Usually we are rushing around, last minute, frantically trying to get a Halloween costume together. I wasn’t much for Halloween when I was younger. Honestly, people in costumes freak me out. So do scary movies. Except Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I’m a huge Buffy fan.

Anyway.

This year, the costume of choice was a corpse bride. So, we looked online at the costumes offered in the stores and found them to be a bit uninspired. We had ideas, but didn’t know how to bring them to life. Fortunately, we knew someone who could! My wonderful friend, Nancy’s wonderful sister Debbie is amazingly talented with a sewing machine (and knitting needles), and she was kind enough to create the most spectacular dress. It was a bit corpse bride – straight, elegant, fitted – and a bit of fluff – tulle and sparkle. In a word, it was perfection!

A few accessories, and a little makeup and we were ready to go…early!

So, off to the graveyard we went.

Ooh, this could be my favorite. I’m channeling my inner Stevie Nicks here. “Intense, silence as she walked in the room. Her black robe trailing Sister of the Moon.” Oh how I love that song!!!

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.

Part one:
I have been using Facebook for quite some time now. Just a personal page with lots of friends and family to keep in touch with. The Facebook network is growing and growing, with lots of groups and fan pages to join. I didn’t really see the need to have a fan page…I mean, how many web presences (is that a word?) does one need? Websites, blogs, twitters, facebook fan pages….it’s never ending. However, just for fun, I created a fan page…the Susan Dodd Photography Fan Page. And, then I forgot about it. Until one day, a fan appeared. I was shocked! I didn’t know the page was even public. It had no content, how could this be? So, I quickly added some content. And then, more fans joined, and more! Wow! So, I invited some friends to join…and they did! This was so exciting for me! Fans! Fans are cool.

So, now, I’m inviting you to join. You don’t have to, of course, like I said, it’s just for fun. But if you feel inspired to become a fan, go ahead over here…Susan Dodd Photography Facebook Fan Page…and join!

I’m not sure where I will be taking this fan page. But, it might be exciting to see! So, thank you, for being fans!

Part two:
This year I was a little late sending out our holiday card. I wasn’t going to send one at all actually. I had absolutely no ideas and virtually no time. But, at the last minute…well, after the last minute…an idea came to me. So, I took some photos, and made the card. I didn’t send out a ton, so I wanted to share it here on the blog for everyone to see!

Merry Christmas everyone! In honor of this special day, I’m posting not one, but ALL of the Dodd animals. That’s right! You finally get to meet all of them….in one post!!

Clockwise from the top left….introducing…

Kovu, Savannah, Dolce and Briggs!

Happy Holidays to you! Hope this day finds you warm, safe and happy!

All images ©Susan Dodd

I know exactly what they are going to say. It will go something like this. “You took all those pictures of our faces, and this is what you post??”

So? I think it’s cool!

Ok, ok, here’s one of the front. Happy?

All images ©Susan Dodd

My Friday Faces have been missing these passed two Fridays because of our wonderful vacation.  Our annual East Hill Farm vacation is a highly anticipated trip and every year we have an awesome time! This was our 11th year at the farm, and one of our best ever!

Now that we are back, I will make up for the absence by giving you not one, but three faces. All from our week at the farm.

First up…Bojo.  He is a farm guest every year during our week, and actually appeared here on the blog last year.  

I love that fresh crimped look on his ears!!

Next up…Truman. He is just a puppy. A very large puppy. He fit right in at the farm and seemed to enjoy wandering around checking the lawn for leftovers from the buffet lunches!

Here he is giving me his “I’m a puppy, see me smile?” face!

And this? This is a ram! I know he has a name, but I just feel the urge to shout, “Narnia” whenever I see him. We passed him every morning on our way to the tennis courts.

So, it’s back to work for me.

Happy Friday Faces!!

All images ©Susan Dodd

Warning…there will be no pets in this post. Just some crazy kids having a lot of fun!

Having a mom for a photographer, I guess, can be pretty cool. I’ve started this “tradition” to try to photograph my daughters with as many of their friends as I can. Just for fun.

So this weekend, even though it was pouring down rain, when my daughter came home from a sleepover with her friend and they were dressed up in the cutest outfits, I grabbed my camera and out we went…into the rain!

The girls are both gymnasts, and had their state meet the day before, so their hair was braided and their eyes were still glittery. It was perfect!

Here they are being cool.

Beautiful little Carli.

Of course there was a lot of laughing.

All images ©Susan Dodd

Yesterday I said goodbye to my Passat.  It has been a lovely 3 years with my car and I have been a die hard VW fan.  The Passat was my second VW and our second Passat. 

I was surprised, though, that it wasn’t terribly hard saying goodbye. But, after all it is just a car….a means of getting from point A to point B.  Although, I do like to do it with a little bit of style. 

So…out with the old and in with the new!

Even though yesterday was a dreary overcast day with no hope of a warm sunset, I just had to take a few photos to document the occasion.

Introducing, my new ride for the next three years.

Looking good sporting my Cool Pets plate!

I think I will be very happy with my Altima. At first, I thought I would suffer uncontrollable sobbing any time a volkswagen passed on the road, but I think I’ll be ok!

Thank you to Ben, Warren, Tom, and my great friend Lori at the Conicelli Autoplex for taking such perfect care of everything!!

All images ©Susan Dodd

This weekend was quiet. I had some down time and spent Sunday afternoon baking cupcakes with my daughter, Camryn and her friend, Kayla. Wonderful, delicious cupcakes. You can find them here…Red Velvet Cupcakes on one of my favorite cooking blogs! The cupcakes really were heaven. We made them just like the recipe says, minus the bags and bows. The cream cheese frosting was so light and dreamy. I had to guard the bowl! When we were finished, the girls piled some on a plate and took them outside to give away to kids playing, and to Kayla’s family. It was so much fun, I didn’t even mind cleaning up the mess!

I did take photos of the process, but that’s not what’s below. Last fall I needed to do some quick photos of Camryn for something we were doing. I never posted them! Here are two of my favorites!

All images ©Susan Dodd

Not intentional, I swear. It’s either a self portrait, or a fun game of “I Spy.”

Can you find me??