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The joys and tribulations of a rising photographer, young mother, and horse lover.

Please note that all photos are copyright 2009 Amy Patience Flood. They are not to be downloaded or duplicated in any fashion and are protected by local and international copyright laws.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

The removal of America's last wild horses....

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Please take a moment to watch this video. This is something I feel very strongly about, and hope that folks will feel compelled to make a difference by taking action.

You can also sign a petition by clicking here.

For more detailed info and beautiful photography of these wild horses, you can visit Pam Nickoles blog and Carol Walker's blog.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

My Wild Dogs

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One of my favorite things to do when I'm taking a break from working is to go out in the backyard and watch my dogs. They are outside dogs and have a huge yard to roam free in. In fact, our backyard is bigger than many of enclosures I've seen for exotic animals at zoo.

In our backyard, Meeka, Jessie and Rambo are allowed to live naturally. The only difference is that Meeka and Jessie are spayed, they all are fed everyday and they love for us to come out and play with them!

Yesterday while "dog-watching", I took this picture.

Pack Mentality

Meeka (left) likes to make faces but she is actually very gentle with the puppies. Jessie (center) is currently the lowest in the pecking order, but she is not afraid to stand up for herself if need be. Rambo (back, left) is the dominant male. He's really started challenging Meeka in recent weeks and I'm sure he'll soon be taking her place as "pack leader". Meeka and Jessie are spayed - Rambo is not. I was planning to get him neutered shortly, but have noticed that his male behavior is making him very protective of the house and its' residents, which I am very pleased with as we do not live in the best neighborhood. I'm thinking about letting him stay a full male for a little longer before getting him fixed - we will see. :)

No puppies were harming in the making of this photograph. ;-)

I promise. :)

Thursday, August 13, 2009

My girl's daddy

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My little girl is growing up so fast.

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Grace and her daddy have a really close relationship. Everyday when he comes home from work, she screams "Dada!" and races to meet him.

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I was surprised to find that although David is mostly Ecuadorian-Indian, he also has some pure Spanish blood in his lineage so that might be part of the reason Grace is so light skinned.

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At the end of everyday when Grace has worn herself out, her daddy is the one who tucks her into bed.

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Did I mention I'm very lucky to have a guy like Grace's daddy?

Because I am.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Shiny Trinkets

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I'm a naughty girl. I admit it. I like to play with things. Like a crow, trinkets have always caught my eye.

What's better than trinkets? Shiny trinkets. They capture my imagination. The saying "all that glitters is not gold" is not even in my phrase dictionary. (Yes, my mind is so narrow that it even requires a phrase dictionary).

My favorite moment at every wedding is when the bride and groom slip off their rings and hand them over for me to get the "ring shots". Like a toddler who has just gotten away with a fistful of gummy bears from the candy jar, I scamper off to play.

Ring Shots from Terry & Rick's Wedding

It's cliche, but I love the traditional "rings with the flowers" thing. There is something that just works about that (hence the reason it's been done to death).

Still, I like it. :-)

Ring Shots from Terry & Rick's Wedding

And of course, there's the whole "rings with the guestbook/invitations/marriage license" routine. Nothing new or original there either. But like I said earlier. It just...works.

Ring Shots from Terry & Rick's Wedding

In this case, I wanted to try something different. Personally, I really liked how it turned out. Even my husband thought it was neat!

Ring Shots from Terry & Rick's Wedding

When I saw the diamonds that had been spread around the wedding cake, I could not resist this shot. I think this was probably my favorite of them all.

Ring Shots from Terry & Rick's Wedding

This angle's not too bad either. ;)

Don't even get me started on cake photos...

Monday, August 10, 2009

Fred Perel: June 15, 1939

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I'm running haggard and was too lazy and tired to come up with something creative and innovative myself tonight, so I thought instead I would post another love letter. I promise to post something different and more "me" tomorrow night.

I also wanted to mention that if anyone wants to comment, it's that little button on the upper right hand of the post - where it says "0 comments". Just click that and a comment box will appear!

Not sure why, but I only took one photo of this letter.

