Vicki's Dogs

This was my fourth year photographing Vicki's dogs for her Christmas cards. When Vicki first contacted me back in 2008 and asked me to photograph her babies, I did need to clarify if we were talking human or canine.  Over the years we have said goodbye to Tiger and Louis, and hello to little shy Lita. Bella and Joey are old pros with me by now. I admit, I can't think of a much better way to "wrap up" a year than with a December photo shoot with these three cuties!

How do I get their attention?  Let's just say they are all food motivated and their "Mom" is a great help!  And...they pretty much let me know when they've had enough!

Christmas in Florida 2011

If you follow my blog you are already aware that the past two Christmas holidays have not been the best of times for my family and I.  Granted...not horrific, like some of the stories you here about on the news, the really tragic ones...but in perspective, the past two years have been bittersweet...grateful for our blessing, but missing some very important people in our lives. 
So, fast forward to this Christmas, 2011, we planned to "pull a Christmas with the Kranks"...and just skip it all together...but then we got a better idea...we would just Escape it!
We don't even remember when we started planning it...sometime in the late summer...but again...no reservations...we were just "gonna wing it"
I might add that the escape would never have been planned without my brother-in-law and sister-in-laws' help.  They live in Florida, and were our only motivation for the destination.  At some point in October, when we actually committed to this escape, my sister-in-law said..."no takesie backsies"

...and in traditional Minor style...stuff just kept happening...and the countdown was on...for our escape...because we knew...no matter what...no takesie backsies!
...and now that it is over, I can honestly say...we pulled it off!
In the month of December my oldest son badly sprained his ankle during basketball practice, (on his birthday) and he ended up in the emergency room, with a splint and crutches.  Our vehicle that we planned to drive to Florida became a crutch of it's own.  I put in my full time "peak" hours at LLBean.  My husband was working extra hours to be able to take time off for the escape...it might not sound like a whole lot...but let's just say there wasn't really any spare time to shop, wrap, or pack.
...but we pulled it off.
Here are just a few personal photos to prove it!!

...and of course...I've been working on this post for an hour...can't seem to get the photos in the order I want...can't seem to put the words with them either...so...I'm going to wing the rest of this.
This first photo is us...in the front yard...loaded up with not an extra inch to spare, in our new Suburban, about to drive 1700 miles.  My dog Chloe, who doesn't particularly ride well...was an additional very last minute detail.  She was suppose to be staying behind in Maine, but the stars didn't align that way...and we were looking for an excuse to bring her with us...we couldn't imagine not being with her over Christmas...so she came along too...and I think she is no longer nervous about riding!!  We have been taking a family photo in front of the tree every year since it was just Maria, Matt and I.  The photo in front of the church is this years Christmas photo...the only ones missing are the animals!  The evening Christmas lights is how we spent our first night in Florida...walking down the street looking at the lights...with our flipflops on...a definite new treat!

The whole family, December 25, 2011

Looking to adopt a pet for Christmas?

I made up this little slideshow portfolio of cats for my website...but I wanted to share it here first...ONLY watch if you love cats!
(these are all photos I've taken at the Animal Refuge League) <-----click here

Annual Grateful Post

It's that time of year when I like to just stop and take a moment to post about the things I am most grateful for.  It's not meant to be long and sappy...or make myself or anyone else cry...it's just a moment in a very busy time of year when it does me good to just stop and be grateful...so here it is...in no particular order.

I am grateful for the mild November we have enjoyed.  I am grateful that I haven't had to brush snow off my car, shovel off a porch roof and scrape my windshield on a daily basis.  I'm grateful that my sixteen year old son only sprained his ankle (on his birthday) this week and is using crutches on dry pavement, not snow covered icy pavement. 

I am grateful for family...all of it!

I am grateful for my dog Chloe, the best dog on the planet.  She has her quirks...she farts whenever she pleases, she's afraid of her own shadow...and lately she likes going through the bathroom trash...but she's still the best dog in the world...and she came into this world on the same day my sister left this world...she's a wonderful reason to be grateful.

I'm grateful for my volunteer job at the ARL   I am most grateful to all of my photography customers.  You are all an important part of my life, and my future!

I am grateful for my seasonal job at LL Bean.  I get to talk to great people, all over our country, all day long.  I make a little Christmas money, and enjoy a great employee discount, and get to share these benefits with my family!  It's an outrageously busy time of year to juggle this extra responsibility, but I'm very grateful to have it.

Hannah

Here are a few shots of last months Dog Wash portrait winner.
Meet Hannah...she's a rescue...somewhere in the 1 to 4 year range...mix uncertain....but one think is sure...she's a sweetheart!
These photos were taken on the Eastern Trails in Scarborough...on a gorgeous fall Saturday morning.

Be sure to visit the Dog Wash Ect in Portland on Forest Ave next time your paws needs a wash, and don't forget to enter into my monthly drawing for your change to win a portrait shoot for your pooch!

More Kitty Photos?

Yes...more kitty pictures...it's what I do best...and here are a few from this week...so guess what...many of them are still available!  I've put a name to the face, but here's the link to the Animal Refuge League where you can get more info...and a footnote....sooooooo many beautiful kitties just waiting for a forever home.

Charlotte

 Jenny

Love Bug

Marie

Pumpkin

Molly

Eva

Buddy

Bamboo

Dunkin

Sophie

Sam

Oxygen

Fival

Harry

Big Mac

Mc Rib

Some of my New Friends

Here are a few of my new friends at the ARL