From an early morning run, the peace of listening to the waves all day and ending with an amazing sunset and an amazing ice cream sundae...perfection and love.
Saturday, April 29, 2017
Sunday, April 23, 2017
A day of love
Today brought my 1st 20 miler in over a year, 1st jeep ride of the season and 1st time having mom with me for sunset photos. ...♡♡♡
Friday, April 21, 2017
#loveofmylife.officialtherapydog
Not quite 2 years ago this little dude came into my life and there has never been a dull moment with him...today Cash passed his final test in the process for becoming official Therapy Dog. His personality is big and dramatic and he brings so much life where ever he goes. It's been a wild ride so far and I doubt that will change.
Sunday, April 16, 2017
#10days.to.reunion.heart
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Sunday, February 12, 2017
When your heart is in one place and you have to be in another, the ache is a steady squeeze in your heart. 
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Listening with our heart
"Man's inability to communicate is a result of his failure to listen effectively." Carl Rogers
Week four of puppy class instruction means we are over halfway through the course. Every Tuesday night, 11 wiggly puppies and their owners make their way to class filled with hope, laughter and more than a little anxiety.
I find myself reflecting again and again on the parallels in our listening styles with our furry loves and our human ones.
The biggest difference of course is our furry loves ability to view our bumbling attempts with grace and acceptance, quite the opposite of what we give each other as humans. Once again I find myself amazed at the capacity for our dogs to give us what we so often cannot give in human form.
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Joy and Grief Live in the Same Place
I just returned from a 4 day trip to New York, and I am feeling tired, I'm fighting a cold (and losing) and I am still struggling to comprehend that someone who was such an amazing part of this world is no longer with us.
I found myself marveling at the resilience of the human spirit as I watched loved ones smile through their tears and connect despite sadness.
Anytime I have to drive somewhere I try to make at least one stop that will be memorable and meaningful, even if it's just getting off the main roads and finding a unique place to take a break or have a picnic lunch. From battlefields to old chapels, to historical dive bars, I have created some incredible experiences.
Although I have been to Niagara before, I knew if at all possible this would be my pit stop for this road trip. The moments of joy I experienced here are beyond words. Being able to take Ellie for a run with the breathtaking view and sounds is a feeling I will carry with me forever.
It was so cold my eyelashes were freezing together as I ran and my toes and fingers are still thawing out. Yet it will go down as one of the most amazing runs ever. After 17 hours in the vehicle the day before I am pretty sure it was the most amazing run ever for Ellie too!
Being able to find moments of happiness in the middle of so much sadness is a priceless gift.
I found myself marveling at the resilience of the human spirit as I watched loved ones smile through their tears and connect despite sadness.
Anytime I have to drive somewhere I try to make at least one stop that will be memorable and meaningful, even if it's just getting off the main roads and finding a unique place to take a break or have a picnic lunch. From battlefields to old chapels, to historical dive bars, I have created some incredible experiences.
Although I have been to Niagara before, I knew if at all possible this would be my pit stop for this road trip. The moments of joy I experienced here are beyond words. Being able to take Ellie for a run with the breathtaking view and sounds is a feeling I will carry with me forever.
It was so cold my eyelashes were freezing together as I ran and my toes and fingers are still thawing out. Yet it will go down as one of the most amazing runs ever. After 17 hours in the vehicle the day before I am pretty sure it was the most amazing run ever for Ellie too!
Being able to find moments of happiness in the middle of so much sadness is a priceless gift.
Friday, January 27, 2017
Sunday, January 8, 2017
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Best of 2016...some of them anyway
2016 has been an epic and heartbreaking year. I heard someone say once "life gets harder as you get older" and I am living that truth these days. Despite the challenges and heartbreaks I have captured moments of love and laughter and I am grateful to be able to reflect on these moments.
There are a few pictures I would have loved to include, however they are on my very dead laptop. Perhaps I will add them in when I finally get time to retrieve them. Some of these pictures I love because of the magic of the shot, but most I love just because of the magic of the moment.