Fred Perel: June 15, 1939

June 14, 1939

Dear Marion,

After waiting quite a while I've received your letter yesterday and have, like I always do, forgiven you already, and understand your position all right but I believe you really don't have to let me wait so long, if there isn't much to write, don't write much but at least let me hear from you. Please don't misunderstand, but I really worry if I have to wait so long.

In the meantime you must have received the big picture. How do you like it? I think its swell. We are both good on it, I even found that our lips look exactly alike on it. Gee! Didn't I find something there. I received the film from Silvia the other day, and send you enclosed a few prints.

I am very happy that you enjoy my staying with you as much as I did and the fun and good times we both had. Well a few more weeks and I hope we will enjoy ourselves together again here in Birmingham.

How did you enjoy these dances from the A.[Z?].A and that other one? Our club the J.L.C. Gives a banquet and dance next Wednesday. Boy! I wished you were here. Would we have a grand time. I wonder if you could make it. Gee! I wouldn't know what to do. I know how it is but maybe you can come anyhow.

A nice experience you had the other day. 2 miles to walk is plenty to make you hot and tired. I am also glad that the driver of the automobile had the car under her control.

Yesterday our Y.M.H. + Ping Pong team played the Y.M.C.A. Skinny loosing his game gave them an early lead which then came to a 3:2. I had to play the last game and in this match I had the most important one. I played their no. 2 man and did I fix him up. I beat him 21:8, 21:10 which tied up the score. Our no. 1 man then had to play twice so we can find the winner and he brought us the victory. It really was exciting.

In summer school I am enjoying myself. I take Biology and Sociology. Like usual I don't intend to work hard in this heat, so don't worry I won't work myself to death. Three more weeks and I will have completed my first semester. Five after this and I will be through and waiting for you to come here which reminds me, have you written your aunt yet?

Now let me tell you the big news if you don't know it already. Hellen, Sam's wife, left him a couple of days ago. She is in Atlanta now for good. Everyone seems to be happy about it, I don't know about Sam, but I try my best to make him forget her by taking him along wherever I go.

Well it looks like I have written you all there is and its getting late, tomorrow at 5:30 o'clock is my night over, so I will close my letter hoping you all in the best of health and sending my regard to every one including your dear father and sister.

Yours Always,

Fred

P.S. I love your new stationary. Its very pretty.


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Amy's Comments:

I like Fred. He has very pretty, easy to read handwriting. :)

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Birthless is Time

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It is almost 2 AM and it is time for me to wind down and abandon the computer for sleep. Tomorrow I will get up, heat up some coffee and begin another long day. Lately I have been working too many long (long) days. As much as I love my job, I am reminded that I need to take a step back and make time for other things in my life as well.

It's been a long week - full of beginnings and endings. Earlier in the week, we had a death in the family. And yesterday, on Sunday afternoon, I was witness to a new beginning.

I don't pretend to understand the way life works sometimes. But I do know that there is a higher purpose.

I took the photo below as I made my way home from a wedding yesterday. It made me think. If we were able to look today, into the rear view mirror of our lives, would we be doing something differently?

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The following poem was penned by Sri Chinmoy:

Helpless is Time
When I sleep.

Useless is Time
When I doubt.

Hopeless is Time
When I despair.

Godless is Time
When I halt.

Measureless is Time
When I move.

Birthless is Time
When I am of God.

Deathless is Time
When I am for God.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Evelyn: Aug. 28 1939

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As many of you probably know (or have guessed) by this point, I am a photographer. It's the reason I am on the computer 12 to 15 hours a day and the reason (aside from my daughter) that I look forward to getting up each day. It is extremely stressful, time consuming and unrewarding, but it also challenges me and pushes me to grow not only as an artist but as a person.

It is also the reason I indulge in waaaaay too many bowls of ice cream (can you tell what I'm doing now? ;)

At any rate, since I do not (as of yet) have any new interesting tales to share, I thought I would share another letter with you. This one is not from a suitor, however. It was penned by Evelyn - Marion's [older] sister.

Evelyn: Aug. 28 1939

I feel almost like I'm intruding by posting this letter, but since nothing is actually revealed within I figured it would be ok :) And yes, it literally does say "Don't show this to anyone".

Btw, this was sent to an address in Birmingham.


August 28 -[19]39

Don't show this to anyone.

