ArT GaLLeRY, aNd LiFe

Things have been going quite well.  We had an Artists Reception for some of the pictures we've created.  Jason worked that day so the gal that helps across the street was gracious and helped that day! 

We served cake balls on sticks and marshmallows on sticks and strawberries all covered in white or dark chocolate.  It was fantastic!  Jason and I worked together on the things as long as we could and then the gal from across the street really picked up the slack and finished things out.  I was getting my but kicked by the frosting... Oh yeah, and we also had little spice cupcakes with buttermilk frosting. 

Our art was selected to hang at a new gallery, we are in the second round of artists.  Which is just fabulous!  Jason and I hung it last month.  We will be featured in this weeks local paper, as we were interviewed a couple weeks ago.  Time has gone by so fast.  We've been busy working at so many things. 

The evening of the event went quite well, lots of people came, looked and hung out.  I am sure they all left a few pounds heavier as well.  I had lots of fun, Luka led me around and we took pictures and even made a video of the event.  Which was pretty cool...

It was so great to talk to everyone, I am always in such a daze in settings like this.  I feel so scattered, and I am not really able to give anyone any sort of attention.  But, I hope at least that I managed to tell everyone hello, and thank you for coming. 

It sure meant a lot to have such a good showing of people that we knew.  We even had some folks that we didn't know attend. 

A beautiful harpist played beautiful harp music... and the gallery where which hosted the event served their wine. 

We are excited.  Our art will hang until the end of July. 

I have worked at things when I could in between resting.  I haven't really done much around the house otherwise but Jason has.  He's been really great, he even hand made the frames for our pictures. 

I've been resting and icing my body this whole week now.  I've got one and a half more days to do this before we do another shoot.  I am excited about it as well.  We've got lots of fun things planned and I am working hard to take care of myself so I can keep up. 

A little dab will do ya!  While I am icing my neck I will be keeping my fingers busy.  I am hoping to get an appointment to get silver thumb splints to keep my thumbs from causing me issues.  I just have to find someone familiar with the technology so they can properly fit me for them.  Hopefully my insurance will cover them. 

On to other good news, Jason fixed my scooter!!  We thought it was going to be $200 to fix it.  So I'd decided that was to much to spend on it, I was starting to look for another one.  But... Jason went to a battery store and found the parts to fix it on clearance and he got an additional discount on top of it so it only ended up costing $70.  If I am able to get the thumb splints, then I should have no difficulties riding it for a bit.  =D  So I will be tackling that next!  Oh and Jason took apart the whole thing and reassembled the power supply so it will now charge its self with a proper plug in! 

The bad news... Luka is really starting to slow down, I am hoping that it is just because he is overweight and out of shape from the winter.  We will go for a run in the scooter tomorrow in between my icing myself so he can get moving some more.  At the gallery in between leading me around, he would plop down and rest.  So, I am hoping he can pick up some more energy here soon, otherwise he may just have to be used for really short trips or completely retired.  Which will leave me not able to go out again on my own.  Which is not a fun thought.


So.... not sure what to do about this.  Raising the money for a new helping dog is stressing me out.

But for right now I will just hope that he needs to get in better shape and see how this goes.  He has managed to gain 20 pounds.  =(... so he is now also on a diet. 

Let's just focus on taking pictures.  Maybe if we get enough clients and enough picture orders I won't have to fund raise and I can just earn my next dog.  Fingers crossed.

Blessings and much grateful appreciation to everyone who came to our debut and those who will be passing through.  Prayers also going out to those effected by the storms and tornadoes. 

Pink Doberman

TaKe ThE TiMe To GeT tHe ShOt... tHeN tAkE SoMe MoRe TiMe To StAy WiTh iT... PeNnY De LoS sAnToS

Presence...

How do you know where you are supposed to be at any given time?

For me this choice has been simplified to a great degree.  My life has gone through a major transformation.  You'll know this if you've been following me.

But really, given all of the choices I once had I am not sure I would be able to be present enough in this moment to really appreciate all of the things that I am able to witness.  The slower pace at which I am able to experience it and the appreciation for the things that others take for granted. 

I am far from a scholar.  I am by no means an academic.  I'd like to say I am a learner.  I have always been a learner.  I love to glean information.  I also like to disseminate it.

I enjoy having a purpose, I am full of passion, and these things have stayed with me throughout my experiences.

The last few days I have been fortunate to participate in a FREE online course.  I take in everything I can that is free as I really have no income source that can be spent on such things in an easy manner.  The course was a photography class on cooking photography.

