My charming, sweet and culinary-gifted husband is normally quite intelligent. But sometimes I wonder about Those Who Pursue PhD Programs. Last night, talking about places we'd like to visit, he mentioned that he would love to go to Charleston.
I totally agree! A city with history, culture and a lot of beauty to enjoy! However, my sweet husband soon ruined my joy. "I want to go to South Virginia!" My response... "Um... what?". I gently {between giggles} informed him that there is no such place. He defended his words, stating that he meant South Carolina and was simply tired. I choose to think that he is planning to found a new state somewhere between Virginia, the Carolinas and Montana.
*sigh*
I guess I'm not with him for his geographical prowess.
Leslie and Ross were so adorable to photograph! This is the first of many great images from our session this past weekend, and I'm having so much fun going through them. Thanks for a wonderful time, guys!
ANNOUNCEMENT!!! I have prevailed! After months of sending emails with photos of cute adoptable puppies, squealing at opportune moments while web surfing and outright begging, Mr. Pony caved before my onslaught and we have added to our family!
Behold- Pickle!
Really, he is thrilled. Just tired. He came with a case of kennel cough, but that happens when you are a 10 week old puppy at an animal shelter!
No, we have no idea what he is. The shelter listed him as a collie mix, but his face looks a bit hound-ish, his paws are pretty big and his body seems slightly too long for his legs. But that could be an awkward puppy phase, not a breed trait. We'll find out as he grows {hopefully not to a giant size!}.
He spends a lot of time sleeping right now. And peeing on stuff- sometimes outside, sometimes not. *sigh* However, we are in the process of housebreaking and he is starting to get the hang of it. We were spoiled by Chowder, who came to us at 4 months old already housebroken- perfect {other than the parvo}.
Speaking of Chowder- he is learning to love his little puppy shadow. It might take a bit, but they are getting along. Of course, he does have his 'HOLY CRAP' moments.
But you can't really blame him- this is a big change and he is used to being the canine center of attention. No worries, he'll get used to it and we are giving him lots of attention!
A couple of months ago one of my friends showed a great deal of trust in me- she asked me to take pictures of her family together, including her baby bump.
*gulp*
That is a lot of trust and a lot of responsibility! I'm not a professional- just a passionate hobbyist! And since this was partly a maternity shoot, it isn't like we could try again at any time- I needed to get at least a few images right the first time!!
But I agreed, prefacing my agreement with "Well, they may not be fabulous, but they'll definitely be free!".
So a time was set and off we went! I'm pretty pleased with how the entire thing went off, though I did learn a lot about shooting portrait photography. I'm just glad that I am friends with them- otherwise I'd have been way too jittery to do this at all!
Here are some of my favorite shots from the shoot.
Yeah, that scene. I want that. Sadly, Mr. Pony thinks it is unlikely {barring the death and subsequent bequeathment of wealth from a rich/royal foreign relative that everyone in both families somehow failed to mention} that we'll be able to afford such an opulent monument to the gods of literature. *le sigh*
To fend off the doldrums encouraged by my lack of a palatial library, Mr. P found a site through which I can live vicariously. Children- avert your eyes. The gratuitous awesomeness of this site may be more than young eyes can handle.
Of for the chance to cuddle up in those spots and read some of those dog-eared novels. What a dream! I believe I shall never donate or sell a book ever again- I must work towards this level of library-ishness somehow!!
I know I deprive the blogosphere of information about myself and that the entire world some of you might be interested to know more about the woman behind the blog, so I thought I'd join up with Abigail's Authentic People Blog Party and share a bit more about myself! Make sure you head over and link up as well- she has some great prizes lined up for the participants!
I go by Ms. Pony, in part because I originally wanted to maintain a bit more privacy {though that is kinda impossible online nowadays} and in part because I love ponies and it seemed like a fun way to name myself! I blog mostly about my photography habit, but I also throw in some DIY projects {here, here, here and here}, home decorating, fashion and general life type stuff. I am mother to 4 fuzzy balls of joy {more here}, partner to one consumed with food {check out my honey}, obsessed with finding new hobbies and in love with vintage and classic clothing... and pretty much whatever Anthropologie has on the sale rack.
In keeping with the blog party's idea of sharing some of my many quirks, here are just a few tidbits to make you giggle at my awkwardness!
1} What's the nerdiest/geekiest/weirdest thing about you?
Just one? Hm... I make up voices for each of my pets, and we {my partner is in on this} have long conversations with the critters. What can I say, I adore my animal companions! Also, I believe that geeky is the new sexy. Just sayin'.
2} If you could live in a fictional universe from any book, movie, or television show, what would it be?
Harry Potter, no questions. I'd have to be Muggle-born, of course, just like Hermione. Everything about the world appeals to me- magic hiding just beneath the surface of real life and working alongside non-magic folk. Plus I think I would look magnificent in a cape!
