My oldest most favorite saying...

If you Don't have time to do it RIGHT THE FIRST TIME, then when do you have time to DO IT over again??? -unknown

Communication quote of the Day

The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives ~
Anthony Robbins

Shows I love!

Even though I don't have a lot of time, I love TIVO, and I'm a huge fan of Educational shows.
Here's a list of my favorite REALITY and EDUCATIONAL SHOWS that I TIVO and watch religiously!

Ive learned so much from these shows.


1. HGTV To learn any type of home remodeling, dyi projects, decorating etc. My favorite show on that chanel is Designed to Sell, with Lisa LaPorta and Clive.

I love her taste. I would say that Im the most like her of all the designers on this chanel. http://www.hgtv.com/designed-to-sell/show/index.html

or go to http://www.hgtv.com/

2.OPRAH
To learn anything about being a better person, mom, more spiritual, more in touch with your self. Finances, health, beauty, etc. OPRAH. http://wwwoprah.com/

3. Fixing Dinner
Everything you need to know about getting a delicious meal on the table every evening and how to be more organized and faster doing it! I LOVE THIS SHOW! Ive been watching it for over a year and that Host Sandy Richard is my domestic hero.

Mon, Wed and Friday on channel 43 here in Wichita Falls. (American Life Chanel) She's gonna be famous soon, just wait and watch! http://www.americanlifetv.com/programs.php?programid=FD

4. Suze Orman
To learn about money, retirement, debt, investing and how to be smarter financially in all ways. Suze is the GURU and shes my financial heroine. Ive bought every books shes written since her first. Shes why I have an IRA and every other choice Ive made the past 6 7 years. http://www.suzeorman.com/

5. Dr. Phil
Yes I like him so what? I'm tired of taking heat about him. Hes the Uncle I wish I had. He's the voice of common sense in this world. This is how people used to be, before the 80s hit and everyone stopped being responsible for their own actions. I am like him and proud of it. He tells people the truth and sometimes the truth hurts. We need his straight talking no nonsense type of wisdom and I have learned so much from him. My favorite quote of his, "So how's your way been working so far?" http://www.drphil.com/

6. 10 years Younger
This show is amazing. There are women who have let their jobs and children take priority over themselves and they are down in the dumps about their appearance. They send them to the Dentist, Dermatologist, hair Stylist and make up artist and teach them how to dress and its amazing what a little spit and polish can do for any lady or man for that matter. Love love love it! On the TLC Chanel. http://tlc.discovery.com/guides/fashion/10-years-younger/10-years-younger.html

7. What Not to Wear
Stacy and Clinton are honest and brutal at times, but they always know what they are doing and people are always better off for it. Again I like people who tell the truth, and know what they are talking about and help others. I have learned some things from this show on how to dress for my body type and figure. Love it! http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/whatnottowear/whatnottowear.html

8. American Idol
Boy not everyone can sing and some people are tone deaf, and again SIMON tells them Like it is.
And for those who do have talent the Sky's the limit. Never miss it. On FOX Tues & Weds at 7 CST. http://www.americanidol.com/

9. The Biggest Loser
Hard work, sweat, determination are what gets these couch potatoes up and at 'em and this show changes lives. Its always the same story, Stop crying, stop pouting and get up and do it! Work hard and good things happen. HARD WORK PAYS OFF. Jillian reminds me of my high school Track Coach Mrs. Jennings. No kidding. And I loved her.

Tuesdays 7 Cst. on NBC http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/

10. Super Nanny and Nanny 911
OMG! I cant believe what Brats these kids are? I cant believe what weaklings their parents are? The recipe for a bad kid is Inconsistent parenting. Where one parent is too soft and one is the Bad Guy and they arnt consistent with their kids always equals a brat.

That's how these kids become bad kids. But once the parents are respectful of each other and join forces (United we stand, Divided we fall I always say.) and lovingly set boundaries and teach their kids consequences then the kids straighten up and are happier and well behaved.

I Never MISS THIS SHOW and I think Every Parent should watch it. I messed up my first kid by being too nice, but I learned and my 2Nd child, and he is a Great Kid because we do these principals in this show. Those nannies do know human behavior and how to change it. I love nanny Stella and Debbie, those 2 are my favorites. Comes on ABC Family at different times. http://abcfamily.go.com/abcfamily/path/section_Shows+nanny911/page_Detail


11. Wife Swap (ABC)
This show is really entertaining to me. Its where 2 families who are usually opposites, have the mothers move in for 10 days in the opposite homes. So you usually have for example one mother who is Strict, a Clean Freak, organized and very orderly, go live with a bunch of slobs in Mississippi who have a pet Hog in the house and haven't bathed their 4 dogs in 5 years.

