Dwelling in the Moment

This weekend Karl and I celebrated our 12th wedding Anniversary!
Amazing how time passes so quickly.
I'll never believe that our meeting was just by chance, some things are just meant to be.
I have not only been blessed with an incredible man to spend my life with but my children have also been touched in so many ways by his presence.
Thank you Karl......we love you so much! ♥

So, in celebration of our Anniversary and happy Father's Day we head out to our most favorite restaurant of all time.........
I know you've heard this from me a gazillion million times.........but if you haven't been to the Zen Forrest yet you are truly missing out on one of life's greatest little treasures!

As always I have the General Tso's Chicken, extra spicy, with the Zen Forrest rolls, salad, and the most fabulous Tuna Tataki ever ever ever................
Karl's usual is the Bul Go Gi, but this day he chose the special which was Tuna, Scallops, and Soft Crab (you actually eat the entire crab, shell and all......hmmmmmmm.....sounded weird but OMG, how delicious!)And of course, we can't forget Karl's favorite appetizer....Mussels in Holly Basil.
And to top it off.......as if we didn't eat an abundance of food already by this time........we had the chocolate cheese cake and for our Anniversary Victor sent us a special ice cream (I can't remember what it was called, perhaps Chi ice cream.....)....definately unique in it's taste....possibly our next addiction?
Thanks, Victor! :)
Hungry yet??
Here's the link for the Zen Forrest, and if you ever get a chance. stop by and say hi to Victor and all the wonderful people that work there!!! :)
http://zenforrest.com/
Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your day!!!

..or perhaps, just another to add to the list of many :)
Yesterday we tried our first hand at Geocaching. From the onset of hearing about this I was silly ready for the adventure!
Our first excursion took us to an old winding dirt road. Down a ways Mr.GPS alerted us we had reached our destination. Finding an old rickety wire fence with an area partly fallen down, we journeyed though the trees and stickers, fighting a few spider webs along the way. Eeeek!
Coming to the railroad tracks we search the area looking for anything out of place......a little area of piled leaves, sticks neatly layed, ruffled areas, a foot print....anything that might lead us to the hidden treasure.
From behind we could hear the clickedy clack of a small train coming toward us. Fearing we might be seen as trespassing, we hightailed it out of there and headed back to the car.
Wondering now if maybe the train master might even have been the initiator of the cache.
Ok, agreed we would come back to this one another time!

Next 3 attempts proved fruitless. Mr.GPS wasn't able to direct us to the correct location. Possibly due to changes with recent road improvements......

Our last attempt for the day we found the location easily but unable to find the cache.......this one was fun because it took us to an old tractor, rusted and totally overgrown with plants....complete with an old tree growing from the floor board up through the roof of the cab.

Thanks Gabe and Joyce :)
Wondering what tomorrow will bring.......Have a happy day ♥

Our beautiful friends tie the knot!

I had the pleasure of photographing their special day!
Pre-wedding photos went well.....hair, make-up, shoes, something borrowed, something new....catching all the little details of this special day.......flowers, rings, reception room, "the dress".........................................
Trying so hard to remember everything I've learned these past months.......ISO, Lighting, Aperture, Shutter Speed, Exposure, Composition, yada yada yada....
Ok, so far not bad.....
Then the moment arrives, I am standing in front of the bride in the foyer as she is getting ready to walk down the isle by both her sons, the music starts, I go to take a picture of this beautiful moment, and.....what??? no click......nothing......I look at my camera...OMG..memory card is FULL!!! How could I be so careless not to check my card......and even worse...how could I not have an extra one with me.....
Quickly turning around I scurry up the isle.........feeling like such an idiot....find my camera bag which is hiding up front right of the pastor, I fumble around in a bag I have never used until now since it is so large and only brought because it easily holds all my equipment....
Where are all my memory cards?? So many pockets, so many zippers, tons of places to hide them little cards......where on earth could I have put them...minutes pass.....feels like hours.....OMG can this be happening.....where oh where are those cards.......Ah.......ha.........there they are.....now I remember....I'll put them in this little pocket so I'll remember where they are....geeeee, how many times have I done that before......
So back doooooooooown the isle I go....slap the new card in........get into position.....and off we go....

What a beautiful bride......what amazing sons, together walking their mom to this incredible man that will soon become her husband.

"May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years, May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth." ~BLESSING OF THE APACHES






Through it all, I learned I have much to learn, that I am a long ways from purposely capturing the moments that only happen once, and that my day was spent doing what truly gives me pleasure! :)


Special thanks to Kara, who really saved my butt!!! :)

The past 6 months or so I have totally been hanging out with Jessica Sprague and her group, and learning so much.
For any of you interested in photography, scrapbooking, photo editing, or just hanging out with a great group of people, check out this site......And as a added bonus.........drum roooooooooooolllllll please.......Jessica is announcing a new class...................and it's FREE!
So mark your calendar for June 22. That's the day registration opens for the FREE instructor-led class of 2009 - Photo Editing: Frame-ups & Special Effects!
If you are not currently a member, hop on over and sign up. That's free too!
Hope to see you there! Enjoy your day!!!

