Cowboy Christmas Party

If you live in St Lucie County, you know there isn’t a lot of Christmas spirit here!  I was browsing through Craigslist.com and found a listing for a “Cowboy Christmas Party” at LaPorte Farms in Sebastian (yes, I had to leave St Lucie County to find true Christmas spirit!).  I had never heard of this place before, but I will tell you it was a pleasure to visit their ranch.

The ranch is located on a dirt road and you pass trailer after trailer and wonder what you may have gotten yourself into, but when you finally arrive, you are amazed.  65,000 lights spread over 5 acres welcome you to their home which is a sprawling ranch.

It is definitely a kid friendly zone! As you wander through the paths there are blow up christmas scenes everywhere. The buildings are all warm and welcoming.

Zebras, horses of all sizes, an emu, llamas, goats, chickens, roosters, doves, pheasant, geese, ducks, parrots and much more!…I think the only thing missing were the maids a milking or the lords a leapin! And of course….Santa was there for the little ones! AND..no ranch is complete without bull riding!

But words can’t express the awe as well as the face of the children!

The best part of the “Cowboy Christmas” is the fact that it wasn’t done for profit which is such a nice change.  Admission was free.  Food was available and priced very reasonably.  The profits from the food sales are being used to provide Christmas dinner for needy families!

So, I offer a thank you to the LaPorte family for giving back to the community and for the pleasurable evening we spent at your ranch.  We look forward to making this an annual tradition!

Photos by 204Studios

Guardian Angels

Each day, we all go about our lives fully expecting to return home at the end of the day. Each day, someone will not return home because of a senseless, tragic accident caused by a drunk driver. And each day, the lives of countless survivors are shattered when they learn that someone they love will never come home. Guardian Angels was created in memory of those that didn’t come home and for those they left behind.

Photo by 204Studios (click on photo to visit website!)

The holidays are upon us and the office parties have begun.  Everyone wants to have a good time, but please….if you are planning on enjoying a little Christmas cheer, give your keys to someone you trust!

Revenge is Sweet and Non-Fattening!

Revenge (synonym vengeance) is a harmful action against a person or group as a response to a (real or perceived) grievance. Although many aspects of revenge resemble the concept of justice, revenge connotes a more injurious and punitive focus as opposed to a harmonious and restorative one. The goal of revenge usually consists of forcing the perceived wrongdoer to suffer the same or greater pain than that which was originally inflicted.

Photo by 204Studios Photography

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Stand by Me (Turn up the volume and sit back and enjoy!)

This post has nothing to do with photography, but it has everything to do with the holidays and much of what is happening around us.  The economy here on the treasure coast is in the tank.  Drive down any road and you see the vacant homes, many vandalized.  People out of work with no jobs to be had.  The crime rate is up.  You read craigslist and see people picking at each other.  This video was shared with me a year ago around this time of year.  It is an amazing video and really makes you stop and think.

The video was produced by the Playing for Change Movement who believed that music has the power to break down boundaries and overecome distances between people.  No matter whether people come from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual or ideological backgrounds, music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race.

All I ask of everyone that reads this today is take 5 minutes….watch the video and then share this with someone.

Book your holiday photosessions today! 20% off all prints!

www.204StudiosPhoto.com

Life as a Roller Coaster

Everybody goes through the ups and downs of life.  It’s like riding a roller coaster.  You reach the top and you feel great and are excited, but then you’ve got that big drop ahead of you and think “oh crap!”.  It’s all fun one minute and then terrifying the next. Sometimes you hang on for dear life because you know deep down that every sharp turn, every drop or dip, every swerve….will only be a memory years down the road. Sometimes you think you won’t make it up that big hill, but your momentum carries you up and sometimes you feel that jerk when the cable grabs to pull you up the rest of the way. As you teeter at the top, you hope you can stay up there long enough to at least catch your breath.  Heck, maybe you can even stay up there long enough to work the cable to pull others up behind you.  It’s hard work to stay balanced at the top, but I honestly think that those on the top that don’t want to work the cable need to be shoved back down the hill.

Sometimes, you think the person running your roller coaster has a sick sense of humor because yours seems to have more drops and swerves than the ones your friends are on!  All you want is for it to stop so that you can get off and maybe take a ride on the calm, easy merry-go-round. It finally grinds to a halt and you look over at the merry-go-round as it goes round and round and round. You think to yourself that it might be nice for a little while but then would get pretty darn boring. And after all, you made it through all the ups and downs of the last ride so maybe you should try it again….maybe a bigger, better roller coaster!!

