Mickie Easby Photography

The Year that was...

2012-01-10T17:10:00.000-08:00

I love new fresh years. All squeaky clean and waiting for your imprint upon them.

What does the year ahead hold? No one knows, that's like trying to see around a corner... simply not possible you just have to hang on and enjoy the ride.

When 2011 started I had no idea what the year would hold. Although I had some vague ideas of that I thought it might look like nothing could have prepared me for the journey of this year. Every year is unique in experiences and moments if you are open to them... and this past year was no exception. From personal moments like going to the theatre for the first time at Stratford Festival and seeing Titus (amazing by the way!), to meeting new people and seeing life through their eyes and being willing to let go, to living life out loud and being willing to embrace all the changes that come along to professional moments like being inspired by some of the amazing folks I've connected with this year in the world of photography through social media (oh yeah, I'm a social media addict), to photographing my best friend's baby bump (after much coaxing and convincing), to scrolling through my Facebook and noticing that over half of my friends have images that I've captured for them as their profile pics (that's a joyful moment and makes me realize I have the BESTEST friends ever!), to photographing a family of 20! and surviving to tell the tale... it has been an amazing year. To commemorate all that has happened I've put together two collections (one personal and one of favourite client images) to share with you... thank you for making my 2011 so full, I can't wait to see what 2012 has in store.

2011 A Personal Collection from Mickie Easby on Vimeo.

2011 Favourite Client Moments from Mickie Easby on Vimeo.

A Tribute

2011-12-13T17:47:00.000-08:00

My mom's dog pictured below, named Casey had the sweetest spirit and a glimmer of trouble in his eye. He hated to sit for pictures but after a lot of trying we were able to snap this portrait of him. Sadly he was killed last week in an accident, a mere week after I took his portrait and although there is tremendous sadness he leaves us with the most amazing memories of fun and hilarity. As a tribute to him I am entering his photo into the I Heart Faces contest this week - an amazing community of photographers who share and support one another in this journey of life we all document through pictures.

Baby Love ~ Eva

2011-12-12T17:46:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I had a chance to hang out with my best friend and do the first part of a newborn photo shoot for her daughter Eva. As a mom myself I can tell you first hand that having a child means to know what true and unconditional love is all about and Beth has found that in spades... watching my friend and her new daughter go through the motions of life, feedings, bath time, naps that are just a bit too short after nights that are just a bit too long, I can tell you that she has found her stride as a mother.

Beth handles all the challenges of new motherhood with grace and good nature, she is giving to a fault and fiercely loving of her new family... congratulations Beth and Mooch, wee Eva is a darlin' and is so loved by so many already.

I love you my dearest friend - thank you for the honour of naming me an "Auntie" to your beautiful baby girl, can't wait to be a part of her journey growing up.

A heartbeat of hope

2011-11-16T15:28:00.001-08:00

Today, while sitting in my Grandmother's hospital room... holding her hand while she talks about life I realized something that I know already deep in my soul but that I have a tendency to forget in the hustle and bustle of life and work and responsibilities... life is to be lived... fully... completely... out loud... and in full living colour. Time is relentless, it marches on whether or not you are fully present and living it and what matters is the people and relationships that are truly "there" for you. Allowing someone to be in your life in a way that is one-sided is a lot like swimming with your socks on - sure, you can do it... but something about it just doesn't "feel right". And while you are doing something that feels wrong, you could be missing the chance to have something that feels right.

At 92 she is still fighting the good fight, trying hard to keep OUR spirits up in spite of the gravity of the situation and the fact that we are there to keep HER spirits up... she has a quick smile and a joke for anyone who walks into the room despite how frail she is and it is a wonder to watch.

As I sat there today and watched the heart monitor count out the beats of my Grandmother's heart (which has been badly damaged by a major heart attack), each beat a sign of life, each beat a reminder that time marches on, each beat a reminder that it is never to late to find love and forgiveness in your heart, each beat a reminder that life is both too long and too short to not be lived in a way that is "right"... each beat a sign of hope.

She shared with me a poem that my cousin had given her and it brought me to tears, so I share it with you as a reminder that each beat of your heart is a sign of love and hope... and each beat is a reminder that your life is marching on... are you living it?

The Invitation ~ by Oriah MountainDreamer

It doesn't interest me what you dofor a living
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dreams
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life's betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your
fingers and toes
without cautioning us to
be careful
be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.

If you can bear the accusation ofbetrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand on the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
"Yes."

It doesn't interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after a night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the center of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.

Discovering Motherhood

2011-11-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

One of the most amazing sights to me in this world is a baby bump - the miracle that is a child is something I know first hand as a mother myself. The one thing that I don't have is a picture of me when I was pregnant with my son oh so many years ago, maternity shoots weren't "all the rage" then and now I wish I had just one wee picture to remember those days.

