Today is Jamie’s 38th Birthday

I don’t know what the occasion was, but I found this dated 3/23/1999 on WildLife on Easy Street letterhead:

 

Jamie Veronica Murdock was born 7/16/80 in Tampa, Fl.  She is 18 years old and graduated two years early, and as valedictorian of  her school.   She is an accomplished wildlife photographer as evidences by the photos in the enclosed brochure.  Two years ago, when she graduated she had the world in her hands and could have gone anywhere and done anything.  Her mother, Carole Lewis, had founded WildLife on Easy Street, Inc. a big cat sanctuary home to over 200 animals in 1992 with her husband, Don Lewis.  August 18, 1997 Don Lewis disappeared, leaving Carole Lewis as a single parent with a real estate business to run and a refuge that cost the couple as much as $235,000.00 per year to keep open.

 

 Jamie Veronica had the option of traveling, going to college or pursuing her own photography career, but chose to stay home and help her mother in the day to day operation of WildLife on Easy Street, Inc.  Jamie Veronica is now the President of WildLife on Easy Street, Inc., editor of Cat Tales, it’s quarterly newsletter and is in charge of the office, phones, adoptions, memberships and co-ordinating events.  She is a member of the volunteer committee which oversees over 100 wildlife volunteers.  She is also in charge of raising all of the cubs and assists with the vaccinations, worming, feeding and medical attention of all of the animals living on Easy Street.  She is the person on the brochure in the center photo, with her black leopard, Jumanji.  She has successfully raised the only two White Servals in the world and has won many contests with her photography.  She has taken on a huge endeavor and is the embodiment of a caring human being.       - Carole Lewis

 

I found this letter date June 18, 1997 

 

Hillsborough County Arts Council c/o Art Keeble  725 E. Kennedy Boulevard #401  Tampa, Florida  33602  (813) 276-8250

 

Dear Mr. Keeble;  I thought the idea of showcasing local artists in the County Center was a wonderful idea.  As I was waiting in the County Commissioner’s lobby I found it refreshing to be able to spend that otherwise wasted time in getting know more about the talent in the area.  My husband, and my daughter help me care for a 40 acre wildlife sanctuary in Citrus Park that is home to over 200 orphaned, abandoned and abused animals, most of which are great cats.  My daughter, Jamie Veronica has made a hobby of photographing these magnificent creatures and is now hoping to make a career of  her love of photography.  She is only sixteen years old and just graduated two years ahead of her time, as Valedictorian (she’s being featured on Fox 28), and she now works full time at WildLife on Easy Street, Inc., doing everything from the newsletter to rescues. 

 

She took all of the photos in the attached colour brochure, except for the photo of herself, center back cover.  She works in slides, prints and digital images and even does some of her own colour developing.  She draws and paints and completed several murals for the walls of her school.  She has won in two photo contests (she only entered two) and was published in the Photography Forum’s annual last year.

 

 She has trained several animals, including Bobcats and has an eye for the essence that is the “cat”.  She has saved and wisely invested her allowances and earnings since she was ten years old and has managed to put away over $8000.00.  She was born at the Women’s Hospital here in Tampa, Florida on July 16, 1980 and has always resided in Tampa.  She has never had any formal training in any art field, but as you can see is a “natural”.  Of course I am proud, but all of Tampa Bay can take pride in this exceptional person through your organization.   For the Animals,  Carole Lewis

My CGI Butterfly landed right side up!

 

 

I’ve been working on creating a CGI butterfly but it kept flying upside down and landing on hi