My latest work

I've been working really hard on the last couple of photo shoots that I did. Here are links to slideshows on Midnight Magic Studio's website.

Euro Kids Boutique Photo Shoot

Adam & Allison's Engagement Photo Shoot

Rob Heyman Photo Workshop Family Photo Shoot


I'm loving this! I love working with Don. We made a great team on Wednesday night when we did the shoot for Euro Kids Boutique. He was great with the kids and I loved every minute of snapping the photos.

More later!
LA :)

What a crazy, hectic but good week!

On Monday morning, I started a two-day photography workshop that one of my UT instructors, Steve Chastain, hosted with Rob Heyman from Brisbane, Australia. What a great experience this was! Great for learning - I learned soooo much! Great for my mental health because it was with 9 other great photographers - who all had great personalities and senses of humor so there was A LOT of laughter and fun. We spent the mornings learning and then mid-afternoon on both Monday and Tuesday we went out shooting with Rob and Steve.

Dad and Marilyn got here late on Monday afternoon. So, they spent the evening with us Monday and then spent the entire day in Kingston and Rockwood on Tuesday with Gran and Jack and Sue. On Tuesday, I went strait from the photo shoot that we had at Market Square and downtown Knoxville to my Tuesday night class.

I was pooped Tuesday night!!

Wednesday morning, Don took the day off and went with us down to see Gran and we took Jack and Sue, with Gran out to lunch. We had a great time! Gran got a new haircut and looked great! She is doing so well at Victorian Square! It's truly amazing! She really does consider it her new home and she's getting involved and making friends. But, her memory is still continuing to get worse. At least I don't worry about her ever waking minute anymore.

Dad looked so good from the front but his poor head... it looks so painful and bad. He has some paralysis in his face, mouth and shoulder. He is slightly disfigured but that isn't what matters... what matters is how hard he is fighting this! He brought the custom mask that he had to wear during radiation for us to see. He had to be bolted down... he's done with radiation and he starts the intensive month long - 5 days a week chemo tomorrow and then he continues on with chemo 3x a week for 11 months after that. What a journey he still has ahead of him. Please continue to keep him in your prayers!

It did her and Dad both good to spend some time together!! It did me good to have some good quality time with Dad and Marilyn and to see that they were both doing better emotionally than their last visit the end of April. I've been so worried about them both.

Then, we headed back to the condo and worked to get everything ready for the final estate sale Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. We got rid of so much more stuff!! It was a big relief... a lot of work but worth it! We met some of the neatest people - but also some that weren't so hot! I will do my best to remember the good ones... like this 83 year old couple who were both so sweet and were so very excited about the things that they got. They'd been married 63 years and just sweet good people. Boy, did they drive away with a packed pick up truck full!!

Katie went to Dr. Chris Miller, the neurologist, FINALLY this week. He really didn't tell us much we didn't know already. Katie definitely has mid-line brain abnormalities and all her "connections" are definitely not firing properly. He thought she was doing AMAZINGLY well to have the brain abnormalities that she has and encouraged us to keep challenging her to meet her maximum potential... but she will definitely struggle more as tasks become harder and more complicated with maturity.

We went to see the Smokies play on Friday night! I was so pooped but we had a fantastic time anyway! We had gotten great seats - especially for Katie's vision. But, I am still having some back problems from my last farm related injury so we ended up in the outfield on a blanket - which actually was a little more fun because we got to laugh and giggle more with Katie! It was a great night!!

Yesterday, we met more people down at the condo for moving out some big items and then we all kind of crashed yesterday afternoon. So pooped!!!

Katie is going to a friend's birthday party this afternoon at Build-A-Bear! Thank goodness it isn't Chuck-E-Cheese! YAY!!

I will post some of the work I did with Rob later today or tomorrow. I have a photoshoot scheduled this Wednesday for a local children's boutique - that should be fun!

More later!
LA :)

My Political Go To Guy

My heart broke this past Friday when I learned that Tim Russert had passed away. And today, as I really started to watch news coverage and today's Meet The Press memorial show with Tom Brokaw! My dad and I talked almost every Sunday and compared notes on that Sunday's show... and the topics and guests... which usually turned into a lively conversation since my dad and I are polar opposites politically.



I'm not one to ever be very "star struck" or to think that people in entertainment or the media are overly special... however, Tim Russert was my go to guy on politics. He had iritated me a few times during this primary season, however, I continued to think that he was one of the few journalists left with strong ethics and a determination for truth and answers.

