Rollin, Rollin, Rollin...

The morning was chilly, but gorgeous with puffy white clouds in a blue sky, and my partner in crime, Cherie, and I, had just shot a calf branding. Cherie always offers to stop if I see something I want to photograph, to and from the shoots. After the branding, we were on our way home...not more than a mile or two from the ranch, I asked her to stop so I could take a photo of this lone barn. It was perfect for a landscape photo. Here’s what happened…I was going to just take the shot from the pick-up because there was no place to pull over. Cherie encouraged me to go ahead and get out because no one was coming (remember we were way out in the country and the only traffic…cowboys we’d left behind). So, I gladly hopped out (I’m always giddy inside when I think I’m going to get a good photo), and began to step up to the field level (it was about 3 feet up from the road itself). As I secured my left foot in place and began to launch my body upward, I realized on my way up, in that nanosecond, that I had no place to grab with my right hand. The post was too far for me and my mind wouldn’t work fast enough to grab the wire in between the barbs, so I didn’t grab anything at all and had no choice but to hope I’d make it! I didn’t. Instead, I fell backward, on my butt…it doesn’t stop there…I fell backward on my butt that fell onto a large raised round bump of dry mud that swung me backwards into a roll until I was on my back basically in a ball! I think it probably looked pretty graceful (and I might add, it was a heroic save for my camera on the way down, as it was unmarked). I wasn’t hurt, laughing, not concerned at all that there could be vehicles coming (that thought didn’t even occur until later). There really was no traffic…remember we were wayyyyyyyyyyy out in the country! Here’s the deal. When I fell, Cherie saw me in action, but couldn’t see me from the cab of the pick-up truck once I was down. I hear “Gayle, are you okay?” Laughing, I confirmed I was fine, got myself up off the ground, and walked about 10 feet to a gate that was level to the road (laughing all the way). I was going to get that shot, by golly, though my first attempt was a failure! Without climbing a berm, I took the photo and hopped back in the truck. Of course we both laughed till we nearly cried, while on our way again. Cherie later suggested I use the title for this entry “Rollin, Rollin, Rollin…” VERY appropriate and hilarious! Oh yes, and by the way, I was very pleased with the photo!

Cliff's Trailer

Well as you can see, it looks much the same in the Spring as it did last Fall! However, Cliff has been working, and there is some progress that you can not see from this photo. He has manufactured a new window frame for the bathroom (The little tiny hole near the front of the trailer) that will actually be bigger than the hole showing. He has also scraped all the old putty off the window frames and vents (it was like cement...remember this trailer was made in 1972). Cliff is very hopeful in getting it refurbished sometime this year.

Happy!

What does Starbucks have to do with happiness? Nothing, I just liked the photo, and I wasn't going to put my mug up here! But, some could argue that Starbucks makes them happy...or the wine on the counter in the background could make them happy...or the food in the refrigerator could make a person happy...here is what I think!

“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” I love this quote by Abraham Lincoln! Is happiness something you choose or is it environmental? I’ll let you figure that one out! But for the most part, I think I choose it! Yeah sure, I sometimes let my circumstances turn my emotions elsewhere (I’m human!)…that would just be down right creepy if I wore a plastic smile every turn of life. However, I like to think that I have made up my mind to choose happiness on a daily basis. It’s becoming effortless!

I have had a few confirmations on my happiness…” Mom, why are you so happy today?” My reply, “I guess Jesus gave me an extra dose of joy.” Her response with a nodding head, raised eyebrows and a grin “I guess He did!” Another time, “Mom, you are Disneyland, that’s what you are!” Now I’ve been called the happiest place on earth. What a compliment! And, I heard this many times from my kids that didn’t even grow up in this era, “Here comes June Cleaver!” After all, I do work on having a positive outlook. Gee whiz! I’m just happy to be happy! So...happiness…why not give it a try!

“Happiness lies in your own back yard, but it’s probably well hidden by crabgrass.” (Anonymous)

Blessings!

Blessings

Blessings come in many shapes,

In sizes large and small,

But a brand new little baby

is the sweetest of them all.

