I love my neighbourhood and I think it loves me back. Here are some shots from my unsuspecting neighbours’ yards. What’s a little trespassing to get a good shot eh?
I will then tend to creating and maintaining this living wall in my house.
It’s beautiful and sunny here in Seattle! Just had to say that to make it real. On to the food of the day.
My newest hand me down is a crock pot. We make quite the pair already if I do say so myself. I’m hoping to get into more vegetable-centric dishes, but for those with a strong stomach, look at this “Pork Picnic” I picked up. The fact that the outer skin/flesh was still on it was the first unusual thing for me, but then…… If you look closely you’ll, uuuhhh….. see the long whiskery hairs still on it! I almost lost it when I noticed that and felt like I had to photograph it to dissect why I had such a guttural response to it. I respect the to eat meat or not to eat meat issue because it is a difficult and complex one. I’m eastern european so meat has been glorified since childhood, but seeing that just seemed to bring it closer to home that I was about to consume a once living lovely creature. I am not even sure I’ve come to terms with it yet, though it was quite tasty. I struggle with the issue myself and have not found peace with either side as of yet.
The other shots are of some red kidney beans that I was soaking. I just thought they was purdy lookin’.
Two weeks ago I met Dean Spade who gave me FREE law advice! I should have bought a lottery ticket that day too. He was a super swell guy, very suave, but in an unassuming way. Within about 15 minutes he made me want to take classes from him and become a lawyer. He was slightly reluctant about me shooting with his office in the background because he claimed it was a bit messy. For not I say, what’s a few scattered papers; the light was beautiful and the colours were singing so I went for it.
This October I flew to Omaha, Nebraska – Go Huskers! – and spent time with so many great people and photographed Pamela and Dean’s wedding. I only shoot a couple weddings a year and I’m sooo delighted that this was one of them. Their wedding was at Union Station and boy was it a fabulous location! I wish I had three more days to shoot them, there was so much I wanted to do! Yay for Love!! :-)
I had the opportunity to work with Chaco Canyon Cafe again this year. And super congratulations to them on becoming Washington’s FIRST Certified Organic Vegetarian Café!! Here are some of the Sweets shots. So many tasty creations, so little time!
And there’s more! Here’s a smattering from the last several months…
It’s been a really great year for traveling and visiting family. Here are some of my favourite shots from along the way. You can see I have a weakness for my niece, My Little Pony and shadows while golfing. Who knew?
This year brought many joyous occasions for me, but it was not without sadness and letting go. Three people in my life succumbed to cancer this year after inspiring strides to stay alive. They were all men of middle age who had a love and zest for life in their own special ways. I will miss them all and as I remember them I’ll constantly be reminded of how to live life to it’s fullest no matter what we’re given on a daily basis to endure.
One of the men, Vern Bailey, I was lucky enough to photograph several years back. He is someone I grew up with, of an avuncular nature, back in Montana. He worked for many years as a mechanic at Beacon Tire. This is where I photographed him along with his co workers one summer. As the funeral preparations were being made, I was asked to send some of the photographs from this session. I had no idea, but his niece and nephew had a framed print made for each of his surviving immediate family members. The same image was also used in a memorial sculpture made by his nephew-in-law. I love these shots of him at his work where you can feel the happiness and joy that he’s feeling. Well, that and wondering when I’d get my camera out of his face so he could work in peace!
Here’s to you Vern!
