giraffes and portraits

I just read an email from my parents and in it they asked to see the portraits Bry did for my Christmas gift. So here you go, plus a bonus preview of your Christmas gift mom and dad. I love this image of Grandma and Grandpa, I hope you do too! (sorry for the not as good as the original copy. Just wait until you see the real deal, it's as awesome as Grandpa Awesome himself!)The series Bry made for me looks like it was made to go right there doesn't it? I didn't know how much I would like them, nothing to do with the supreme talent of the photographer, but more the idea of having portraits of just me with out cute kids in the photo, or an animal or three for distraction. I love it though. He has a way of capturing heart and soul. I tied up my money tree yesterday and I'm always surprised after I add another twisty tie how big it has gotten over the last five years. It was barely a foot tall when I moved into my teeny tiny apartment by the river and bought it as a house warming gift for myself. I loved that apartment because it was purely mine and the bike trail ran right outside my window. My funny little tree reminds me of that time, and all the moves it has made with me, this one being the hardest for us both since it hardly fits in my car anymore.

My parents also mentioned that they had been out shopping for giraffes like mine. I laughed when the said they ended up at the same stall where I had bought mine at a huge outdoor market called Bruma.

It was a quiet day when we were out looking for my long necked friends. I had already priced them at another market so I had an amount in mind that I wanted to spend. I was walking down a small alley alone while my dad looked for his apron. I passed a stall without giraffes and when the guy asked me to come in to take a look I told him politely that he didn't have what I was looking for. This didn't slow him down, he was very helpful and fun. Once he knew what I was after his friend ran off to get me a bunch to chose from. I told him I was very particular about what I wanted. The first batch weren't anything special so the friend went and got more, and more, and then even more when I still hadn't found any I really liked. They didn't act put out at all by how picky I was being. We talked prices all the while. Of course he started extremely high and as we negotiated he wouldn't go as low as I wanted. More haggling and more giraffes and soon we had a deal that both of us could live with. I didn't mind at all hand carrying these bad boys home after all that hard bargaining.

Mom and dad did find giraffes at the same stall, and the guy remembered me even, but didn't give them as good of a deal! Tough luck there guys!

Do you see what book I'm reading? I spent a large part of the day in bed getting thoroughly involved in the world of wizards. I'm purposely limiting how much time I can read because I want to make it last.