

To see all the photos in my Almost Daily gallery, click here.

New Threads

2008-01-07T13:23:00.006-07:00

Phoebe, sportin' her new iPug t-shirt :)

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

undercanopy Says:
January 7, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Who said a bulldog can’t look cute?

Dee Says:
January 7, 2008 at 8:13 pm
LOL - That is just too cute indeed

Stas Says:
January 20, 2008 at 9:36 am
LOL :)))))

Molly Says:
February 26, 2008 at 2:44 pm
SO cute!

Merry Christmas SmugMug!

2007-12-24T10:35:00.000-07:00

In November, an LA Times reporter interviewed SmugMug folks for an article in the newspaper ... fast forward to December 24th, Christmas Eve day, front page, column one :)

Click here for full article.

Stretchy Goodness

2007-12-21T12:00:00.001-07:00

You have got to see this to believe it! SmugMug just got a whole lot more beautiful on everything from an iPhone up to dual 30" monitors.

Abstract iPhone Wallpaper-Backgrounds

2007-07-15T19:30:00.003-06:00

Several years ago, I made quite a few abstract computer desktop wallpapers. I thought, hey, why not resize them for the iPhone! So, I have, and here they are, free to download if you would like. The aspect ratio will be off a tad on some of them due to resizing; but, hey, they are abstracts, so does it really matter?!

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Brian Says:
August 10, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Very cool. Here are some more cool Abstract iPhone Wallpapers - http://www.iphoneatmo.com/category/id/10/

iPhone wallpaers Says:
October 11, 2007 at 2:10 pm
That is cool !
You can get more free abstract iPhone wallpapers from:
http://iphonepartyzone.com

Milk Says:
October 22, 2007 at 12:04 am
Very beautiful wallpaper!

Laurie Raphael Says:
November 17, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Your Abstract iPhone Wallpaper Backgrounds are absolutely beautiful. Cool blog!

iphone wallpapers Says:
January 21, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Very great abstract wallpaper, I like the interesting wallpapers best.

iphone fan site Says:
July 24, 2008 at 12:17 pm
These are GREAT wallpapers. If you dont mind, I plan on linking this post on my site. Thanks!

SmugMug-On-Your-iPhone

2007-07-14T10:03:00.004-06:00

This is so slick! I absolutely am in love with my iPhone, and now I can view my SmugMug photos on it, too, thanks to our SmugSorcerers.

http://blogs.smugmug.com/don/2007/07/13/smugmug-on-our-iphones/

Portrait:

And Landscape - wh00p!

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Tyler Says:
April 28, 2008 at 12:26 pm

Pretty cool trick! I’ve never used SmugMug, but I’ll check it out. There is also a new site specifically for iPhone users to post their cool pictures to - Snigit.com

I’d like to invite you to post to Snigit when you have a chance. It’s fun, it’s free, and it allows people with iPhones to quickly and easily post their pictures to the web w/o needing a blog of their own. Snigit.com is new, so you’d be one of the first to post, and you’re welcome to put a link back to your blog in the post.

We look forward to having you post on Snigit.com

Sincerely,
Tyler Youngblood,
Founder, Snigit.com

Trifecta

2007-06-01T08:20:00.002-06:00

Ya gotta luv the Silicon Valley!

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Dee Says:
June 1, 2007 at 9:10 pm
hehehe . . . very clever :D

What a Face!

2007-05-29T11:03:00.001-06:00

I work from home. It's a beautiful thing :) I mean, I get to have this face staring at me all day long. Who wouldn't love that!!

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Stas Says:
January 20, 2008 at 9:37 am
Nice doggy )))

Support Hero Pics

2007-05-28T19:25:00.001-06:00

I recently spent a week at SmugMug HQ in California. While there, a couple of us were indoctrinated into Super Hero status :)

Meet BatGirl and Flash!

Read the story here.

Stunning High Res Photo of San Francisco After 1906 Earthquke

2007-05-27T09:49:00.001-06:00

High resolution picture of the aftermath of the tragic 1906 earthquake.