Click here

As written by Cheryl Nicolai
Please stop by and visit her site!

http://www.cherylnicolai.com/

These are my thoughts, nothing more and nothing less.

I get asked all the time, during workshops, in e-mails, in private messages, what words of wisdom I would give to a new and aspiring photographer. Here's my answer.


- Style is a voice, not a prop or an action. If you can buy it, borrow it, download it, or steal it, it is not a style. Don't look outward for your style; look inward.

- Know your stuff. Luck is a nice thing, but a terrifying thing to rely on. It's like money; you only have it when you don't need it.

- Never apologize for your own sense of beauty. Nobody can tell you what you should love. Do what you do brazenly and unapologetically. You cannot build your sense of aesthetics on a concensus.

- Say no. Say it often. It may be difficult, but you owe it to yourself and your clients. Turn down jobs that don't fit you, say no to overbooking yourself. You are no good to anyone when you're stressed and anxious.

- Learn to say "I'm a photographer" out loud with a straight face. If you can't say it and believe it, you can't expect anyone else to, either.

- You cannot specialize in everything.

- You don't have to go into business just because people tell you you should! And you don't have to be full time and making an executive income to be successful. If you decide you want to be in business, set your limits before you begin.

- Know your style before you hang out your shingle. If you don't, your clients will dictate your style to you. That makes you nothing more than a picture taker. Changing your style later will force you to start all over again, and that's tough.

- Accept critique, but don't apply it blindly. Just because someone said it does not make it so. Critiques are opinions, nothing more. Consider the advice, consider the perspective of the advice giver, consider your style and what you want to convey in your work. Implement only what makes sense to implement. That doesn't not make you ungrateful, it makes you independent.

- Leave room for yourself to grow and evolve. It may seem like a good idea to call your business "Precious Chubby Tootsies"....but what happens when you decide you love to photograph seniors? Or boudoir?

- Remember that if your work looks like everyone else's, there's no reason for a client to book you instead of someone else. Unless you're cheaper. And nobody wants to be known as "the cheaper photographer".

- Gimmicks and merchandise will come and go, but honest photography is never outdated.

- It's easier to focus on buying that next piece of equipment than it is to accept that you should be able to create great work with what you've got. Buying stuff is a convenient and expensive distraction. You need a decent camera, a decent lens, and a light meter. Until you can use those tools consistently and masterfully, don't spend another dime. Spend money on equipment ONLY when you've outgrown your current equipment and you're being limited by it. There are no magic bullets.

- Learn that people photography is about people, not about photography. Great portraits are a side effect of a strong human connection.

- Never forget why you started taking pictures in the first place. Excellent technique is a great tool, but a terrible end product. The best thing your technique can do is not call attention to itself. Never let your technique upstage your subject.

- Never compare your journey with someone else's. It's a marathon with no finish line. Someone else may start out faster than you, may seem to progress more quickly than you, but every runner has his own pace. Your journey is your journey, not a competition. You will never "arrive". No one ever does.

- Embrace frustration. It pushes you to learn and grow, broadens your horizons, and lights a fire under you when your work has gone cold. Nothing is more dangerous to an artist than complacence.
- CJ

July 18th is Scott Kelby's second annual Worldwide PhotoWalk......come find a group and join the fun!!!
Hubby and I will be joining the man himself, Scott Kelby, for a morning Ybor City walk then a sunset walk at Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks with the one and only Jeff Donald!!!
Should be a great time.....any day in Ybor is destined to be an adventure!!
And the sun setting over the gulf can be one of the most gorgeous skies!
http://worldwidephotowalk.com/

My youngest, Lea and Alex are having a little baby boy!!!! Due September 18th.
A little Virgo baby! How cool is that?
This will be my first grandbaby and Karl's third!!!! :)
It's so hard sometimes to believe Lea is old enough to be a mommie......was it really that long ago? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..............
To view 4D video please Click here

Our most favorite place to eat......the Zen Forrest has won our heart and taste buds with the most incredible tastes we have ever experienced......

An elegant and cozy place snugly hidden in New Port Richey, the Zen Forrest has been serving the Tampa bay area for over five years now. Happy to be the culinary doorway to China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, as well a fusion of international and American flavors.

Chef Victor Wang has had over 20 years of restaurant industry experience. A family with generations in the restaurant industry, his entry into the restaurant world was that of a very young age.

Victor has traveled throughout Asia, and the States picking up recipes and ideas everywhere he went learning from chefs of various cuisines.
Chef Wang is an avid believer in the benefits of balanced nutrition and the philosophy of “Food as Medicine.” Studies have shown that many human ailments are caused by a lack of or excess of certain nutrients.
Also, many foods have been proven to help prevent many human illnesses. Chef Wang has read studies regarding these foods and combines these findings with his own cooking style.

