How Cool Is This...

As I was leaving the shelter this morning, the director stopped me and asked if I had seen the Collin Street Bakery marque along the interstate.  No, I said.  I hadn't been out that way this week.  She said, well, I think your pictures are flashing on it.  Really!  That's pretty awesome!

So I drove up the interstate to see for myself.  Sure enough... there's Balto...

And that is Banjo...

And sweet Suess...

Miss Catalina...

The shelter was having an adoption event there today so the Bakery had been advertising.  Someone mentioned they saw them on Thursday.  How did I miss this?

I could have sat there longer just watching the pictures but I thought I might be making the gas station attendant nervous by just sitting cockeyed at the pump taking pictures out my truck window!

So Excited

I'm so excited but I'm a little scared too!  Why you ask?  Cause people are starting to act like I'm a professional photographer or something close to it!

For example:

1.  A childhood friend is getting married.  She's a doctor in Dallas.  She asked ME to take her engagement pictures!  Seriously, she could afford any of the awesome photographers in the metroplex.  She even offered to put me up in a hotel.  Oh my gosh!  I'm so nervous I'll screw them up or she'll be disappointed.

2.  Last night, a high school teacher contacted me.  She wants me to be on a panel of local photographers that will speak to 3 photography classes!  My response, "if you really want a self-taught amateur, I'm in."  She said yes, she wanted me.  She loved the work I do with 4 Paws.  I think I'm going to chew my nails off!

3.  The director of a local non-profit spay/neuter clinic contacted me.  She asked if I would be willing to take new staff pictures for them.  Well, of course I will.  They do so much for our community.  I went in to speak with her today and see what exactly they wanted.  They are so excited to have "professional" portraits taken.  I told her to hold her excitement until after the pictures are done!

And..

Today, the shelter had a full page ad in the local newspaper.  The majority of the pictures were mine.  It's pretty awesome to see your pictures in print, knowing they are seen by thousands of people.  I just hope they help find the dogs forever homes.

Okay, so y'all pray for me!  And send me good vibes to take awesome pictures!!

Can't Help It...

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.

You are his life, his love, his leader.  

He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.

You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."

-Unknown

(Sorry, I'm feeling very nostalgic today.  I came across this quote and immediately thought of Zena.)

A Good Dog...

‎"A good dog never dies, he always stays, 

he walks besides you on crisp autumn days 

when frost is on the fields and winter's drawing near, 

his head within our hand in his old way." 

- Anonymous

(Just a note, this is Lucky and he's alive and well.  Just thought this picture went so well with the quote.)

Me and Miss P

I can't believe how fast Penelope is growing.  She's not my lil puppy anymore.  Just a few weeks ago she looked like this...

Now she looks like this!

My girl is growing up too fast.  She was 10 weeks old last Wednesday.  We took her to the clinic for her second round of puppy shots on Sunday.  She weighed 21 lbs! Last time we were there, she only weighed 9 lbs!

Now if I could get her over the fear of EVERYTHING outside the yard!  I try to take her out to the barn when I feed in the evenings but she refuses to come in.  She is scared of Miss Kitty.  The noises of the bulls and horse right outside the barn frighten her.  I held her in my lap yesterday and let her just sit there.  She did okay.  I took her to the gate where the bulls were congregated.  She refused to look at them.  No matter which way I turned, she would turn her head away.  The husband went into their pen and she finally watched him.  I don't push her very much though.  I try to assure her she's safe while I'm holding her and only put her in those stressful situations for a few minutes.  She is always so happy to return to the yard.

She's won the husband over too.  He doesn't like to admit it but he can't hide it!  He kept taking our pictures on the way to the clinic on Sunday!  I don't blame him.  Who wouldn't want to take pictures of these two babes! LOL!

Spring Favorites

You just have to love this time of year.  The grass is growing.  The birds are chirping.  

So here are a few of my favorite things.

Precious sleeping calves...

Milk mustaches!

Ornery boy fights...

Fields of wildflowers.  Bluebonnets to be exact.

And Harley's yearly bluebonnet picture!

I can't believe some of y'all are still getting snow right now.  We've had 90 degree temps the last few days.  Here's hoping you can enjoy the beauty of Spring in the near future!