VIEW IMAGE

NOTE: Large resolution, which takes a bit to load!

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Wes Says:
May 29, 2007 at 4:29 am edit
What a picture of such devastation — kind of reminds me of pictures of New Orleans after Katrina.

Kendall Schoenrock Says:
June 8, 2007 at 6:42 am edit
Wow. You can hear stories, but a photo like this really summarizes it for me. Thanks for sharing.

Jason Schock Says:
July 16, 2007 at 2:42 am edit
Great image. I ended up finding a story about the photographer, George R. Lawrence who took the photo. Pretty dang interesting: http://robroy.dyndns.info/lawrence/landscape.html

There’s also a ginormous version of this photo, albeit sans sharpening/adjustments (20MB).

http://robroy.dyndns.info/lawrence/Images/san_francisco_in_ruins.jpg

SmugMug Rolls Out "Islands" Feature

2007-05-27T08:57:00.001-06:00

After months of working with the community to find a solution for the problem of privacy-vs-accessibility, SmugMug has finally rolled out the "Islands" feature.

read more | digg story

PETA

2007-04-03T18:59:00.000-06:00

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), with more than 1.6 million members and supporters, is the largest animal rights organization in the world.

PETA focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: on factory farms, in laboratories, in the clothing trade, and in the entertainment industry. We also work on a variety of other issues, including the cruel killing of beavers, birds and other "pests," and the abuse of backyard dogs.

PETA works through public education, cruelty investigations, research, animal rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement, and protest campaigns.

VISIT PETA NOW!

Worldwide Info

2007-04-02T12:24:00.002-06:00

Charitable Organizations

2007-04-02T12:03:00.001-06:00

Dgrin busts out with $25,000 Photo Contest!

2007-02-25T15:06:00.001-07:00

Photographers have some serious dough to chase after in an all-new contest format at Dgrin.

Not Your Father's Company Portraits

2007-02-23T13:05:00.000-07:00

SmugMug's company portraits, not what you expect.

SmugMug Super Heroes: Slightly more than half the company.

read more | digg story

David Pogue on Windows Vista

2007-02-02T17:34:00.003-07:00

Hahahahaha, I love this!

You Tube Video

The Dark Side of the Flickr Acquisition

2007-01-31T14:41:00.000-07:00

Yahoo's making some evil changes at Flickr, so Flickr refugees have been emailing other photo sharing companies looking for discounts. SmugMug's offering 50% off. Will others follow suit?

read more | digg story

Boise State - 2007 Fiesta Bowl Champs!

2007-01-03T08:45:00.003-07:00

The new year could not have been brought in with a bigger bang! Boise State University played Oklahoma State in the 2007 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, on January 1, 2007. If you missed this game, shame on you! What you missed was one of the greatest college football games in the history of the sport. We have finally earned some respect. I'm still reeling from the excitement as is the entire community of Boise and the state of Idaho. What a game, what a game! As a BSU football season ticket holder, all I can say is, I can hardly wait for next football season!!

Congratulations Broncos!!!

Broncos on the Blue!

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Dee Says:
January 6, 2007 at 7:23 pm
I just LOVE Forde’s article - “respect”!!!! That was certainly a specTACular game :)

One Of My True Great Loves

2006-12-01T17:50:00.003-07:00

For the first time in my life, I found myself without a dog, and the urge to fill that void was too strong for me to ignore. I missed the companionship, friendship, and total unconditional love that comes from having a pet.

I made my way to the pet store, and this is what greeted me when I walked in:

That was it for me. There was no question but that she was to be part of our family. She was coming home with me.

That was almost 14 years ago. Her name is Keesha. A beautiful Keeshond who soon became one of the great true loves of my life. We lost Keesha a few days ago. The bladder cancer she had been diagnosed with about a year ago finally was too much for her. My daughter and I made the decision that we had to let her go. In all of my years, this was the single hardest thing I have ever had to do.

