And that is how you do it. Five easy ways to humiliate your pets.
Are they properly mortified? I’ll let you be the judge.
My dear pets…I am not afraid to put you on the spot in front of the world wide web.
Besides, I think you look pretty darn cute ashamed.
I don’t know about you, but the first sign of Christmas for me is NOT the stocking of shelves in OCTOBER. For shame!
Nor is it the mad shopping flees of Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Although, I wholly embrace pre-black Friday shopping. Heh.
But no, it is most certainly NOT those events.
For me, the true beginning of the Christmas Holiday is the hauling of the red and green tubs into the living room. Where every Santa and every reindeer gets placed on proud display while Christmas music plays in the background. Then, there is the ceremonious unraveling of the ornaments with oohs and aahs over every precious one.
Every surface gets covered in paper and tiny gold strings. Stockings are strewn by the chimney uncared. And Yes, even the dog is wearing her Santa hat.
And if it’s not that…..
Then maybe, it’s the twinkle from across the way…..
A neighbor’s joy of illumination. And not the Griswolds that decorated November 1st.
NOT those. But the ones…..
That are just starting to peek through the darkness……
If the sign isn’t the glimmer…. Could it be the glow? A circle of spirit, day or night, it’s the Wreath of Christmas Adorn. The one that jingles with tiny sleigh bells upon every open, and close. Proclaiming an Angel gets her wings or something like that…..heh.
Then we have the tremendously helpful, and most rewarding sign of all. The advent calendar.
Yes!
It is the marking of every Christmas day. Weee! The opening of every little door to secrets and treasures – a true wonder of delight. Ohhhhh violating the nut cracker! Ha!
But that’s not all. Oh no.
The Herald of the Tree comes next.
The HERALDING!
When all the ornaments fall into place, and we stand in awe of her greatness. We bow on one knee in front of the camera on the tripod and look for presents.
TA-DA!
Isn’t she a beauty?
Everything brightens in her presence.
The hearty cheer is unmistakable, and we clamor giddily over those circles of light bouncing off every reflective surface. Bokeh! Bokeh! Bokeh!
The tree is a messenger of Christmas in itself.
But do you know what my FAVORITE sign of Christmas is?
I bet you can guess…..
It’s Christmas in a cup.
That wondrous first cup of Starbucks Christmas blend. Oh yeaaaahhhh….
MmmHmm.
Good to the last drop.
And the hot chocolate ain’t so bad either.
That might have been hot chocolate in the cup. Shhhh!
No matter what sign you seek, or find. I do hope you are enjoying, the beginning, the middle, and the end of every Christmas celebration coming your way.
And if you haven’t seen Christmas yet………..Here’s your sign.
I’m still here.
I’m still blogging.
I’m still desperately trying to follow my dream that shifts through the clutches of my hands.
Because of time.
Because of lack of know-how.
Because when it all comes down to it, I get insecure about my work.
Perfection is my enemy.
The dream of a photography business taking off. The dream of a photography business flowing smooth and operating productively – part-time mind you – while I still have time to spend with family and work 42hrs a week at my ‘other job (sha!).
And I wonder…….am I pouring all this time, and energy into the right thing? Do I really have what it takes? What does it take, exactly? Talent, drive, and fearlessness?
I imagined my photography classes I started this January would boost my self-confidence. I imagined my talent would take off. I thought the instruction would confirm my path. In fact, my heart jumped out of my chest and raced ahead of me on this, shouting, “Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!”.
Is that my problem? My heart?
Because, really?
It seems like I am just more aware of how little I know about this business. More aware of how much farther I have to go. More, more, and more aware of how much I still have need to learn.
And I still love it – the process, the learning, the people. I do.
I am just a little overwhelmed.
At this point, I am committed to classes through the end of August. My last class is geared towards product photography. Yet, another aspect to swirl my fingers into and see what comes out.
A lot of friends tell me that people are my thing. I’m good with them; families, children, couples, and babies. Some days, I am not so sure. If one of my last sessions was any indication……well, maybe it’s a sign?
Meet my latest newborn (14 days old) and my second newborn portrait session and my first CS5 processing (that’s Photoshop).
She is precious, isn’t it?
There is such a delicate sweetness to newborns and their families. The wonder of a tiny miracle and how they meld into their circle of love.
I did my best to capture the pureness, but when the talent is done? Well, the talent is done.
Here’s your sign.
Is that my take a final bow sign? Like, hey lady, take a hike and go point that thing at someone your own size. Or is it a message to her mom? I’m the third. I’m the last and we go by my schedule. HA! What a stinker. This picture really cracked me up.
So there are days when processing is hard, when time is my enemy, and when I think I am not cut out for this. That’s when I think I should lock myself inside a product tent, taking photos of wine glasses, and bottles (empty?).
And there are other days when I wouldn’t miss these moments for the world.
What is in store for me down this road? I don’t know. I guess I have to keep going to find out.
She lives for the mirror. Her quest is to find one at any cost. When she sees one, she can’t resist – HERself. She primps and shines in all her glory. That is how we came to meet our new car totem, affectionately known as “Little M”.
What can I say? She’s a good-looking gal and she knows it. What she doesn’t know….. Her mirror will become a hellish stargate transporting her to a new destination out of her realm. Hopefully, a more abundant place. Certainly closer to more parks (and more prey? or mirrors?). That is, if she can survive the ride. An intensely horrific journey taking her to the edge of her bugmanity. Forty-five mile per hour gale-force winds. Jarring bumps – stops and starts – masses of passing metal vortex carriers streaking by. She has the option of jumping off, ensuring certain unpleasant death by windshield, or maybe just some severe road burn (if she is lucky).
We watch our new pet and pray (heh) she manages to forgo the splat. Her tail quivers, her legs strain, and she draws gasps as she changes positions to the top of the mirror.
*Warning, this video may contain disturbing images.*
But she hangs on, willing self-to-self through the glass to go the distance – a terror-filled, limb clinging six miles. And she does it.
Amazingly, her ride ends with her eyes and feelers intact. She shouldn’t be alive, but she is.
Welcome home Little M, welcome home.
On a side note, there is a lot of superstition about the praying mantis. Some believe seeing a praying mantis is a sign of good fortune. In Africa, this creature is worshiped as a God. The praying mantis – preys on other insects and therefore considered a good pest and also where the name preying mantis comes from. It’s not just what the mantis does either, it’s their prayer-like stance that seems to contradict their cannibalism (or maybe they are just thankful for their food).
Other symbols used to describe attributes of the mantis – stillness, awareness, creativity, patience, mindfulness, calmness, balance, and intuition. Maybe she was a “sign” to stay calm and focused in the last 30 days before the wedding. Maybe, she was just along for the ride. Maybe, she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or maybe…..she is truly a story of survival.
No matter what you believe, they are interesting creatures to say the least. I am continually amazed by God’s incredible wonders, great and small. And? I am just happy she will do the dirty work of munching on some unwanted pests. Thanks for the escort M! Enjoy the new digs.
Living, Loving, Laughing.... 