Dear Sis,

I hate to write this letter but Mama thinks its best for you and for Bessie that you come home. We will tell you why when you get here.

Mama says for you not to leave later than Wed. and let us know when you will leave.

Brother went to Miami Sat. nite. Papa came to the store for the first time since he has been back Sat.

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That's all now. Will tell you everything when you get here.

It wasn't my idea for you to come, but I guess Mama knows best. She has her reasons.

That's all, give Bessie + everyone my love,

Love,

Evelyn



Amy's Note: :( Unfortunately I never was able to find out why. I have very few letters from 1939 and 1940 so those years are hard to trace. I have a lot of letters from 1942 and 1943 though...and during those years we get introduced to my favorite guy - Bill!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

The "I Love You" Letter (Aaron: Aug 19, 1940)

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My own grandfather, a WWII vet who lost his brother overseas, has not been doing well of late. It is a reminder that we lose history everyday in the form of our elders who have passed on. My goal is to photograph and record the contents of these love letters in my own personal endeavor to preserve a bit of history of my own.

The "I Love You" Letter (Aaron: Aug 19, 1940)

Ok, I don't live anywhere near Charlotte but as far as I can figure, Uncle Sam's Loan Office is long gone. However, I did find a photo in an old NC photographer's archive from the beginning of the 20th century – located here: toto.lib.unca.edu/findingaids/photo/ball/jpeg /ball1811.jpg

As best as I can figure Aaron is (maybe?) Harry Orenstein's son (Harry was the proprietor of Uncle Sam's at the time). The reason I think this is because businesses back there were often family owned – also the return address on the envelop is 2 doors down from the store and Aaron apparently still lives with his father (being that it was his Dad that gave him Marion's letter). Also the return address is typed in the same font as the stationary head.

From Aaron's letter, he seems pretty close to Marion, but I don't think he was her boyfriend as she apparently tells him about hanging out with other guys and signs her letters to him with “as ever”.

For anyone who is interested, I can tell you that Marion was the daughter of Russian Jewish immigrants. Her family lived for a while in Philadelphia, but her father became partner (and eventually owner) of a Delicatessen in Atlanta where the whole family worked except Marion.

I found out the above info by doing an Internet search. That being said I don't have any contact info for any of her family members and I'm not quite sure who sold me the letters.

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The envelop is postmarked Charlotte, NC (Aug. 19 1940 12:30PM)

FROM: 205 East Trade St.
Charlotte, N.C.

August 19, 1940

Dear Marion, I love you.

Doggone you, why don't you send me some good pictures of yourself? Man those pictures are really terrible. If you don't send me a good picture, I'm coming there to find out what's the matter. You ought to be ashamed to send me pictures like that. I'm almost mad at you. But then again for some reason or another I can't get mad at you. I don't know why. (Gosh this certainly is getting to be a slanting letter isn't it?) I'm almost ashamed to show those pictures to anyone. You're twice as cute as those pictures. Aw ell I guess I raised enough h-- about those pictures now I'll write you a letter. I'd better start all over. Here goes.

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Dear Marion, I love you.

Well how are you honey? O.K. I hope. I certainly was surprised when Dad gave me your letter this morning. I really didn't expect it.

Here it is another [dull?] Monday. You think that your work is boring. Huh, you ought to be here. Say that's a good idea, why don't you come down here and spend 3 or 4 years? That would be O.K. with me. How about it? What-cha say?

There's a possible, quite slim chance that I might come to Atlanta within the next two weeks. I don't know how its going to come out but I'll just keep plugging. Maybe I'll win and maybe I won't. But here's hoping anyhow.

You'll have to excuse the stationary but I'm at the store now and this is all I could get my hands on. Sorry. I love you.

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I believe you're trying to make me jealous by telling me about the boy-friends you go out with. I'll be doggoned if you're not really making me jealous. So quit before I really get mad and come up there and get you. I love you.

Honey, those pictures of you kind of made me speechless. How about sending me some pictures that look Marion Muldawer? I had to look twice before I could recognize you. I believe you said something about some pictures that you took at the pool. Well where are they? Good gosh if I had a figure like yours I wouldn't be ashamed to show it off.

