Special person

I just wanted to brag on one of my special employees. Gina. Let me tell you about Gina, she started out as a customer and became an employee. Gina is the sweetest, kindest, big hearted girl in the tiniest body you've ever met. She geniunely cares about people. Her full time job has her dealing with the elderly and shes good at it.

Shes kind to animals too. Shes what I call a QUALITY Person.

I love her.

Yesterday I got a package from a company that I buy shirts and things from and when I opened this package and it was th most adorable Note Cards!!! I didnt remember ordering them and I thought wow, this is a neat idea, but I dont remember doing it?? They had a drawing on them that I had made recently. (my love, peace and happiness -for me and you)Scroll back a few weeks.

I thought i was loosing my mind and just didnt remember ordering them. But i loved them nonetheless!

Then today I called her to ask her to Pet sit for me, and she asked me if I got the package.

This woman went on my blog, took this drawing off of it and ordered these nice note cards for me!

( I just checked the box and found the gift card!)

What a sweetheart. I love her and am so lucky to have her in my life.

Thank you Gina for the early birthday present. Youre a doll. Im lucky to have you as a friend.(and an awesome graphic artist too!)

The Advantages of Closing a few doors.

The next time you’re juggling options — which friend to see, which house to buy, which career to pursue — try asking yourself this question: What would Xiang Yu do?

Xiang Yu was a Chinese general in the third century B.C. who took his troops across the Yangtze River into enemy territory and performed an experiment in decision making. He crushed his troops’ cooking pots and burned their ships.
He explained this was to focus them on moving forward — a motivational speech that was not appreciated by many of the soldiers watching their retreat option go up in flames. But General Xiang Yu would be vindicated, both on the battlefield and in the annals of social science research.

Ive been a natural door closer. Ive chosen to cut way down on weddings, to turn away work in favor of my family, to end relationships with people because you cannot keep all doors open. Its exhausting. Read this article. I love it! It was in the New York times and now I feel vindicated!

My life is so much better since I started doing this about 2 years ago, afater a friend of mine "Angela from Michigan, had a heart attack at 39 and she told me, "I was photographing my brains out and chasing everything, while my kids were growing up practically MOTHERLESS." )
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/science/26tier.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

Also here is another article on the same subject .

http://www.predictablyirrational.com/pdfs/doors.pdf

Despair. Com

Ive loved this company since a photographer friend of mine John from Wisconsin told me about it several years ago. Its the same sense of humour that my father has. That tongue in cheek, pessimistic, sarcastic, "uncomfortable truths" type of humour. Their "demotivational" posters are the best!
My favorite one is "Its always Darkest, before it goes Pitch Black."

Check them out. Warning, only if you have a twisted sense of humour like me.

http://www.despair.com/

Sprinkles are the best!

I have to tell you about one of my indulgences (even though Ive lost 14 lbs since the first of the year so far!)

SPRINKLES. I love this place. I wrote this company and pleaded with them to open one in Texas! And they did in Dallas. They are on Preston and they are fabulous.

You can order them through the mail though too.

They are the BEST CUPCAKES ever. i first had one in California when I went on a trip a few years ago. (Katie Holmes had just been there minutes before I arrived.)

Lets be clear. they are not just pint-sized cakes. They are something else entirely. With 20 different flavors.

http://www.sprinklescupcakes.com/ One of my employees is in Dallas today. Ive got to get her to pick some up for me. A wedding I shot in Frisco, had them as the grooms cake and had coconut and milk chocolate. Oh well, Ill just add some more time in at the Gym. They are worth it.

Happy Leap Day!

Today only comes once every four years — leap year day.

Feb. 29 is a rarer occurrence than Christmas, Thanksgiving, Bastille Day or whatever your favorite holiday is — yet it hardly gets noticed simply because it’s seemingly just a random day added to the year, just so our calendar can realign with the earth’s rotation around the sun. So, in an effort to give our favorite non-holiday the respect it deserves, we present a few activities for your leap day celebrations.

1. Find and capture a leapling — a newborn leap day baby. (Rumor has it if you hold them down and rub their bellies, they’re required to give you their treasure.)