Newborns...New Adventure

Don't you love babies? Well, maybe you don't, but I do, and this little baby girl was a perfect princess until the very end of the shoot, and well, I rather like the cry baby! I have a confession to make though...I love babies, but I'm not sure I love shooting them! It requires inside photography (natural light, no flash), and I have pretty much been an outdoor gal. It wasn't what I expected...I was expecting it to be hard, but it was down right difficult to get a decent shot. So, a part of me wants to give up, and never do a baby shoot again (Cherie tells me she will talk me back into it). The other part doesn't want to be a quitter (honestly, though, the giving up part is a much stronger feeling currently). I guess time will tell...after all I have a granddaughter to be born in June...who am I kidding, anyway? That poor baby's first words will be "RUN, paparazzi!"

Things That Make Me Laugh

First of all…I have realized that God has certainly created a strange duck when he created me. I find myself way too often laughing at things that others don’t see funny or perhaps really bad timing on my part. Oh boy! Those are awkward moments! But, I am who I am and I do love me! Not to be confused with conceit, I’m just at a place where I accept who I am. And, I love to laugh!

Things that have made me laugh in the last 7 days…

I was sitting at 5 corners (an intersection in Atwater where 5 roads come together) waiting for the light to turn green when a man…a very large man, with his large head stuffed into a tiny little helmet, and his large body placed on top a tiny little motor scooter…began to cross the intersection before his light turned red. You could tell he was trying to make his scooter go faster by placing his body forward as if it helped to accelerate it… you know, the aerodynamics of his contorted body would surely make a difference by a nanosecond. He zoomed through with a large smile on his face and a loud gratifying “HeeHa!” as he squeaked through before the light changed on him. That, my friends, made me laugh!

I was at work and had gotten a call from a gal named Christy and she needed to talk to my boss (whom is also the pastor of our church). He wasn’t there and I left a note for him on a piece of paper. When he arrived, and checked into his office and found the note, he then walked back into mine with a smile and said, “So, Christ will call me back after the morning meetings, huh?" I had forgotten the "y" at the end of the name...That truly made me laugh!

When doing a roping photo shoot at a foothills ranch with my friend, Cherie, I discovered that she only liked the bay and chestnut horses (brown and red). She said that she was prejudiced against pintos, paints, appaloosas, buck skins, palominos (which made me laugh)… I responded, “well I don’t think I can hang with you anymore!” That made me laugh…I even laugh at my own jokes!

10 second kisses (check blog below and please don't send me any 10 second kisses hate mail)! That made me laugh!

Life is certainly too short…learn to laugh (and even if it’s at yourself)!

Roping Clinic

I haven't seen anything rodeo (up front and personal) for over 20 years and was asked to join a friend to practice our photography skills at a roping clinic today. What memories it brought back...dating and finally marrying a rodeo cowboy 32 years ago (although he quit the habit when Corry was born). The whinny of horses, the clinging of spurs and the aroma of fresh road apples (that is what Cliff calls it)...all was very familiar to me and very reminiscant. As the clinic began at 9 a.m., the men (and a few women) gathered in the arena for sound teaching from a champion roper.
While the teaching and learning was going on, the horses looked on and waited...and waited...and waited (most tied to their horse trailers) until about 2:00 p.m. when the real fun began!

Here is the champion himself and had I listened more closely, I could tell you his name (It wouldn't matter anyway, as the memory is pretty much gone). I have a great deal of respect for cowboys (and cowgirls) for their strength, their skill and the timing it takes to perfect "roping." It was truly a fabulous experience to watch and participate as a photographer. I'm hoping I get another opportunity!

(If I haven't yet sent you an invite to my on line album, for more "roping" photos, please send me an e-mail and I will make sure you get one)

The 10 Second Kiss!

The 10 second kiss? Well, I have shared a conversation or two with friends about the 10 second kiss, and everytime it's a source of jokes to come. But, I don't care. I'm a believer of the 10 second kiss. It's one of those adventures you have to try...before becoming a believer. Where did I learn about the 10 second kiss, you ask? Why it was right on the radio...you know, Christian radio...well yeah, I do listen to Christian radio...hello!!! I am a church secretary after all! Okay, where was I? Oh yes, it was a program subject matter; making your marital relationship better. It was suggested to try the 10 second kiss, just as simple as that! If you think about it, it's the kiss that seals the wedding...a pretty important part of the marriage, wouldn't ya think? Well now, this mid-life, menopausal, losing the waist line, married woman (to the most handsome man in the world, I might add) was all ears that day, and what did I have to lose trying the 10 second kiss? I'm tellin ya, not one thing!