(NOTE there is no sexual swapping here, get your mind out of the gutter!) Its only Moms and how they run their homes that is swapping here.

The reason I like it is because the women always do grow and change somewhat and learn that maybe their ways are a little too extreme. It shows them how the other half lives. I would love to actually be on this show, but they would never pick me because I'm too middle of the road. You have to be an extreme person for them to choose you and I'm both easy going and organized and both clean and sometimes can let things be "lived in."

But wow, is it always entertaining. And I love that they really do Learn something . ABC -Fridays at 7 pm CST. http://abc.go.com/primetime/wifeswap/index?pn=index

12. Giada De Laurentiis

Another woman who is a great cook, and cooks Itallian mostly. Love her show and have learned a lot from her. And she is so beautiful, its almost a distraction. http://www.foodnetwork.com/everyday-italian/index.html

Okay, now heres a couple of my GOOFY NONSENSE shows I like.

forgive me here please. I cant help my twisted sense of humour.

13. ROBOT CHICKEN is a cartoon made from Barbie Dolls and Gi Joes,. Now you are seeing my Dark Side. ( Im sorry, Cant help it. Its on Adult swim Channel 23 (Its for adults, and a little edgy. WARNING)

http://www.adultswim.com/shows/robotchicken/indexpage.html#video

14. Aqua Teen Hunger Force (another twisted in bad taste cartoon for adults. But gosh I love it.) http://www.adultswim.com/shows/aquateenhungerforce/indexpage.html#video

Okay now Off to the Gym! D.D.

The Sky Angel Cowboy, Logan

This is a great story. This is about a little boy (who is 13) named Logan that lives on a ranch in Nebraska and he calls into a radio station to tell a story about something.
Its a tear jerker but so worth hearing and so inspiring and uplifting.

Always remember that God understands and run to him. Share it with others okay?
Hugs Dixie Heres the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh5Fa6vZuFo

What a real ice storm looks like

Now we need to stop complaining. These pictures were sent to me by my friend Felicia.

This is Lake Geneva in Wisconsin.

Im not complaining no more!

SURFS UP!

It was a fun Snow Day!

Today was a fun day! I love Snow days. My son was home sick with me, he has a double ear infection, but hes feeling much better now that hes been on antibiotics for a day.

We watched movies and he had some friends over. I made Quesedillas, and Brownies and a wonderful Beef stew and it was fun to be silly and just play.
I also worked in between cooking and baking and clowning around with him.

If you haven't seen these movies then I recommend them. We watched them on Pay Per View.

"You dont Mess with the Zohan" see preview here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmMXk0bA8gk So funny with Adam Sandler, but then thats my type of wierd sense of humour.


"Tropic Thunder" with Ben Stiller, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Cruise, Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black and Nick Nolte. Heres the cliphttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pxOzSpUXtg
I LAUGHED AND LAUGHED AND LAUGHED!

and the best for last.... "Reno 911 in Miami" (RATED R Not suitable for children! ) but my 16 year old loved it! It was so funny I was ROTFLMAO!) Priceless!!!!! My favorite by far! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPkPe55BGPo

These movies are guaranteed to make you smile. I just never saw them at the Theatre this year, and glad I got to see them the past 2 days.
Schools are closed again tomorrow, so Im not sure whether we will open late or half a day after lunch or what yet, but we will let our clients with appointments know something early!
Thanks!

D.D.

SNOW DAY! (Or ice Day)

The Studio will be closed today due to bad weather.

Well Jack Frost has frozen North Texas last night and this morning I got a call from the schools automated system saying the school was canceled. I went back to bed and my son got up on his own and was taking a shower when I got to tell him its a SNOW DAY!
He immediately turned off the shower and jumped back in bed!
Now he's lying under the electric blanket next to the fire place watching movies and eating pancakes. S P O I L E D. (that I made a face on with Kiwi for eyes and banana mouth.)

The thing is, he missed school yesterday, hes had a double ear infection for over a week and missed 2 days last week and missed yesterday too, so he just gets one more day to heal up.

