Luna is a difficult creature, the grumpiest, perhaps the ugliest, and least affectionate animal on the farm. I guess I love her for that, although not all that much. She adores Elvis, and stays close by him at all times, and lately, has been allowing me and Annie to scratch her nose. Beyond Elvis, she has little interest in anything but food, and when she is in season, she chases him all over the place. Fortunately, he is neutered. I could not afford a little Elvis. Luna needs a home, and she has one here. She doesn’t have to be all that nice.

  April 2, 2008 – I love this picture of Rose, eternally on watch for her squirrel. She reminded me, as did some of you in gentle but pointed e-mail, not to take lazy, lousy pictures. The portrait of Winston that I put up earlier in the day was lazy, and thus, lousy. He needs a better backdrop to show off his gorgeous coloring.
  Point-and-shoot (I guess I am a bit tired today) is not the way to take a memorable portrait. You have to think about it, and capture the essence of the animal or person. Think of the color, the backdrop, the light.
   I got off to a good start with the dogs, then got lazy. Not a big deal, but I appreciate the feedback, especially when it’s right. You do not improve by patting yourself on the back for mediocre work. And I want the photos to be good. I do not want to do mediocre work, in any realm, and I am blessed with a surplus of people – Paula, Emma, Brian, Bruce, Maria, Bill,  Becky, Steve – who are happy to pin my ears back.  So thanks for the praise, thanks for the criticism, Linda. I deleted the Winston portrait and will try again this weekend.
  I told the Granville kids that you get better by listening as much – perhaps more – to what people don’t like about what you do, as what they do.
  Rose reminds of her spirit – conscientiousness