Dog Day Afternoon

Yesterday we were at two different homes, for two different reasons, and saw two very different dogs. Let me introduce you to Buddy. He is a cockapoo, also known as a spoodle, cockerpoo, or cockadoodle. A hybrid dog mix between a cocker spaniel and a poodle. Sweetest darn dog! He loves attention and is like a yarn pillow. He smiled all the time.

Now meet Butch. He is a pure bred pit bull. Can I just say that we have two within our extended family and both of them are so very sweet. Butch is really a gentle dog. He loves to give kisses and just wants to be loved on. He is similar to my sister's dog, both don't know their own strength and when I get down to hug them, they'll push me over and then sit in my lap. I love his soft pink ears. Butch is mighty big. Check out the last photo of him. I would never want to meet Butch in a dark alley!

Visit Camera Critters for more photos of animals at:

http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Yesterday I took Katie and her friend to the Natural History Museum of LA. It was another mad dash through a portion of it for a school project. Unfortunately, once again, the section we had to peruse through was under construction. The display was in a very small dark room, contents still in their boxes with the strapping on them. But hey, we got it done.

Prior to going we read that the Amgen Tour of California bicycle race going on around Exposition Park. We had to park in a different area than I was used to and stumbled into a fabulous butterfly exhibit. "Pavilion of Wings." I didn't have the correct camera equipment for this, but took shot anyhow. Here are some photos. (If you have a chance to head to LA, this exhibit will be there through September 6th. It's worth it!)

This guy's got HUGE eyes!

While I was taking photos, this little girl tapped me on my leg and said in a very sweet cute voice, "I have a butterfly on my head". She was so funny. She walked around for about a half hour with this contented butterfly. Her younger sister was adorable too but I didn't take her photo. Katie thinks I look like a stalker when I shoot kids that I don't know.

Isn't she precious?

These are my postings for

Straight out of the Camera Sunday at: http://www.murrieta365.com/

and Macro Monday at: http://lisaschaos.com/

Art Creations Friday, "Out of Sink"

Today is Friday and it is Art Creations Friday!

Here are two designs based on the given photo (see below).

I titled them, "Out of Sink" ~

This was the original:

Hope you enjoy all the others at Art Creations Friday.

Visit it here: http://artcreationsfriday.blogspot.com/

A Horse is a Horse

I thought I would post some magnificent animals. Here are just two of the horses that I took photos of during our Kentucky trip. They were so sweet. Wished I could have taken one or two home with me. Talk about the airlines complaining of too much extra baggage! Hee Haw.

Art Creations Friday "Sisarukset"

Here is my card from this week's Art Creations Friday challenge.

The backgrounds are ones I created; landscape and horse are from photos that I took and the stripe paper is scrapbook paper I designed. The tag says "Siblings" in different languages. Hopefully they're correct as I got them from google translation! Happy May~

Below is the original art that was given to us.

Visit Art Creations for more and try it yourself!

Very fun! http://artcreationsfriday.blogspot.com/

Mother's Day ~ 2010

Happy Mother's Day!

My day was full of being a mom. Loved that my kids gave me homemade cards. They wrote how much they love me and that they are truly appreciative of all that I do for them. I never hide the fact that my life began when I had my kids. I struggled with finding a purpose until they were born. My oldest (the one on the right) is now 17. She scanned this photo into the computer and put it in her card. I love this one. Not just because I look very young, but because the kids look truly happy. Miss those days!! Oh, and just so you know, I have four kids... but three are under the age of 18. The girl in the blue shirt, on the right, is our dear cousin. She is standing in for my husband - who is my fourth kid.

This morning I dropped my son off at his buddy's house, took my youngest to the Getty Center so she could do a school project, and then when I got home this afternoon, took my oldest to get a manicure. Made it home in time to meet up with the in-laws for dinner. I cleaned the kitchen, did some laundry, made the bed, (just in time for my hub to go to sleep~), grabbed some things from the grocery store, helped my son finish his school project, and now here I sit. I wonder... who ever started the crazy days that Hallmark has marked on our calendars?

Figure it must have been someone either really guilty, or someone very narcissistic.

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie."

~Tenneva Jordan

Kentucky ~ Take me there!

Here is my card for today's theme over at Theme Thursday's Art Blog. This week's theme is 'vintage'. Anything vintage looking. I took this photo last week while we were in Kentucky. It is at a horse farm (one of MANY!) and I just loved how manicured the grounds were. Loved all the fencing. What a job that would be. Just maintaining the fences in Kentucky must keep many employed!

Click on more "Vintage" themes at: http://themethursday.wordpress.com/

Louisville, Kentucky Party ~ Post Derby 2010

After the Derby, we went to a 'fundraiser' party at an upscale estate in Louisville. I took this photo and played with it in photoshop. I liked the strange effects that the camera took. I put my settings on a slower setting and then moved slightly as I snapped the shot.

Kentucky Derby 2010

We flew to Kentucky last Thursday. Some business~some pleasure. I fell in love with the State. It has to be one of the most lush, beautifully manicured areas in the country. I took so many photos that I will have to post them in stages.

These are from the Kentucky Derby!

Super Saver out of the gate, coming down the first stretch.

If you click on the photo, you can see SS looking at the other horses.

It rained all day and was a muddy mess. Our seats were about ten rows back from the railing. The people behind us decided to stand on our bench seats while we weren't there. Again, muddy mess. Nice. Now if they had stood on their own benches, they would have been higher, but then that would mean they would leave mud on their seats. They must not have been true southerners. Another non-southerner was a man at the railing. He got so ticked at people coming next to 'his' railing that he told me I wasn't allowed and put up a caution tape from his seat to the railing.

It was crowded and when it would rain, we would all gather inside. Claustrophobic doesn't even do it justice. By the end of the race, people had consumed too many mint juleps. Most hats were askew and their looks, disheveled.

Here is number 4, Super Saver, on the back stretch. Look at all the mud on the horses compared to the first one! He won the Derby. Dan took Super Saver with Ice Box for the exacta and hit it. Guess the Ice Box liked the mud too.

Check back tomorrow for more photos. Got some great ones of those who decided to mud-wrestle in the in-field, outrages hats, crazy attire, and incredible horse farms.

Link onto Camera Critters for more animal shots!

http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/?