Roxie And The Donkey Lady

1 Roxie House 3

If you follow my blog, you have seen my attempts at home & garden photography. Some are more successful than others. I am a huge fan of several photographers who specialise in this type of work, but as I have previously mentioned, none more than my friend, Rwah. If you haven’t visited her blog to check out her epic black and white work, I urge to to do so. I will even make it easy for you – just click here.

Normally when I do H&G photos I arrange the furniture and decorations on a set with three walls and a floor, leaving the front and top open. This allows me more freedom to play with shadows and lighting. I get frustrated when I am shooting an interior and I can’t get my Windlight settings to work out – if only I had the building skills to move a window or door to allow the light to stream in where I want it!

Sunday, after DJing a set to which I dragged Rwah so Grumper could meet “the Donkey Lady”, we went back to our home so Rwah could see our latest house. I bought the Roxie Beach House by Thaino Design a couple of months ago and have been tinkering with furnishing it ever since. I admit to having a few butterflies since I respect Rwah’s sense of design so much, but her first comment was, “Peep, this is so YOU!” I could hardly argue and I was pleased that she seemed to like it.

I have used the upper deck for several photos on my blog, but I haven’t shown the interior yet. Not that I haven’t tried; I just haven’t been able to produce any photos that I was happy with.

So, last night, I tried again. I am not going to say how long I worked on getting a single shot of one corner of the bedroom that I am showing here, but in the end I was pleased enough with the result that it finally is seeing the light of day. Rather, it is seeing the late-afternoon sunlight as it streams through the window.

Never mind that this is an east-facing window and I cheated like heck to make it appear to be sunset; that is one of the joys of Second Life – we can make the sun rise in the west and set in the east.

So, Rwah, this one is on you. I will persevere with bringing more of our home to my blog…eventually. I like my hair on my head – not in fisted bunches as I pull it out 😉 And that invitation stands – the door is always open for you to stop by to take photos or just hang out on the island ♥

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

Build: Thaino Design – Roxie Beach House by Thaihiti Baroque
Bathtub: Trompe Loeil – Vintage Bathtub Brass by Cory Edo
Table & decorations: Spargel & Shine Antique Bath Table Rose by Tess Spargel
Mirror: LISP Mesh – Anna Window Mirror – Full Bright by Pandora Popstar
Shelf: -Tres Blah- -tb- Kitchen Basics – Shelf (Blue) by Julliette Westerburg (Gacha Prize)
Candles: LISP – Coco Tea Lights 3 flames by Pandora Popstar
Heart decorations: A.D.D.Andel! Hearts On a String-Green by Andel Rhiadra
Rug: *ionic* mora carpet by Iakua Arriaga
Chair on deck: {what next} Orlaith Deckchair (rose) by Winter Thorn

A Donkey, Two Asses And An Angel

1 With a donkey on top

Grab a beverage of choice and kick back – I’m about to go on a ramble.

My last few posts have been mainly informational about what I have been wearing. The clothes were the primary focus of my photos, so that is what took centre stage. But this is a photo I took when I went on another excursion to Calas Galadhon Park several days ago. I had mentioned in my post that I would be back, and I kept my word that very afternoon – I just haven’t had a chance to blog about it until now.

On this trip, I wandered around, dropping a few Lindens in the donation kiosks of some of my favourite sims – my way of supporting Ty & Truck in keeping this amazing park together. In fact, I received an IM from Ty thanking me personally not just for my donations, but for my blog post. That little act touched me – he had already thanked me in the comments of my blog post and while it wasn’t necessary, it just showed me how special this place and its owners are.

I wasn’t really heading anyplace in particular – just looking for a view to photograph. And then…I stumbled across this little fella grazing in a meadow on Glanduin. And I laughed. Unless your name is Rwah or Grumper, or you are a dedicated reader of my blog comments you probably won’t understand why. Lets just say that thanks to Rwah, donkeys are now the currency that Grumper and I use 😉 He was just begging to be photographed, so I obliged.

I was happily snapping away, sharing the occasional story with Mr Donkey, when I saw a couple riding past on a horse. They paused for a moment then went on, so I went back to my conversation and didn’t think anything of it. A few minutes later, though, as I had just adjusted my camera angle, the back of a head loomed into my view. And then another. It was the couple I had seen on the horse who now decided it would be fun to torment me. They were bumping me and jumping around right in front of me. I asked them to stop. This, of course, brought about a bit of twerking right next to me. The girl wandered away, probably bored, but the guy (I refuse to use the term “man” in reference to him) began pushing me toward the fence. I told him I had an IM open with the owner and I would report them if he didn’t leave me alone. This seemed to work, so after calling me a few unrepeatable names, he ran off to join his friend.

Yes, these were the two asses I referred to in my title. I really don’t know why this type of harassment is so prevalent in Second Life, although this is the first time I have been accosted at Calas Galadhon (unless you count watching a streaker dash across the main sim). It dampened my mood and I bade a fond farewell to Mr D and headed home, leaving me a little sad.

It didn’t bother me for long. It was a mere blip on my radar, so minor that I didn’t bother letting Ty know what had taken place.