Cliff and I have this unspoken agreement that we kiss each other good-bye (who knows what the future will bring...it could be our last), we kiss each other good-night and give each other a hello kiss when we have been apart. Yeah, yeah, yeah...it's getting a bit uncomfortable for you, I'm sure, but hold your shirts on! Let's discover why a 10 second kiss is so important...it happened last night.

Cliff I were alone and he was warming his back side up near our wood stove insert. I walked up to him with endearing eyes and an irresistible smile. "How about a 10 second kiss," I asked. Some of you know Cliff well and will understand when I explain...our bodies got close with arms locking each other and Cliff begins to create this sensual body launguage right before the kiss...hold it right there! Back up...Cliff begins to create these flowy, and twitchy movements that caused uncontrollable laughter out of the both of us. Which the 10 second kiss pretty much stopped before it began. It took a few moments to settle back into a serious mood and to make our second attempt. Oh for pete sake! He approached me with that Hollywood kiss, you know what one I'm talking about. Those unbelievable ones...who does that anyway...and again we both began to laugh. I was not going to give up. I wanted...no, I needed that 10 second kiss, and by golly, I was going to get one! So, we began a third time with perseverance of complete seriousness. Our lips got closer and my upper lip touched Cliff's mustache that always tickles (even after 32 years of practice), but that was not going to stop me...no, I had a mission to complete...our lips got closer and finally they locked! One, two three...okay, here comes four (oh, so loving), five...five...right then I began to feel Cliff's stomach bounce ever so slightly. Hummm, his lips were still locked with mine without interuption...six...I began to feel our mouths pull apart with an upward stretch...seven...it happened...it happened! It just happened!!! I pushed him away in a playful manner and said, "Cliff you're laughing!!!" And, he was. It wasn't a total loss, though, I was feeling pretty good with my 7 second kiss and the magical playful moment. So, you married fokes...give a 10 second kiss a try and see where the adventure takes you!

..to the Only God

I had this photo (it has been edited to look vintage/grunge) posted online in a pool of photos viewed by members of the same group...It was my first photo posted (I hesitated out of fear that it wasn't worthy enough) and my first comment was, "Awesome, perfect album cover." Well first, this gentleman must be older than dirt if he is still calling them albums (my kids always correct me and tell me they are called, "CD's"). But, a part of me was thrilled that someone (who doesn't know me from Adam) would think that this could possibly be a cover on anything! I felt a tug on my shirt tails, pulling me back down to earth...keeping me grounded...All glory, honor, majesty and power to the only God! I give Him all the Glory...it is because of Him...

In the Name of Love

loving you is what I do...it's the one thing I found I can put my heart into...

I met a lady Saturday in the check out line at Wal-Mart. She was a tiny older woman that had that sweetness about her. She noticed what I had in my arms and asked me what size the baby dress was I was holding. She went on to explain, "I have a great granddaughter that is in size 2...I have 10 great grand children...I have been married to my husband for 71 years..." With that you could tell she really loved her husband and was quite proud of her long life and long marriage to her love. With that I told her, "Congratulation! That is awesome!" She went on "I still get around by myself...I still drive..." I asked her if she didn't mind me asking how old she was. "I'm 88 years old and my husband is a little older than I am. He is 96." She went on, " he is beginning to lose his memory and it's so sad." At that very moment the one line we were in, split into two, and she went her way and I mine.

This is one of those moments in life you don't want to forget...that if you are fortunate enough you will have a long life...a long marriage...in sickness and in health. I'm sure it's not easy and yet she does it in the name of love! It's amazing what a heart is prepared to do in the name of love.

Textures and Effects

Lace, Ash and Maycin April 2006, Monterey, CA

Maycin April 2006, Monterey, CA

I am learning how to edit photos with some fun effects...these are more vintage/grunge looking and I rather like it. It has taken many hours of learning to get these results, and I have much, much more to learn.

Day Trip to Knights Ferry, CA

Cliff and I do enjoy a little get away now and again (yesterday)...Knights Ferry is about an hours drive from Atwater, and the home to the longest covered bridge this side of the Mississippi! It has a lovely museum/visitors center, plus very nice picnic/park area. Cliff and I did go on a nice little hike up stream/up hill. We had beautiful weather...a beautiful time!