A Wide Angle View of the Houston Stock Show

So, the Hubster and I had a Date .

We spent a lovely springtime  afternoon strolling the midway at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo where there was no shortage of color.

Mike’s a great sport about my camera habit.  He knows that if he doesn’t keep an eye on me, I will stop and get lost or wander off in to  anything that looks interesting. What I like most, though, is how he has learned to stop and stand right behind me if I suddenly  squat down to the ground to get a low perspective on something.  He’s wonderful about guarding  for baby strollers and roving bands of pre-teens  who could all run me down in a heartbeat.

For our Stock Show Afternoon, I decided to give my new 16-35 mm wide angle lens a serious test-drive.  It was  the only lens I carried for the day.    In fact, my backpack was so light that we felt better once we purchased a couple of cokes, drank a few sips and then tossed the bottles  into the pack to enjoy later.

Wide angle photography is really a new thing to me.    This lens is all about the big picture.   So . . . here are a few fun images from   our day, starting with the midway.

Getting There:  One for the Money! 

Two For the Show — and  What a Show it was.    We enjoyed some Mutton Bustin’, Heifer Judging and Smiling Pigs (which I learned are called Market Barrows) sleeping in their stalls.

This young lady, above, and her cow were the best of friends.  They made me smile as she rubbed the cow’s head and it nuzzled her right back.

No show would be complete without tons of Fair Food.    You name it . . . somebody was frying it.

And Every Young Princess Needs Pink Boots and a hat  to go to the Rodeo.  Somebody had a very special day! Of course I’m assuming the vendors meant no pictures of PEOPLE WEARING these HATS.

You KNOW I would never want to break a rule.  ; D

New Kids Coming to the Block

Just a few days ago, while cleaning up my outdoor studio, I met a brand new neighbor.

Actually I didn’t meet her that day, but I liked the way she was decorating her new home, so I decided to come back later to visit.

She must have run to the store for just a minute, because she left one of her kids to answer the door.  I said I’d come back later.

Yesterday, I finally got to meet my neighbor.

She’s a pretty little red sparrow . . . the kind with a mask across her eyes.

Appropriately enough, since we met on Mardi Gras  and she was wearing a mask and feathers, I named her Mardi.

Mardi now has four eggs in the 7-UP crate that sits on the Front Porch of my studio neighborhood.

We’re not going to disturb her, but will work carefully around her and hopefully we’ll be able to watch for the babies in the days ahead.

I’m so excited!

Although Mardi is terribly camera-shy, I believe the kiddos will be extremely photogenic.

Girlfriends Gather to Giggle as They Fight Domestic Violence

A “Big Girls Pajama Party”  That’s how it’s touted, and it’s really a great way to describe the Girlfriends Giggle, held every year in Sugar Land to support the Fort Bend Women’s Center.

Where else can bunches of professional business-women run around in matching Jammies while they get manicures, pedicures, henna tattoos , massages, and more?

They shop, they eat and drink, they laugh . . . and of course they  all  stop by my photo booth for a group portrait.

This is one event where humor and creativity rule, and I’m so proud to be a part of  it all for three years in a row.

Some of my favorite groups at Giggle included the Village People; my Lovely Charlies Angel Assistants - Susan, Heidi, and Rebecca; The Get Your Giggle On Pajama Contest Winners; and The Charming Ladies of Mardi Gras.

Coming back to GIGGLE year after year, one of the greatest rewards is hearing people say how much they enjoyed the photographs that they ordered over the last two years. But the REALLY REALLY best part is getting phone calls from these ladies afterward when they schedule their weddings, family portraits  and  powerful-sexy lady boudoir photography parties.

Now THAT is a RUSH!

The Bale Law Firm ,  acts as a major sponsor of the event, providing  a nice chunk of funding to make the GIGGLE possible, and their ladies have come by my booth every year for pictures. Now they tell me that they have a whole collection of Girlfriends Giggle photographs on display in their office. How’s that for community spirit! I love these ladies  enjoying milk and cookies above with bright shiny smiles, tiaras and  red satin jammies.    One other sponsor that was oh-so-fun to meet was Jan Loggins of J Loggins Jewelers She provided a lovely bracelet as a doorprize, and here she is  above with her team and the lucky winner!

Okay . . . a few more  favorite groups from the evening.

Did YOU get your Giggle On this year? If so, you’ll want to be sure to pick up your Giggle Portraits before the end of March.

Just scroll to the top of this page, go to PROOFS and then select EVENTS.

If you didn’t get to Giggle this year, there’s always 2012.  Start planning NOW so that you will be in on the fun too!

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