During my limited movement days when everyday was spent in bed on major pain medication I would watch PBS and the cooking shows.  I learned to cook.  I'd of course been given a rudimentary start in cooking with my mother, who tried as she might, finally gave up any hope of turning me into a domestic creature.

I was the kid who used salt instead of sugar.  I was distractable and would always be trying to squirm my way out of the house.  But now I can cook if I've got the energy.  Lord knows I can eat, and I thoroughly enjoy amazing food.

Back to what I experienced over these last days.  It started out like any other class.  I wasn't able to watch the entire beginning but I caught what I could.  I liked the teacher, Penny De Los Santos.  She seemed real to me, grounded and open and willing to share.  Like so many of the CreativeLIVE teachers.

Her rhythm was different.  Unobtrusive calm, formidable, but easy going I found what she said to be deliberate, but with a casual intensity.  She knows who she is, and when someone knows who they are they don't have to pretend, they are authentic, vulnerable and yet the words they say have more depth.

I think that most of the teachers that I have experienced in this forum have brought that.  I really like that.  They are right there with you getting into it, experiencing it, and feeling it while they teach it.  These classes are not necessarily pen and paper classes.  Parts are.  But for the most part they bring you into the experience.

Even from where I sit in bed, in my bedroom with my service dog Luka by my side watching the birds outside my window, my environment fades away and I am in Seattle.

Watching a food photography class really did make me hungry.  I was right there getting a steam bath as they took off the burlap which covered the oysters before they were shucked.

I don't know that I will ever go into kitchens to shoot food.  I think that may be something dangerous for me to do.  But I have come away with the continuing thought of bringing people to experience moments.  Opening people up to new experiences and really making them feel as if they are a part of a moment when they see one of my pictures. 

I am going to continue to work on this continue to grow and develop my eye and my skills.

I am grateful for the continued opportunity to learn from the best for free.  I am amazed by their courage, their skills, and their willingness to put it all out there.

Will I ever be the greatest photographer?  Take the greatest photos?  I don't know..
What I do hope to do is... I hope to share the message of where I am at, who I am with and what I have gone through.   To invite people into places they would never receive an invitation to and to allow them to witness another type of experience from a picture that I have taken.  Even if it is one of themselves, I would hope that through what I am learning to do that I would allow someone to see themselves in a brighter light.

There is hope there is a place for us all and we each matter.

Thank you Penny De Los Santos, the entire CreativeLIVE team, and my husband Jason who I annoy with the amount of learning that I continue to involve him with.  =)

Support CreativeLIVE so folks like me can continue to watch it for free!  

Blessings,
Pink Doberman

Penny's Blog,  CreativeLIVE's Site,  The Class.

Celiac - Ehlers Danlos - Service / Assistance Dog - CreativeLIVE

Well, I've been wondering about what to write about.  I've several things on my mind. 

First of all I'd like to say that it is National Ehlers Danlos Awareness Month (EDS).   I have EDS.  On it's own with out my accident I would probably be able to hold down a job combined with the accident and another issue which I will get to in a moment...well lets just say I am doing the best I can.  Some of the other folks with EDS are not so lucky.  Take a moment to learn more about EDS. 



Secondly I would like to say that it is National Celiac Awareness Month.  Did you know that they say one out of every 10 people has a Gluten Reaction and that one out of every 133 is Celiac?  Here are SOME of the symptoms folks with Celiac's experience.  

Did you know that right now there is PENDING legislation.. Pending since 2008 that would require clear labeling of Gluten Free Foods so that those with Celiac's and those who have an allergy are not made ill?  Learn more here. 

This is a place that you can go to sign the petition asking for proper labeling.  They already do it for peanuts and other food issues. 


Here are the links I am currently checking out. 

Huffington Post about the need for proper food labels

I've been wondering about Genetically Modified foods... I read this link from the Institute for Responsible Technology


Tips for avoiding Genetically Modified foods.. Link  Non GMO Food Guide

Celiac Disease Symptoms  From the Celiac Disease Foundation

National Digestive Diseases Clearinghouse NDDIC More information.. 


Disabled Officer fights for equal access... Fort Worth WFAA.com



Costly Mistake Portland Press Herald


And my Favorite Learning Place!  Where I can learn no matter how much I earn.  Because it is free when you watch it LIVE!  Up next week... I will be learning how to photograph food!  CreativeLIVE is a CreativeSPOONIE's Opportunity!




Lots on my mind... 

Pink Doberman