Paula and Jory

The hardest part about visiting my family is when it's time to leave. I always miss my nieces so much.

I love your cold nose on me

so there i was, getting fuzzy on wine, sitting on the couch talking on the phone with friends when I decided to call it a night and head to bed. I fell in and buried myself under my heavy quilt loving the weight pressing down on me and with a smothering contentment, I sighed a last sound and started to fall fast asleep. But then, my mind instead of finding quiet comfort, wandered in another direction.
Recently there have been so many goings-on in the local hood concerning our four legged friends. most recently there was the sad story of Shady Lane Kennels and the deplorable conditions in which over a hundred dogs were forced to live. and this week there was the controversial bill in the Montana house proposing a ban on pit-bulls. what bothered me about that bill was not the dogs, or the question of whether or not the ban would make our state safer or not, but the idiocy and backwoods thinking of some annonymous folks who emailed the representative who started the bill. they threatened and harrassed and said some pretty horrible things. I'm sure those same people aren't the ones who showed up at the capitol to go against the bill in proper order, those people weren't afraid to show their face and were there with real voices, unlike the anonymous hiding behind the late night glow of their computer screens. it's amazing how quickly some people can start grunting and throwing things, having a tantrum,,,,makes me believe that maybe evolution is the truth and we are derived from monkeys! anyway, I digress,,,,
All I know is that my heart is heavy for all the animals in bad places. I know, as I write this tonight at nearly 2 am there are pets out there in the below freezing cold and I wish so much that I could help, but where do you start?!! It's frustrating.
I really don't believe the penalties are harsh enough for owners who mistreat and I don't understand why. I was going to say that I'm sorry for going on about this, but, I'm not. I love animals and cannot stand seeing them hurt.
well, I feel a little better getting some of that off my chest, and tomorrow I know i will wake with a new reserve and I will find a way to make a difference.
In this moment, I want to wish a hug out to my friend Roni who lives in the Carolinas who just lost her best pal Lucky this past Monday. It was extremely hard for her and as I read her letter to me tonight I had tears on my cheeks. Lucky was 11 years and as I know Roni, she had a wonderful life, but it's still hard.
I have to say, now that I'm on my own, I do miss having my little buddies, Andrew, Chloe and Kota and it's hard, but I know that I can see them anytime and that they remember me when I stroll through the door. I even think of Miss Ava often, how could you not love her,,,,,plus, she keeps the backyard free of roaming lions.

Portland or Bust

Tonight I had a quick but good conversation with a longtime friend and fellow photographer. He has decided to close up shop, sell his house and head west towards his roots. He actually told me this a few weeks ago but we hadn't had the chance to talk much since then. When I first moved to Billings years ago, he was the guy who printed my images and I also learned a lot through our weekly conversations when I visited his shop. I hate to see him go but I know he'll enjoy shooting for himself again and like me, he just hasn't had much of that time lately. I am reminded of this image when I chat with him and his journey ahead. I shot it on a trip with Amy down the coast almost two years ago.

Take care Ragnar! We'll all miss ya'!

And if you want to move to Billings, his house is up for sale and it's beautiful! Check it out!

Jen

I love this picture of my sister :) We grew up in a little house way down Harlen Rd out in the middle of the country-ness. She absolutely loved her Raggedy Ann and dragged the poor gal everywhere. Takes me back to simple days and simple ways. Wet mittens, snow in your boots and frosty smiles. haha, check out those buck teeth of hers!! Love ya's sis.