2. Kiss a frog. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has designated this leap year as the “Year of the Frog” to promote amphibian conservation and give these endangered species a fighting chance. Check out the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston or play a rousing game of Frogger.
3. Thank the heavens that you are not part of a culture that uses the lunisolar calendar, which adds an extra month every few years. One extra day in winter is bad enough ... imagine having to squeeze in a whole month.

4. Propose to your man. Irish folklore claims women were allowed to propose to men on leap year, according to National Geographic. Legend has it that St. Bridget pestered St. Patrick about the fact that women were tired of waiting for their beau to propose to them. He finally relented and said reverse proposals could happen every four years. Then, he went back to chasing snakes.

5. Visit Anthony, Texas, the leap year capital of the world. Residents throw a birthday party for everyone born Feb. 29. What else says leap year like a chili cook-off, hot air balloon ride and a horseshoe tournament?
6. Support the Quadrennial Council, a group of motivated individuals focused on improving the lives of leapers everywhere by challenging the government to add Feb. 29 to every succeeding calendar year. Check out their Web site — seriously — at http://www.leapday08.com/.

7. Go see “Jumper.” Afterward, resist the urge to leap off the J. Wilton Graves Bridge.

8. Make leap day a political issue. Leap year advocates have a myriad issues, such as the fact that Feb. 29 gets no official designation as leap year day from the federal government or most calendar makers. For reasons such as these, the Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies recently issued a statement on their Web site (leapyearday.com) during this presidental primary season: “Unfortunately, as has been the case in all 44 presidential campaigns, leap year day is simply not an issue. We won’t be making an endorsement this year because there is no candidate that represents our interests.” We think they’re half-joking.

9. Eat some Hoppin’ John. It’s usually considered a New Year’s Day treat around the Lowcountry, but it’s tasty enough to indulge in more than once a year. Call it, Leapin’ John.
10. Challenge a preschooler to any number of Leapster games. You might actually learn something — like humility.

To read about Anthony Texas and New Mexicos celebration, go here. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080228/LOCAL/802280516/1069/SPORTS0601

Flippin' Sweet!

http://www.cravegames.com/games/napd/main.html?gclid=CIz4zMLI6JECFQUQlwodkhLcew

Im Blue

Holly

Sorry I havent been blogging. Been really busy this week. Got some great things going this week!
Hint What do Bananas, The Carribean, March and Botox have in Common? Stay tuned and Ill let you know!

Heres Holly, sorry I am not posting everyone from this week, too much to do, maybe Ill catch up next week!
Have a great weekend!
D.D.

Power lifters

Good luck Bulldogs on Saturday!

Fun name html

Made by Andrea Micheloni

"What God hath joined together, let no man put assunder."

I have booked my last wedding for 2008. Sorry, if you are planning a wedding for this year, go ahead and give us a call or email and we will be happy to make a recommendation.

Just wanted to show y'all something to make you laugh. Our wedding photo.

(okay don't laugh, I wanted to wear a strapless gown, but back in 1991, things were more conservative, and I was a traditional girl. Look, I had a waist then! hee hee)

We have been married for 17 years this fall. When Bruce was just a young Captain (he is a Lt. Colonel Select, but hasn't pinned on yet.)

We were married in Irving in Bruces Church and our reception was a huge one at the Holiday Inn at DFW. It was a beautiful event. We hired the President of the Texas Professional Photographers, Bob and Linda Mintz. I remember almost having a heart attack because their least expensive package was $995.00. We spent around $1500.00 and that was 17 years ago!) They did a great job.

Now you know where our son gets his good looks from. His daddy! :-)

Just wanted to tell you guys, marriage has its ups and downs, but just remember that ultimately your spouse is your number one fan and the one who will be holding your hand in your old age and in your Golden years. Here's to all you Brides and Grooms, may your marriages be filled with love, laughter and lots of good times. I'm so proud and honored to be your wedding photographer of past and present. Drop me a line and say hi and let me know how you are! Gods Blessings, Dixie

Laughing so hard....

