The Many Faces Of Bodie

Isn't he just labradorlicious!

New Design

So, the new blog design is up and running! Take a look around.  Whadda ya think?

Let me point you in the direction of the new pretty button that says "Will blog for comments".
COMMENT YOU HEARTLESS SOUL SUCKING READERS!

Because I Knew You

I have had a song from Wicked stuck in my head recently.  I put the soundtrack on my iPod after seeing the musical in May and falling in love with the show.

The song is For Good and here are the lyrics:

I'm limited

Just look at me-I'm limited

And just look at you 

You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda

So now it's up to you

For both of us-now it's up to you...

I've heard it said

That people come into our lives for a reason

Bringing something we must learn

And we are led

To those who help us most to grow

If we let them

And we help them in return

Well, I don't know if I believe that's true

But I know I'm who I am today

Because I knew you...

Like a comet pulled from orbit

As it passes the sun

Like a stream that meets a boulder

Halfway through the wood

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

But because I knew you 

I have been changed for good

It well may be

That we will never meet again

In this lifetime

So let me say before we part

So much of me

Is made of what I learned from you

You'll be with me

Like a handprint on my heart

And now whatever way our stories end

I know you have re-written mine

By being my friend...

Like a ship blown from it's mooring

By a wind off the sea

Like a seed dropped by a skybird

In a distant wood

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

But because I knew you

Because I knew you

I have been changed for good.

Sometimes I feel like this song could be the soundtrack of my days at work.  I am relatively new to the field of special needs and don't have everything worked out yet.  I haven't figured out how to avoid the holes that are being poked in my heart.  I haven't figured out how to sit by a mother's side, tears streaming down her face, as she looks at her daughter who will die in the next few years.  I can't figure out how to hug and tickle that little girl, looking into her innocent five-year-old eyes, and imagine her gone.

I can't figure out how to reconcile the vastly different experiences that happen in an average day at my job.  How do I go from comforting this grieving mother to watching a two-year-old take her first steps? I watch this little girl's mother, happy tears streaming down her face, her smile beaming with pride, and I beam with her.

I recently had a falling out with a friend over her (and her husband's) stance on special needs kids.  They could not see the value that these people bring to the world, a value I see every day.

I have a whole new appreciation for my life.  Not only because I feel grateful for the skills I usually take for granted, but mostly because I get to know these little souls.  I get the privilege of seeing them grow and change.  I get to see first steps and hear first words.  And I realize that for every hole poked in my heart by the sad reality of life, a band-aid is waiting to cover it.  Band-aids in the form of hugs and kisses, laughs and high fives.  These are the things that make life worth living.  And I have been changed for good.

Miss Stephanie Plum

Trying to get a decent picture of her is like trying to get jello to stop jiggling.

My First Pregnancy Photo Shoot

On Saturday I had the honor of doing a photo shoot for a friend who is expecting her first child in February.  This little dude is lucky to have such a photogenic Mommy!

How there is a full term baby walking around in that tiny tummy I don't know.

Oh, and as you can see, Bodie-dog is a natural star as well.

Congratulations E and J.  I can't wait to meet your little man and take tons of photos of him too!

Thanks for letting me be a little part of your joy.

Frisbee Dawg

These OLD photos were sent to me by Fla.Remodel Gal. Arrow loves when she comes to town because she is always up for a little frisbee or tennis ball.  I think they demonstrate Arrow's love for a frisbee (or as we say here F-R-I-S-B-E-E, so he doesn't understand) pretty well.  Enjoy! Thanks FRG!

A Few Of My Recent Creations

Two friends of mine are pregnant and due in February so I had to get a lot of baby stuff together recently.  I love crocheting and really enjoyed learning new patterns.  I also made a set for G Bags when she was in town for a baby shower she had to attend when she got back to Texas.

All of these are available for sale (not these specifically, but the patterns in whichever size and colors you would like). Just email me and we will work something out.

All of the following are newborn size.