Rest in peace my sweet girl. You will forever be missed and will always be loved.

Keesha / January 9, 1993 - November 28, 2006

The Rainbow Bridge - Author unknown
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor, those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing — they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent, his eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face, your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together …

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Molly Says:
December 3, 2006 at 10:27 pm
You were both very lucky to have one another. She lived a beautiful life, being spoiled beyond belief. We should all be so lucky. Keesha was, in a word, perfect. And she was blessed to have you.

2007 Calendar

2006-11-01T19:57:00.001-07:00

Between my day job and my night job, I'm finding it difficult to get much done these days. However, I actually got my 2007 calendar ready earlier this year! Decided to go with a flower theme again. Can never have too many pictures of flowers :)

2007 Calendar - Floral Appeal

A preview is available here. It can be purchased here.

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Dee Says:
October 29, 2006 at 5:36 pm
The photo you chose for the front cover was an EGGcellent choice - imho ;)

Pug Halloween Party

2006-10-29T11:54:00.000-07:00

Well, all I can say is, if you have never been to a Pug Halloween Party, you have no idea what you're missing! Our local Pug Meetup Group had their annual Halloween Party on Saturday, October 28th. I would say 50 or 60 Pugs and their owners is a great turnout! My daughter made a great point: It was very therapeutic; just made you stand there and smile. If you were able to attend this and not smile, there is something seriously wrong with you!

Fun times! All the photos can be found HERE. Here are a couple of my favorites:

If you've got a great costume for your dog already, the next step is to buy a Halloween costumes for yourself! If you've got children you'll also probably need some great kids costumes such as Pirates of the Caribbean costumes, Star Wars costumes, or superhero costumes. Halloween gives people (and animals!) of all ages a way to dress up and act out of character for a night.

Murphy's Law

2006-10-14T13:35:00.000-06:00

So, I have one day off this week - today. Beautiful fall day; gorgeous falls colors outside; perfect photo opportunities! Yes, let's get outside and take some pictures ... something I have not had time to do in over a month. Get ready to go, grab the camera, decided to check the battery to make sure it was full, and to my utter astonishment, my trusty Sony DSC F717 is broken. Nothing in the viewfinder or LCD screen. All displays work; no picture. I felt like crying! Hopefully, the extended warranty I purchased will cover whatever is ailing it. However, I have been thinking for some time about moving up to a DSLR. It's time. So as soon as possible (read--> as soon as I have the money), I have decided to go with the Canon Rebel XTi. Great reviews, and I think a perfect start to my move up to a DSLR. Very exciting!

So, no autumn pictures today, but managed to dig one up from last year.

SmugMug Updates

2006-08-31T16:04:00.001-06:00

New features - August 31, 2006

Ok, ok, so we’ve had two releases since I last posted. I’m a slacker - I admit it. Please forgive me.

Of course, that makes it look like we have a huge release today, when really, it’s like 3 releases rolled into one. Here we go:

