And a wedding, too!

I had the opportunity to assist/second shoot a wedding this summer. It was awesome fun and I learned a lot. Rachel, the bride, was amazing and gracious and that made everything so much easier.

Early morning at Irvine Park

My friend Tara brought her girls out for an early morning session at the beautiful Irvine Park in Saint Paul. I knew of the park but never took the time to explore it on foot - oh my, it's gorgeous. And so are Tara's girls!

I had some free time this week so I experimented with textures. I'm liking the effect.

My Great Aunt Linda's Hand Mirror

My Great Aunt Linda was an amazing woman. From what I've heard, she and her husband Vic were like peas and carrots. Always together living life to it's fullest. They never had kids. My mom didn't know why and her only explanation was, "People of her generation didn't talk about that sort of thing. You either had kids or you didn't. If you didn't people assumed there was a problem and that was that."

So they followed their bliss. Or at least my aunt followed her husband's bliss. I've found photos of them on great vacations, her tagging along while he went ice fishing and hunting, with their big old hunting dogs in the back of the truck, swimming in the summer. Then Vic died unexpectedly and my aunt was alone.

The second half of her life was as amazing as the first. She learned to drive, pay her own bills and keep up a house - a challenge for a single woman in the 1940s. She became the Postmaster in our small, unincorporated town. She traveled the world for the USPS with their conventions. Since she knew everyone in town and was involved in church, she became the chauffer for all the other little old ladies who had never learned to drive. Since she she lived alone, her house was so fancy and girly. She had a hot pink plush toilet seat cover (not on just the lid, but the ring where you put your butt!). Flowers everywhere, candy dishes on every table. Plant stands full of African Violets. I loved visiting her house. She was just amazing.

When you grow up in a small town, you spend a lot of time dreaming about getting out, moving to the big city and proving yourself. But my Great Aunt Linda is proof and inspiration to me that you can bloom, grow and prove yourself wherever you are planted.

Catching up with Flickr

I started a Flickr photo-a-day project last December and I was doing well for the first few months. It was cold in Minnesota then and the kids and I didn't have a lot going on. I fell off the wagon in June when the weather warmed up. I recently got a very nice email from my friend Jen in New Zealand. She discovered my Flickr stream and had some very complimentary things to say. I felt inspired again to get back to work so I went through my archives for the months of June and July and filled in the blanks. Here's a few of my favorites:

More brothers - this time twins!

I just love these little guys. They are the pals of my son and their smiles light up like the 4th of July. Their older brother is a hoot, too. He's also such a polite guy and so good with his brothers. Love them all! I'm glad their mom Audrey loaned them to me for an hour. Thanks!

Last week sisters...this week, brothers

I had the pleasure of spending the morning with these two cute guys and their parents. It was great fun to hang with them - so much for me to look forward to as my little guy gets bigger.

Sisters, sisters...there were never such devoted sisters

I finished editing another practice shoot from last weekend. The S sisters are so sweet and it was great fun keeping up with them at the awesome Highland Park playground.