Say Yes to the Dress

Choice #1 (embossed floral print on skirt)
Choice #2 (tea length organza overlay)
Choice #3 (plain toile skirt with a few sparkles)
Choice #4 (plain full length toile skirt with no sparkles)
Choice #5 (flowy Jane Austen-ish dress with slight beading at the high waist)

Ok, I need help...
M is going to be in a wedding in July and we have to order the dress this week. She looks so darn cute in all of them that I am having a hard time deciding. The wedding is at 5:30 outside on a hot summer evening. The dress will be white, not ivory, and the bridesmaids are wearing tea-length dresses.
Please cast your votes for your favorite!
Did I mention that my M was 6 yesterday! Happy Birthday, my big girl :)

A Valentine for My Girls

Watching Nemo
Amber-10.5 years
Josephine - 11.5 years

It's been a while since I've blogged about my girls - my four-legged girls, that is. At our house the girls outnumber the boys 7 to 3, including all applicable species - humans, canines, and felines. So when I say my girls, I guess I'd better be more specific...
Josephine and Amber :)
I don't want to sound corny or cheeseballish, but I have to say that there are not two better hounds on this planet. They are just great dogs. They love life, they love my children, they love my husband, they love me (the most)... Since Ava went on to find her forever home, I've been thinking a lot about having dog number three. Do I want one just to have in case the inevitable happens and one of my girls leaves me soon? Do I want another one around invading their rightfully deserved turf? These are questions that I cannot answer right now. I just know that God has truly blessed our family with two gems in Amber and Jose.
And to think that they were both "throw away" dogs - one found on the side of the road at nine weeks old, the other rehomed after four years and that was after spending her first five running 175 races! It's amazing what is deemed "trash" to some people. It was certainly our gain. Love you, girls!

Baby Blair

This past weekend I was honored to be able to photograph Baby Blair. She is one special little girl, who arrived on this earth a bit too early. With a lengthy stay in the NICU behind her, this spunky baby is finally home where she should be. After a difficult morning myself, I was delighted to be able to spend time with Blair and her mom as they went about their morning routine. The sight of Blair sleeping so peacefully in her enormous crib brought me to tears. I just had to post this slideshow to let everyone know how wonderful she is.

And then there was Ava...

Over one week ago, little Ava came to stay for a while. I haven't fostered a dog since Slick, and I was certainly not planning on taking in another life. But... :) This little girl had been fending for herself for nearly ten months at the recycle center with a handful of other castaways. She was pregnant with her first litter, yet was absolutely still a baby, herself. The vet diagnosed her with kennel cough, so someone decided to put her back at the recycle center with food, water and hay. That was the coldest night in history, and was not a good plan. So, she moved in with us.
The pregnancy, it seems, was all wrong. Ava was distressed Tuesday morning when I went to feed, walk, and water her. By 9:30 a.m. Ava was slimmer, but no puppies could be found. As Meg put it, they must have "gotten away." Whatever happened with Ava and her premature brood must have been for the best, because Miss Ava is getting to live life like a carefree puppy for the first time. She is healthy, active and playful. She will make an excellent pet for a lucky family. This little lady has found a second chance at life and a second chance to find a loving home. Welcome, Miss Ava!

Part Two

All of my favorites didn't fit in the first one...

The Last Three Months

Why I haven't blogged in a while...

The Doodlebug