14-day free trials instead of 7!
No credit card required to try SmugMug - friction free signup!
Can freely upgrade and downgrade between account levels during trial so you can experience them all.
Streamline signup process - takes you right to creating your first gallery instead of making you read a welcome page full of stuff no-one wanted to read.
Streamline creating gallery process - take you right to adding photos after creating a gallery, rather than dumping you on a new empty gallery.
Theme preview on gallery creation!
Upgraded the Universal Drag & Drop uploader to show both a per-photo and a per-batch status bar.
New Pro Pricing tool. Much faster, AJAX’d, new gradient design. Quickly price groups of products, including highlighting the ones you’ll be changing.
Bulk Pro Pricing - price all your galleries at once.
Tweaked the PhotoRank algorithm to be more fair.
Added ‘quick pricing’ when creating a gallery for Pros.
Added ‘create category’ when creating a gallery.
Added ‘create subcategory’ when creating a gallery.
Added YUI includes on all pages, rather than just some, for all of our hackers to really play with.
Show filenames in cart and pro order summaries.
Added the ability for customers to reset their Print Order password.
Made the upload log show only last 24 hours by default, with options to expand to recent week or month.
Fixed watermark fade previewer.
Updated the cart and catalogs to be more clear about which print sizes belong to with categories. Got rid of ‘xD’ on print size names - no-one knew what they were anyway.
Cancelling out of customize gallery and bulk settings now puts you back in the right place every time.
Setting your preferences to ‘Original’ no longer destroys Filmstrip style.
Made PhotoRank votes on tiny images get discarded so Popular Photos doesn’t fill up with junk.
Fixed sending Pro Sales emails to non-Pro users. Ooops.
Pro sales emails didn’t have proper totals. Oops.
Use the customer’s first & last names, instead of ‘A customer ordered’ in Pro sales emails.
Allowed setting a $0 download price (to disable it).
Couldn’t add to the shopping cart when only digital downloads were available (no prints).
Render tiny PNG transparent watermarks on-the-fly so they look better when doing custom watermarks.
Copying Pro pricing from one gallery to another didn’t work for digital download prices.
Fixed a browsing bug in SmugMug style on popular, dates, and keywords.
Replaced missing “map this” button on some pages.
Fixed bogus error message when attempting to upgrade from Pro.
Deleting a single photo somehow got broken. Fixed.
Fixed small bugs in Old Family Album, Longest Yard, Christmas, Sand, and Bon Voyage themes.
Fixed returning from customizing your geography.
Fixed a bug where orders with prints from multiple Pros and Proof-Delay could result in one Pro shipping the order before the other Pro was done.

Pugs in the Park

2006-08-05T14:20:00.002-06:00

Saturday, my daughter and I attended our first Boise Pug Meetup at the park at Ft. Boise. It was a hoot! They meet once a month. There must have been 40+ Pugs running around having an absolute blast! I know our Phoebe certainly was excited, albeit, a bit overwhelmed. It was difficult, at best, to get very many of the Pugs in one picture. They didn't stand still for very long -- ever. I did manage to get quite a few shots, though, of most of the Pugs that were there. Those can be seen here. We plan on attending the meetups regularly. What a great way to spend a Saturday morning!

If you've got a pug of your own, you should look into getting some dog health insurance to keep them healthy. Pet insurance will help you keep your dog care costs stable and help reduce the cost of any emergency vet bills. When you decide you want to buy pet insurance you should start by comparing pet insurance policies so you can get the best deal possible.

Updates At Smugmug - Big Time!

2006-07-29T12:22:00.000-06:00

New features - July 28, 2006

Pros - if you’ve got a defibrillator, you might want to get it. At the very least, sit down and relax before continuing with our list of new features:

Custom Watermarks. You can now create as many custom watermarks as you’d like and apply them to whatever photos you’d like. The feature includes some advanced options:

Position. Choose where you’d like your watermark to appear: Center, Top Left, Top, Top Right, Right, Bottom Right, Bottom, Bottom Left, Left, or Tiled.

Fade. Choose how much transparency and blending we use on your watermark.

Thumbs. Choose whether the thumbnails are also watermarked, or just the larger images.

Any image. Any SmugMug image, whether it’s a JPEG from your camera, or a PNG from Photoshop, can be used as your watermark. We recommend PNGs with alpha transparency for the most professional look, and have a tutorial on how to make them, but you can use anything you’d like.

Digital downloads. You can now price digital downloads and let your customers buy them. You currently have 3 sizes and 2 licenses to choose from, for a total of 6 options. The sizes include ‘Low-Res (1Mpix)’, ‘Hi-Res (4Mpix)’, and ‘Original’. The licenses include ‘Personal use’ and ‘Commercial use’. You can have all 6 options available at different prices, if you’d like, so your customers can choose the size & use that fits their need best. Note that Digital Downloads are ‘instant gratification’ and do not work with ‘Proof delayed shipping’, another new feature.

