let me clarify..

Ever wonder why I show so many images of sleeping dogs here? (note Sally is sound asleep here) It's not because they're always like this. NO WAY. They are crazy barkingheadloonybinpooperheads. They chase EVERYTHING that drives by our corner from window to window. I know about every squirrel, every cat or rabbit, every mail man or UPS truck that visits our house on the corner of two streets property. This is the natural inclination of two mixed breed bird dogs. They're, in polite terms, high energy. Let's try again. High Strung. No, how about complete offtheirrockerscrazy heads.

As you might imagine, the antibiotics haven't really fixed me yet. I'm letting it all hang out. I feel bad, the opposite of high energy dogs. (yup, it's day three on these enormous pills, and I've called the doctor. Something's got to give) So, when both dogs were sound asleep in puddles of sunshine in my office, I pretended this is what life was really like. Just for a sec.

And while Harry is showing the whole world his private parts right here on the blog...I'll explain what else I'm up to, this week.

Ever wonder how the photos for a heavily illustrated book get chosen? Well, in the ideal world, there is a wonderful relationship between an editor--the one who helps choose photos-- and the writer. (Luckily, I have that. If you're reading this, dear editor, you have been so fabulous about this stuff, so kind and consensus- oriented, that it's hard for me to express.) There's also a cooperative photographer. We'll get into that later.

For a book about fiber events and festivals, that photographer takes hundreds (think 700, easy) photos at each festival. You might have noticed the professor doing this if you saw us, it was hard to miss. Then, the professor and I sat down the week after the festival, and we cut out, oh, say 600 of those photos. Some were blurry duds, too dark, too light, or unfixable in a hard to describe way. These were painful sessions at the dining room table, when we were tired, frustrated, and suffering. I hated cutting pictures of people I liked. I hated choosing just one photo of that special sheep. What, doesn't everyone feel that way about the sheep?

The incredibly cooperative photographer/professor puts these selected images in a secret location, online. We waited until all the travelling is over, and then now, I work with the editor. We narrow the 100+ photos for each festival? Into 5 to 8 shots. It's hard. Excruciating. We've just finished 5 chapters' worth. I feel like I've run the photo selection marathon and psst...so many more to choose yet.

Meanwhile, the cooperative photographer/professor has also helped do shots of the projects, with models. Those who know us realize we're not the high fashion stylist types. We get what we think are the most fabulous shots. Then, the kind editor makes her suggestions. Turns out not everything was as fab as we'd hoped.

Photographer/professor/husband may go on strike soon. He is jealous of half of Europe when it comes to strikes. He's very cooperative. Yes, dear. Only, there is no money in this right now. He must be a professor the rest of the time so we can, you know, eat...and all those pre-meds can study genetics. We miss taking breaks in our lives. I am sick and cranky. He is tired of taking knitting related photos. (I know, is it possible?)

This is what part of my desk looks like. Below, this is what the other surfaces look like, cause you never know when you're going to need handspun (prop) or handcards. Never mind the guestroom, which has gorgeous knitted design samples stacked up everywhere.

In the back of my mind, I hear the comments that happen after a knitting book comes out. "I love those big glossy images, but..why couldn't they just show the sweater better?" Or, "I posed for a picture, why didn't they include me?" Or, "My sheep/fleece/booth/alpaca/rabbit/border collie was gorgeous. What were they thinking, not including it?!!"

My inner photo editor is coming out, and it isn't pretty. I've chosen photos for 5 events at this point, no projects chosen yet, and at least as many events to go. Please, have mercy when (IF!?) the book comes out. Be kind.

Oh, and I wouldn't mind a cheering comment now and again. You can't imagine how many times a day I pop over here for positive reinforcement....and yes, I too hope the antibiotics work, and soon! Crankiness can become overwhelming.