I Heart Faces: August Photo Challenge {Pet Faces}

I Heart Faces: Hugs & Kisses

Here's a shot I took of my best friend and her fiance, who are getting married in April. I had a really hard time trying to take pictures through the window when it was getting dark outside and all of the Wyoming snow was reflecting off of the glass. I had to do some major cropping to get that snow out of the picture!

It's been soooo long since I've entered the weekly I Heart Faces challenges. I get so busy with work during the school year that I never have the time, especially at the beginning of the week. However, thank God for President's Day because I have the day off!

To see more Hugs & Kisses photos, go to:

I Heart Faces: A Touch of Sun

Some sun...

Ya know, just a touch.



This is my two-year-old nephew, Will, getting the hang of pushing the pedals rather than just scooting himself with his feet. Love him.

To see more photos with a touch of sun, go to--

I Heart Faces: Back to School

With no kids in this house, "back to school" simply means back to work I go...

Click here to see more back to school photos--



I Heart Faces: Pets

I always look forward to the pet challenges because they're my favorite subject to photograph. I think if I lived in a city that was larger and perhaps more pet obsessed (like I am), I'd market myself as a pet photographer and do so part-time.

Here's my mom's/sister's dog (they both claim him), Teddy, prancing through the wildflowers--

To see more photos with this week's pet theme go to--

I Heart Faces: Eyes

I didn't participate in last week's challenge due to lack of "models" (bad sign when the the theme was "friendship," ha!), but this weekend I forced my friend Erin to let me borrow her gorgeous face for a shot that focuses on the eyes. She is easy on the eyes, that's for sure (huh, Scott?!)

To see more pretty photos of this week's photo challenge, go to--



I Heart Faces: Water

Over the Fourth of July weekend, Mike and I traveled home to see our families in Casper and Newcastle. The day before we left Wyoming we visited the pond on my parents' property to see if the boys could snag a couple fish. This is my favorite picture from the entire trip-- my stepdad Bob on the pond, having just snagged one (look at the splash in the water if you don't believe me!).

To see more photos that incorporate water, go to



I Heart Faces: Props

The best props for kids?

The ones you can hold out until the end of the session.

Do not put bribery past me.

To see more photos centered around the "props" theme, go to--



I Heart Faces: A Touch of Whimsy

When I think of all things whimsical, images of children playing dress up in the forest and the book Where the Wild Things Are come to mind. And I wish that I could still have the imagination, contentment, and fascination that we all have as kids.

When was the last time that you became enthralled with something simple? 

Being an adult is tough. I think I need to move to Neverland!

To see more whimsical photos this week, go to

I Heart Faces: Let's Hear it for the Boys!

On Saturday night Mike, Lucy, and I headed up to Grand Mesa to find a camping spot and a lake for Mike to fish on. We found an awesome place right next to a stream to plant our tent and set up. It was nice to get away for the evening, even if there was still snow at 10,000 feet up (in the middle of June, mind you) and nothing was biting in the lake.

Here's my interpretation of this week's theme.

My tattooed husband + his new fly rod and reel = a true man's man.

See more photos in honor of the guys/dudes/boys in our lives at

I Heart Faces: From a Distance

I do love a close-up. Especially if it's a black and white. However, this week's theme over at I Heart Faces is "From a Distance."

Today, Mike and I drove to Enoch Lake, which you have to drive up the Monument to get to. Unfortunately, the fishing wasn't too good today, so our trip was short-lived. On the way back down, I asked Mike to stop so that we could get some pictures at Cold Shivers Point. We've taken numerous pictures there before today, but I thought I could get a great "From a Distance" shot with him standing on that rock. (I know, I know, Mom... Don't worry, we were careful!)

To see how others interpreted the "From a Distance" theme, go to:



May Flowers

Now that the weather is getting warmer, it's time for all the projects that need to be done around the house. This summer's goal is to work on our home's curb appeal. This is a big task!

Last week we painted the ghetto wood siding around the front door. It went from unstained, moldy light wood to gray.

This week, we needed to get to planting and start adding some color for curb appeal. May flowers are part of the trick. I needed a window box on the front bay window to put some flowers in.

Here is the window box that Mike made for me:

Also notice the house number sign that he cut out of steel using a plasma cutter at work. So hip, eh? (Hopefully it won't be long before the flowers grow taller so that they can actually be seen above the top of the box.)

Here are photos of the May flowers I planted today:

(Nice farmer's tan, yeah?)

If you know me, you know that I suck at struggle with keeping plants alive. So, Mike's only request? Keep these flowers looking good for at least two weeks so that his parents will see them when they come for Memorial Day weekend.

The rest of our curb appeal to-do list this summer includes these goals: Painting the front door, shutters, and door frame. Constructing new Trex front steps. New door knocker. New doorbell button. Getting the American flag hanging on the front again.

Over at I Heart Faces this week, you can check out more May flower pictures:



I Heart Faces: Pets

I talk to [her] when I'm lonesome like;

and I'm sure [she] understands. 

When [she] looks at me so attentively,

and gently licks my hands;

then [she] rubs [her] nose on my tailored clothes,

but I never say naught thereat. 

For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes,

but never a friend like that. 

~W. Dayton Wedgefarth

(I've already posted this photo on my blog before, but I wanted to use it for this week's entry.)

The pet-themed weeks are my favorite at I Heart Faces... I take more photos of the Lu  than anyone/anything else.... so much that I think I would love to be a pet photographer. They're so much more agreeable than humans, don't you think? :-)

To see more pet photos head to

I Heart Faces: Wind

I decided to take a more journalistic approach to this week's theme.

I attended a Freedom Rally at a park in town, and when I saw all the flags waving I was thinking about how the wind doesn't blow much in this town, but there was just enough of a breeze last night for them to wave.

One reason I am thankful to live here: I don't have many opportunities to shoot WINDY pictures. Can't say the same thing about my hometown, where the wind blows ALL the time. Yuck!

To see more wind photos go to

I Heart Faces: Shadow

 "Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us."

-Samuel Smiles

To see more contest entries incorporating shadows, visit--->



People's Choice: Best Face from March

Over at I Heart Faces this week YOU get to choose the winner.

This is one of my favorite face photos that I took in March:

My friend's litle boy holding his baby sister

Now go throw in some votes over at

I Heart Faces: Sun Flare

This is a sneak peek for Ang and Colin, as well as my entry for this week's I Heart Faces contest...

All we need is the truth in our hand.

Someone to call a friend.

Never fear the darkness.

All we need is just the sun in the sky.

And the hope of a summer to come with the meaning of love.

-Robert Burton

Head on over to the I Heart Faces website to see more sun flare photos:



My Story in Photos: Fall

Fall here means

a happy dog-- not too hot, not too cold

beautiful leaves on the Mesa

and roses still blooming in our backyard...



I Heart Faces: Pink Week

It's Pink Week in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month over at the I Heart Faces website.

Here's my friend's new baby, Jenna Paije, rockin' the pink.

This week I honor two amazing women in my family: the late Holly Loucks (grandma) and Carole Kimbrough (aunt), both breast cancer survivors.



I Heart Faces: In the Orchard

Our area of Colorado is known for its peaches and grapes. We have orchards, wineries, produce stands, and farmers' markets. I love that about this valley.

And, it only took us an entire year of living in our home here to realize that, yes, the grapes that grow on our backyard fence are edible. Our in-laws are making their first attempt at wine this year with these grapes.