Backprinting. We’ll send your photos to be printed with up to 40 characters of text on the back. What’s more, the backprinting is dynamic so you can include the date the photo was taken, the photo’s caption, your name, your domain name, or any one of a dozen other variables. You can set your Backprinting options on a per-gallery basis or for your entire site. (Gallery settings override site settings, just like everything else at SmugMug).

Proof delayed shipping. You can now, with a gallery setting, choose whether printing and processing should be delayed for a few business days. Using this feature, you can upload low-resolution non-adjusted proofs and replace them with full-resolution adjusted final photos after a customer places an order. The order will automatically ship after that # of days, regardless of whether you’ve made any changes, but if you’re done with your changes you have the option of sending it off for printing immediately with a single click.

Pro order notification emails. Every time a customer of yours places an order, you’ll immediately receive notification of what they ordered and how to contact them in case of an error.

Clearer shopping cart wording. We make it clear that the customer is buying YOUR photos and that you’ve partnered with SmugMug to ensure they get the best service and quality possible.

Pro contact email. You can now set a separate email address in your Control Panel to allow your customers to contact you. This email will be included in their order email & receipt so they can ask you any questions they may have about your order.

Enhanced our resize-on-demand feature to respect the file extension. For example, if you upload a PNG, you can now get any custom pixel resolution you want, and also choose whether you want a JPEG or a PNG based on the extension in the URL. (We used to always provide a JPG).

Polished our thanks page for gift accounts.

Fixed bug on bulk watermarking tool where your photo wasn’t automatically selected.

Fixed bug on bulk watermarking tool where you could submit a batch of watermarks with no contents.

Fixed a bug on the new user welcome page regarding Themes.

Fixed and rewrote lots of helpies.

Added and updated lots of help sections.

Up Close And Personal

2006-07-15T15:30:00.001-06:00

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Dee Says:
July 15, 2006 at 2:54 pm
Absolutely GORgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mother Nature at her Best

2006-07-05T16:27:00.002-06:00

Sometimes mother nature puts on quite a show ...

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Meg Says:
August 14, 2006 at 4:22 pm
Absolutely . . . stunning! That sky is out of this world.

New Member of our Family

2006-06-19T18:30:00.000-06:00

This adorable Chinese Pug - Phoebe - is the newest member of our family. She is five years old and was about to become homeless. Couldn't let that happen :)

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Dee Says:
June 19, 2006 at 4:10 pm
I’ll tell ya . . . ya just can’t help smilin’ when ya look at her ;)

António correia Says:
September 15, 2006 at 4:44 pm
In the house we had 3 dogs. They are all gone now.
The 1.st was taken from a farm nearby.
The other 2 dogs were homeless.
They were the best.
One of them was “my dog”.
He was clever and nice.

Sometime after my children left home this dog died and everybody I was very sorry.
I want to get a homeless dog one of these days and make a surprize to my wife.

She even loves dogs much more than I do …

New MacBook

2006-06-04T17:46:00.002-06:00

I have labored over this for awhile, and finally decided to just do it yesterday. I traded in my trusty G5 17" iMac for a shiny new 13" white MacBook. Wow ... what a move up! The MacBook is sooooooo much faster than my iMac. The Intel Core Duo flies. And I love the glossy screen. It's absolutely beautiful. I've hooked up a 19" monitor to the Macbook and have the option of either mirroring the Macbook, using an extended desktop, or closing the MacBook completely and just using the monitor. I can now "have my cake and eat it, too." A terrific desktop set-up and, with a quick unplug of the monitor, a "pick-up-and-go" laptop. Took me some time to decide to let the iMac go, but I'm glad I did. I couldn't be happier!

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Dee Says:
June 7, 2006 at 9:12 pm
Okay - so I have to comment . . . this is “sweet.” And that is one great desktop photo you have there :)

Dee Says:
July 9, 2006 at 6:09 pm
Hey, another Dee? Congrats on your MacBook. It sure looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun to use.

