So so busy...

wedding plans in full swing, and the two week countdown has begun. i did, however, find that i had a few moments to head over to barnes & noble last night and browse through the photography books. it had been too long! so many fantastic images and artists that i quickly penned in my book of 'things and people to research.'

Geert Goiris

Saul Leiter

Estaban Pastorino Diaz

amazing. it's killing me.

'This is better than everything.'

sisters are neat.

obsessed.

the old mining museum in ouray colorado - which used to be a hospital, and which is supposedly haunted. love to visit this place, especially during the season of spooks...

The Ouray trip this year was filled with lots of eating out, birthday celebrations, rock skipping, and some hilarious games of Five Crowns. This escapade was especially fun for me -- having Dirk along added an element of delight that I absolutely loved. This year we maybe learned that, toyota camry's shouldn't be taken off-roading, really heavy rocks don't skip so well, sea salt on dark chocolate is divine, and that at the age of three -Savannah can still be thrown several feet into the air.

A resounding YES!

Last Thursday, Dirk asked me a question -- perhaps the most exciting question a girl can hope to hear from the man she loves, (especially when asked in the form and language of a series of beautiful polaroids...) Needless to say, my heart nearly exploded and a resounding YES! echoed throughout. so happy.

September

'And so we came to those days when summer was dead, but autumn had not yet been born.'

calms me down and makes me happy. every single time...

last saturday, a little group of us headed up to Dirk's cabin for some sweet relief and time away from work, traffic, and the daily grind. what ensued was a lovely few days of exploring, card playing, star gazing, eating, napping, and so much more. that enchanting little cabin with its colorful curtains, low ceilings, and warm lamplight was an absolute dream - especially when filled with all of our laughter...
-- thank you Dirk --

recently drawn to...

Grace Weston's photography. I just recently became aware of her work, and almost simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief while gasping with excitement -- she too is fascinated by creating tiny worlds of storyline and starcraft. During those many years spent on my photography major in college, it seemed totally appropriate to spend my time amongst random smiling doll heads, styrofoam birds, and tissue paper ball gowns. It's only now that I find, I have a harder time trying to explain to people what I prefer to photograph without sounding like I hopped the first bus to crazytown...

we set out with a flashlight and a camera, ready to explore some broken up buildings -- but when the gates were locked up tight, we had no problem exploring other ideas...

Attended Aunt Belva's funeral today - and with her passing, I became thoughtful and very aware of how fast the generations pass away. Wished I was a little girl again in old Draper, watching hummingbirds and drinking Ovaltine at Jane's, or getting my hair trimmed at Faye's Style Shack on a booster seat, while Grandmother and Belva caught up on the latest town news.

After the funeral, I sat in the front room of the old draper home with Julie, Mom, and Granddad, and listened to Burk and Neil tell stories of their childhood -- our laughter was so intense that it turned to silence and we all wiped away tears and tried to catch our breath. I was truly blessed with the most amazing family - and for just a moment that corny song from The Sound of Music popped into my head before I quickly switched it off. 'Nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could - So somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good.' VERY good indeed...

my house just became a home.

i know this because my washer was just hooked up and now i spend time in my basement, listening to the comforting sounds of laundry -- enchanted by the pipes, adoring the floor drain, and gazing at the duct tape. not to mention those dreamy curtains.

this July

feeding on flowers and fireworks.

behold the bride & groom...

a MOST enjoyable day of picture taking -- one more week until the happy occasion. So excited...

when chairs dangle from the ceiling, majestic animals stand on chiffoniers, and a talking polaroid hangs from my neck - i know it's been a good day.

what happens when you wake up one morning after a night of dreaming to a PERFECT and hauntingly beautiful soundtrack? for a moment I was frantically tossing off the blankets to go fire up my ipod -- and then the horror struck. IT NEVER EVEN EXISTED...

month of music.

One brilliant show a week -- not bad at all. Danced my heart out at Helio Sequence & couldn't get enough of that drummer who emanated sheer joy and amazing energy. Au Revoir Simone was dreamy with a beat, not to mention their really great merchandise that neither Dirk nor I could pass up. Fell in love with Nina P. of A CAMP who 'first drew breath in a forest in Northern Sweden, neck deep in snow, in the waning of the last millenium, amongst families of foxes.' And a full stage of musicians and the voice of Tracyanne at Camera Obscura was a delight. I dare say an amazing concert can cure many an ailment.

goodbye barbara place.

despite the miserably hot summers and absence of an air conditioner, or even a mere breeze for that matter -- i will miss my little apartment at barbara place. recollections of family dance parties in the kitchen, gathering for hot chocolate in the front room after holiday excursions, and the comforting creek of the hardwood floors in the bedroom will always make this place a fond memory.

for just a moment, it seemed strange to me to see all of the shadows at the cemetery moving above the heavy granite headstones. another reminder of the fleetingness of life and a motivation to get going with my long list of 'to do's.'

it seemed like it had been ages since i had been up to the museum to help the kids with an art project. this last saturday we put together some terrariums -- some of the most beautiful terrariums i have ever seen!

Happy Birthday little Scoutie...

this little dog is just about the greatest companion a gal can have -- and when i come home at the end of the day and flop on the couch, her excited whimpers and frantic kisses never cease to make me smile, laugh, and pull out the most nauseating baby talk.