I called my employees and told them to stay home and off the roads. Nothing is worth getting out in this in my opinion. Ive had several wrecks before on ice and in snow and its just not worth hurting yourself, others or your car.

We will be open regular hours tomorrow. I just saw a big fat Robin sitting in my front yard and he looked so sad, so I just put out some apples and raisins for him. (or her)

Ill be finishing up some more work, in fact I expect this week several orders to arrive, including The Steinbergers, Horton, Anderson, Woods, Wells, Matlock, Gordon-Smith and Watts. Hopefully beroe Friday we will aslo have Fritzsch, Kopals orders arrive too, but not for sure.

Hope you guys stay safe and don't get out unless you have to! It's going to be an adventure skating to the mail box today! Whhheeeeeeee! Too bad we cant make snowballs!

Is it Tom Cruise?

Hey Tell me that this guy does not look like Tom Cruise!? He does! WOW!

Dakota was so much fun. What a good sport. A lot of times guys come in thinking that they arnt going to like having their picture made and the next thing they know they are actually having fun.

Thats how it was with Dakota. But we wound up having a great time.

And I just couldnt get over how much he does look like Tom Cruise. haha.

What guy wouldnt like a photographer who said he looks like a movie star??

Thanks Dakota! It was a lot of fun!

Got a camera? Dont know how to use it??

Click on the banner to see it much much larger.

Hey Guys! Sorry I've been absent a lot lately. January is always just a strange time of year for me. Its when our photo sessions are slower, people are slower in general, staying in and out of the cold weather and playing with their Christmas presents!

(Like me, with my Nintendo DS playing Big Brain Academy. It challenges your brain every day to get smarter and faster with some challenging mind games. I love it!

and also sending orders to the lab. and getting caught up with last years work and doing a few photo shoots. But I am finding that I actually have some time on my hands lately!

(Yes, Ive even cleaned out all my dresser drawers and still a little bored.)

But the BIG NEWS HERE is that I have had SO many people over the years ask me to teach them photography. Ive always been too busy and have had to decline.

I used to teach Photography classes when I lived in Japan. I would have a class of 30-35 students and we met every Saturday from 9 am-2 pm for 6 weeks.

We went to the Japanese Botanical Gardens, and I taught them how to use their SLRS with a lot of attention on f stops, aperture shutter speeds, depth of field, seeing light freezing motion, blurring motion etc.

It was a lot of fun and hard work (I gave it up when I was pregnant with my son as it was so bloody hot in Okinawa Japan in the Summer.)

So I've been thinking, since I have had so many calls lately about it and a lot of people got SLR Cameras for Christmas and don't have a clue how to use them.

So after much soul searching and thinking about it, I am going to start offering one on one classes! A DAY LONG CLASS PRIVATE INSTRUCTION WITH A MASTER CRAFTSMAN PHOTOGRAPHER!

These classes will be for one day only and be One on One. So you get my undivided attention. So bring your SLR (Single Lens Reflex) this is the type of camera that the lenses come off, usually made by Olympus, Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Sony, Mamiya, Hassleblad etc...)

I will have an application on line soon, or you can submit an email now if you are interested. Below is the information. Also the good news, is that For me to close my studio for a day and not accept any photo shoots would cost me around $1000, to 1800.00 per day, but I'm offering these classes at the low price of $499.00! And you only are required to pay half when you schedule your day.!) (We take all major credit cards) So lets hear from you.

Call 940-761-5111 or shoot me an email to PDixie@sw.rr.com and let me know you are interested. Ill send back the dates that I am available. Also If you want to go on a wedding with me (I have a few this year) The price is the same and you can hang out with me at a wedding and learn my tricks of the trade for this too!) (I don't care if you bring your camera and shoot along side me for some shots too.)

So hope to hear from you soon by the way, You must email me within 2 weeks to get this special price. You can have your classes anytime, but you must email me and schedule your date within the next 2 weeks. My calendar will start filling up with photo sessions once Spring arrives (March) and I wont have a lot of time, so schedule your date now before I get really super busy.)

You have until FEB 6th (Next Friday) at Midnight to schedule and pay your deposit) and then its closed after that. 50% deposit required

Have a blessed Sunday!