So you do whatever it takes to buy that ticket for the next roller coaster ride because it’s the ride of a lifetime and there is nothing else like it! And in your heart, you know that someday soon you will be the cablemaster!

Photo by 204Studios Photography

visit our website at www.204StudiosPhoto.com!

A Day in the Park

Anytime spent with family is priceless.  After 4 days of lousy, rainy weather…on the 5th day it was irresistible to head to the park with my son and grandson.  Of course…camera in hand!

Photo by 204Studios Photography

Visit our website at www.204StudiosPhoto.com

Ask about our holiday special!

Winter Weather None Better

I’m stealing a comment that Michael made which made me smile because of the truth of his statement!  Our family is from Buffalo, New York and I’m sure that many of you have heard the jokes about Buffalo weather (most of which are true).  “Growing up in Buffalo, when the temp climbed to 65, we would break out the shorts and t-shirts and wish the pool was open! When the temp falls to 65 in Florida, we break out the sweaters and long pants and turn the heat on in the house!”

This is my favorite time of year in Florida.  The heat has subsided and it’s pleasant to work outside.  Walking the beaches may require jeans and a sweatshirt, but it’s worth it! As for the holidays….sorry, Florida just doesn’t cut it.  Christmas just isn’t the same here.  There is nothing more beautiful than seeing Christmas lights just underneath a fresh blanket of snow on a clear cold evening. Shopping for a Christmas tree when by the time you find the right one, everyone’s nose looks like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  Hot chocolate was always a welcome treat after picking out the tree!  Opening gifts early Christmas morning in front of a warm fire. The big family gatherings that put everyone into a food coma!  And of course…the photo opportunities! (Photo by 204Studios)

Visit our website! www.204StudiosPhoto.com

Ashlee Revisited

Many of our clients are repeat customers as the style and ambiance of working with 204Studios always brings out the best in them! This is Ashlee’s fourth time in front of our cameras and is probably the best….you be the judge. Ashlee is beautiful and fun to work with!

Photos by 204Studios

Help Bring Cookie Home!

I just learned of a very sad story and since I have a special place in my heart for Yorkies, I want to share and ask for help.  Cookie is a 5 year male yorkie and he is missing!  He has been missing from his home on NW Fontana in Port St Lucie since November 15th.  He is tiny…only 4 pounds and sick.  The family is heartbroken.  The family is offering a reward but I am not going to post the amount here.  Feel free to contact me if the reward is important.  What is important is that I know there are a lot of good people here in Port St Lucie and maybe if someone could find it in their heart that if they see this dog to let me know.  Has a friend or neighbor gotten a new yorkie? Just email me their address! No one has to get involved and no one has to know who you are.  The family doesn’t care as all they want is Cookie to be home with them.   Email cookie@204Studios.net! If you have found this dog, you can even leave him somewhere and I will come and get him….just let me know where!

He is absolutely adorable and I know it’s tempting to keep him, but he needs his family and they need him!

Christmas and Pets

The Christmas shopping season is here.  I am an animal lover and believe that when you take on the responsibility of a pet, it is for the life of the animal.  Too many people take this responsibility lightly and when the animal becomes an inconvenience they toss them out without a thought. Try to avoid giving a new puppy or kitten as a Christmas gift! The holidays are a stressful and hectic time for humans…can you imagine how a young puppy or kitten must feel being taken away from their mothers and put into the craziness of the holidays!

The Ten Commandments of Pet Ownership

When you adopt me my life is likely to last 15 to 20 years. Please don’t forsake me, any separation from you will be very painful.

Please give me time to understand what it is you want from me. Change can be more difficult for me than for you.

Please trust me and help me to trust you… it is crucial for my well being as well as yours.

Don’t be angry with me for too long, and don’t lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment. I have only YOU.

Talk to me. Even if I don’t understand your words, I understand your voice when you’re speaking to me.

Be aware that however you treat me, I’ll never forget it.

Before you hit me, remember that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand, but I choose not to hurt you.

Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Is there another reason for my behavior? Perhaps I’m not getting the right food, or I’ve been out in the sun too long, and my heart may be getting old and weak. Try to understand what it is like to be me.

Please take care of me when I get old. Don’t abandon me, for you, too, will grow old.

Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say, “I can’t bear to watch it”, or, “Let it happen in my absence.” I need you with me even at the end of my journey. Please always do what is best for me even if it is unbearable for you to do so – because I love you and trust that you will.

We do pet photography! Call us or visit our website to schedule your pet’s photo session!