Bloom...
"May my soul bloom in love for all existence." ~ Rudolph Steiner
Dia de los Muertos...
Today I'm remembering the ones who left the material world this year... with a lot of love, and gratitude for their grace and gifts to us. They won't be forgotten.
Where do you dream?
I'm a fan of café culture. Sipping coffee at a leisurely pace, in a beautiful space... it's a form of meditation for me. I'm often accompanied by a book, a friend, journal, or all of the above. Slowing down, connecting, reflecting. It gives my monkey brain a container for dreaming, for seeing past my external circumstances. Where do you dream?
Happy Fall!
"How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days." -John Burroughs
How will you light and color your days?
Journey...
"Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the sooner we will be able to treat life as art." - Maya Angelou
Rebecca + Evan (part 2)
This was a special afternoon. The light was dreamy, a slight breeze kept those pesky mosquitoes (mostly) at bay, and Rebecca and Evan brought the love. It was my first engagement session at Chatfield Resevoir, and I will be back. The car was a sweet bonus (more about that later). How fun to play with a Model A!
Mt. Massive
I miss this view!
Friends as Superheroes...
Friends are the superheroes of life. Their powers are more subtle than Superman, but no less dynamic. They possess the ability to make us laugh in times of sadness, listen in ways that make us feel important, help us see (and appreciate!) the brilliant absurdities of life, and feel connected to something bigger than ourselves.
This month I lost one of my heroines. She departed as mythically as she lived. She was a light in the world; enchanting all she met with her grace, warmth and humor. We were college roomates and friends for twenty-two years. As I try to comprehend the loss, I ask myself "what would Carrie do?" She always knew the perfect thing to say... a balance between pragmatic wisdom, and wit. How do we get through this in a meaningful way? I feel awkward and raw.
In the weeks that have passed, I have been comforted by the show of support for her family, the reunion of old friends, and our capacity for love and humor in the face of grief. There have been some breathtakingly beautiful moments. Our journey is just beginning; we will ache for a long time. In the meantime, I will strive to meet each day with an open heart, practice kindness with myself (and others), and keep looking for the delighfully wacky in life.
Goodbye, my friend.
Sisters...
These two were fun to photograph. Silly and sassy, a style all their own, and some inside jokes that didn't need words.
Cake!
I love cake. There, I said it. It's one of my favorite elements of a wedding day. I love the decadence, the (often) innovative designs, and a sugar rush at the end of a long day. I won a cake decorating lesson at a silent auction. I was curious, and my friend Caroline joined me. Julia taught us how to: level the cakes, frost, and add colorful accents. We had a laissez-faire style and, in the end, our cakes had a Dr. Seuss quality... colorful, a little wacky, and fun. I have an even greater respect now for those elegant towers of confection.
Happy Mother's Day...
I believe in the compelling power of love. I do not understand it. I believe it to be the most fragrant blossom of all this thorny existence. -Theodore Dreiser
Faces...
I love when I can have an infant's mom standing just behind me to help generate some expressions... works like a charm.
Spring! (part II)
I found out that the pink tree is, indeed, a type of magnolia... a Jane Magnolia. I love it! Its pink blooms have given me (and many passersby) a smile this warm March.
Spring! (part I)
This is my first spring in my (relatively) new apartment, and I was delighted to see these bloom in my front yard. I've been a bit obsessed. They remind me of Virginia; like a miniature pink magnolia. The bees are having a party.
Cutie Patootie...
I loved discovering the many faces of Ari. One word: Adorable.
