Last of the Fair Photos – the local police department put on a free barbecue and a short demonstration of the K9 Deputy Dog.
This particular dog came from Germany, was trained in Wyoming for an FBI Agent. The dogs are trained using tools like getting their favorite toy to fetch.
Well, this particular dog became so obsessed with wanting to play fetch, he wasn’t able to do all the other jobs needed to be with the agent.
He became the K9 deputy of this unit here in Iowa. He is exceptional at sniffing out drugs and he can take down an assailant when needed. According to the officer.
He really likes getting the tennis ball more than anything though. 🙂
Highly Compressed Photos, sometimes folks send my a photo that they want touched up a bit. But, there is only so much I can do with them because of compression. Here is an explanation as to what happens.
I can still work with the photo and make it into a painting. One can’t enlarge the photo into a huge print because of the loss of pixels. It will still print, if you print smaller sizes though.
Why Photos Lose Quality When Sent by Text or Social Media
When you send a photo through text message or social media, the platform doesn’t send your original, high-quality file. Instead, it compresses it to make it smaller and faster to send.
Here’s how compression works:
The file is shrunk – The service looks for areas in the image that look similar and merges them together, storing less information.
Tiny details are tossed out – Subtle textures, fine lines, and small color changes often get blurred or smoothed over to save space.
Resolution is reduced – Many platforms lower the number of pixels in the photo, which means less detail when you zoom in or print it.
The more times a photo is sent, saved, and re-uploaded, the more it’s re-compressed. Each “copy of a copy” loses a little more detail—like photocopying a photocopy until it looks fuzzy.
This is why, when I turn a texted or social-media photo into art, I’m often working with fewer fine details than in the original. I can enhance it, sharpen it, and bring out color, but some of the original crispness is gone forever—compression makes sure of that.
Before, a text message photo
After, a double exposure art print of the above photo, to soften it.
Each photo I take is more than just an image—it’s a piece of a story, a glimpse into a moment that stirred something in me. Whether it’s the pure joy of a child hugging her sheep or the quiet bond between a girl and her horse, my passion lies in capturing the emotions that live within these simple, beautiful connections.
I don’t just take photos—I create art that I hope will make you feel something too. Even if just for a moment, may it lift your heart, bring a smile, or remind you of the beauty in the everyday.
Horse Portraits, a couple of horses I photographed at the fair we were at. I don’t know the folks who owned the horses. In scenario’s like this. I like to photograph what catches my eye. Looking for a pose from the horses with the ears up and looking at something.
I use these as my sample portraits for my customers on my website. Plus sharing the beauty of horses with all of you. 🙂
The Hand Shake , one of my favorite parts of a show is the hand shake from the judge. No one knows who is the winner at this point. The judge does not line them up by 1st, 2nd, 3rd.
He lines them up and then pauses for a moment. Having everyone watch in anticipation. Then he goes up and shakes the hand of the winner. Always a fun time.
Fair time has always been one of my favorite parts of summer. It’s more than just a local event—it’s a true celebration of community, bringing together people of all ages. One of the best sights is watching the younger kids proudly show off the animals they’ve raised, all hoping to take home that coveted grand prize.
But the fair is about so much more than ribbons and trophies. It’s a hands-on way to teach the next generation about animal husbandry—how to properly care for livestock, understand their needs, and take responsibility. It’s also a chance for kids to get outside, work hard, and learn the value of dedication… all while having a great time doing it.
There’s something special about the mix of tradition, learning, and pure summer joy that makes the fair unforgettable every year.
My Cat – I think my cat likes to mess with me. Some days she is just chilling, looking peaceful and sitting quietly as I photograph her.
Then she does this sudden move and looks at the ceiling like a giant spider is going to land on my head. As I am looking all over trying to see what she is looking at.
The next minute she as a look that says, ” Just Kidding”, nothing there, Gotcha. They are way smarter than we think they are. 🙂
Chic Chic Chickadee, so many different poses. Taking a photo of these little birds perched on a branch is easy, and lots of different looks. But trying to get them flying is more of a challenge. Fast little birds.
Photography has a beautiful way of revealing the unseen—those fleeting sparks of light or emotion that the naked eye might miss.
I love stepping outside the box with my camera, especially during moments like the Fourth of July. Using a long lens, I draw closer than usual, not just to fireworks, but to the magic hidden within them.
In this shot, what might seem like just an explosion of color turns into something more—golden trails that resemble glowing eyes circling the light, watching, wondering. It’s in these surprises that photography becomes more than documentation—it becomes storytelling.
My hope is always to evoke a feeling, to stir a smile, and to offer a moment of wonder for anyone who takes a moment to look. Let your imagination run free—maybe you’ll see something entirely your own.
Finally Made it to a Waterfall – sometimes summer’s can be busy. We always try to take a couple of days to go for a walk at some waterfalls in our area.
Almost a Perfect Heart – I do love going for rides into the country. I enjoy looking at livestock in the pastures. We pulled up to a stop sign at this corner here, I got the camera out because I saw the calf is close enough for a photo.
Then I noticed the heart shaped marking on its for head. How cute is that. 🙂
Abe’s Grill, when we are out traveling, one of the things we like to do is find original places to dine at. Small mom and pop shops where the food is authentic and usually pretty good.
We found this small little hidden jem of a restaurant in Corinth Ms. On this day, Abe, the owner and founder was in the building. He loves to talk and tell the story of how it all came to be.
The man cooking in the this photo is Abe’s son. As you can see, Abe has collected many things in his travels with his wife.
He told us he built this place 52 years ago. He built the place himself with his wife. Back then he made .18 cents an hour. $9.00 a week.