WordPress Dash Widget

2006-05-28T18:38:00.000-06:00

There's a widget for Mac OSX that allows direct posting to your Wordpress blog! How cool is that?! I know it's been around for awhile, but I just found it. No more logging in, etc. Just pull up your dashboard and type away. Gotta love it ...

Check it out for yourself here.

Zenfolio v. SmugMug

2006-05-18T18:40:00.001-06:00

Interesting discussion going on at Dgrin regarding this:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=34259

My heart lies with SmugMug. I did open an account at Zenfolio to compare myself some of the differences, pro's and con's. I will leave the account open as I will be interested to see what kind of growth and improvements Zenfolio has in the next year.

Here are referrals codes that you are free to use to save $5 when you sign up:

Smugmug Referral Code: KqCWg5JS3QHGc

Zenfolio Referral Code: 3SB-J69-NTR

SmugMug

2006-05-08T19:42:00.001-06:00

Occasionally I have to shout from the rooftops about the service SmugMug provides. As if it wasn't a near perfect photo hosting company already, they just recently announced that their Pro accounts now get unlimited bandwidth! That's right - you heard it correctly. Unlimited photos - unlimited bandwith. So click on over and sign up. To get five dollars off your sign-up fee (and save me a few dollars, too), use my referral code during the sign-up process: KqCWg5JS3QHGc.

For more information, visit SmugMug or the Digital Grin forums.

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Dee Says:
May 8, 2006 at 10:31 am
LOL - that you are - a very happy subscriber :D

Floral Beauty

2006-04-21T13:53:00.000-06:00

Isn't mother nature incredible?

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Dee Says:
April 22, 2006 at 2:31 pm
That she is :) And this is absolutely GORgeous!!!!

Chihuly at Fairchild

2006-04-20T14:48:00.001-06:00

One of the most amazing exhibits I have ever seen was at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables, Florida. Really amazing stuff!

Vacation is Over - Sad!

2006-04-19T18:51:00.001-06:00

Had a wonderful time in Florida! LOTSO vacation pics up here.

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Dee Says:
April 20, 2006 at 3:30 pm
Yes - so very, VERY sad :( BUT - you have a lot of WONderful photos ;)

LorriM Says:
April 21, 2006 at 5:35 pm
Hi Barb…I was so glad to see you stopping by.

Nice to hear you had a lovely vacation. I was at my daughter’s in AR all last week…had a lovely time there.

~~Lorri

My Sweet Girl

2006-03-23T15:55:00.002-07:00

I lost one of my favorite beings the other day - Chloe - a sweet Lhasa Apso who I adored. Although she was not my dog, I dogsat her often, and loved her as if she were mine. I will miss her.

The Rainbow Bridge - Author unknown

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor, those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing -- they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent, his eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face, your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together ...

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Dee Says:
March 25, 2006 at 4:28 pm
So sorry, Barb. That’s a great picture of Chloe and “The Rainbow Bridge” is just beautiful.

Vacation Coming Soon!

2006-02-26T19:05:00.000-07:00

So, my vacation is not too far off. I can hardly wait! This year, instead of a cruise, my friend and I are doing something different. Here's the itinerary (subject to change of course depending upon our moods):

Arrive Wednesday, April 5th - Miami - immediately, if not sooner, head to Bayside Marketplace in downtown Miami for a killer Pina Colada and dinner at Los Ranchos

Thursday, April 6th - shopping at The Falls in Miami (gotta find time for that!)

Friday, April 7th - drive to Sanibel Island (on the Gulf Coast of Florida) and spend part of the day at the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge (ooooh, can you say photo op??!!) - from there to Ft. Myers to the Edison & Ford Winter Estates - onto St. Petersburg and Tampa - arrive in Orlando

Saturday, April 8th to Wednesday, April 12th - Orlando - Disney World baby!