A boy and a puppy, plus a pool equals an unforgettable afternoon
The view from my deck. I could have included hundreds of sunset pictures, I don't ever seem to get tired of trying to capture the beauty of them.
One of the lilies from my garden, held up against the sky. 
Weed or wish?
An early morning bike ride with the sun framed beautifully. 
My baby girl Maddie and my broken heart. After months of fighting for her, learning to do things I didn't think I could trying to give her enough care to help her fight. Ultimately I had to say goodbye.
A spring raccoon issue was maddening at times, but I couldn't resist capturing how cute they were either. Although after a couple weeks of my dogs spotting, hunting and tree'ing them it got really old. 
Perhaps not the greatest shot artistically, but with three dogs and one that is just now 18 months, when they are side by side, I grab the shot! 
Door County. My family calls me Jo or Joi so I framed this as my nameplate. 
Capturing a storm coming in over the marina. 
August was the beginning of mom staying with me for several months. Although it meant a lot of work for me, the days of having her here were the most amazing treasures of this year. I had so many wonderful and amazing moments with her and so much time to just be with her. 
A walk at Butterfly Pond with Mama. 
Again, when they are side by side I grab it.
One of my favorite places to catch a sunrise, summer evenings often find me in my Jeep with at least one of my dogs grabbing shots.
Our annual trip to the Little Farmer. 
October in Biloxi with my BFF, an epic trip that was life changing for both of us. So grateful I have this kind of friendship and grateful for this trip in so many ways. 
Biloxi sunset.
On our way to the office, and my little dude sits right along side me.
One of my favorite people in the world home for a visit was chance for girls night out. The night ended with an epic stop for tacos! 
Often the sunset rides have bonus gift of deer sightings. Which never get old either. 
Sunset ride with the outdoor prayer area lit by nature. 
From a different spot that night. 
I was leaving the area and saw these beauties. 
I decided to take a picture ride one afternoon, grabbing my camera and Ellie. The decision to do this was pretty big at the time, but this shot will be a lasting memory of this decision to take one more step in direction of taking my life back. 
An unexpected warm fall day gave me a last chance ride. 
Super moon. 
Did I mention I never get tired of sunset pictures? 
The two girls gave life a challenge this year by getting into an awful fight. All the "experts" say once this happens you need to decide which one to get rid of which was never an option. For months the work to keep them separated and to do the daily arduous work needed for re-integration was so tiring. there were days I cried. But several months later this was taken on one of the first afternoons I had them together again in the yard. 
Our annual flower buying trip with an ice cream stop. 
Coming out of my office on a Saturday afternoon, a bit grumpy about the need to be there on the weekend and this gift was unfolding across the sky.
Storm rolling in from the view of my deck. 
After a year of Maggie just not quite being herself, my baby girl started to come back this year with a little playfulness and spark. 
On an afternoon walk the lighting was perfect for this shot. 
This little dude just lives in JOY!
The most amazing clouds ever. 
Mom and her boy side by side.
Two trips to Kentucky this summer. I fell in love, created memories and captured hundreds of amazing shots.
The ride down to Kentucky, Ellie spent plenty of time taking care of Mama. 
From the highway somewhere in Indiana. 
The sisters....worth every hour in the truck! 
My aunt, uncle and Mama. 
Round 2: Maggie got to come with for this roadtrip. Maggie loves my mom beyond belief so they spent the return trip snuggling. 
Kentucky. 
Summerfest and Tim McGraw concert. Aside from the concert the best part was having Ellie down there with me the whole weekend.
This little dude brings more laughter and joy to my heart than I thought possible.
Christmas shopping and my girl getting an A & W doggy sundae.
Trying to get a Christmas picture. 400 plus shots later, this was the best I could get and it's not great. But I will take it. 
My little dude loves to unwrap gifts. His or other peoples it doesn't matter. 
As of today my Mama is still in hospital, she has been there since December 12th. It's been a long haul, but still hopeful and praying.
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