We hear it all the time.
Take a break, take a rest, take some time for yourself.
Half the time we don't heed that call. Just keep pushing along at the same speed, putting things on the back burner, saying "I'll get to that tomorrow."
Then BAM, we are hit by something that makes us consider time and all it holds, and we wonder why we haven't listened to all those well-meaning chants related to making time for yourself.
It's been a while since I have blogged. September of 2024. And here's why.
WORK
Take a break, take a rest, take some time for yourself.
Half the time we don't heed that call. Just keep pushing along at the same speed, putting things on the back burner, saying "I'll get to that tomorrow."
Then BAM, we are hit by something that makes us consider time and all it holds, and we wonder why we haven't listened to all those well-meaning chants related to making time for yourself.
It's been a while since I have blogged. September of 2024. And here's why.
WORK
Events, high school seniors, and family portraits kept me busy from September through November, followed immediately by the holidays and all that they entail (usually card design for clients is in the mix).
Once the final touches and orders are completed, it's usually sit back, relax and enjoy the holidays.
LOSS
But in November of 2024, we lost a girl very special to me. At the age of 15, our Billie girl passed to spirit at the end of that month, and it became a downward spiral into pet loss grief.
Those of you in the know, well...there's no need to explain. But for those who have never experienced the loss of a truly loved and cherished pet, it can be debilitating.
LOSS
But in November of 2024, we lost a girl very special to me. At the age of 15, our Billie girl passed to spirit at the end of that month, and it became a downward spiral into pet loss grief.
Those of you in the know, well...there's no need to explain. But for those who have never experienced the loss of a truly loved and cherished pet, it can be debilitating.
And it was.
Billie had liver disease, and through research, our vets, and supplements, and many follow up/monitoring visits, we were able to add 1.5 years to her life after her initial diagnosis.
It's still very hard for me to talk about it.
ILLNESS
The day after Christmas, and until January 19th, both my husband and I battled a norovirus. Much of that time was spent in bed or on a couch somewhere, basically not eating anything, just drinking, and eventually adding applesauce, jello, and ginger snap cookies to the menu. I lost 12 pounds, my husband lost 15 pounds. Not a diet I would recommend to anyone.
This put our holidays on hold and we finally celebrated Christmas with our grandkids after January 19th. I didn't get to celebrate Christmas with my brother and his family, until after Easter, as he does not live near us. Needless to say, we have no photos of that experience.
TIME TO DO WHAT WE LOVE
After all of the above, I finally got back to some of the things I look forward to in my photography life, and in life in general. Walking, hiking, mother nature, and now that the weather has cooperated, gardening.
Print competition season is something I usually don't pass up, and true to form I entered images in various competitions. Here's how they faired.
Northeastern PA Professional Photographers Association: March 2025 - 4 Blue Ribbon Prints; May 2025 - 2 Blue Ribbon Prints, 1 Court of Honor Print, 1 Director's Award for Highest Scoring Print
Professional Photographer's Association of Pennsylvania: Fall 2024 Capture Print Comp - 1 Blue Ribbon Print, 1 Judge's Choice Award; Spring 2025 Inspire Print Comp - 2 Blue Ribbon Prints
American Society of Photographer's 2024: Entered 2 images and both sealed, which means they will go on to 2025 competition and receive points.
Billie had liver disease, and through research, our vets, and supplements, and many follow up/monitoring visits, we were able to add 1.5 years to her life after her initial diagnosis.
It's still very hard for me to talk about it.
ILLNESS
The day after Christmas, and until January 19th, both my husband and I battled a norovirus. Much of that time was spent in bed or on a couch somewhere, basically not eating anything, just drinking, and eventually adding applesauce, jello, and ginger snap cookies to the menu. I lost 12 pounds, my husband lost 15 pounds. Not a diet I would recommend to anyone.
This put our holidays on hold and we finally celebrated Christmas with our grandkids after January 19th. I didn't get to celebrate Christmas with my brother and his family, until after Easter, as he does not live near us. Needless to say, we have no photos of that experience.
TIME TO DO WHAT WE LOVE
After all of the above, I finally got back to some of the things I look forward to in my photography life, and in life in general. Walking, hiking, mother nature, and now that the weather has cooperated, gardening.
Print competition season is something I usually don't pass up, and true to form I entered images in various competitions. Here's how they faired.
Northeastern PA Professional Photographers Association: March 2025 - 4 Blue Ribbon Prints; May 2025 - 2 Blue Ribbon Prints, 1 Court of Honor Print, 1 Director's Award for Highest Scoring Print
Professional Photographer's Association of Pennsylvania: Fall 2024 Capture Print Comp - 1 Blue Ribbon Print, 1 Judge's Choice Award; Spring 2025 Inspire Print Comp - 2 Blue Ribbon Prints
American Society of Photographer's 2024: Entered 2 images and both sealed, which means they will go on to 2025 competition and receive points.
In May, I joined a group of photography friends at Steamtown National Historic Site as part of our May conference and I thoroughly enjoyed getting back to photographing things I love. I will be doing a blog on this visit, because there are so many great images to share from it.
Also look for an upcoming blog on how to take better bird pictures.
Because, as part of the "take time for yourself" routine, I am spending more time watching our bird friends, learning their habits and capturing them in photos.
Please look out for your health, relaxation and take some time to do the things you love. Our mental and physical health is important for lengthening the time we have on this earth. I have downloaded a Walk Fit app, which is not free, but keeps me on the ball in terms of my daily exercise routine, and I highly recommend looking into an app which you feel comfortable in using to help you keep motivated toward a stronger body and mind.
There's lots coming up in my blog world: instructions, how tos, things to learn and practice, so STAY TUNED. And if you would all do me a very large favor and COMMENT on the blog itself and not just the Facebook page, it will be extremely helpful to my life in the SEO world of blogging. There is no longer a blog "circle," so commenting is important on the blog.
If you made it this far, thanks for reading!
Because, as part of the "take time for yourself" routine, I am spending more time watching our bird friends, learning their habits and capturing them in photos.
Please look out for your health, relaxation and take some time to do the things you love. Our mental and physical health is important for lengthening the time we have on this earth. I have downloaded a Walk Fit app, which is not free, but keeps me on the ball in terms of my daily exercise routine, and I highly recommend looking into an app which you feel comfortable in using to help you keep motivated toward a stronger body and mind.
There's lots coming up in my blog world: instructions, how tos, things to learn and practice, so STAY TUNED. And if you would all do me a very large favor and COMMENT on the blog itself and not just the Facebook page, it will be extremely helpful to my life in the SEO world of blogging. There is no longer a blog "circle," so commenting is important on the blog.
If you made it this far, thanks for reading!
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