Wednesday, April 12th - Leave Orlando - onto Fort Christmas Historical Park - Cape Canaveral - Kennedy Space Center - back to Miami

Thursday, April 13th - Chihuly at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden - Coral Gables, Florida

Friday, April 14th - back to Bayside for that last Pina Colada (how sad)

Saturday, April 15th - home

Lots of driving, lots of sightseeing, lots of pictures, and most of all, lots of fun!

Are you looking for a great timeshare to rent when you visit Florida? There are many timeshares in Florida available to rent or buy. Timeshares have gotten a bad name because of all of the high
pressure timeshare sales meetings but renting a timeshare doesn't have to be stressful at all.

Where's Spring??

2006-02-19T15:08:00.000-07:00

This little guy is probably wondering the same thing as me - when is Spring going to get here? He does, however, look like he's had a good winter from his size!

It Just Keeps Getting Better

2006-01-28T19:17:00.000-07:00

Smugmug released several new updates to their database over the past couple of days, and there are two new features definitely worth noting. Lightbox is a very nice feature! Check it out here. Click on the larger picture on the right and watch the magic. Very cool.

Another new addition is Drag-N-Drop in the photo galleries. Completely rearrange your photos by simply dragging and dropping them where you want. Wonderful stuff, huh?!

Out of all the photo hosting sites I have tried, Smugmug wins hands down. And, it just gets better and better!

Photo Hosting At Its Best

2006-01-10T19:19:00.001-07:00

I've tried several different photo hosting sites, but was never quite satisfied, until about a year ago, I stumbled upon Smugmug. There are three options for signing up: Standard, Power and Pro. Each level gives you a few more features and more customization. But all levels offer unlimited storage and more than generous bandwidth per month. They offer nice full screen slideshows and print ordering, and with the Power and Pro accounts, a highly customizable look.

I've known first-hand that Smugmug's customer service is top notch, and second to none. This fact was even more emphasized in this forum thread at DigitalGrin.

A prospective customer asks about hosting more than 2 Terabytes of photos. Wow - now THAT is a lot of photos! The response from the Smugmug folks was what I expected from a service as good as this. Yes, they are more than happy to handle it for him - at no extra cost!

As stated by Smugmug, this would amount to an initial investment of about $20,000 on their part, in servers, infrastructure and storage costs - and are in the process of setting that up. That will not only allow this person to upload his thousands of photos, but will benefit all Smugmug users at the same time. Talk about customer service!

By the way, if you would like to sign up with SmugMug, feel free to use my referral code: KqCWg5JS3QHGc. You will save $5 on your first year's subscription, and I'll be rewarded with a $10 referral fee. You know, give and take - it's what makes the world go 'round :)

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Dee Says:
January 10, 2006 at 7:32 pm
Holy Cow!!!!!!! Thanks for posting this . . . I read through the thread and those folks at SmugMug are absolutely incredible . . . sure makes me happy to be a part of that community - albeit a small part - but nonetheless, I’m glad that’s where my photos are ;)

Thoughts of Warmer Weather

2005-12-24T19:22:00.001-07:00

It's soooooooo cold! Helps to warm up to look back at some travel photos :)

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Dee Says:
December 24, 2005 at 4:55 pm
So - how cold IS it - hehehe . . . Beautiful, beautiful photos :D

Happy Holidays!

2005-12-21T19:29:00.001-07:00

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Dee Says:
December 21, 2005 at 7:13 am
Thanks . . . and a Merry Christmas to you, too ;)

Mooooo

2005-12-18T19:32:00.000-07:00

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Dee Says:
December 18, 2005 at 2:20 pm
BWAHAHAHA - you just GOTta laugh . . . this is too cute ;)

Cute Overload

2005-12-15T21:34:00.001-07:00

Every once in awhile, I stumble upon a web site that is worthy of a daily visit. This site is one of those.

Cute Overload

At Cute Overload®, we scour the Web for only the finest in Cute Imagery™. Imagery that is Worth Your Internet Browsing Time. We offer an overwhelming amount of cuteness to fill your daily visual allowance. Drink it in!