Olive Branch And Fence Post

My Very Own Daily Coyote

Okay, so this isn't Charlie over at the Daily Coyote, but this is the coyote that lives on my driveway.  Somehow she has lost some of her fear of humans (not all of it) and has realized that the quail live along the driveway as well.  She tends to sleep in the sun in the middle of the driveway and then move about 10 feet away when a car pulls in.  She doesn't move fast or far, she just gets up like "Oh, you again, well, if you must then drive through."

So here she is, my very own (slightly ticked off) coyote.

Experimenting With My Micro Lens

These photos are the first taken with my new macro lens.  I have not figured it out completely so please disregard the slightly blurry quality.  (The backgrounds will always be blurry due to the focus length, I am talking about the slight blurring of the dew drops.)

Smudge Pot

I just loved the rust on these smudge pots in the vineyard.

Tahoe Trip - Part Three: Morons On Ice

On Friday we celebrated the New Year with some serious relaxing at home.  We did a little playing in the snow, but mostly stayed in.  The next day we decided to take a trip around the lake.  The last time the M family came to Tahoe with us we were in complete white out conditions and got 4 feet of snow.  The roads were closed around the lake so they never really got a good look.

The weather cooperated wonderfully this time and we all had a good time looking at the pure blue water of the massive lake.  We also planned on having lunch out so we got all dressed up and took some photos for family and friends.

(The Q of H, The Mad Hatter, Me)

(The Q of H, Me, Rich, G Bags, and Rick)

(The Q of H, Me, The Mad Hatter, My Grandma)

We stopped once for photos at a scenic overlook, but the snow had become so icy that we didn't get very many pictures.  It was like a hockey rink but without the sides to protect us.  I feared for the young life of the Nikon around my neck.

We did get some good pictures when we stopped for lunch at a very yummy restaurant right on the lake. Snow had completely covered the sandy beach next to the pier and the shores of the lake were iced over.  For some reason this called to Rich and he dragged me with him to take pictures on the snow covered beach.

Then that moron took off his shoes and stuck his feet in the freezing lake.  I told him that if his feet fell off I would not be pushing his wheelchair for the rest of my life.

 

Even Arrow was like "dude, WTF are you doing?" After drying off we headed back up to the car, and I snapped a few shots on the way.

(A very cold duck must have left these tracks)

It was the perfect last full day of a wonderful vacation.

My Precious

This is in the mail and on its way to me.  I am so excited!  I am going to be able to get amazing up-close pictures with it.

Calendars

Okay, after much complaining from those who saw the Arrow 2010 Calendar but didn't get one you can now purchase one.

Here are six of the months to tease you. Click on the images to enlarge them.
Each month has a picture of Arrow balancing something, a witty subtitle, and a full color calendar.
It's yours for $15 plus $2 for Shipping.

            

Tahoe Trip - Part Two: Bringing Up The Rear

After a nice long sleep on Wednesday night we woke up Thursday ready for an adventure.  The adventure that day? Snowmobiling! Only four of us decided to go: Me, The Queen of Hearts, G Bags (the M family matriarch) and Rich M.  After getting all kitted out in our snow attire we were ready for a nice run.  The weather was perfect and we had an amazing time.  I decided to be the last in the pack because I like to go faster and have done it enough that I don't need to be babysat.

Here are some pictures from our adventure.

(G Bags and Rich)

(Me, photo by The Queen of Hearts)

(The Q of H, Rich, Me, G Bags. Photo by our guide Doug)

(Me, photo by the Q of H)

This is our guide Doug from Lake Tahoe Adventures.  He was awesome.  He let us go a speed we were all comfortable with (fast for me!) and also showed us all around the area.  We have gone on several snowmobiling tours with this company and one 4 wheeler tour of the Rubicon trail with them.  I cannot say enough wonderful things about them.  If you are thinking about an adventure when you are in Tahoe, definitely take a look at LTA and ask for Doug!

I couldn't get enough pictures of the scenery.  I was brave and brought my Nikon and was glad I did.  The pictures I was able to capture just blew me away.

I would snowmobile every day if I could.

When we got home we sent those who didn't come with us out for Lake Tahoe Pizza.  This is damn good pizza.  We relaxed and did a little more, you guessed it, hot tubbing.  We also played some cards, shot some pool and chatted into the wee hours.