Burkburnett Football Banquet

Sorry Im behind on some blogging this week, about to break for lunch but first i wanted to post the Football Banquet from last Sat night.
I cant say enough about the Burk Booster Club program last year. Julie Garcia is the go to girl!
She worked circles around all of us and was an amazing President!
She really has been a life saver the past two years. We love her.
Heres the link, If anyone wants to order some, I am offering them at a super reduced price and donating the remainder to the Booster Club. Email me for prices. Super Duper discounted!
Heres the link
http://www.millersalbums.com/?event=26286W55 It was a fun night!
All you have to do is type in your email and name and thats it!
Also, its fun to see them as a slideshow, so just click on the link that says View Slideshow, they are larger and you can see all the fun that way.

Where Ive been...

Making cupcakes of course!

Oh and lots of other things that I will tell you later! But I decided to make some cupcakes for my family this weekend.

They were so good, and we still have a lot left. So I shared some with my staff today. If you come by this week, I'll give you one! Ive got tons of them! I'm making a batch of Devils food ones tomorrow.I may start having them in the studio every day. So come and get one or two!

Here a cupcake place I love. SPRINKLES! The first time I went Los Angeles (Beverly Hills) I found them and now they have several locations including Dallas and Houston! http://www.sprinklescupcakes.com/about/food_philosophy.html They have the best cupcakes! But of course locally here I love Margies Sweet Shop. I love this time of the year because our studio is a little bit slower and I can do a lot of cooking for my family.

I made the most incredible meals this weekend! I think i spent most of the weekend and Monday too in the Kitchen.

But I'm still happy to schedule photo shoots, Just not the usual 9 per week that I usually do. So give us a call if you are in need of an appointment. We've got lots of openings this month.

(940)761-5111.

Loyalty

"Loyalty means nothing, unless it has at its heart, the absolute principle of self-sacrifice." -Woodrow T. Wilson

Quote for Tuesday

"Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." -Nathaniel Hawthorne

Timothy Faust and Altitude Gallery

One of my favorite things to do when I travel is to visit art and photography Galleries.

This weekend, I found a great one! It was in Breckenridge on Main street and I had to go in. Wow, what a jewel in the middle of no where. The gallery is called Altitude Gallery. I met Curator Timothy Faust and was so impressed by his photography and Gallery.

http://www.altitudegallery.com/ He is also a sports action, nature photographer. His work appears in all sorts of magazines including NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC.

I wanted to return that evening and meet the photographer who was being featured but we had to return our ski equipment.

Check out his work! If you are getting married, I hear Breckenridge is a beautiful place in the spring and summer time and Timothy is an amazing photographer. Its only a 2 hour flight from Dallas and then a beautiful drive up to Breckenridge.

http://www.timothyfaust.com/portfolio/wedding-portraits

To see more of his stock photography go here. Thanks Timothy for spending so much time with me! I enjoyed seeing your work and learning about your life and Gallery. It was a pleasure.

http://www.altitudestock.com/ Aslo, for my photographer friends who are reading this, Im also considering attending one of his workshops! And so should you! Here is one in the spring, that he told me about that will be in MOAB UTAH. Just beautiful. Check out the link to learn more.http://www.altitudegallery.com/workshops_desert_landscape.htm I think workshops like these are so refreshing and rejuvenating and you come back in Love with photography again with beautiful images.

life is not measured...

Did ya ever have one of those moments??

Did you ever have one of those moments when you felt like time stood still and your heart was so full of joy that you thought it might just burst?

I live for those moments. I had a few of them this weekend, while in Colorado standing there looking at the massive gi-normous snow covered mountains. Its not that Ive never seen them before. I've been to Colorado at least 4 or 5 times. (I even lived there for a very short time when I was ababy, but my mom missed Texas, so they moved back.)

But this time reflecting on the past year and the happy times and the sad times and the painful times, etc.


I just stood there looking at the snow covered mountains and I just felt so close to God. Like he was there. He created all that beauty. He created that woodpecker who was pecking on the aspen tree in front of me. He created that deep blue sky that almost looks fake, it was so blue.

He created those millions of pine trees. He created the sparkling snow, that sparkled like there were millions of tiny diamonds all over it.


The smell of someones fireplace, the deep woody smell of the wood burning in the distance and the insulating effect of the snow. Where it is so quiet, you can hear a pin drop.

Total silence but the woodpecker and a hawk or was in an eagle screeching way up in the sky.

