Yeah that's right! I said it! And I'm a sayin' it again, I am so greatful today for my life as an American. My path started out quite a bit differently than it is now - only child to2 young parents, both of whom were trying to figure out how to make enough money to support themselves, much less a new baby. I lived with my paternal grandparents all week so they could figure it all out. When the regime decided they needed to claim Bucharest's outskirts for its use, my grandparents were outta luck. Down was bulldozed their home, and they were given --- well, nothing!  The details are cloudy on the details of this ...ummm, incident - as you might expect of a 3 year old child. But I remember the results quite clearly....my mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, and dad's 2 sisters in a 2 bedroom ( not what you and I think of as a 2 bdrm :) apartment granted by the government. Voila, the government met its responsibility right?

All I'm a sayin' is, here I am, camped out on our beautiful farm,  in my beautiful kitchen, electronics spread all over the butcher block island --- with my beautiful husband, sitting across and creating along with me -------while my beautiful children are enjoying a beautiful  week with my beautiful parents.....

So I wonder, God, is there some greater good I can do here, to impart joy and inspiration to those around me? To share with others in some  meaningful way, just a little of the beauty with which you have surrounded me?????

 Max is a 10 year old German Short haired Pointer, who is overgrown and looks more like a Great Dane. He talks and follows me everywhere I go. He is smart but simple, happy with his new family as he gets treats, lots of pillows throughout the house and around it; give him a treat, a scratch and a belly rub and he is good to go.

Syrus is a 4 year old English short haired Pointer, who is BAD - Bad Ass Dog!

He is strong, loyal and complex. Syrus is not won over with a treat, no sir. Oh, he'll take the treat allright, but that does not earn the treat-giver his trust.  One has to earn his trust. More to come on that

For now, let me just tell you, Syrus leaps over 4 foot fences, runs like a greyhound, is strong as an ox, smarter than many humans. The down side to the above is he goes on little "Lassie -like" adventures daily. Excited about his new surroundings, he takes off and follows the creek bed to who-knows-where. I have learned after several trips in our new old four wheeler (another Stone item absorbed), not to bother trying to catch him. Syrus goes when he wants, and comes back when ready. period. 

Anyhow, being able to take in these 2 awesome dogs is in great part due to our farm life. You can't do that type of thing in the city, ya know?

At any rate, he had a blast (see photos), running, "watch out below-ing" face first intl the cushy bed of flowers, cutting them...peeing when nature called. At the end of the day, it must be pretty nice to pee where ever when ever!

"Ten adventurous years of marriage, two challenging home construction projects, four fabulous parties, three beautiful children, three loving dogs, four nervous chickens and one persistent rooster later, they teamed up on their newest venture – to produce and create a line of innovative and sophisticated children’s books."

Okay, make that five loving dogs...Yes, 5. You may or may not know, we lost our sweet dachsy Baci a couple of months ago, to old age and heart disease. So we were down to 2 dogs, which is more manageable, just as are two vs. three children. I always justified having all those dachsys because several add up to the equivalent of one big dog. However, our new additions are no little weiner dogs, no sir. They are 2 German Pointers and 1 English Pointer, fulll grown big doggies.

Let me explain. Our good friends Michael and Traci are moving away. Far, far away. Despite every effort, they cannot bring their doggies. They and their children are heartbroken. Two of the dogs are geriatric, making it even more challenging to find homes for them.  Nevermind they also live on a horse farm, and spend their days entertaining themselves with various critters and birds. As the moving date quickly approaches, decisions had to be made - and thus, we are welcoming a part of their family into ours.

Intrestingly, the two Germans despite being photographed. I am not sure how that scenario will unfold, given that my family, dogs included, live in front of my lens....hmmm. Stay tuned, I will let you know more as things unfold.

I cannot say it better than my good friend Amy once did, coincidentally, as it related to yet another Lumpy adventure: "The bad boy always gets the girl!"

Amy, if you care to relate the story of you watching Lumpy for the weekend, and his venture into the torrential rain, running through the neighbor's muddy paddocks in my muck-boots trying to catch him, calling me on my cell while at the beach to confess little Lumpy was MIA....oh yeah baby, Lumpy is a bad boy - and he always gets the girl :)

I have been promising photo tips for you all to apply which will result in improved photos this summer. So here is the first tip:

When photographing, no matter who or with what equipment, get down so your lens in aimed in the middle of your subject. That is to say, if you are photographing from the level of an adult standing upright, your subjects will look misproportioned - did you ever wonder why someone or thing looks good to your naked eye, but the photo looks very different and not as good?

Try this tip, and let me know what you discovered. And remember to check back regularly for the next tip and updates. Ciao!

You all know about the awesome team I have been fortunate enough to assemble, but wait...it gets better! We have a new team member - Luciano Carfagna.

Luciano has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Miami University, where his major concentration of study was in Architecture.  He currently resides in Savannah, GA, where he is in the process of obtaining his Master of Architecture degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design. He has made contributions to the worlds of architecture and interior design, painting, photography, animation, graphics and production design.

Welcome to the team Luc! We look forward to your fresh perspective!

"the alarm clocks buzz and shout

and I stretch out my snout

& sniff about."

Alise: Ok, Joseph, you have to get down on your belly, because when Lumpy looks up he is too alert for a morning shot"

Joseph: OK

Alise: Joseph, that is not working. you have to get down lower, and you need to be between Lumpy and the lens, but you also have to disappear...somehow"

Joseph:...ahh, ok !?

Alise: Can you use something smellier, like ham, instead of the red velvet cake? Maybe that will make him stretch more?

Joseph: Sure,let me grab some ham.

Alise: Let's get rid of the teddy bear in the background.

Joseph: Okay, hold on, let me climb to the other side of the bed.

Many, many pieces of ham and 2 backaches later, we finally have our shot, maybe....this is NOT it.