I am asked quite often by friends and family to recommend a good “camera.” Camera, meaning point and shoot. I haven’t had much to do with point and shoots. I never really felt a need for one myself. But, this year, on vacation, I just didn’t want to lug my SLR and all the lenses around so I took the plunge and bought a “point and shoot.” Well, yes, it’s a point and shoot, but the ad’s call it “the professional’s point and shoot,” because you can take a bit of control if you’d like. You can shoot raw, manual…all those good things we photographers like to do. However, you don’t have to do any of that if you don’t want to!

I ordered it and had it sent right to the farm. I debated so long that it was my only choice as I wouldn’t get it before we left. When it arrived I was very impressed. It really is an amazing camera. Oh, wait, I haven’t told you what it is yet! It’s the Canon Powershot G11.

My review. It is a wonderful, quality, versatile camera. It’s not the cheapest out there of course, but definitely worth the money.

Here is an image I took of my daughter. The setting? Fully and completely AUTO!!!! Wow. Now, I did tweak the color, retouch a little and add one of my favorite Florabella actions. But, still. It’s a wonderful image from a wonderful camera!!

So there you have it. My answer to the question….”what type of camera would you recommend?” Why, the Canon Powershot G11, of course!!

Last night was a very special night. Very special indeed. It was graduation night. Eryn, my oldest daughter, walked up on stage and accepted her high school diploma. It was a gorgeous night here in the Perkiomen Valley, and our high school stadium stands were filled to the brim with proud parents, grand parents, friends and relatives…myself and my husband, Eryn’s sister, Camryn, my mom, my husband’s dad and his wife included. It was a beautiful ceremony held outdoors in the football stadium…just like in the movies!

High School graduation is such an exciting time. A time to embark on endless opportunities, and to basically start fresh! This fall Eryn will be starting her college career, and I am so proud and excited for her. Of course, I will be with her every step of the way, just like always, whether it be by email, text, facebook or phone. But, be there, I will.

Many of you know Eryn. She has been my assistant from day one of my Cool Pets business. Lots of you may remember her as the little 10 year old helper who has such a way with animals. She’s been calm, and soothing to some of the shyest dogs. So, it is truly fitting that she will be studying to become a veterinarian.

How wonderful these 18 years have been. I can’t wait for the coming years to continue to accompany her on her life’s journey.

So, this week’s face appropriately belongs to Eryn.

I love you Eryn. Congratulations on a wonderful accomplishment.

Here is a highlight from last night.

As the graduation ceremony was coming to an end, I could hear many people in the stands asking if the graduates were going to throw up their hats….just like in the movies!! The last speech ended, they moved their tassles over to the other side of their caps and then the students began to head out. But, instead of walking straight out of the stadium, they moved out into a large circle. When everyone was in place, the class president walked into the center of the circle and lead the class as they threw up their caps in celebration.

Chills, I tell ya. Chills.

It snowed here yesterday. It doesn’t do that very often; almost never actually. So, everyone was pretty excited. And, yes, we even had a SNOW DAY! As with most of our snow storms, this one ended in rain…and then the sure to follow…ice. During the changeover from snow to rain, everything outside took on this beautiful misty, foggy look. So, I grabbed my camera, my daughter and her two friends (who were playing upstairs) and headed down to the Perkiomen Trail for some quicky quick photos before it really started raining! And, oh yes, it did start raining!

If you’re a woman, wife, mother, meal fixer, caregiver, or, heck, any of these you must have experienced the “joy” of struggling each day to think of something new and wonderful to fix for dinner.  How many times do we hear the famous words, “what’s for dinner?”  I don’t know about you, but sometimes that little sentence can send chills down my spine! 

I am a blogaholic. I love reading good blogs. I subscribe to many and usually try to read, or at least skim through them all. The subject matter of these blogs varies greatly. Today, I would like to share with you four blogs that I feel are particularly helpful to anyone who is faced, on a daily basis, with the pondering age old “What’s for dinner” question.

They are all great, and I hope you find at least one great recipe in each. If not, keep checking them, I’m sure something will pop up to tickle your cooking fancy!

1) Stephmodo – this blog has not only great recipe ideas, but tons of other cool things as well – from organizing, to shopping, to decorating. Just an all around fun read!

2) Taste Buds - Chock full of recipes!

3) Kayotic Kitchen - This blog is so adorable! Each recipe has great step by step photographs! And, in the newer posts there are beautiful, little printable recipe cards.

4) Pioneer Woman Cooking- Great, great blog. Not only is there cooking, but if you go to the main page, you’ll see all kinds of neat stuff. Ree is a great writer….sure to put a smile on your face every time. Humor, fun photos, great stories, yummy recipes, fabulous giveaways, and even some wonderful photography tips (including photoshop tutorials). Just an all around awesome blog.

Now, get out of your rut, and go cook something!

And, because I’ve heard that photographers should never have a post without a photo….this is what was going on by the sunny warm window in my home yesterday afternoon.

Kovu and Dolce lazing on a Sunday afternoon!

All images ©Susan Dodd

On Thursday (Thanksgiving day) I finally got to do something I’ve been wanting to do for a while. Last minute, I decided to grab my nephews and my daughters for some quick, but hopefully cool photos. It really was last minute; the turkey was waiting…impatiently

But, luckily, we managed to pull a few off.

Ursinus College’s campus is absolutely gorgeous and just full of great locations.

I actually went to Ursinus College – for a week….but that’s a whole different story! Anyway….we ran around grabbing shots on the fly…here and there.

Here’s a peek.

| DAVID |

| BRIAN |

I’m lovin this red door shot!

| THE WHOLE GANG |

Aren’t they cool? 

Nope, I’m not biased. 

Not at all. 

All images ©Susan Dodd

I hope this day finds you warm, lazy, healthy and loved. Whoever you spend your day with… friends, family, pets, humans…whoever, relax and ENJOY!

We’re trying a new recipe I found on Blog Nosh. It’s a little scary, because there are only TWO ingredients – pumpkin and spice cake mix. Easy enough, but we shall see! 20 minutes in the oven, two ingredients, healthy goodness? Who could ask for more!

Try it, we are!

Just a little reminder…Christmas is coming! It’s just around the bend. Are you ready?

Happy Thanksgiving!

All images ©Susan Dodd.

Any mail pouch barn hunters out there?

I recently found out that only ten minutes from home is…well…see below. Isn’t it AMAZING???

My daughter put it best today when we drove by..she said, “it feels like we’re in another land!”

All images ©Susan Dodd

Ok, it’s time.

I have seen this…oh maybe a thousand times…!! But it still gets me, every time. It is totally and exactly why I LOVE photography and photographic images and why I continue to do what I do.

It is really the true meaning of it all.

Please, you owe it to yourself to watch the whole thing. If it makes you cry, as it always does to me, you got it.

Eryn and her friend Meghan seem to keep finding themselves in front of my camera. Or, more accurately, they put themselves in front of my camera. Hey, it’s fun to pose. We did our first session right in the middle of the day when the sun couldn’t have been any higher in the sky – not the best for portraits; so I promised them I’d do another session. Well, this time they “forced” me to run over to the the middle school right at dusk – or should I say ONE minute before complete darkness!!!  

Actually, though, it made for an interesting look. They are so into it, aren’t they?

Thank you to all of you who have voted for me in the My Fox Philly HOT LIST!!  I am currently in 2nd place so I can still use more votes!

There is still time so please click the link below and vote, vote, vote! 

THANK YOU!!