Nothing else but the rhythm of your own breathing.


This is what I live for. And one of the best ways to is to experience things through your children.

I love to watch my sons face and eyes when hes really happy. It sort of doubles my happiness.
I hope you all get to have those moments where you just feel pure joy.

Think about those times in your life. It could be anywhere. It could be something as simple as petting your dog or listening to music. Or taking a bubble bath. Or it could be standing on a mountain. Or walking on the beach. Or watching a bird fly.
Or watching your child doing something. Or as simple as listening to a song with your eyes closed.

Sometimes those feelings only last about 5 seconds but they are so big. They can erase a lot of pain, that you may have had in the past.

I hope you can have one of those moments every day. Thats my wish for all of you. :-)

Rocky Mountain High

My husband has been up in Denver Colorado for some training for a few weeks. He surprised us by booking us a flight on Friday to Denver for a quick weekend ski trip!

My son left school early on Friday and we drove to Dallas and we caught a plane to Denver.

I didn't know where we were staying since my husband wouldn't tell me, so I was really delighted when he finally revealed to me it was a beautiful Bed and Breakfast that we've been to a couple of times before over the years located in Frisco Colorado (which is near Breckenridge) (the first time we went was 9 years ago!)

http://galenastreet.com/

It's got a nice jacuzzi and beautiful rooms and my husband booked the Big Round room you see in this photo. The Inn keeper Isabella is awesome and she made us a delicious breakfast and we got to play with her poodle (the big kind) named Sage.

Snowboarding, skiing, sipping hot chocolate by the fireplace, warming your feet by the fire, shopping, eating steaks at Farleys, http://www.farleyschophouse.com/ soaking in the Hot Tub, lying in the huge bed looking out the window watching the snow flakes fall. Having a cold beer in the ski lodge listening to the Band play this song by John Denver, "Rocky Mountain high... Colorado.... la la la Colorado...." I also got to meet a great guy who is an amazing photographer and also owns a nice gallery in Breckenridge. Ill add more about him in a little bit.

Thanks honey for a memorable weekend. Ill post some photos here for yall to see.

And good news is he is flying home this weekend for a long weekend to visit us.

(See my post back 3 years ago. http://wwwdixie.blogspot.com/2006_12_01_archive.html

I was so excited to see a Woodpecker right in front of me on the Aspen trees one morning! He was so cute!

Heres a short clip of our son Snowboarding. He intentionally falls at the end to stop. I wish he would of just kept going so you can see his Mad Skills! lol.

He went down runs that were double blacks! I dont know where he gets his energy! He snowboarded all day long until the lifts closed!

He said he did fall a few times when he was way up top where it was double black runs and he said NO ONE WAS AROUND up there. I guess no one is crazy enough to go up there but him! haha.

Oh and that is where my CELL PHONE IS NOW. Lying at the top of one of the mountains at Breckenridge Colorado.

Another old photo

Lately Ive been posting a photo from my family albums. Most of them have been when I was little. Yesterday I came across this one. This is when I was only 20 years old. I had long hair to my waist that was dark and this is my little girl. I remember this outfit shes wearing because I bought it for her at C.R. ANTHONY'S. Do you guys remember Anthony's? I loved that store because they had Gloria Vanderbilt jeans! (Those were cool back then. hahaha)

I cant believe that I thought I was fat back then. Guess how much i weighed then? 125! I was 5 foot 6 1/2 and 125 and thought I was big. I actually ran 3 miles a day at the Odessa Permian High School track back then. It would only take me half an hour to run 12 laps. That was my de-stress time. I only had about half an hour, so I put on my NIKES and tore it up for 30 mins and then back home to take care of that little girl. That little girl is now 27 years old. Wow, how time flies.

Weird. I have strange hair, it was blond when I was young, until I hit about 17, then it turned dark and grew super fast. So the ends were still blondish but all the rest was dark.

My former mother in law took this in her home, I remember it vividly. Now shes passed away but I still have so many vivid memories of my life then. Its a curse. I cant remember what I ate for breakfast for yesterday, but I can recount hundreds of stories of my every day life from about 5 years old to about 28 years old. Then it becomes a blur. ha ha.

Now its time for me to get on that treadmill. :-)

Let us tell your Story

These are really popluar here at the studio. They are "story-telling" composites. Each one is custom made by me. They are popular for Seniors and Children.