Well I guess I just about ran out of saying nothing, so I guess I will lose.

Please send me a good picture of you. Thanks a lot.
I love you. With all my love,
(p.s. By the way what does “as ever” mean?)

Aaron

Amy's Note: There are a number of letters that mention photos, but unfortunately, I have been unable to locate any.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Clutterbug

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I am a clutterbug. I collect things. My favorite things to collect, of course, are often the most expensive. Since my D90 has been "out of the picture", I have been pining away to get a new camera. I was fortunate enough to come up with two new DSLRs.

Looks like I will be shooting Olympus and Nikon from now on!

more cameras :)

More on this topic to follow...things are not all as simple as they may seem. :)

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Better Days

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I plugged in my old hard drive today and accidentally stumbled across a video I never knew I had.

Back then, I only had a 3 megapixel vivitar p&s, but I used it to death. That camera got banged up and beaten down and it still took everything in stride and lasted a good three or four years before it finally gave up the ghost.

The video clips were silent, of course, but it was almost better that way. The sorrel pony in the video is Lady. She was my childhood pony, who came into my life one Christmas when I was approximately 5 years old. She was old when we got her, nonetheless I was devastated when she passed away about three years ago. Maggy, my German Shepherd dog you can see loping ahead of us on the trail, is also recently deceased.

You may remember Cima, the mare I am riding in the video as the sweet and gentle horse who gave my daughter one of her first horseback rides in a recent post. She is about 35 years of age now...I cannot imagine how it will be when she is gone as well.

(music credit): www.jimmyg.us

Those were better days. Back then, my only responsibility was completing schoolwork and chores before my sister and I would take off with the horses and spend our afternoons riding the trails behind the house. We would goof off - tell stories and play games. I was more at home on horseback than I was in my own bed.

I really miss those days.

Sleeping Beauty

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Some of you may remember my mom's new colt, Spring Dance Mathafarn. He was born July 1st and is the son of our Section D Welsh Cob mare, Tess:

With Tess

And our Section D stallion, Glenhaven Panash:

Glenhaven Panash

The baby's name is Spring Dance Mathafarn. (My sister told me that his barn name is "Farnly".)

Spring Dance Mathafarn

Sunday evening I dropped by the farm to see Farnly. He is without a doubt one of the friendliest foals we have ever had. He was completely at ease around me and as you can see, allowed me to sit down right beside him and take his picture while he was napping.



There's just something about young foals and lying in their mother's hay. They should come out with a pony bed for young foals...I bet they could make a lot of money off it.



Farnly opened his eyes to see what I was doing, but he was perfectly at ease with me and did not even lift his head.



I had a 50mm lens on here so I had to sit pretty close to him to get this picture. But he doesn't seem the least bit bothered by it. :)

Monday, August 3, 2009

Jake: Dec 16, 1940

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I have a collection of letters I got off of ebay many years ago. They are all addressed to the same woman (a Miss Marion Muldawer from Atlanta) from a number of male suitors. I cannot tell if she was serious about any of them - it is hard to say as I believe I am missing one set of letters. If anyone has them, I'd love to hear about it, and/or buy them off of you.

At any rate, I thought it would be selfish to keep these letters to myself and not to share. :) Hence, here is the first. It is from "Jake" (later a Lt. J.L. Goldstein who served with the 14th Infantry).

These are photos of the real letter. I had fun playing with the light. :)

Jake: Dec 16, 1940

The envelop is postmarked Milledgeville, GA on Dec 16 1940 – 7 AM

On the back of the envelope it reads:

“IF NOT DELIVERED IN FIVE DAYS
FORGET IT”

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Friday Night

Dear Marian,

I think I answered your last letter and told you how sorry I was about not answering you sooner than I did. You know that I have a weak mind and I might have forgotten to mail it, but I don't think that I could forget one of your letters.

In case I did forget to mail my last letter to you, in it I explained very well (I think) why I didn't answer you so quickly. If you didn't get it, I understand your not answering it; but if you did get it, why in the ____ didn't you answer it. You know there is nothing in Emily Post that says you had to wait as long as I did. You see it says on page 43, section 102, article 81, line 14, that I was, “justified in not answering sooner because of an acceptable excuse.”