The man in the black shirt is Abe, he actually still works the walk up window and takes the orders from folks there. He hands the order to his wife, who gives it to their son to make. The restaurant is a very narrow place, you can’t help but to talk to folks in that tight of quarters.
We enjoyed our visit with him. Have a great weekend. 🙂
This Old Barn, nothing is prettier than old barns. we came across this one in Indiana. The sign on it says Livery Barn.
A livery barn (or livery stable) was a place, especially in the 1800s and early 1900s, where people could:
Rent horses or horse-drawn vehicles (like buggies or wagons)
Board their own horses temporarily (like a parking garage for horses)
Sometimes get basic blacksmithing or tack repair services
They were usually located in towns near hotels, train stations, or general stores — sort of like today’s rental car lot meets animal boarding facility.
So if you see a sign or reference to a “livery barn,” it’s often connected to a historic setting or an old-fashioned service for travelers.
Northern Flicker, I was sitting on the porch watching this beautiful bird as it is looking for food. I have a pair of these that nest near the cabin every summer.
They love going in the soft dirt of the garden as they hunt for food. I don’t seem to have that many birds this year. But I can always count on seeing a couple of these.
There are treasures in the forest that many never see—not because they aren’t there, but because life moves too fast for most to notice. But when I step into the stillness of the woods, I find a different kind of richness.
Moss growing quietly on stone, like a miniature world of its own. Trees bent and twisted by time and weather, yet still reaching upward in quiet perseverance.
Wildflowers blooming in places no one planted, a gentle reminder that beauty doesn’t need an audience to exist.
Out there, away from the hum of the world, I find a place where I can listen—not with my ears, but with my heart. In the silence, I hear the unspoken words of life.
Of resilience, wonder, and the quiet artistry of our Creator, who placed these treasures not to be rushed past, but to be discovered.
As we step into the weekend, I’m reminded how life itself is a canvas—brushed with moments of joy, wonder, and the quiet companionship of our beloved pets.
Whether it’s the soft strokes of fur in a hand-painted portrait or the breathtaking artistry of a sunset sky, we are constantly surrounded by beauty—crafted by my hands, and far more masterfully, by the hand of our Creator.
May this gallery of pet portraits serve as a reminder that art is everywhere, waiting to be seen, felt, and celebrated. Here’s to a weekend filled with inspiration, gratitude, and the simple joy of noticing the beauty that surrounds us.
New Art Form – it is hot across the country this past weekend. So, I go outside for a bit and than back inside.
Being inside, I always have computer work to do of some sort. This past weekend I saw a form of art that I found appealing. I begin researching how I could make a similar version to what I saw. It looked like stencil art to me. It took me most of the weekend, but I figured out how to do a version of it that I like on my computer.
I find it to be a unique art form to add to my collection of animal portraits.
I am still perfecting the tones and textures. Always thinking outside of the box. 🙂
This morning, I watched a raven—a mighty bird in size and strength—being chased off by a much smaller blackbird. The raven didn’t fight back. It simply flew away, retreating from the smaller bird’s fierce determination to protect its territory. I captured the moment with my lens, but it lingered far longer in my heart.
It’s a scene I’ve watched many times in nature, but this time it stirred something deeper. I couldn’t help but think about what’s happening in the world—the constant unrest, the senseless killing in countries across the globe, the headlines filled with pain and violence. It’s relentless. And it’s easy to feel helpless, or worse, numb.
That raven reminded me of how even the strong must sometimes retreat. That courage isn’t always about fighting back—it’s about knowing when to move, when to rise above, and when to find refuge.
In the chaos, I find myself returning to one safe place: my faith in our Creator. The world may roar around us, but there is peace in His presence. There is order, purpose, and rest. It’s not always found in the news or the noise, but in the quiet of morning light, in the beating wings of birds, and in the whisper that reminds me I am held.
Maybe today, instead of trying to make sense of the madness, we simply lift our eyes. We look for beauty. We choose compassion. We stand firm in truth, but we also know when to fly—not in fear, but in wisdom. Just like that raven.
Summer Colors, some wildflowers in Yellow, they are growing in the driveway. My basket of flowers are doing really well so far.
But I have to say, my vegetable garden is not doing well at all. It has been a cold spring. With it being the middle of June, I don’t think I will see much produce before we leave.
Living next to a national forest, I’m always aware that wildlife—especially black bears—can show up anytime, especially in the spring when they’re hungry and looking for food.
At our place, bears usually come out of the woods from the same spot on the east side of our yard. They tend to follow the same paths year after year, especially if they’ve found food there before.
One morning around 6 a.m., I walked out to check on my garden, about 30 feet from our cabin. Like always, I glanced toward the woods as I wandered around. Our Jeep was parked between me and the forest that day, so I didn’t see anything at first. But once I walked past the Jeep and looked up—there she was. A mama bear. Standing just 50 feet away.
I froze and thought, “Oh crap.” I had no phone, no bear spray—nothing.
She started walking slowly, so I did too—heading calmly back toward the cabin. Every time she stopped and looked at me, I stopped. When she looked away and moved, I’d take a few more steps. We did this little dance three times.
Finally, I got within a few feet of the cabin. She looked right at me again, and I quickly slipped around the corner, onto the porch, and into the cabin. I grabbed my small .22 pistol—not to harm her, just to make some noise.
By the time I got back out, she was already running back into the woods. I fired a shot into the air, just to reinforce the message: this isn’t a good place to hang out.
I’d never want to hurt her or her cub, but we do share this land, and it’s important to set boundaries—for safety on both sides. I haven’t seen her since, and I’ve decided not to put out any bird food for the rest of the summer.
Video below of baby bear getting up on the table or click this link HERE, Baby Bear
