The Dogs of Espada Today, I'm having a motivational problem. (I can't move my neck very well.) So I thought I'd share a photo I took a couple of months ago. Espada is one of the old Spanish missions in San Antonio. When I recently visited Espada, I noticed a couple of dogs following me around the grounds like loyal old friends. The one in this picture was disturbingly thin. A park ranger explained to me that Espada a is place where people abandon dogs that they no longer want. All of the park rangers have taken dogs home over the years. But the dogs keep coming and many of them die of starvation. This dog broke my heart. Notice how thin her body is in the background. Unless somebody took her home, I'm sure she didn't live long after I took her portrait.

2009 day by day.

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07-25-2009
Happy birthday to our son Russell who turns 20 today. This is him with his girlfriend Sarah. I love the way he makes her smile. For the past 20 years he has made me smile too. Russell, I always knew you would grow to be an incredible man not just because of your intelligence, but even more because of your capacity to love. God asks just 3 things of you, to act with justice, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with Him. I have already seen you do all of these things. I am so proud of you! (Photo taken by Jacci.)

07-24-2009
Our 15 year old daughter, Tricia in her big brother's hat.
Thank you everybody for all of the kind comments! I can't tell you how much it means to get this kind of affirmation from my new friends in the wonderful word of digital light!

07-23-2009
I don't get it...me and animals. Mockingbirds are usually rather aggressive. I saw this one fly from my neighbor's roof to the tree near the side walk. When I walked under the tree, I looked up and there he was, perched in clear view, just watching me. I took a picture. He turned his head to get a better look at me. But he didn't budge from the branch. So I took a few more shots. And he just stayed there, about 6 feet from me. So I took one final shot (this one) and I continued with my walk down the side walk. He never made a move to fly away or to swoop down on me. I just don't get it. (Photo taken by Jacci.)

07-22-2009
I made another new friend and not only did he let me take his portrait, but he insisted on it. I saw this beautiful old character laying on his porch. Trying not to disturb him, I stayed across the street and got out my camera. As I did that, he mustered up all the energy he had to come to the gate. By the time he got there, he was so exhausted, he just rested his head on the bottom bar of the gate. So I took his portrait right there. Of course, I had to go visit him. When I held out my hand for him to sniff, he didn't bother to sniff. He went straight to the licking stage of our friendship. This may very well have been the easiest friend I have ever made.

07-21-2009
This evening, 22 Priests from the Diocese of Austin graduated from a 2 year leadership training program called Good Leaders, Good Shepherds. David and I felt honored to be asked to photograph the event which took place at the Bishop's residence. This is one of the last events in Austin overseen by Bishop Aymond since he was recently installed as the new Arch-Bishop of New Orleans. This shot was taken from the kitchen. I took it both ways, focused on the food and focused on the Priests. Even though the subject of the photo is obviously the men, the moment seems to be captured better with the hard focus on the food. Photo taken by Jacci

On a side note: Thank you everybody for your well wishes for my appointment today. The appointment went well. I will be getting a shot in my neck tomorrow or the next day.

Death of a Strawberry

I took this picture about a month ago when I was playing around with the effects of flash. Jodi doesn't do much when she sees a camera. So I gave her a strawberry to keep her occupied. My experiment didn't last very long. She started eating the berry (Oh the carnage!) the flash started going off in her face and she threw the strawberry to the floor. This was the best of the few shots I got. I was close enough to her that the background came out almost black. That's the effect I was going for. So I touched up the background in PSE to make it more consistent. by Jacci.

Hopefully, tomorrow, we will be back to posting current pictures. I'm seeing the neurosurgeon today.

[ Additional note by david: There was no photoshopping to make selective color - Jodi is an African Gray (all gray but her tail, which is red)... ]

The Dogs of Espada
Today, I'm having a motivational problem. (I can't move my neck very well.) So I thought I'd share a photo I took a couple of months ago. Espada is one of the old Spanish missions in San Antonio. When I recently visited Espada, I noticed a couple of dogs following me around the grounds like loyal old friends. The one in this picture was disturbingly thin. A park ranger explained to me that Espada a is place where people abandon dogs that they no longer want. All of the park rangers have taken dogs home over the years. But the dogs keep coming and many of them die of starvation. This dog broke my heart. Notice how thin her body is in the background. Unless somebody took her home, I'm sure she didn't live long after I took her portrait.

I'm not sure why this picture touches me. You can't even see the little girl's face. Yet the moment seems so personal. She seems to be in her own world oblivious to everything around her.

I spent an hour at the pool side again today. There were lots of kids. I caught this little girl as she walked by and looked over at me. Photo taken by Jacci.

The Dogs of Espada
Today, I'm having a motivational problem. (I can't move my neck very well.) So I thought I'd share a photo I took a couple of months ago. Espada is one of the old Spanish missions in San Antonio. When I recently visited Espada, I noticed a couple of dogs following me around the grounds like loyal old friends. The one in this picture was disturbingly thin. A park ranger explained to me that Espada a is place where people abandon dogs that they no longer want. All of the park rangers have taken dogs home over the years. But the dogs keep coming and many of them die of starvation. This dog broke my heart. Notice how thin her body is in the background. Unless somebody took her home, I'm sure she didn't live long after I took her portrait.