Experimenting with Watercolor

Almost a decade of experience

With almost a decade of professional shooting behind me, I've decided to finally sell my work online. Visit my website here. I chose the name Pixarazzi because it is the smashing together of pixels and paparazzi. Photography has always been a passion of mine. I can't remember a time that I was taking pictures of something, but thank heavens, my skill has improved. Pictures can tell a story that sometimes words just can't express and sometimes a picture needs an explanation. I think that is why scrapbooking is also so appealing to me. I feel creativity is the gift I've been given from above. I'm trying to use this gift in a way that will bless my family and perhaps others along the way. I would love to be able to take my family to Disney World in the summer of 2014! Shooting pictures is my focused effort to do just that. Stop by the sight, leave some feedback, or view and purchase pictures, you'll be glad you did.

In the face of adversity

Yesterday, I attended my sister's baby shower. I got to visit with my beautiful nephews, both under a year old. I'll be taking pictures of them together soon. My newest nephew was born at 8lbs 4 ozs. I feel so blessed. My sister was diagnosed with Leukemia about 2 weeks before she learned she was pregnant with him. I know it's a miracle that he was born by all appearances 'healthy'. He will have to undergo some testing to make sure there wasn't any lasting side effects from the chemo that she took while she was pregnant. I am inspired by my sister's strength throughtout this whole trial. It amazes me that she can be faced with so much, and still keep a happy spirit about her. I know some days are harder than others, but she never complains. She is so kind, sometimes too kind, to the point that others take advantage of her. With all of the uncertainty in her life, I began to encourage her to scrapbook. I felt, and still do, that she should create her legacy, collect her thoughts and ideas, her dreams and aspirations, and her prayers and feelings, and compile them for her children in case the time comes that she won't be able to be there with them first hand. She could leave this gift and there would never be any doubt as to how much she loves her boys.

the silver lining

Well, we were rained out at Mt. Rushmore. The fireworks show was cancelled due to inclement weather and we managed to get out ahead of most of the traffic, all of the 20,000 people that came to see it. It didn’t take long for us to find the silver lining in our gloomy day. As we drove through the rain, lightning sprayed the sky and thunder clapped. Dakota sitting in the front between Gary and me, began twisting in the seat. She had that smile on her face that I’ve seen almost every time she poses for a photo. I asked her, “Baby, why are you wiggling so?” Her reply was straight from the voice of God. She said, “I’m posing for God, He’s taking my picture!” It’s moments like these that erase the many miles of “she hit me” and “he pooted again” or the two questions that if I’ve heard them once, I’ve heard them a million times….”have we been here before?” and “are we there yet?” All in all we are doing well. I write this as we are crossing the border between South Dakota and Wyoming. It’s about 12:30am Texas time and the ride is quiet, admittedly another answered prayer.

One thing we did was drive all through Mt. Rushmore area, so I was able to get a few good pictures of the mountain itself and we drove into the town of Keystone. It was a traffic nightmare, but we weren’t in any hurry, so we muddled along and eventually found a parking spot. We dined at a family restaurant, a little on the pricy side, but it did the trick. We stopped in a place called Professor Samuel’s and had our annual family portrait made. Any of you who know me very well, you know that I am always looking for something different and this was just the thing that called my name. Papa decided he didn’t want to go through all the costume change so he sat this one out, just taking in the scenery. (no we didn’t leave him unattended, lol, although I’m sure he don’t mind the break once in a while). For our photo, we stepped back in time. Gary became Marshal Dillon and I was Ms. Kitty. I think we can all safely guess who Festus was. As for the girls, well they filled their part as supporting actresses. Now, before any of you have a conniption fit, the bottles were already empty. This not only made for a fun family picture, but it also gave us the chance to explain the character of such individuals as well as giving them an edited lecture about alcohol. As a homeschool family it is important that we teach and learn lessons when the opportunity allows. After looking back at the picture, I giggled as I thought about what a conversation piece this would be on the wall of a future parsonage….one must enjoy the irony in it.