Zen Forrest Rolls with Hot and Spicy Lemon Mustard Sauce


Absolutely the BEST....and I do mean the BEST... Tuna Tataki on earth!!

The most delicious General Tao's Chicken ever ever ever........with Wasabi Mashed potatoes and cooked Veggie Bean Sprouts
You have to try this dish....it is like no other General Tao's anywhere......
Fresh hormone-free chicken breast cooked to perfection.....absolutely scrumptious......My favorite dish of all time!



Incredible homemade desserts.........this is their mouthwatering Raspberry Cheese Cake....simply the best!

Food so yummy nary a morsel left........


Still not convinced?????

Where was the last place you went that made you behave like this......:)


If you are ever in the area, or even remotely close, or in the mood to travel cross country or fly overseas........this place will definitely make your trip worth while.....you will not be disappointed!
Guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds and leave you wanting more......!!!!

My first night pic to come out half way decent!
Taken for a photography class assignment.

This is our Electric Company Substation in town. My hope was to try for a cityscape, but living in a small town, this was about as city as I was going to get for the night.

Aside from all the mind blowing things to tweek for a perfect photo, aperture, lighting, speed, ISO, white balance, composition, yaada yadda yadda, my thoughts kept going back to what passerbyer's (hmmmm....is that a real word!?) might be thinking as I patiently sit waiting for that "golden moment" when the lighting is just, you know, perfect!
In this day an age of terrorism and suspicion, one never really knows the thoughts or intentions of another.
So with that lovely thought in mind I tried to be more obvious in my activity as to not appear suspect with a ready excuse of blaming my photography teacher should an explanation be necessary!

Oh, and for the record, I know I know, I really blew the "rule of thirds" on this one, but, geeeeeeezzzz, there's just so much a brain can handle at one time! LOL!

Today I'm uploading photo files to their new home......my trusty EHD what would I do without you!?
And so I come across this little guy I nearly forgot about.
Created just barely a month ago and marking one of Florida's coldest night of the season.
Meet the Florida snowman......ok.....so he's but only 4 inches tall...nonetheless.......he is authentic in his making.........and a rare site for these neck of the woods.
Is he not just the cutest 'lil thing??
Shortly after sunrise, the mornings heat melted Mr Snowman's round belly and off he went, skiing down the roof of the car, sliding down the windshield, and speeding off the hood and air borne onto the warm driveway.

Along comes Trissy, our number 2 Rat Terrier and quickly gobbles up Mr Snowman..........twig eyes and all...........................

Oh, Mr Snowman....how short your life.....but what smiles you brought to your owners as we carefully affixed your scruffy little arms and beady little stick eyes........you fell apart so many times.........by the time we had you built to perfection you were nearly half the size you started out to be.......we laughed so hard.......!

Big ***TOOTS*** to Ree Drummond for taking top prize at the 2009 Weblog Awards for her site
http://thepioneerwoman.com/confessions/

Ree won Best Photography, Best-Designed Weblog and Weblog of the Year.

As an admitted stalker of Ree's site I look forward to her wonderful sense of humor as she shares her daily life of photography, gardening tips, Do-it-Yourself ideas, and scrumptious recipes!

Here's to you girl..........Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!

Couple of pix created playing around with masks and brushes........

Had fun this morning playing with some textures by Textures by Paul Grand Click here
Check out his site if you get a chance....please remember to leave some luv!!!
You can also find a huge variety of super cool textures at
http://mayang.com/textures/index.htm
...............have fun!!!!!
Off to take the pups to the park.....another gorgeous day in Florida!!! :)

Found time to play a bit today........this is Miss Kitty....this day unlike most she was quite cooperative for our little photo shoot........isn't she just the cutest?

This quote by Dorothea Lange is the basis of this weeks creative assignment. To explore our hometown with new eyes. To see what we have never stopped to see before.
In the busyness of our daily lives we too often forget to stop and "smell the flowers". To stop and take notice of the small things, sometimes the important things. Sometimes the big things.
Today I spent some time visiting our local Humane Society. A place I pass by almost daily, never giving thought to the needs that might exist there. What I saw was quite sombering...but also encouraging....as the volunteers who dedicate their time to making the world a better place for these precious animals are a testament to what wonderful works can be accomplished when it comes from the heart.
Being the owner of 4 amazing dogs.......and loving them dearly.......it was heartbreaking to see the eyes of these creatures longing for a loving pat on the head.......a buddy to play ball with, a warm blanket to cuddle to, the joy of having a happy and loving "real home".
They ask for so little and give so much.
The Humane Society's purpose is to eliminate animal suffering and provide pet adoption education and counseling to the public. Their goal is to engage the hearts, hands and minds of the community to help all animals.
The Humane Society is a private non-profit organization and depend on the goodwill of others.
Please consider adoption, becoming a foster family, volunteering, or donating to your local chapter.