Now that you see how wrong you were I accept your apology.

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What have you been doing since the last time I heard from you? Hold on to your chair because here I go again. You know how I feel about you. You also know I can't help it if I am crazy about you. I understand of course that I must have gone crazy first, before going crazy over you. Just because I've you, and you know I do, is no reason for you to treat me the way you do. Do you know that I stay at home at night thinking about you? Anyway I think about you whether I stay home or not. To much of you and to much hair, are on my mind all the time. Now I can have a hair-cut and cure the hair problem but what am I going to do about you? I tell you Marian, that I have really got it bad and I want you to advise me what to do. All advice will greatly be appreciated and if there is anything I can do for you it will give me great pleasure and delight to attend to it at once.

Well, I think I have said enough all ready so I had better close.

Love,

Jake


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Amy's Note: I will be publishing more of these intriguing correspondences, so stay tuned!

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Linguine with creamy white clam sauce

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I have tried several times in the past week to make linguine and white clam sauce. My parents make a mean sauce that I wanted to duplicate - however I had been searching the Internet for a recipe without success. Every formula I found was made up of primarily Parmesean cheese sprinkled over linguine with butter and live oil, which was nothing like the white creamy sauce I remembered.

Finally I chickened out and called Mom to ask her if she still had the recipe. She was able to locate it and gave me the key ingredients. As soon as I hung up the phone, I couldn't help but rush to try it out!


I was pleased to see that the final product looked very much like what my Dad used to make!

It tasted like it too!

In case y'all were interested, here is the receipe. :)

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3 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon garlic (minced)

¾ cup - sliced mushrooms

2 tablespoons all purpose flour

1 cup milk

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

2 tablespoons parsley

16 oz linguine pasta (1 lb)

1 10oz can of clams (minced)


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If you decide to try it, drop me a comment and let me know what you think!

P.S. It is important to keep stirring throughout the making of this sauce so it doesn't clump and burn.

You can also make it without mushrooms - I did and it turned out great! Just be careful not to overdo the parsley! ;-)

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Wild Stallion

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This is my daughter in the morning. I always tell her she looks like an untamed stallion with a wild forelock.


My wild horse after being tamed. :-)

Grace's First Ride

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Onward soldiers!

On Tuesday, my husband and I took Grace to my parents' farm for her first "official" horseback riding lesson. I cannot remember the first time I rode a horse, and so I have no fear of the large animals and it comes as naturally to me as breathing. If Grace chooses to pursue horseback riding, I would like her to have the same opportunities that I did.


Grace has great balance and really enjoyed herself! She screamed when we told her it was time to finish the ride.



Afterward, David shows Grace how to groom the horse.

Grace was more than happy to try it out for herself.


Afterwards, Cima (the mare on the right) and Patriot said hello. Cima is partially blind in her left eye after poking it on a tree branch in the pasture twenty years ago.

By the way, Cima (short for "Rose of Cimarron") is a former BLM Spanish Mustang, whom my mom adopted in Wyoming over 25 years ago. She is really a bay but is so old now her entire coat is sprinkled with gray.


Cima and Siwan also said hi. Siwan is so sweet and has a very similar temperament to Cima's.

I cannot believe how gray Cima has gotten. This photo was taken of me with Cima by my friend, Michelle, last year and you can see the difference.


This is Patriot, my sister's loveable boy.


Cymry's telling me here how she did during the USPC Championships. Sounds like they did pretty well!

While Cymry and I were talking, Grace was doing this... :)

While we were there, Dad and the boys drove up.

Wait - what is that in the front seat?


I love Zorro's face here...he seems absolutely puzzled! (Zorro is the German Shepherd, by the way....he's rarely seen without a ball in his mouth).


This is actually a buck Matthew shot last fall! They had just picked it up from the taxidermist.

Not only does Matthew have this beautiful head to mount now, but he supplied the family with a freezer full of venison for the year.



I told them this photo looked like they were at an Alaskan hunting lodge. They said, "I wish!"

My youngest brother, Ian, shows off a couple of skeletons he found in the woods a few days ago.

I took this just because I liked it. This is Lily (left), my sister's dog and Ian's pup, Jack. They are both purebred Jack Russell Terriers.

 
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