A Year in Review

Posted on January 2, 2013January 2, 2013 by Dusty Roads

2013…a clean slate. But how did 2012 measure up?

Blogging: If the amount of spam is a measure of success then I’ve made it into the bigtime. My blog has been a victim of an amazing amount of spam. I just seemed to get it under control and then WordPress changed something in their format. Not only is creating an entry much harder and more time-consuming now but the spam has started all over again. It’s very discouraging.

The other way I measure the success of the blog is with stats. 2011 was the first year I used WordPress and in that year I was “Freshly Pressed ” twice. In 2012 not at all.

In 2011 15,802 folks visited my blog but in 2012 it dropped to 14,019. That may have been because I reduced my blogging schedule but I don’t know. I hope I haven’t become “boring”.

Photo/ Card business: This was the first year of Dusty Roads Photos actually being in business. It’s been slow, slow , slow. I’m not sure if it’s because of marketing (or lack of), the sluggish economy or my skill level. In today’s world everybody has a digital camera and everybody (it seems) wants to be a professional photographer. I’m still trying to find my way.

My accomplishments were that I have expanded the number of cards available, tried the imprinted cards, picked up some portrait work and had some photos accepted as “stock”.The Cape Cod Crafters Kiosk has been a disappointment so far but I am committed to trying it for a year. It is advertising if nothing else.
www.dustyroadsphotos.etsy.com
www.dustyroadsphotos.zenfolio.com

Travel: 2012 was a busy year for travel. I went to Orlando in January, Maine twice, and New York for the Adirondack Balloon Festival in the Fall.

It felt like I spent a lot of time on the road.
2013 looks like it will also be a busy travel year with 2 cruises and possibly one additional trip. More on that in later posts.

Health and Fitness: Well I didn’t do so well in this area. That weight just loves to sneak back on when you aren’t looking. Especially when you love to cook and like to eat what you cook!

With the holidays behind me (again) I’ll give it another try. Never give up.

Friends and Family: Some family members and some friends had some health scares and issues in 2011 but so far it looks like everyone came through ok. Here I need to include my furry family. Smokey is doing well. Followers will remember that he was diagnosed with early renal dysfunction but he seems to be in remission. Rocky, our furry editor in chief , is on a break from the blog due to stress. I’m not sure what set him off but he began over grooming, usually a cats’ attempt to comfort themselves. This started last summer. After ruling out fleas and other pests I added soothing pheromones in other words “kitty aromotherapy”. Although he seems calmer it will take 2 – 3 more months to see if he lets his hair grow back. Fingers crossed.

Well I’d say that about sums up 2012. Life is an adventure so let the adventure continue in 2013 with places to go and people to see and things to do.

A teeny tiny “Farm-ette”

Posted on November 28, 2012November 28, 2012 by Dusty Roads

Boy have I been slacking! Statement not question. I always get lazy when the weather gets cold. Each year it gets harder and harder to motivate myself to brave the weather. Seems like I get cold easier and warm up harder. Winter hasn’t even “officially” begun and I’m trying to go into hibernation.

In the midst of this seasonal malaise I got an invitation from one of my co-workers. He knew I have an interest in photographing “critters’ as he refers to them and his pygmy goats had just had babies. He wondered if I’d like to come down to see his little “farm-ette” and take some pictures. He warned me to wear boots because it might be muddy. I assured him that wasn’t a problem as I had grown up on the same kind of “farm-ette” (I love that word)

Our definition of a “farm-ette” is a little land on which a few animals are raised for fun and maybe a little profit. Whatever combination of animals you like. This includes the old-fashioned “family farm” as long as it isn’t too big. The homeowner has another job that pays the bills and for the animal hobby. I grew up on a “family farm”. At various times we had chickens, pigs, cows, sheep, goats and horses but my Dad worked at his business every day as well as the farming.

My friend has a similar situation. He raises Silky chickens, Alpacas and pygmy goats and a couple of horses along with the family pets like cats and birds. Although I didn’t get to see them I believe he said he had a couple of parrots.