Paws in the Park

Okay, I'm going to ask for your support in an endeavor I have going on right now.  My alter ego, 4 Paws Project, is currently raising money for the local humane society.  The annual Paws in the Park event is scheduled for May 14th.  The community event promotes responsible pet ownership, pet health, animal education for children and a fun 1-mile Woof Walk.  All money raised by the event goes directly to my shelter's life saving programs.

I've created a "walk team" and am working towards meeting my $300 goal in donations.  Since becoming involved with the local shelter, my eyes have been opened to the great need in funds.  It amazes me how they handle so many unwanted pets.  The constant flow of people dropping animals off is astounding!  My very small contribution of providing pictures of the dogs barely scratches the surface.  But I have to say, I love when someone comes up to me and asks if I'm 4 Paws.  That just means my pictures are getting seen.  And I have to tell y'all this story.  The other day a long time resident of the shelter was adopted.  When asked why the person picked this particular dog, the lady said, "the picture just spoke to me."  WOW!  That makes it all worth it!

Anyhow, I got off topic!  I am looking for team sponsors!  Supporters of 4 Paws!  But don't think you won't get anything in return.  If you donate (any amount), you will be placed in a drawing for Crazy M Photography swag! Anything from prints to makeup bags to mousepads to cards.  I'd say at least $50 worth of stuff!

And if that doesn't get ya, how about these faces you'll be helping out!

The link to my fundraising page is HERE.  The animals thank you!  And so do I!

Courtesy of the Wife's Mom

Look what I got over the weekend!  My mom read the blog and happened to "find" these pictures for y'all.  They are via a cell phone thus the blur.  But how funny!  See me there on the left in my red shirt and red boots.  I told y'all I remembered having my pants tucked in.

Apparently my dad won two races on this day.

Mom said there were a couple more with those red boots.  Ahhh, those were the days!

Mudquest!!

Yep, I did it again.  Another adventure run in the mud.  They did a much better job with the obstacles this go around.  My BFF and I battled the 3.5 mile course.  Our #1 goal-to survive.  Our #2 goal-to finish before dark!!  We accomplished both!

Here are some pics, courtesy of the husband...

Before we began, all nice and clean.

Our first encounter with the mud.

I don't know how they expected someone to walk across this.  The klutz I am, there was no way.  Crawlin' seemed the way to go.

I didn't care for his one.  Mostly because I could see me falling to my death!

Too loose of ropes to keep us upright!

Now this one was crazy.  Had to jump off this platform into 8 ft of water below.

There I go!!! It was pretty high.  You can't even see the water below me!  And yes, I held my nose.  I'm not a water person.  Believe me, it didn't help.  When I hit, I still sucked water up my nose.

Mud was so sticky, it sucked BFF's shoe off her foot.  Took both of us to get it out.

Finally, the last obstacle.  A short swim and crawl under the wire.

And of course, we couldn't resist a little mud fight!

We were too dirty girls by the end.  But it was loads of fun.

A Visitor to the Ranch

We don't have visitors very often round these parts.  Especially this kind!  Can't ya tell by the inquiring bull!

I figured my horsey people would be happy to know that we finally have a horse on the place.  The husband always says this is a horse free zone.  Hate to tell y'all, he's not a fan of the horse.  I know!  Everyone has their faults though.

So are you wondering how this gal came to the ranch?  Well, she belongs to my parents.  My dad called me yesterday.  She was at the racetrack in Grand Prairie.  Apparently she came up lame with a bowed tendon.  He needed someone to pick her up for him.  Parents live a long way from the DFW area.  Fortunately, daughter is not far.  AND the horse trainer was actually coming thru my area today.  So I met him at the truck stop on the interstate and loaded her up.

She'll stay with us until the end of May.  We are traveling to my parent's house for my niece's graduation.  So we'll take her home then.  Much to the husband's dismay, we'll probably bring my horse home then too.  Do y'all even remember Miss Priss?  It's been so long since she's been here.  She's doing great.  Dad is working cattle on her at the feed yard.  Couldn't think of any better training!

Little known fact about the Wife, my dad was a racehorse trainer when I was little.  I spent much of my  young days at the racetrack messin' with the horses.  I wish I lived closer to my parents.  I would get a picture of us in the winner's circle.  I vividly remember one where I'm rockin' a pair of red boots, jeans tucked in.  I was totally cool!