We call them "STORYBOARDS" and they are 20x10 inches in size. Sometimes we have frames and then sometimes, we tell you where you can get yours framed here in town. To see it better, just click on the image once. Have a good Friday!

Sassy Selina!

I love this guy!

If you love Dogs like I do, then you'll love the photography of Ron Schmidt. Ron graduated from the prestigious Brooks Institute of Photography and worked for various photographers in New York City, but his true love is dogs.

Check out his work. Its so amazing. It will make you smile for sure!

http://www.ronschmidtphoto.com You can also purchase his prints through http://www.GrandinRoad.com

Marvelous Madison

Todays quote

“The work will wait while you show your child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you do the work.” -Patricia Clafford

Discover the Cosmos!

Heres the link at the end of this post to see a different photo taken every day of the Cosmos. This shot was taken on Monday. Its showing a Comet and a Meteor streaking across the sky.

2 summers ago, I took my son and husband to the McDonald Observatory up in the Davis mountains (West Texas) and it was so amazing. I cant help but look at the stars on a really clear night and not get a big lump in my throat. Its just so awesome.

http://mcdonaldobservatory.org/

Its a great trip for anyone who loves to learn more about our universe.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html

Todays Quote

" You get the best out of others when you give the best of yourself.”

-Harvey S. Firestone quotes (American industrialist founder of the Firestone TireCo 1868-1938)

Watercolor Giclee paintings by Dixie

This is an example of one of our Watercolor Giclee images. This is a local physcian and a terrific family!

I have been creating these for about 8 years now. They are breathtaking in person! They look just like paintings. I do in fact "virtually paint" them. I can take up to 8-10-12 hours to complete one. I actually wrote a book for Photographers about this technique and just got a new printing of them in!

(More info at the bottom of post how to get your copy.)

They are a lot of fun, but a lot of work to do. But I enjoy it. But then I'm one of those people who love to paint my house. I actually like the time it takes to paint a room, (my husband cringed the day I came home with Scaffolding and painted our family room that has a 21 foot wall. (LOL!)

I've painted wall Orange , Yellow, Tiffany Blue, Green, Burgundy, Mocha, White, Lavender and Aggie Maroon. I love to paint, but I really love to paint portraits!

These Giclee images are great on portraits of children and families and they are actually on real artists canvas.

This is a wonderful family and about 7 years ago they commissioned me to paint one of their family. This one here, is the 2nd one Ive done for them.

I love to do them. Give us a call to find out more about them, or visit my other site for more info about them. http://photographybydixie.com/new_info.html There you can see the BEFORE and After images. For the photographers out there, If you'd like a copy of my book "From Ordinary to Extraordinary" give us a call at the studio (940) 761-5111 or send an email. PDIXIE@sw.rr.com

They are $44.50 and $4.50 for Shipping and handling and we take all major credit cards.

You'll find this step by step book easy to understand and use and you'll be well on your way to creating your first Giclee portrait.

How to Reach us

Our phone number is 940-761-5111 and I Just wanted to say if you are having a hard time getting through on our phone line, then you can always email me here at PDIXIE@SW.RR.COM and I promise you'll hear from me the same day!

We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you!

Fun Photos from the Past year

Who is Dixie???

I'm finishing up my new web site and I was working on my Bio page. These things are always so hard, because you don't want to sound as if you are bragging on yourself, but yet, you want to introduce yourself to people, so I decided to just make a list of the traits that people tell me I am. Or my family have told me in the past. So here goes.
Here's who I am in a nutshell (or so Ive been told)

Friendly (like my dog, I like everyone!)

Creative

Energetic

Sentimental

Romantic (A hopeless romantic)

Chatty

Understanding

Big Hearted

Kind

Chocoholic

Trusting

An armchair psychologist

Happy

Open (Too Honest sometimes)

Generous

Hard working

Tenacious

Naive sometimes

Searching

Playful

Impulsive

Caring

Hopeful

Loves a good challenge!

Tardy at times, (okay I'm perpetually late, its my biggest flaw)

Good speller

Interested in EVERYTHING! and EVERYONE!

World Traveler

Confident

Sympathetic

Mushy

Spiritual

Carefree

Don't like Mean people

Free Spirited

Forgiving

Resilient

Idealistic

Optimistic

Not a good checkbook balancer :(

Forgetful at times

Spontaneous

Don't eat enough vegetables.