We started our tour in the chicken coop. These aren’t the regular run-of-the-mill chickens. These are called silky chickens and they are cute as can be. The hens have a Pom-Pom on the top of their heads and male and female are really fluffy. They are just the cutest things. There were some chicks and I went about trying to catch them in pictures…boy are they fast!

After my only partly successful attempt to photograph those feisty birds we walked through the alpaca paddock heading to the pygmy goats. The Alpacas were a bit more willing to stand still and “pose” but still kind of wary of a stranger.

Then we reached the goats. Pygmy goats aren’t even as tall as a big dog. I think the adults only came to about my knees and they were very friendly.

The little “kids” were bouncing all over, climbing on feed sacks, opening and closing the barn door, just getting into everything.

Here the light was very dim so it was once again a photographic challenge but I can tell you these are really cute babies.

I’m glad my friend thought to invite me over and take the time to show me around. Like “Charlie” of Charlie’s Angels my friend wished to remain in the background so all we’ll see of him are his hands . 🙂

I just love the animals. It was a great afternoon and the “shot-in-the-arm” I needed.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Happy Thanksgiving

Posted on November 22, 2012November 22, 2012 by Dusty Roads

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

What are you thankful for?
I’m thankful to be alive and relatively healthy. There’s so much to see and do in this big wide world.

I’m thankful for my furry friends…Rocky and Smokey.

They keep me company and cheer me up when I’m down. They are loyal and give me unconditional love. Sound like a dog? They are about as dog-like as cats can be. Rocky follows me, comes when called and plays fetch.Smokey will flop over for a belly run any chance he gets and wants to be wherever I am.

I’m thankful for the family…even if we don’t see each other a lot. I know they “have my back”. And since some of them live in the country I’ll have a place to move if the “Doomsday Preppers” are right. 🙂

I’m thankful I have a job. So many people are out of work. I joke about retiring but somehow I think I have few good years left.

I’m thankful I have a roof over my head. I’m not homeless even if I came close when the real estate market tanked. But thanks to the new rules and mortgage modifications that resulted, I still have my home.

I’m thankful that I am still on a spiritual journey. It keeps me from becoming close minded and intolerant. There is truth in every religion as well as mystery. No one has all the answers in this life.

I’m thankful for the friends and acquaintances that I meet along my path. Some for a short time, some travel the path with me for a longer time. They are a network of friendship and support, constantly changing yet always there.

I am thankful for the beauty I see around me every day and the hobby that allows me to see it with new eyes.

I’m thankful for so much more as well but what is it that you’re thankful for?

Rocky Holiday Photo..Take 2

Posted on November 21, 2012November 21, 2012 by Dusty Roads | 2 Comments

We’ve only been “clicker” training for 2 days so I wasn’t even going to bother trying to get the picture of my “vision” but When I turned my back there he was…right in the middle of the picture set up I was working on.

Ok he was ready and willing. I decided to try again.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

We’re getting closer but we’re not quite there yet.

A Pet Photo Shoot

Posted on November 16, 2012November 16, 2012 by Dusty Roads | 2 Comments

I have a vision. I know what I want on my personal Christmas card this year. I can see it in my mind. It includes one or both of my cats. I can be flexible. But working with animals can be tricky even the most cooperative ones.

Step one: Get the set ready.

Step 2: Set up camera and pre focus.

Step 3: Call the Cat. That was the easy part. Rocky came running, jumped into the set and slid taking the drape and set with him.

Step 4: Set the set back up.

Step 5: Catch a cat…don’t call it. Once again Rocky was more willing. He thinks he’s a little kitty rock star and that everyone should worship him.

Step 6. Try to communicate what you want him to do.

Step 7: Use cat toys, treats, funny noises to try to get your animal actor to perform.

Step 8. Pick up to try again another day Rocky let me know when he was done. Tail in the air he walked away like a true Prima Donna. I found him curled up asleep on my bed. I guess I wore him out.

It wasn’t a total loss. I managed to get a couple of nice pictures so I could create this combo that I call “Twins”, but it’s not what I want for the card.