"Honey, Look What's in Our Garden!"

Sometimes things come together when I just get out of my own way. Today was one of those days. Just back from my trip to Scotland and feeling refreshed, I had planned on photographing Delaney in the studio with one of my new, colorful backdrops. At one year of age, Delaney seemed to be more interested in my dogs that she had met when she arrived. I needed to follow my intuition and leave plan A behind. "Follow your gut" kicked in.

"Let's go outdoors," I suggested to Mom and Dad. At first nothing was really clicking, but when I let the dogs into the backyard to sniff around, Delaney became very interested in just watching them. So very quickly we put on the hat that she had earlier ejected off her head like a hot potato. Never before have my dogs been used as 'bait" for a toddler so when it resulted in images such as this, I think it's time to reconsider their employ on an individual basis.

When I brought this back on the LCD of the camera during the Creative Session, I knew it was destined for sharing. The title is just one of my crazy ways of looking at things. She appears to be coming up from the garden with the planned color harmony going on. She's just a little flower!

Thoughts on Scotland

In spite of the rain that has fallen every day of my 13 days in England and Scotland, I have fallen in love with Scotland! It must have been my walk through the National Gallery of Art in Edinburgh today, when I viewed a large number of oils by a variety of painters that depicted dogs, birds, horses or other animals. It's a well know fact that UK'ers love their dogs.

Or perhaps its the sense of humor and quick wit that the Scottish possess. At our B&B in Lower Breakish, on the Isle of Skye, we met 85 year old Ruby, who had us laughing with her teasing of us 'yanks.". There's nothing I like more than engaging in some gentle teasing! A former Elem. Ed. teacher that's long since retired, Ruby entertained Kathy and I with her stories of her travels on Skye 50 years previous, her teaching days, as well as her "conscription" into the military during WWII. When you added in her thick Scottish accent, we felt like we were in the presence of a great Scot!

Then there's the tartans and clan history; some of it gruesome and 'grim," with the stories of The Clearances and William Wallace. You certainly know where you came from and what you're about if you're a Scot! In spite of dark past of plunder, I have found this country to be most friendly, helpful and caring. Our B&B hosts provided us with hiking maps and dried our wet boots for us. A woman stopped on the streets of Edinburgh to ask if we needed help when she spotted us consulting a map and I had a warm conversation with David, the trail worker.

It saddens me that I don't have a drop of Scottish blood flowing through my veins. But for a short time, it's been fun to pretend and enjoy!