Artistic

A Homebody

and...... LOYAL TO THE DEATH!

Okay, that's enough about me! I want to know all about YOU!

Todays quote

"Nobody stands taller than those willing to stand corrected." ~William Safire

Compact flash Cards on Sale!

Just a quick note here out to my fellow photographers. DURYS is having a sale, buy 2 - 2GB cards and get the third for free! The total price is only $45.00 for 3 cards! They also have larger cards, up to 16GB too for great prices. Nows your chance to stock up on flash cards while they are cheap! I like San Disk Extreme III cards, never had any problem with them. Heres the link.

http://www.durys.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?search=action&category=MCA2&keywords=all

The Dobbins Clan

Im so excited! The awesome photographer Devon just posted some of our family photos on her blog! She did a great job and I.m so proud of them.

It seems that a lot of photographers never get their own family portraits taken and I'm so happy that Devon accepted this difficult assignment.

(LOL)

To handle my husband, Dog and me and my son and make us look good, well thats not an easy task. This is one of my favorites here.

Thanks again DEVON! You were so sweet and we love them!

Sunday ramblings.

Just wanted to let you guys know that Ive been working on a new web site for about 3 months now and It should go live this week. Ill let ya know the day it does. I'm hoping Thursday or Friday, but it just depends upon the Company's schedule they told me.

We're making a lot of changes here, keeping the things that work and adding some new things etc.

We'll be going to Colorado Springs later this week to see some 2 friends and then onto Breckenridge for some skiing. Its going to be a really busy week for me. Have a warm Sunday! Its so chilly this morning! Got to get my son up for Church now, that sleepy head!

2008 in Review

50 Favorite Things..

A Photographer named Jessica that I love, made a list of 50 things that she loves and 50 things that annoy her, so I thought, what the heck. Here goes.

50 things I love

Real #1 Fav thing, Meeting the photographers who inspire me! Like Joe and Yervant here.

1. hearing a new song that touches me.
2. coming home on the day that my housekeeper has been here (and I hadn't remembered until I walked in and saw everything so neat and tidy.)
3. finding a bird nest with babies in it in my yard.

4. rain storms in the summer and the rainbow that follows them.

5. the feeling of sand between my toes. (like on a beach.)

6. the smell of Coppertone suntan lotion.

7. Serving a delicious meal that I cooked for my family and the satisfaction on their faces.

8. watching my customers cry when they see their photos for the first time.

9. taking off on a plane and also the jiggly feeling of landing and the plane slowing down. (I just love it for some reason??)

10. grinding my own coffee beans and sniffing them deeply before making coffee in the morning.

11. my husband surprising me and making coffee for me while Im still asleep.
12. My dog smiling at me and wagging her tail at me.
13. floating on an air mattress in my pool staring at the drifting clouds (or any pool really.)
14. going to a new country for the first time or a new city.
15. making friends with children whom I dont know and making them laugh.
16. my grandsons eyes looking up at me.
17. my dad singing songs and his laugh.
18. my mothers soft voice saying "goodnight shug"
19, hearing songs from my teenage years and even younger that take me back in time.
2o. My sons big bear hugs.
21. My husbands green eyes and soft hands. (does that count as 2 things?)
22. The satisfaction of kicking off my shoes in my car and driving home after photographing a long wedding.
23. watching "THAT 70's SHOW"
24. My microwavable heat pad
25. Getting HAPPY EMAILS FROM ANYONE.
26. Football games in person, not on TV
27. Getting massages
28. Breakfast at IHOP
29. Watching snow fall
30. Escaping on a trip to the mountains in the winter or a beach in the summer.
31. swimming with DOLPHINS! (ive done it twice and its out of this world!)
32. Finding one of my photograpy articles in a magazine and seeing my words and photos in print!
33. Singing into the Broom handle (like its a microphone) to an Aerosmith or AC/DC song.
34. Finding money in the dryer (bills not change)
35. Having my car Detailed by a pro and picking it up. (It seems my car even DRIVES better!)
36. Getting a Thank you Card in the mail from a Client.
37. Hearing from my family or friends.
38. My friend Francie and all our crazy memories.
39. Camping with my husband and son.
40. Roasting marshmallows and staring into the fire.
41. Mexican food.
42. Making elderly people smile.
43. Remembering a joke and telling it right and getting a laugh.
44. Teaching anyone anything. especially teaching Photography and seeing their eyes light up when they "get it."
45. Inspiring people (and especially when they cry because they are so happy and moved.)
46. Snuggling up in bed in fresh clean sheets at night after taking a hot bath and drifting off to La La Land.
47. Singing Christmas Carols in church with my family.
48. Getting a good report from the Dentist Gyno, Mamogram lady, etc..!
49. My kids doing good things.
50. Knowing my savior Jesus Christ and his love for me!