I love this stuff.

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY? (These answers are written by kids)

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.-- Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. -- Kristen, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?

Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.-- Camille, age 10

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.---Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON? Both don't want any more kids.--! Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.-- Lynnette, age 8
(Isn't she a treasure)


On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.-- Martin, age 10

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?
I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.-- Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
When they're rich. -- Pam, age 7

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.- - Curt, age 7

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. -- Howard, age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.- - Anita, age 9 (bless you child)

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED? There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there? -- Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favorite! is.... ....HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck. -- Ricky, age 10

Alexis

Thanks Alexis, your order will be in very soon!

Dixie

Pastor Delaney

One great thing about being a Professional photographer, is the wonderful people you get to meet.
This is Pator Delaney. Hes a great man, of intellect, kindness, humble and funny. Hes been serving the people of Wichita Falls for 40 yearas at St. Johns Church here in W.F. He and his lovely wife moved here in 1967 from Tyler Tx, my dads stomping grounds.
I really enjoyed getting to know him and his lovely wife.
The world needs more folks like him.
It was my pleasure Pastor. I hope he keeps spreading the gospel for another 40 years.

The speech of a lifetime, and final farewell

Ive written about this man before, but I wanted to share it with you again. This is a short exerpt from his speech. He is a good man and definetly inspiring. Ive always been attracted to inspirational people.

He is definetly right about, "If you wait long enough, people will show you their good side." and to always tell people the truth. And to push people hard if you care about them. I've always tried to do that. But young people dont like that at all. The people who rode me the hardest were the ones who hadnt given up on me.
I hope you enjoy it. This was on Oprah one day in November and I had my employee watch it with me, just days before we learned she had cancer.

Early detection

Well yesterday I finally did it. Something Ive been putting off for a few years.
Something I dreaded and was scared to do. I screwed up my courage and my hubby took off work and drove me to the North Texas Clinics. Then I walked in and faced the music.

(Guys, plug your ears now, or cover eyes shall i say.)
What did I do? I had an appointment for a Mammogram. Dana was very kind and gentle(As you can be doing what she did)

I told her I took pictures too! haha. She said she wished she got paid by the picture. :-)

She took several "scans" and i will admit it was a little painful (My skin was very red when it was over) and uncomfortable, but not unbearable.

She worked quickly.
I asked her if there was a PSI button on the machine, (pounds per square inch) so they would know how much pressure and she laughed. They do have something similar. I get the result in about a week.

Ever since my employee Keisha was diagnosed with Cancer in November last year I have been taking a lot better care of my health.

I also have lost a couple of friends who were younger than I am now.

I encourage you to do the same, if your doctor suggests it.
Cancer can show up at any time, and it's important to return every year to 2 years.
For more information on Mammograms and breast cancer call the Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-Cancer. Encourage your friends to do it, as early detection is crucial.

My "other" passion

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am always redecorating my home and studio. My husband used to come home from out of town, late at night (He used to be a First Officer for United Airlines) and he would trip over the rearranged furniture.

Have a Great weekend!

Total Lunar Eclipse

I heard that there was a total lunar eclipse last night but I also heard it will happen again tonight as well? I dont know for sure.

I am afraid that it will be too hazy to see it in Wichita Falls tonight. Ive been going out and trying to see, but its hazy tonight.

Too bad, It wont happen again until 2010.

(Note: a Lunar eclipse is where our own shadow passes in front of the moon and darkens it. The sun is on the other side of the world and we cast a shadow. Kind of strange to think about, that the earth casts a big shadow out in space. But it does.)

You can read about it here. There is a simulation. It will happen over North America around 10:00 pm. Check out this site for detailed info.

http://www.newsday.com/features/home/sfl-edge-lunareclipse08,0,456782.flash

I hear that the moon will turn a really red color during the Eclipse. Do you want to know how and why?

Here is the info on that.

Why is the Moon Red During a Total Lunar Eclipse?
During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth blocks the Sun's light from reaching the Moon. Astronauts on the Moon would then see the Earth copletely eclipse the Sun. (They would see a bright red ring around the Earth as they watched all the sunrises and sunsets happening simultaneousely around the world!) While the Moon remains completely within Earth's umbral shadow, indirect sunlight still manages to reach and illuminate it.

