Six weeks of capturing dog images

Where to begin?  Well I realize it's been a long time since I was able to update our blog page. This has got to the busiest spring we've had to date. I'm sure alot of that comes with having two busy, little blessings to care for, a flourishing business and all the other stuff that life throws at you.

We recently came home from a six week long trip up the east coast doing dog pictures for upcoming publication work, the backbone of our business. We made our way first a bit south to Tennessee, then back home  briefly (two days literally)  to NC, then off to Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey during that time. While in Maryland we briefly got to see some good friends on the Eastern Shore and had an evening  to spend with some of my family, who we see only  a  few times a year. Lyndsay and Charis had a great time visiting. In Delaware we spent a couple of days visiting my parents, which the girls just ate up. I think Mom and Dad probably slept for a week afterward!

 We had been in prayer before the trip believing for good weather and moderate temperatures and were blessed that overall the weather held for the most part and we lost very little shooting time to inclement conditions. The report on the other hand from home was that it rained nearly every day.  Only once did I have to shoot under the cover of an umbrella for about an hour or so. The dogs didn't seem at all bothered by the heavy drizzle. It would have been a different picture for the camera gear on the other hand, had it not been for a couple of the very determined owners helping in every way they could to keep it all dry. Nearly every shooting day, Bane stayed at the camper with the girls, trying to hold down the fort so to speak. Many of the campgrounds had play areas or something to help pass the time. They wore Daddy completely out as any normal toddlers will. The camper was on site for a couple days of shooting, but I rarely saw my family as I was hopping the entire day, with an average of about 30 dogs a day. Several shoots were about 10 hours long, plus the time at the end of the day to download images, clear memory cards and backup all the work from that day. I came in as the girls were about to go to bed, said goodnight to them, and ate dinner as I worked on the computer, then dropped into bed at some point....late. If you are interested in seeing some of our work you can visit our business website which is still under major construction www.cefkphotos.com which will showcase a number of our large dog stock photo collection available to editors for publication. We are still in the uploading process since we have hundreds of thousands on file, but will select some of our newest and best older work to display on line.

 The girls were troopers, but the long time away from home grew old after about three weeks and Lyndsay told us. "I'm ready to go home!"  We were all worn pretty thin toward the end. On  the last day of the photo shoots, we were able to spend some time with my sister and her family. The girls really enjoyed that and it was a nice break for all of us. The family enjoyed some much deserved R & R in Pennsylvania, leisurely visiting the Lancaster area....in the rain for two days. Who knew that the highlight for Lyndsay, would be carrying the umbrella around in the rain and for Charis trying her best not to miss one puddle! The following day was strictly for the girls as a bit of a "reward" at the end of such a long trek. Prior to heading on the road, I purchased tickets on line for Hershey Park. The weather was perfect, the day glorious and we all had an extremely enjoyable day. Even Lyndsay who was without a nap, made it a point to be on her best behavior, making it a pleasant experience for all. THESE are the days that you dream about as you head into parenthood, so we reveled in it as long as possible!

We returned home in early June to begin the arduous task of downloading, sorting, editing, printing and finally uploading images to our website. Some days I shot over 1100 dog images in a day, so this task will take quite some time. The girls however, were just thrilled to be back in their own beds, though I think Charis was becoming fond of sleeping next to herJie Jie (big sister). You'd never have guessed that by the way they carried on while away, although most of it was playing. Charis even starting crying at night a bit when we first put her back in her room.