Wow, I could easily write 50 more things! Including the awesome feeling of scuba diving in the ocean! Flying with my Pilot husband in a plane and doing lots of "push overs" and getting butterflies in my stomach. Bunjee jumping, Watching funny movies with my son, big belly laughs that make me have stomach cramps and start coughing I laugh so hard, watching Americas Funiest videos (its corny but I always laugh so hard!) Making home made ice cream, and getting ice cream anywhere period! etc etc etc....

I dont want to write the 50 things that bug me tonight because Im too happy to think about them right now.

The quote of the day "BRAVERY"

“The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.”
- Thucydides

Just Look Up!

Thanks to my cousin Margret for sending this to me. These are the sorts of things that I LOVE! I love nature, I love astronomy and I love seeing the beauty in the world around us. I even have some real meteorites that my father found and gave me. Hes found hundreds of them in West Texas near the Meteor crater. Hes the one who taught me to look at the moon and sky and to appreciate it.

I hope you'll take a look here.
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap081231.html

Fun Friday

Today was a great day! I dont usually take photo sessions on Fridays, its the day my staff and I have our weekly meeting (POW WOW I call it) and we take care of loose ends.

Then after lunch my son and I went to the mall to do a little clothing shopping (We are going on a ski trip to Colorado, just the 3 of us this month.) Then we took my truck "Lucille" to the car wash and gave her a good bath. For those who don't know, shes my 1951 Chevy Truck. The main thing I was looking forward to was I had scheduled a family portrait photo session with the awesome photographer Devon! http://www.devonjimagery.com/

We met her this afternoon and we had such a great time. Shes so much fun and makes you feel really relaxed. The first time I met her, I felt like I had known her all my life. Shes got an artists soul and her degree is in art. I know a lot of photographers ( And I mean a LOT) and some have the eye and some dont. DEVON DEFINETLY DOES, so of course I had to choose her for our family portraits!

Then afterwards we went out for Mexican food, and then curled up by the fireplace and watched TV. It was a great day. Thanks Devon! It was awesome! B the way Devon does beautiful wedding photography too! I dont recommend many photographers (I'm very selective and picky) but her work ROCKS!

Im in the Mood for a Little Contest!

In the mood for a little contest?


Send me a New Years Photo for a chance to win a $100 Gift Certificate towards any future photo shoot in 2009!! T he image must show you at a NEW YEARS Party or have something relevant to NEW YEARS! Lets see those photos!!!
Email them to PDixie@sw.rr.com

Cute Couple

Recently I got to meet and adorable Couple M.& R.

They are so adorable together and we got so many beautiful images! Its so much fun for me as a photographer when a couple really are into each other and act naturally. Thanks guys, it was so great seeing your love for each other.

This is my favorite image from the day.

THE PHOTOGRAPHERS PRAYER

WOW! 2009 is here! Its going to be a great year. (Odd numbered years are always good for me, I was born in an odd year '63)

I wanted to post this, Ive had this for many many years, and I love sharing it with others. This is something that I believe and something that means a lot to me. Its the Photographers Prayer. Have a good day everyone and don't forget to eat your Black eyed peas!

The Photographers Prayer

Oh God, as I bring my subject into focus and prepare to make each portrait, never let me forget that I'm creating treasures for some family, a keepsake for loved ones. Make me sensitive to the qualities and virtues of others, that I may draw out into the light the beautiful radiant belongings of their hearts.

Help me to be an artist, collecting the beauty of every soul, the glow of youth, the gentleness, the laughter or tears of each life that is precious in Thy sight. Deeper than a means of livelihood, give me the perspective to see my photographer's art as a service to others, making life richer and more memorable.

And, dear Lord, between the lights and shadows, the ups and downs and the rolling years, keep me from getting out of focus or off center, so that my life and work may be framed with dignity and colored with contentment.
-AMEN Author Unknown