Close up

Only Gus lets me try close-ups.  I try focusing on his eyes, or eye when they aren't both on the same plane.  

He's no longer such a Franken-gus - the incision spot is almost healed, in spite of himself.  The tumor was a form of cancer that was completely contained. So, good news. 

The dogs are put out with me over the recent spate of overtime. 

So am I.

Then we all take a nice long walk and come home smiling.

Bummer!

At this point it had been raining for about 4 hours.  But since Gus doesn't like raindrops on his head or to get his feet wet, the situation was grim. 

Bird Watching

So, after being out of sight for a while, this guy turned back up and brought all his feathers this time. I know it's him because he has this special way of bullying that the other cardinals don't.

He brought a friend.  See him?

The friend is a heavy drinker.

Okay, check out those tiny little feet.  I don't understand how he's hanging on.

We've been promised rain today.  In fact, one forecast said it would start yesterday (it didn't) and continue through Monday.  It's been a long time since it rained.  My grass is mostly brown, the hydrangeas are wilted and as much as I'm ready for rain for my yard, I'm ready for a rainy day for me.  I've always liked rainy days. They're refreshing somehow.  

Pen Pals

Both of my pen pals are talented, one with words and one with her hands, though she, too, has a way with words.  She penned a phrase, "love and biscuits" in her recent letter that is just wonderful.  Anyway, below is the first postcard I got from her.  It's been on my fridge ever since, and shortly after it arrived, I began hearing the neighborhood owls calling each other.  I spotted one near the creek once, and it was a huge fellow.

My other pen pal sends me cards filled with lavender and shaped sparkles: hearts, stars circles...they spill out of the card when I open it like her caring and friendship spill out of her: generously and with abandon.  She sends a post card and makes up a story about the image on the front, using words to create art.

This week was an especially taxing one in many ways, affirming in others but definitely sleep deprived either way.

I got home Thursday evening to find a package that contained a blue letter folded origami fashion and a bubble wrapped square.

In the package was a beautiful handmade ceramic tile with layered hearts in the center and a latin proverb "a man is not where he lives but where he loves" around the edge.  It arrived on the best day it could have arrived.  I sat with the tile in my hand, marveling that someone could just come up with that combination of clay, shapes and color to create such a wonderful gift.

I so appreciate my pen pals and the snail mail that lets me open the mailbox with a sense of expectation now, even on days when there is only an insulation special postcard in the box.

Gotta run, I need to put some things in the mail.

Nostalgia

The other day I was visiting my friend, Maria. We stood in her kitchen admiring the china/crystal place setting her daughter selected...she had put it out for the in-laws-to-be's visit.  I turned and saw a punch of coral red among the ivy in her back yard.

Spider lilies!

It instantly took me back to my grandparent's home in Troy.  To the front corner of the front yard, to be precise.  Each September spider lilies would materialize overnight.

It was magic.

So Monday morning I went out to take out the trash.  The bin is on the side of the house.  The side with the ivy.

And I found my own spider lily, just one, growing in the ivy on the side of the house.

It felt like a visit from my grandmother.

Company Day

Every year my company has Company Day.  The purpose was for everyone to get together from all our various offices and spend time together having fun.  This year's was one of the best, I think because the event returned to its roots.

We had group events:

We climbed walls:

Saw old friends:

Hung out and watched:

Raced tricycles:

and relaxed after lunch:

I'm fortunate to work for a company that takes time out to have fun.  It's an investment in the team. 

Engagement Session

Friday afternoon I shot an engagement session with a couple who will be married in January.  I got some good images, including some like this which were unguarded moments, despite the time (wish it could have been 6:30 instead of 5 pm) and the inexperience of the photographer. Something that I haven't heard any of the photographers mention is how wonderful it is to spend an hour or so with a couple who are so clearly in love and happy to be together.

It's a great bonus.

Sunday Shots

All summer, the butterfly bush has drawn these black and yellow guys.  And while I enjoyed them, I did wish for more colors.




Today, I got to see more colors.




And a butterfly duel.  Who knew?  They chased each other from flower to flower, fluttering madly, until they shot up into the sky.





Then, just as the duellers were fluttering off, this guy showed up.



And he gave me a nice profile shot.



And a stained glass shot.



Hope you're having a wonderful Labor Day weekend.

Franken-Gus

Gus had a bump removed from his head this week.  This was Wednesday evening.  By last night he'd managed to tear?  break?  rupture one of the stitches, so I have to call the vet to find out if we need to come in or not. 

Life with Gus is never dull.