Driftwood

Is it possible that I spent too much time overthinking the beauty and ironies of driftwood in Seward this past weekend?

For me, driftwood displays soul through its form. It appears well traveled. It grays with age. Its rough edges smooth over time. It settles on places it had never considered as a possible final home.

In the case of this photo, it presents an excellent pedestal for Layla. And now that I think of it, I'm but a pedestal for her, too. She certainly makes me look better when she's in the photo.

Overnighter in Seward.

Layla stands picturesque in front of a mountain that borders Seward, Alaska and Exit Glacier.Layla waits for a toss of the tennis ball near Lowell Point/Seward.Layla and I enjoyed an evening around a campfire in Seward Saturday evening with good friends.

Bad jokes ... but still funny after all these years ... and the ambience of the good ol' days filled the night.

Hawks and eagles bickered overhead.

Laughter from another campire somewhere in the forest erupted occasionally.

And we dodged smoke left and right.

Layla sat in her own 1970s-era lawn chair right next to me.  Worn and tattered, campers are always cautious when sitting down for fear of being fodder of future jokes.  We never know when one of the chairs will collapse.  And they WILL collapse!

We all hope you and yours will enjoy part of this Memorial Day weekend.  Celebrate, reminisce and make new memories.

Evacuation routes are well-marked in Seward.

Kit and Blue

Saturday included a fun session with Kit and Blue (spelling unsure....sorry!!!!)

It was so nice being able to work with dogs inside and outside of the studio with sunshine and fun dogs.

The two portrait parks are ready for action this summer.  The lawn crews have done their spruce-up work and the trees and shrubs are starting to bud.  I think I saw a little bit of green showing up in the lawns, too!

Blue and Kit were very photogenic.  They adore and worship each other.  Their relationship is definitely a special one.

Thank you, Cassie. for helping out with the session.  And thanks for bringing them to me, David.  Can't wait to show you the other great portraits we created together.

Chessies Galore!

. . . and nine makes a handful.

Robyn and Judy brought their litter of nine Chesapeake Bay Retrievers to me today.  NINE!!!!  Eight weeks old. And N.I.N.E!!!!!

Thankfully, they also brought awesome helping hands to assist with wrangling and handling.

It was a perfect way to wrap up a hectic, productive week.  The results of the session were, as always, successful because of everyone who pitched in and put up with my directorial leadership.

Thank you, everyone!

This is what happens to puppies after a session at my studio. Now, just imagine what it does to the humans!!!!!!! hahaha.

60% funded. It's Important to Paws needs your help before June 9, 2013.

Naughtingham. One of many birds featured in It's Important to Paws, The Book.Today presented an epiphany to me.

I delivered It's Important to Paws to a local printer for a 'Printer's Proof' for the first time. Outside of Kelsey and Carol, no one else has seen the 220 pages of this book. Then, it goes to my editor, Lori Jo Oswald, Ph.D., of Wordsworth Writing - a friend I've adored, loved and admired for more than three decades. An English professor and author, she'll review each page to ensure every word, paragraph, 'woof' and 'meow' is perfectly portrayed.

16 days remain to raise the final 40% needed.

Thank you everyone.  Thank you for following this blog and viewing my work.  And thank you for considering support of my book, It's Important to Paws.  There is no way to thank you enough.  There is no way to tell you how important this is for me to share with everyone.

A $39 pledge through Kickstarter will help make the book a reality.  And it will also give you a First Edition copy of my premiere book.

Kickstarter is safe.  I've vetted it.  I trust it.  I wouldn't use Kickstarter unless I trusted it completely.