Oops, I lost 2012 somewhere...

OK, OK, I know I have never been great at blogging, I have been inconsistent at best, but sheesh...somehow I managed to go a whole YEAR without making a post here.  Good thing (?) I don't have a lot of followers--unless you call three "a lot".

Oh well, I can try better, right?  This is America, damn it, the land of the second, third, fourth...chance, keep on trying until you get it right!

A lot has happened in that year.  Jason and I adopted a baby together, well, a dog-baby, named Marshall.  Marshall will be three in a few months.  We got his from the wonderful Orlando Bully Rescue. His original owner was pretty mean to him. He was kept in a crate full-time for the first two years of his life, and when OBR got him, he was underweight, full of mange, not fixed, and had no idea how a dog was supposed to behave.

I can't say he's got the best manners, even now, but he did pass his Canine Good Citizen test last fall, and we are super proud of him!

I also got a house, which is a super cool. Like Marshall, it still needs a little work, but it's cozy and happy and full of love. On the agenda for this year is putting up a new fence, which will make the dogs and humans happy, and maybe painting the exterior.  If I can ever pick the right colors for it!

And I lost a fur-baby, little Oola, who passed away in her sleep not so long ago.  She was fine, and then she was gone.  Life is fleeting, which is a well-known fact, but always seems to take us by surprise.

I retired from my old day job, after almost 25 years, and started up a new one even before I was technically retired.

So maybe I have been a little busy, and I might perhaps have some bad-blogger excuses, but...I promise, THIS time I will try harder (or else, hey, see you next year!)

Beauty comes in all sizes...

Yep, sometimes we need to be reminded, but beauty does indeed come in all shapes and sizes, colors and flavors, too.  I've found beauty in everyone who has been patient enough to put up with me and my camera...when I can get someone to really relax and have fun with the process, to be their own authentic self, that's when the inside beauty shines on the outside.
I just wanted to share a couple of my recent lovelies, Marisa, who is what you could call "fun size", as she has to at least put on shoes to reach five feet, and Linley, who is, at 5'10", from the tribe of the Amazons, like me.

Confidence plays a huge part in being beautiful...believing in yourself, no matter how big or how small. It may sound kinda Dr. Suess-like, but was he ever wrong?  I don't think so.

Babes in beachland

I have to admit, I have some new favorite models.  I met Cassee at the beach with her two beautiful girls, Sloane and Sam, and I'm telling you, it was wee-supermodel time.  Can't wait to do another shoot with them!

My Favorite Redhead

I think everybody should have a favorite redhead.  Mine is Alex, who happens to be my daughter Devin's friend, and whom I borrow from time to time.  I'd adopt her if I could, but her parents might complain.
Alex is the perfect natural redhead, with fab freckles, and a personality that goes with the hair. She's bright and fun and quirky and the best part is...she's always up for a shoot.  So if I don't have any paying customers, and my camera and I want to have some fun, we can rustle up Miss Alex, plop her just about anywhere (OK, she did refuse to climb a tree the other day, but most of the time, she'll do whatever I say!).

I just love this girl--hope you do, too!

The Lovely Miss Jasmine--lap dog extraordinaire!

This afternoon, I got to spend a little time with a couple of beautiful ladies.  The one you see here is Jasmine. 
A few weeks ago, I was driving home from the barn, and saw a skinny red dog, dodging traffic.  This was not the best part of town, really pretty scruffy, and I guess a lot of people would have kept on driving.  But like a lot of other people, I couldn't have let that dog get hit if I could help it.
I pulled over in front of a grimy convenience store, and cut her off in her travels.  She was shy, but friendly.  A collar, but no tags.  Tried to coerce her into my car, but she was scared, she'd probably never had a car ride before.  Some guy came out of the store and helped me load her in my car.
When we got home, she was scared to get out.  When she got out, she didn't want to leave my side, she wanted to Velcro herself right onto me. There was no keeping her at my house--my Matilda does not like other girls, for one thing.  But a post on Facebook led to the other beautiful lady mentioned earlier stepping up to the plate.
Erin has been Jasmine's angel.  She's taken care of her, arranged for health care, including getting her spayed, taken her to obedience classes, nursed her through a scary tick borne illness--she been absolutely amazing for this little pittie girl.
Jasmine has teeth missing, and lots of scars on her face and legs and body. All signs point to her having been used as a bait dog in her former life. She was not treated kindly. But this girl has so much love in her. She's now looking for her forever home. She needs someone who understands the pit breed, and would do best without small dogs (and probably not cats) in the house.  She has done very well with a large male dog, however.  She loves kids, loves women, and even loves most men, although now and then one will make her apprehensive, probably due to whoever mistreated her in the past.
She's doing super well in her obedience classes, has a very calm, sweet demeanor, and just loves hugs and kisses.  She's also the most flexible dog I've ever seen, and gets herself into some crazy poses!

This is pure love in a sweet red package.  I just hope she finds the right home, soon!

Blessing of the Animals

Yesterday evening, the Central Brevard Humane Society held a Blessing of the Animals.  Lots of folks brought out their furry friends for this event, and some of the animals that are up for adoption were also there.  Wow, there is a gorgeous black lab boy who needs a forever home, if anyone is interested, and a super-cute little Min Pin mix...sigh...good thing I don't have room for any extra fur babies!

Cassee

Spent a fun hour the other day working with Cassee.  She owns Simple Hair and Skin salon in Merritt Island, and makes my hair fabulous.  If you aren't local, you can subscribe to her make-up tutorials! Subscribe to Cassee on youtube!