He was vibrant and his enthusiasm came through the TV. Anytime anything major was happening in politics, you better believe that I was setting my Tivo for Meet The Press.

Jon Stewart provides me with comic relief in politics and world events! Who will I turn to now for the real scoop with politics...? The election in November wont be nearly the same with Tim Russert and his little white erase board.

I called my dad today to wish him happy father's day and my dad has been emotional lately with his battle... but he really got choked up when we talked about Tim Russert passing away and the very young age of 58!

I don't know who could possibly fill his shoes!

LA :)

Our Sunny Girl Has A New Mission In Life

She is now a part of the herd at STAR. We've been so very busy with Gran's care, the condo, just LIFE in 2008... we haven't been able to spend near enough time at the farm to justify the boarding expense... not to mention that Sunny and Belle haven't been getting any attention hardly.



So, we approached STAR to see if they would be interested in both Sunny and Belle because we wanted to try and keep them together! Well, they were immensely interested in Sunny because she is a big girl since she has Belgian in her and they have adult riders with special needs... some being larger and Sunny can definitely accommodate larger riders!

They went to look at Sunny a little over a week ago and they picked her up this morning. They had planned to look at Belle this morning before getting Sunny and Don had told me about what they put Sunny through when they looked at her. The rode her (obviously) but they also danced around her like Indians, flailed their arms and acted crazy. You have to remember some of the kids at STAR have behavior problems and act kind of wild...

Well, so we went out early this morning to do some preliminary work with Belle and try to get her kinks out before they got there. Belle is only five and tends to get freaked out much easier than Sunny. Again, Don and I were not communicating well and I thought he was done acting like a crazy person and I went to put my arm and hand up on Belle rubbing her back when he flailed his arms again and she knocked me over trying to get away from him.

Don said when he saw me - I was airborne - my entire body and I landed hard on my butt! At least she didn't step on me when she was trying to get away from crazy, arm flailing Don. :)

Needless to say - I'm sore AGAIN!

I have to go get my hair cut and highlighted this afternoon... that should be fun! Sitting is not very comfortable after that fall this morning.

But, Sunny made the short trip to STAR just fine. I just called to check on her and they are THRILLED to have her. They told me that she's just hanging out in her stall wondering why so many people keep coming and staring at her. She's going to be treated wonderfully - stalled, grain fed daily, turned out in the pasture at night, groomed daily... she's gonna love it. She loves attention and she's going to get a lot!!

And, since we got Belle's spookiness worked out before they arrived - she was PERFECT for them. She didn't flinch - so they are VERY interested in her. They currently have a 20 year old TN Walker that is starting to have soundness issues - so Belle will probably replace him sometime in the coming months.

They are still ours - we just don't have to pay boarding and now - at least Sunny so far - will be getting so much attention and we can see her anytime we want. Hopefully, Belle will join her soon.

More later!
LA :)

PS - Gran's Living Estate sale was a semi-success. I deposited $1100 into her account - that's the good news. All that sold seemingly was junk... that's the bad news. I guess it could also be good news. I still have a TON of furniture to sell.

Gran was doing GREAT this weekend when I visited her. She is getting involved and continuing to make friends! What a BLESSING this place turned out to be. It's amazing!

Also, Dad is having his next-to the last radiation treatment today. The radiation is going well - his recovery from the lymph node surgery is not doing so good.

Still feeling overwhelmed by junk

It just keeps multiplying... Just when I feel like we are making a dent - we uncover more! Well, the dumpster is full and they are picking it up today. Who would have ever thought that there could be so much stuff in a 1500 sq. ft. condo... especially when there is so much stuff still left inside that wasn't "trash".



So, onward and upward!! I am trying to get the inside organized today - grouping all similar or like items together.



Then I will spend all day Wednesday and most of the day Thursday pricing items and then HOPEFULLY a majority of the contents will go flying out of the condo on Friday and Saturday with the Living Estate Sale.

Thank goodness I have some experience at this from having attended estate sales as a buyer! But let me tell you something - being on the seller end is not nearly as much fun! :)

Lisa - you have been a Godsend!! I'm so blessed by your friendship every day but you've been such a help and encouragement the past week!

Keep your fingers crossed for us that the sale is a success! We definitely need the money for her care until the VA benefits kick in.

LA :)