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

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.

My Wild Dogs

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.



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. :)

My girl's daddy

My little girl is growing up so fast.



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



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.



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



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

Because I am.

Shiny Trinkets

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.



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. :-)



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.



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



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.



This angle's not too bad either. ;)

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

Fred Perel: June 15, 1939

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.



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. :)

Birthless is Time

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?



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.

Evelyn: Aug. 28 1939

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.



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.




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!