Today is the last day to enter the May Blog Contest!  There are just a few entrants so get your comment posted to be entered for the chance to win a complimentary session! Seniors, this is the perfect time to win, senior sessions are being booked right now!

I get asked frequently how the river is now. People who don’t live around here have a hard time imagining what we’ve gone through and are still going through. They know from the news that the river was at record height but if they don’t know the landscape, they don’t know what it was supposed to look like without all that water. When I posted images of the river at it’s crest last month, I said I would take some more when the river recedes to see the comparisons. I did that yesterday. It’s amazing to me to look at where the water was and where it’s supposed to be, combined to a relatively narrow channel. It took a month and a half to recede and has left behind so much mud and debris. But green is showing through everywhere and will soon take over.

The river at it’s crest of 40.8 feet on April 8, 2009

The river at 17.23 feet on May 24, 2009.

The closeup looking up river to the Dike from teh Main Ave. bridge on April 8, 2009.

The same shot on May 24, 2009 – notice how high that permanent dike is – the cars look so small.

Lindenwood Park on March 25, 2009 – still several feet from the crest.

The same shot taken on May 24, 2009 – there is a lot of mud left behind.

Hannah is standing at the base of the Dike at 24 feet. The river banks are at 17 feet and the river touched the bottom of the walkway at the top of the image at 40.8 feet, the top of the Dike.

A similar shot – I’m standing on top of the Dike looking towards the river

Still on top of the Dike – look south down the bike path

Then looking northeast towards the Main Ave. bridge

The river had been as high as the bridge in Lindenwood Park – so much mud left behind but before long the park will be very green again.

In 2006, metal rings were place at crest level in some trees around Lindenwood Park. I’m still unsure why this was done but when I was shooting pictures at the park that day I saw them doing this from a boat. The river crested at 37.13 feet that year. This year, these rings were under another 3+ feet of water! [look just below where the branches start]

So where are we today? In the city of Fargo the sandbags and barriers are still being removed. This is a much longer process than getting them made and in place. Thank you extra big time to all the National Guard members who are devoting their days and nights to the removal. All of the clay contingency dikes have been removed. Some of them have been left in place to now become permanent.  The massive holes at both Centennial Elementary and Discovery Middle schools have been filled back in and are being grated down. I assume they’ll replant grass soon. Individual homes are busy getting their bags removed and landscaping back in place. Yards were destroyed in so many ways. Talks and planning have begun to determine how we prevent this from happening again – whether it be permanent levees, river diversions, or both. Hopefully we will not see another massive flood before these things are in place.

I’m sure our rural areas are still dealing with cleanup as well. Many lost their homes to the flood so I’m sure they’re either really dealing with some cleanup or are relocating.

People in Jamestown are still fighting the flood as their city is having a difficult time.

I’ve said this before – as horrible and frightening as these things can be, I am in constant awe of what Mother Nature throws are way. In a different way, it’s beautiful. It amazes me not only what elements we can handle around here but also how the city responds and pulls together  to keep us all safe. I am thankful to have my camera in hand and to be able to share these things with those who haven’t had the chance to get up close and see for themselves and for those who live far away and just can’t imagine it.

What a great Pug! She was so shy at first, until I gave her a little scratching and then she was my best friend. She even played fetch with me! She has a fun personality and some great expression too.  There are face wrinkles and back wrinkles and a tightly curled tail that just melt me. What a super duper pup to photograph.

we caught Nathan playing in the background

and after he woke up, I had to snap a picture of Joe, the most beautiful baby I’ve seen lately!

Last week I photographed this family in their home on what was a very chilly and dreary day outdoors but full of sunshiney brightness inside and among them! Adoption finaliazation day is always such an exciting day for everyone. Even I felt excited and joyous for this family! The twins showed me some smiles despite some teething going on and big sister Taylor was full of dress twirls and fun ideas to keep the little ones happy. We had a fun time. I look forward to photographing them again next month when we get a better weather day!

And I photographed it too! What a fun little fella he is – so much personality in this dog! He was such a good sport and let me make him feel a little silly and work for his treats. But it paid off – I got some really nice shots.

I will be photographing Riley and his famly later this summer which should be really fun too.

Thanks for having me over to play Riley! Here are a few peeks for your family.

For those of you who are cat owners, you know exactly what I mean. Kitties always own the home! [if only they'd pay the mortgage too!!] That is just the personality of the cat – it’s their domain. Having 4 of them myself, I know this is true.

I visited Lucy & Stewie on Mama’s Day to capture their GORGEOUS eyes and silly personalities. They certainly made me work for it. They are not lazy kitties, they had no interest in just relaxing. I had fun watching them be themselves and playing and being oh so careful to know where I was at all times. I’m used to my own cats laying like lumps and rolling their eyes at me as if to say, “oh, not you again.”

Believe it or not, these two are siblings! They look nothing alike though their eyes both sparkle quite similarly. I just adore these kitties! They almost make me want to adopt a few more!

Lucy has the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen up close – I just wanted to stare at her.

And Stewie’s eyes are shaded gold and green – gorgeous!

Lucy took some time to relax

And Stewie and I played Peek-A-Boo under the table.

Lucy was keeping a close eye on me

I loved Stewie’s eyeliner

Thank you kitties for having me over and letting me photograph you!!

How did I forget to post a new contest?! Things are  bit busy around here in all sorts of ways and I guess it just slipped me by. My appologies.

So here it goes – I’m going back to you must comment TO THIS ENTRY to be entered into this months contest. Not everyone that comments to all entries are local or want to be entered.

This months giveaway is once again a complimentary standard session of your choice to be used any time in the next 12 months! That’s a $100 monetary value but the lifelong value far exceeds that!

And here comes the standard info that you’ll see in all these contest posts:

What do you comment about? Anything! Just say hi, share your thoughts, tell me about the weather, your family, ask me a question, or anything you want.

Are there any rules? Well, of course there are – but nothing major. If you live outside the Fargo – Moorhead area and you win, the session time is complimentary but the travel is not. We’ll have to discuss that when necessary. All complimentary sessions can be redeemed up to one year of the month you won. So if you won in March this year, you have until the end of March next year to redeem your session.

So get commenting! Know that your name shows in the comment box [however you enter it in - first names only are just fine] Your email address comes to me but I only use it to email you back if you win. I’m not a spammer! If you put a web address for yourself, your name becomes a hyperlink to your site – a great way to get some interest coming your way.

The winner will be drawn at the end of the month!

Look at how cute Miss Hailey is! I visited Hailey at her home yesterday to capture her fun personality for her family. What a great dog she is and so much fun. She loves her baby kitty toy, and the peanut butter containers that her family saves just for her. I have so many great shots of Hailey, I had a hard time choosing which to put on the blog. Maybe there will be more later.  Here you go Hailey’s mom and dad – just for you …

this is the post peanut butter lick

and all tuckered out after all that work and play – right after mom got done showing me Hailey’s scrapbook! *CUTE!*

Here is the drawing for the winner sequence with my cheeseball assistant, Dillan.

CAROLE MARIE!!

Congratulations Carole, you’ve won a complimentary session!