Now going back in time,  I'll try to help you catch up on the lives of our toddlers, whose world is ever changing and growing. A few months ago, Lyndsay who will be five in November, informed us in the most serious tone she could muster, that when she turned five she was going to move out. So being the attentive parents that we tryto be, we listened carefully as she explained that she was going to take Charis and move into their own log cabin.....next door. She was just as sincere as any child can be, as she continued, "I'm going to buy a car with my money. One with two seats, one for me and one for Charis". Then she inquired "Mom, how old do you have to be to drive?", I simply replied "sixteen". She thought about it and remarked, "that's a long time". When we questioned what she was going to do for food, she said that they would walk over to our house to eat! I'm not making this up! LOL  The amazing thing about all this is it wasn't out of anger at being corrected or that she wanted to get away from us for any reason. I think she just is so mature that she thought she was ready to go out on her own and take "her" baby with her.  (She told us a while back that we had "given" Charis to her)  About a month later she told Bane, "Daddy, I think I want to stay here with you when I'm five". Whoo, what a relief, the upkeep on one home is enough!!  Then more recently this week, she told me that she wants to stay here forever.   Those moments, though we know they are for a short season, are ones we relish and after a long day you can actually step back and think, wow, we must be doing some things right (though it sometimes doesn't feel that way).  Enjoy some images from this spring!

 

Sozo, Fuji, Lyndsay and Charis sitting on a log in April during one of our short trail hikes in NC. Yes, bad photo I know.

 

Charis training Pop Pop right! She would have ridden all day in this little wagon if he let her.

 

Lyndsay playing in the pool with Aunt Shannon. Below Charis was not sure at all about her first pool adventure and quickly wanted out.

 

Playing         "A merry heart does good like a medicine" Proverbs 17:22

                

Bane was amazed how Charis jumped right up on this swing and began working it as though she'd been doing it all along. Not bad for a child who didn't know she could walk until she was two! The orphanage was right about one thing, they called her as "special".  Little did they know how special she really is!

Mother's Day complete with a card and crafts the girls did at the campground

   All American girl....now!  No words needed. 

Yes, they can be as ornery as they look!

 Some of these creative images were Lyndsay's idea!    

  Yes, that's my skinny legs.

  We walked across this stream to the other side.

 Second pool experience....much better then the first.

 

 

 

These looks say it all!  Yes, that is Bane's faces peeking through as they crawled through the tunnel....sheer joy....or is it terror?!! LOL

  

Pennsylvania

 

Lyndsay helping "Aunt" Nancy water flowers they planted together. Lyndsay kind of "adopted" Nancy, a very rare thing indeed for Lyndsay, as she is often cautious of new people. She has really taken to her and Jim since our very first trip to PA with her, to photograph Nancy's gorgeous Lhasa Apsos, as well as a number of other dogs.

  

This is one of the few photos you'll see of all of us, yes I really was there! Thanks to the Cordells for not only this nice photo of all of us, but for allowing us to use their lovely gardens in Chambersburg, PA, to do dog photos, for a number of years  now. They are such a blessing and we are privileged to have come to know them and count them as friends. 

 

One of Lyndsay's very creative arrangements, she has such an artistic eye. She's going to be a great photographer.

 

 

 

 

 

She is getting the hang of this whole water thing now! 

 

The day at Hershey ended with a splash!  They would have stayed in the water until they shriveled up like prunes.

Home Sweet Home

 

 

 

Charis trying hard to keep up with Lyndsay in the yard. I love to see her run! We knew she would be fine once she was at home, loved and nurtured. These photos show clearly how good God really is!

"Whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" Matt 18:4

 Who's chasing who now?  (April 2009)

Ah, Life is good.

 

She's been jumping on the trampoline for months now, as her leg strength increases so does the height.

 

Then there is "Oh, legged one", she gets more beautiful, slender and leggy all the time. The Chinese people said she would grow up to be "elegant". We're seeing that already, at less then 5 years old. Daddy will need to carry a VERY large stick! 

 

Picking blueberries off our bushes, always a highlight for Lyndsay and now Charis!Eating out of Daddy's hand....literally. I think mostly it's the other way around.

 

                                      OH, ANGELIC ONES.....HEE HEE

 

THE END....hope you enjoyed reading about our adventures this spring and I hope it won't be as long next time before I can update the site. Be Blessed!!