Please be patient. I'm from the 1900's.

YOU GUYS.

This photoshoot almost didn't happen but I'm so glad it did.

I had just come from a Balboa dance workshop (I love swing dancing 💃🏻) which ran way overtime. It was getting late and I was losing light fast. I got to Michaels® just before they closed and grabbed a frame for my art. Phew!

I'm home now but the sun is almost down. There's no time to even change into the outfit I had picked out. (I did like what I was already wearing, though, so at least that's sorted.) And I guess I'm just gonna do the photoshoot in my driveway. Alrighty then...

I grabbed my tripod and set it up next to my truck's tailgate...and that's when I noticed I only have 14% battery left on my phone. Dang. Now that's another real problem. There's no time to charge it.

Ok, so now I'm trying to beat the clock on the sun setting, and on my phone dying. Sheesh.

And here's the thing, with all this going against me I have the insistent thought that I should just wait till another time, but then I have another thought...

What if I could still make it happen and what if it could be fun to even just try?

And it was fun! I was rushing, yes, but in a fun way.

I wanted Clementine in the shot, but of course there's no way we'd both look good in the same photo so I didn't even try. I set her up on a mat in the back of my truck and took about five pics till I got this money shot below.

(Isn't she so cute?!)

FYI: Later, when I Photoshopped her next to me, it was way too busy. But this photo was so darling that I wanted to show it to you anyway. Plus, you get to see my truck better.

And speaking of my truck, in case you're wondering, it's a little 1995 Nissan hardbody with a stick shift, that I bought in Albuquerque, NM in 1996. So as of this writing I've been driving her, "Esmeralda la Libre", as my one and only vehicle for 30 years! Originally, she was white and now she's metallic jade green. 

I've actually had this truck longer than I've had my business and that's saying something, since I started Retro Pets in 1998. I used to throw my large paintings in the back and drive to the Santa Fe Flea Market, which is where I got my start taking commissions, but that's a story for another journal post.

And last but not least, here's a closeup of the socks I was wearing.

Not to brag, but...

Behold!

These are my beyond-fabulous Bob Ross socks (IYKYK) that I got at the Dollar Tree® last month. (Try not to be too jealous.)

Maybe you can find some for yourself, but not at the Dollar Tree by me, because I bought them all. (Seriously, do you see how his 'fro is a different texture than the rest of the sock?) These are such a delight and they tickle me no end.

Anyway, thanks for indulging my silliness. 😝