When you lose stuff during a big move.

Made in JAPAN Shnapps-O-Flex whiskey flask. A 70's/80's kid playing around grandma's house, I was always curious about it sitting up high on a retro bar shelf with other fancy and bizarre chachskies and nick knacks in the basement of grandma and grandpa's swank bar and wondering about the fact that it's a shiny camera that is sitting on display in a wet bar. I was a kid with curiosities. Inherited it 20 years ago and placed it in a box for safe keeping. Until last year after I made this epic decision to downsize and move. I told myself I would display this cool vintage item and all the cool sentimental stuff in the new apartment home! Stuff that meant something. Yeah!
I remember packing this guy with a shit ton of really good bubble. You know the kind that makes the cool popping sound and makes all your stress and anxiety go away. Which means it would be in a big box. I downsized from 3000 sq ft to 1000 sq ft and 6 months later I still haven't found the 'big' box. Well, it's either been donated or thrown away by an unfortunate accident. Maybe one day it'll turn up unexpectedly. Or not. Stuff. You can't take it with you. Nuff said.

Happy National Puppy Day!

   New shoes and puppy smells. Every day should be national puppy day. In 2005 we adopted this cute little guy and named him Kenobi. (Star Wars Fan ya think?) Obi kenobi kenobi Obi. I've been photographing people portraits and other subjects for years by this time but after ruff housing with this little unruly dude and seeing these particular pics that unfolded, I was hooked for life. These were shot with a 'happy snap' camera at the time. A $600 (yikes) Olympus. My starter cam. Worked for the time. But def not fast enough for moving dogs! Today on Instagram I posted 3 of my top puppy pics. All shot with a Canon. With all time fave lens 50mm F1.4. Kenobi was a part of our lives for 7 years. Too young to die. He inspired me. Yes, he is my brand up there at the top of my blog page. He brought stinky joy to me. He was a POS a lot. He was Furby's BFF. He was my baybay. Still dream about you man. Miss you you big butthead. Wish puppies were forever. Love.

Ariana Falerni Templates are gorgeous and THIS is how you WOW your walls!

Been messing around with CS5 lately (I've got some free time on my hands...more on that later) and just knew I had to start updating my website and blog. This is the stuff that drives me. What I'm passionate about. What gets me going in the morning (besides Furby and coffee). It's a new year and a same old me. Lol. I love to play with COLOR and I'm excited to bring these fabulous, fresh, rich, earthy flavors to my old website. This is just the beginning. I'm in the process of upgrading all kinds of things and equipment.  Ariani Falerni has created some super duper cool templates for photographers and their clients. This makes decision making so much simpler!! Love!

New chapter in new home with lazy pets.

In July of 2017, I had a thought stirring around. What if I sell my home of 11 years and down size to an apartment? People do it all the time. For various reasons. Mine was because I had a big house. I was sick of mowing the lawn. Shoveling the snow. Cleaning 3 toilets. (Ickkk) Storing ungodly amounts of stuff. Paying for utilities that I never used. The clutter was causing so much anxiety I felt like I was lugging an anchor around. Home maintenance was dragging me down! The thought of simplifying my life was so attractive! So in August I began the 'Big Purge'. About half of my possessions were either donated to charity or given away to family and friends. Plus the big stuff that needed to be hauled away to the dump such as a big TV and entertainment center-those things you cannot even GIVE away! Then in September the next step would be to fix up the place and get it ready for sale! The minor repairs and updates-new flooring, new paint, new kitchen updates, landscaping etc were necessary in order to sell. Family members were there to help! OMG. I could never have done this without the wonderful help of Mom and Dad!!!!! You can see the AFTER pictures below of the new flooring. Fantastico!!!! The sign went up in October. Had a first showing. First offer. Second showing. Second offer. Bidding Wars began and it was sold in 24 hours. For full asking price. Yikes! Sellers market indeed. Moved out of the McMansion on November 17. And again, FAMILY and friends helped with the big move. HUGE shout out to sister KAY (Omaha ZOO QUEEN Extraordinaire) KLATT and LUCY (Radio GODDESS DJ ) CHAPMAN for taking they're free time on a SATURDAY and moving my stuff! People are awesome. And moving SUCKS. But 6 months of stress has come and gone. Well, not gone completely...Leia and I have moved from a 3000 sq ft house to a 1100 sq ft apartment that is absolutely perfect. Pets are pretty much settled in. They sleep a lot and will probably get fat. Need a cool cat tree...Life is simplified. Less clutter. Smaller home. No maintenance. It feels good right now. I will miss my birds...But I sure as hell won't miss worrying about a furnace break down...I'm 1 month into living the apartment life. LOVE.

 

Happy Birthday to my little big guy 15 years young blonde Pomeranian So Long August. HELLO SEPTEMBER!!!!

Happy Birthday FURBY! Time is flying by and I'm not dedicating much time to this blog unfortunately lately. That will surely change very soon. I've purged a TON of useless crap and my workspace has migrated downstairs to the basement. I'm downsizing and simplifying my life and selling my home of 11 years. Daughter is finally going back to college and my dear pal Furby is 15 years young this month. Family life and the lengthy process of preparing a house to move is stressful, but, it could be worse. I have a home. And I am blessed to have lived in it with the people and pets that have come and gone. So long August. HELLO SEPTEMBER and my favorite season (and holiday-Halloween) Fall. Love. Furry friend who sticks by me unconditionally. More love.

Celebrating Independence Day by playing with fire!

It's colorful and bright and fun and loud and dangerous. Kids are lighting off explosives by age 5. Yep, that's not uncommon. Not my kid. Wasn't able to hold a sparkler until age 10. Maybe.
Today I will enjoy some picnic food and fireworks without having my kids fingers severed. Have a happy and safe Fourth of July.

Old Man Pugsley the Pug Painted Pet Portrait

 
 An oldie but goodie. This old man Pugsley like most Pugs, sat obediently for his close up. Transformed this photo into a painted portrait with love. Vibrant colors. Loose strokes. Folk art whimsy. Acrylic on 12X12 Canvas board. Pugsley boy.

Norcross Pop Ins Vintage Pop Up Cocktail Invitation Cards Rooster and Whale!

My darling cocktail invites from Norcross Pop-Ins New York. discovered at an estate sale back in the day. NIB. They had two sets of each. For a whopping .10 cents each. So unique. So fun. So whimsical. And oh so psychedelic! Totally from the 1960's era. You'd have to get all gussied up in your fancy fineries to attend this type of swingin soiree. Super neat. In love with the graphics! I predict a whale of a time indeed.

Buttery and Fluffy Double Daffodils and Tulips growing in front yard

 I meant to post this in April then of course life flies by and you get side tracked. These lovely guys pop up every year in March and bloom for a whole month in my front yard. Gorgeous double daffs that were a gift from a friend. I've flagged them and as soon as the leaves die back (gotta give em their nutrients) I will dig em up and plant in selective spots throughout the yard. It seems to take at least three months for the leaves to turn brown and shrivel up. I dig up all kinds of stuff and transplant to a different location--hostas, irises, tulips, day lilies, perennial grasses. The amount of suffering and beating they endure is incredible. Still, they rise again each and every year bigger and stronger. Perennials sleep the first year. Creep the second. And then leap the third. Sleep, creep and LEAP! Digging in the dirt is a delightful feeling.