However, this sunlight must first pass deep through the Earth's atmosphere which filters out most of the blue colored light. The remaining light is a deep red or orange in color and is much dimmer than pure white sunlight. Earth's atmosphere also bends or refracts some of this light so that a small fraction of it can reach and illuminate the Moon.

The total phase of a lunar eclipse is so interesting and beautiful precisely because of the filtering and refracting effect of Earth's atmosphere. If the Earth had no atmosphere, then the Moon would be completely black during a total eclipse. Instead, the Moon can take on a range of colors from dark brown and red to bright orange and yellow. The exact appearance depends on how much dust and clouds are present in Earth's atmosphere. Total eclipses tend to be very dark after major volcanic eruptions since these events dump large amounts of volcanic ash into Earth's atmosphere.

the total lunar eclipse of December 1992, dust from Mount Pinatubo rendered the Moon nearly invisible.
All total eclipses start with a penumbral followed by a partial eclipse, and end with a partial followed by a penumbral eclipse (the total eclipse is sandwiched in the middle). The penumbral phases of the eclipse are quite difficult to see, even with a telescope. However, partial and total eclipses are easy to observe, even with the naked eye.

Myli

What an adorable little girl. Mylie is Korean and so adorable. She is two and very smart. Her beautiful long lashes and dark eyes made me fall in love with her. She wore her traditional Korean clothing a Hombaca also.
Thanks Mom and Dad for choosing us. Im making a beautiful album from her portraits. (like they make in Korea)

Kelsey

Another gorgeous Burkburnett Girl! Is there something in the water up there?

6 days of FUN!

WOW, What a week I had! I went to Dallas on Friday and just got back today!
Had a great time, got 2 merits, saw Photographers from all over the country. Ate Steak, Chocolate, Red Wine, Learned a lot, Shot a Lot, Loved the newly decorated room at the Sheraton. Thanks Krista! My roomie from Hobbs New Mexico, who stayed up until 2:00 am talking and teaching her photography and the laughs, smiles, hugs.
Gosh, I love my photographer Friends.
LOVE YOU ALL! And I GOT 2 More Merits! That makes like 81 merits! YIKES!
More to come later.....WOW, what a ride!

Love Mail

My mother in law never forgets us on Saint Valentines day. She always sends us some love in the mail. Even when we were in Japan, she never forgot us. Yesterday she sent CHOCOLATE! and a homemade card. I always look forward to her packages.
She was kind enough to send me some 100 calorie Reeses for me too!
I am decorating the house this morning for our Valentines Dinner and I made this little "still life" from the Hershey Kisses she sent!
Have a love filled day.





































To find out more about where Valentines Day originated. It came from ROME and the Christian Church. St. Father Valentine who secretly married couples against the emporers law.February 14th is the day he was executed (how sad!) Cupid began as the Roman God of Love and we still use that symbol today. I found a short video from the History channel which explains it.
http://www.history.com/minisites/valentine

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Here at Photography by Dixie, we LOVE LOVE LOVE OUR CLIENTS! If we could, we would give you all a BIG SIMULTANEOUS HUG RIGHT NOW! But this web log entry will have to do....
Have a great day! My husband is cooking dinner for the two of us (Steaks and Sushi from United Marketstreet!) and we are avoiding the restaurant crazy thing.
Hope you all have a good one and let everyone know you love them! (By the way, My wonderful mother in law sent me some 100 calorie Reeses candy and a beautiful card and sent our son some goodies too. She always remembers all of us on Valentines Day. Im lucky to have such great inlaws and family! Love to you all!
XXXOOO
Dixie

Salute our Soldiers

My hubby has been in the Air Force for 24 years. He retires late next year. I so admire his dedication and those of his fellow men and women.
This commercial makes me cry when I watch it. Lets remember to be respectful and thankful to our service men and women. They DESERVE IT.

MY FAVORITE PROP