As for the angel I mentioned in the title, that could apply to Ty and Tenk. Instead, it refers to Khea Karas, the designer and owner of .:MALT:.. She is the creator of the dress I am wearing. The day before my outing to Calas Galadhon I had wandered into her store and was immediately charmed by this dress in Lemon. I tried on a demo and I was sold. I bought the dress, and waited patiently for it to arrive. And waited. And waited. I was at one of her satellite stores, which didn’t have a redelivery kiosk, so I TP’d over to her mainstore and and tried the redelivery there. Alas, the transaction hadn’t shown up on the database so I was out of luck. I collected my transaction history and sent her a note card, explaining that I had tried redelivery, but that had failed, too. She wasn’t online (it was my afternoon, her night time) so I went about my business and logged off.

When I went back into Second Life the next day, Khea had not only sent me the Lemon dress I purchased, but this pretty blue version, as well. I immediately IM’d her to thank her. This is the customer service that gives her Angel status for me. I didn’t receive what I had bought so she took the extra step of sending me a gift for any inconvenience I had suffered – albeit through a technical glitch and not through any fault of her own.

I see a lot of people complaining about the customer service they receive in SL, but I have to say my experiences have been mainly positive. Khea Karas is a wonderful example of those Angels who work hard to not only bring their creations to life, but care about their reputation and take the extra steps to ensure their brand is backed up with outstanding service. Two Donkeys to Khea!

Has your tea gone tepid? The ice in your drink melted? Well, you can go freshen it up now – I am done rambling, except for my credits 🙂

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

Outfit: .:MALT:. Saga Dress & Bathing Suit – Blue Curaco by Khea Karas
Necklace: Maxi Gossamer – MG – Necklace – Boho Bliss Tassel-Tastic – Short 2 by Maxi Gossamer
Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Emily Mesh Hair – Cinnamon by MissAllSunday Lemon
Shoes: tulip. Gladiator Sandals (Sand) by Minami Susanowa
*Skin: 7 Deadly s{K}ins – WRATH B4d T2 by Izara Zuta (available at The Skin Fair 2014)
*Makeup: 7 Deadly s{K}ins Wrath M4 DEF by Izara Zuta (available at The Skin Fair 2014)
Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual by Siddean Munro
Feet: Slink Mesh Feet (Av) Flat by Siddean Munro
Hand and feet appliers: 7 Deadly s{K}ins – Slink Feet & Hand Appliers SkinFair female by Izara Zuta (part of 7 Deadly S{k}ins The Skin Fair Special pack)
Eyes: Amacci Gaze Eyes – Ocean Blue by Carina Larsen
Lashes: Mon Cheri *MC* “Falsies” Eyelash by Freya Oliveri

Pose: aDORKable Poses: Side Pony 2 m by Adorkable Peapod

Location: Glanduin at Calas Galadhon Park

Shot using the LumiPro HUD

Florals & Buzzing Bees

1 Somnia ieQED_013

Today I’ve got more spring goodies from The Theme Park! This top from .: Somnia :. comes in about a gazillion different colours (ok, so maybe I exaggerated just a wee bit…but there are a LOT!) It is one of my favourite items from this round. I love the muted colours and it is just so feminine. Just right for a day at the park and goes great with either a skirt, shorts or jeans.

The nail appliers from {Wicked} Peach are just too cute and the only way I like bees…I’m allergic to the real ones 😦 But these are just buzzing away happily on my fingers and toes.

The shoes from ieQED are the perfect accompaniment to the outfit – especially if you want to go incognito in a flower garden. They are so delicate that I have to be careful where I step – I surely don’t want to plant these babies in the grass! They slip over my Slink high feet so I can make sure my toenails match my fingernails, too.

The Theme Park runs for another couple of weeks, so you have time to get there to pick up these gorgeous springtime items. But don’t wait too long – the next round will be here before the petals fall off of the rose.

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

*Top: .: Somnia :. Cupios {5} by Sanura Snowpaw (available at The Theme Park – March 2014)
Skirt: Baiastice_Ivanna mini skirt-tobacco by Sissy Pessoa
*Shoes: ieQED rose.sandals.pink by SigiFaust (available at The Theme Park – March 2014)
Necklace, earrings & bracelet: Cae :: Ascend :: Ensemble by Caelan Hancroft
Hair: *ARGRACE* SAKURA – True Red by rika Oyen
*Finger and toe nail polish: {Wicked} Peach – Bees by Autumn Amaranth (available at The Theme Park – March 2014)
*Skin: 7 Deadly s{K}ins – WRATH B4d T2 by Izara Zuta (available at The Skin Fair 2014)
*Makeup: 7 Deadly s{K}ins Wrath M4 DEF by Izara Zuta (available at The Skin Fair 2014)
Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual by Siddean Munro
Feet: Slink Mesh Feet (Av) High by Siddean Munro
Hand and feet appliers: 7 Deadly s{K}ins – Slink Feet & Hand Appliers SkinFair female by Izara Zuta (part of 7 Deadly S{k}ins The Skin Fair Special pack)
Eyes: Amacci Gaze Eyes – Ocean Blue by Carina Larsen
Lashes: Mon Cheri *MC* “Falsies” Eyelash by Freya Oliveri

Pose: {Imeka}Kirsty-Pose 6 by NatiWilliams