Birthday Half Birthday

Today is Dad's birthday...which also means that today is his mom's half birthday - 99 1/2 years! Not to steal Dad's thunder, but come on! The scary thing about today is that she is having surgery to fix a shattered leg, broken in three places. So today, instead of having a very merry unbirthday, we are facing the reality of celebrating 99 1/2 years, today that reality is very thick with the human condition.
So in celebrating Gram's half birthday it seems fitting to celebrate the birthday of her youngest son, my Dad. I took this picture of him this weekend. He came in from the garden where he had been rototilling and harvesting and getting the ground ready for the winter. He was covered in dirt and I was laughing because as he sat down to eat lunch he had mud smudged on his face, not that that bothered him much. As I am watching him help his mother finish her life here, it has become so important to me to remember the "normal" day-to-day moments that we share. Days when Dad comes in sweaty from the yard smeared with dirt. Those are the times that even though they seem a dime a dozen now can too easily pass unnoticed and slip away.
I hope this picture makes you smile. It makes me smile. Happy Birthday Dad! Happy Half Birthday Gram - what an awesome Dad you gave me!

Birthday Half Birthday

Today is Dad's birthday...which also means that today is his mom's half birthday - 99 1/2 years! Not to steal Dad's thunder, but come on! The scary thing about today is that she is having surgery to fix a shattered leg, broken in three places. So today, instead of having a very merry unbirthday, we are facing the reality of celebrating 99 1/2 years, today that reality is very thick with the human condition.
So in celebrating Gram's half birthday it seems fitting to celebrate the birthday of her youngest son, my Dad. I took this picture of him this weekend. He came in from the garden where he had been rototilling and harvesting and getting the ground ready for the winter. He was covered in dirt and I was laughing because as he sat down to eat lunch he had mud smudged on his face, not that that bothered him much. As I am watching him help his mother finish her life here, it has become so important to me to remember the "normal" day-to-day moments that we share. Days when Dad comes in sweaty from the yard smeared with dirt. Those are the times that even though they seem a dime a dozen now can too easily pass unnoticed and slip away.
I hope this picture makes you smile. It makes me smile. Happy Birthday Dad! Happy Half Birthday Gram - what an awesome Dad you gave me!

More Steph

This picture may not be Steph's favorite, but it was the only one that I didn't have to edit to get the window out of the picture. I like that it's just her, the red bench and white wall. The idea is good, execution is a bit lacking. But that look on her face is priceless! Maybe this is right as she noticed the HUGE spider above her head...

Steph's Shoot

When Steph and Ellen were up visiting last month we had a few extra minutes one morning and of course, I begged Steph go out and let me try to get some good pictures of her. The place that we stayed at was a home in the middle of a green belt which was a beautiful setting in itself but the home also boasted a huge garden which was fun to shoot in. We also found this little red bench that happened to be set up against a completely white wall of the house. It was fun to play around with the color contrast. I'm just learning so I still need LOTS of practice! Thankfully, Steph is a very gracious and patient subject. She'll do whatever I tell ask her to and is up for anything! It makes for lots of hilarious photos and lots of fun. I am so grateful for a friend like Steph. Everytime we get together is truly cherished time. It was so nice to have her in the Great NW for the weekend especially because she delights in the surroundings...it's so fun to watch her enjoy FALL. I hope some of these pictures can truly reflect to everyone how beautiful my best friend really is.