If you need a smile, visit this site. You will NOT be disappointed!

Holiday Cheer

2005-12-14T19:36:00.000-07:00

Snoballs

2005-12-13T17:38:00.001-07:00

These flowers are called Snoballs. They, of course, grow in the summer here. But they seemed an appropriate flower to post for this time of year.

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Dee Says:
December 14, 2005 at 6:19 pm
Great name for those very pretty flowers . . . nice shot!!

Winter

2005-12-09T19:43:00.001-07:00

This is a shot I took last year of the Boise Foothills. I had looked at this every day for so long, then it finally hit me, wow, this is gorgeous! One day everything cooperated with me, the sky, the clouds, etc., and I managed to grab a shot on my way home from work.

Oh Baby, it's Cold Outside!

2005-12-08T21:44:00.001-07:00

While visiting my son in Oregon, this image caught my eye. The bright red of the dog house against the light snow that had fallen, along with the greenery, just really stood out.

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Dee Says:
December 10, 2005 at 1:35 pm
I agree with you about the red - it just seems so striking against that green. Great shot!!

Road to Nowhere

2005-12-06T19:47:00.001-07:00

What caught my eye is how the sky was so clear, and the clouds were just hugging the horizon.

Dichotomy

2005-12-05T13:49:00.002-07:00

Some things just beg to be photographed.

I Can Dream Anyway

2005-12-04T08:51:00.005-07:00

I want a new camera. I can't have one, but I want one, nonetheless.

At times, I like to do research on all the different choices out there. I just like to look.

I have loved my Sony DSC-F717. It's easy to use and takes great pictures. I go back and forth over when I am able to get a new camera, do I want to stick with a great point-and-shoot or move up to a DSLR. I just don't know.

But just in case there is a Santa Clause, and he's feeling generous, here are a couple of ideas:

I have no experience with any of these. The closest would be the F828, since I own an F717. But I would love to hear any opinions from anyone! When I win the lottery, a new camera will be mine.

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

Dee Says:
December 6, 2005 at 6:11 pm
LOL - what a GREAT comic! Well, I hope you get what you want ;)

Trish Tunney Says:
December 9, 2005 at 12:07 am
Good luck with santa!! Just in case you have any pull at all, tell him I’d like a D2X. :-)

Paolo Says:
December 23, 2005 at 2:52 pm
I own a dsc717 too. But I’m planning to move as soon as possible to the nikon d70s… I think the d70s is what you should ask to Santa

A Poser

2005-12-03T08:04:00.000-07:00

I do believe he's posing and smiling for me!

Smugmug Blog Alliance

2005-12-02T19:57:00.000-07:00

It's up and running!

Smugmug Blog Alliance

Sisters

2005-12-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite shots. It just makes me smile. Of course, they are my granddaughters, so they ALWAYS make me smile.

Hello World!

2005-12-01T08:00:00.001-07:00

Welcome to my new blog. I hope to be diligent and actually write something here occasionally. I will focus mainly on photography: my love for it, sharing photos, links to photography-related sites, links to other photographers, etc. This is a work in progress, so check back often.Please visit my photography website -- Photoscape Design, and take some time and check out some of the other beautiful photography sites listed under "Friends Photo Sites."

COMMENTS COPIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS BLOG:

flyingdutchie Says:
December 6, 2005 at 5:37 pm
Hi Barb,

Welcome to the blogger world. I’m new too! :) Thanks for referring to my web-site @ smugmug. I added your blog- and photo-links to my blog as well.

You make some gorgeous pictures. Always good to look at!
Take Care!
– Anton.

Sebastian Hosche Says:
December 6, 2005 at 5:39 pm
Congrats to your new blog and thanks for adding my link - I’ve updated my linklist, too. Looking forward to some posts of you. Really like the startpage of your smugmug page - it’s just beautiful!

I also have a Sony F717 and take it where ever I go.

All the Best,
Sebastian