3} Little or big, practical or frivolous, what is one of your favorite items in your house?
My reading chair. I'm still working on making it more useful (I want a little shelf by it for drinks and to hold a book), but I love the idea of curling up with a great literary world.
4} Do you like animated movies? If so, what is your favorite?
I do like some animated movies, and my favorite by far {actually, my this is in my rotating top 5 of all movies} is Nightmare Before Christmas. The music, the worlds and the awesome styling... fabulous. I know, I know. It is a claymation movie, actually, but I think it falls in this category well enough.
5} What is your favorite household chore?
Grooming Chowder and Pepsi. They are both quite fluffy, so we furminate them once a week to keep our allergies and their hair in check. Pepsi adores it and Chowder has learned to accept it, and I just love feeling their softness!
6} What's your favorite thing to get at Starbucks (or your favorite coffee shop)?
Pumpkin spice anything. If that isn't available, a mocha latte. If that isn't available, a chai latte. If that isn't available... fizzy water!
7} What is your favorite pizza topping?
Canadian bacon with pineapple. Hawaiian all the way!
8} Waffles or pancakes?
Meh, either. I have no strong feelings either way. Though I do appreciate pancakes in adorable shapes.
9} Do you like to play games? If so, what is your favorite?
The mister and I play games all the time. Right now I like Dominion quite a bit, and Scrabble is an oldie but a goodie... Gosu is quite diverting as well.
10} Have you ever let anyone win a game?
Not necessary- we are pretty evenly matched.
11} Have you ever dyed your hair?
For a while I liked getting highlights, but then I got tired of going in every 6 weeks to get them touched up and... let them grow out about an inch... and looked like a hick... so I dyed my hair a close-to-normal color and have never gone back. But I'd love to try black hair or flame red hair {a la Florence Welch}, but I doubt either would work on me.
12} Do you make your bed every morning?
With as much fuzz as our critters have, we have to so I can avoid washing the sheets every 2 days!
13} Picasso or Norman Rockwell?
Neither. Picasso is too crazy and Rockwell too boring. I like more classical stuff, or the cute stuff you find on Etsy, like this.
14} Do you like carpet, tile, or hardwood floors?
Hardwood and cushy rugs please. Our entire house is done in tile, and it just lacks the warmth and texture of hardwood. Heated tile in the bathrooms. No wall to wall carpet. Yick.
15} If you could put one thing in a safe under your bed, what would it be?
The things I'm most worried about losing won't fit in a safe...
16} What's your favorite condiment?
I have no favorite- different condiments taste good on different foods.
17} Have you ever thrown up on someone (excluding when you were a child)?
I hope not. But there were some fun nights in college...
18} What was the last thing that made you laugh?
Chowder snoring his little puppy heart out. So sweet.
19} Think fast...what's the first song that pops into your head?
Adele- Someone Like You. I hope her vocal cord surgery goes well- the world needs real talent like her to avoid falling prey to the musical hounds of hell (i.e. Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears and the like).
It is quite remarkable how I never get tired of taking pictures of my little balls of fur. Chowder sometimes poses for me.
Of course, it did take several takes to get that image. He always turns his head away as soon as I click the shutter- I have a TON of motion shots of the dude. Oh well:).
And want to know a little known fact?
Computer chairs- specifically those of people who are suckers for animals and don't like moving them all that much- come with magnets which draw cats like flies to honey.
Fortunately for Pepsi, her daddy wasn't home for the afternoon, so she got to lounge in her almost favorite spot for hours.
I've fallen off the photo challenge bandwagon. However, after a recent photographic experience that had me feeling pretty awesome, I've decided to start participating again! Without further ado- the pictures!
Today at work was rough, but watching my pup 'swim' through the grass upside down made me grin!
I used this tutorial (and btw- she has TONS of great tutorials on her blog!!) to get this shot. I just downloaded a random bokeh shot from deviantart and used it as the background texture. The SOOC (below) was boring, but I LOVE the final product!
Copper doesn't like the camera. Lyric likes to stick his tongue out at me, and Pepsi only sometimes deigns to pose for the paparazzi.
I thought that Chowder, as happy go lucky as he is, would be more than willing to pose whenever I wanted. Just turn him loose in the yard, throw a few toys, and snap away!
I was wrong.
Chowder would ham it up, tear it up, then clam up the instant I lifted the camera! So I'll show you some of my favorite parts of Chowder, up close and personal, one shot at a time.
Chowder's eyes are warm, adoring, and they reflect back the world in a pup-colored light. When you are a Chowder, the entire world is your buddy.
Happy puppy:)
SOOC: I tweaked it by cropping and running PW 'Bring on the Eyes!' at 75% and Boost at 80%.