My best friend Beth announced in April that her and her partner were expecting their first child together and from that moment on I knew I wanted to convince her to do "maternity photos". Beth is one of the "good ones" in this world. She is full of life, driven, hard working, kind, smart and so much more and I am eternally grateful for her in my life. I knew that although she is incredibly uncomfortable in front of the camera that perhaps, just perhaps some day she might be grateful to have these photos to share with her beautiful (not yet arrived) daughter Eva.

To that end, I began the "campaign"... gently at first, suggesting, cajoling, encouraging her to let me take the pictures for her. Then I stepped it up a notch and shared with her some ideas and concepts of photos that we could use as inspiration (you see Beth was terrified of the typical "naked belly" shots that seem so prevelant). I created an inspiration board to share with her and we talked and talked about how it "could happen". Finally I pulled out the big guns so to speak... I truly wanted to do this for her and for her family and ultimately it was to be my gift to them (although I had kept that part a secret)... to document the first year of Eva's life (including the bump) and Beth gracefully agreed... finally!!

It was a day of friendship - to spend the afternoon with my friend, to watch how she has discovered motherhood, to see her in all her baby bump glory, to capture how much she glowed and didn't even realize it filled my heart with joy. We spent a couple of hours at a local park near her house, laughing, sharing, being silly... and then back at her house she proudly showed off little Eva's nursery - the beautiful touches she had lovingly added to her daughter's room... from the book she had as a child that her mother had saved, to a favourite stuffed animal that her cousin treasured in her short life, to a book that had belonged to Beth's mother, to the wee outfits hanging in the closet... I knew that little Eva would grow up knowing she was loved so much, even before she arrived.

My dear Beth - you will make the most amazing mother. Your sense of humour will get you through the days and nights of no sleep, your drive will help you when times are tough, your willingness to live life fully will help your daughter grow into the most perfect version of herself and finally, your capacity for love and acceptance will inspire her and others around you to reach for the stars. Big squishy hugs my friend!

Beth - you look so gorgeous, you don't even know how much you glow!

The lovely pink sweater that Beth herself came home from the hospital in a "few years" ago

Beth's Grandma Eva and for whom her wee one will be named for

Beth's favourite book as a child

My favourite image of the day - she looks like a super hero and as a mother she will be one.

Soul Food

2011-11-08T11:56:00.000-08:00

This weekend my son and I headed north to visit friends that we've known his whole life. They are my second family and one of the few places on this earth where I know I will be accepted "just as I am". This family represents love and history to me. Our children have grown up together - we've seen one another through pregnancies and moves, heart breaks and joy, sadness and celebrations... and throughout it all we've maintained our sense of humour and our deep and abiding love and affection for each other. Many a nights have been spent enjoying a bottle of wine, catching up on life, watching the fire crackle and taking comfort in the fact that we are always in each other's hearts.

I visit my wonderful friends and their family at least a couple of times a year, but given the busyness of life, my son isn't often able to go with me - in fact this was his first visit there in 5 or 6 years. It was lovely to see all our kids together again and we took the opportunity (well, I insisted really, right Dan?? lol) to get a picture of us all together... the first one ever in over two decades of friendship (thank you self-timer).

Leaving my second family after a visit is always bitter sweet... I'm so grateful for our time together but sad that they live so far away that we can't do it again next weekend! Spending time with them, having my son with me, enjoying the moments that we have together - however brief, always fill my heart with joy and feeds my soul. I gain perspective of what is important in life and am reminded once again that life is lived only in the moments in which we are truly present.

Till we meet again my dear friends, I love you with all my heart... stay safe... be well... know that you are loved and appreciated xo

Joy

2011-09-25T19:23:00.000-07:00

Sitting under the stars last night, the glow of the fire on my face, deeply engrossed in a conversation with someone I realized again that in each moment there is joy and happiness to be found - we only have to look inside to find it.

To quote a favourite poem of mine...

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

~ Desiderata

I am me...

2011-09-05T12:21:00.000-07:00

As summer fades to fall (my favourite'est of all seasons) I find myself reflecting on the past couple of months and all of the changes... changes externally in my life as well as those internal changes (growth if you will) that happen endlessly. Some time ago I wrote about a friend's favourite saying "the only constant is change" and time and time again I am reminded of this. Some things in our lives are constant like family and work and some things are an ever evolving, a constantly changing landscape like relationships and love, friendships and our selves.

I remember reading a poem many, many years ago entitled "My Declaration of Self-Esteem" written by Virginia Satir and one line in it echos in my life... "I own me, therefore I can engineer me"... and this is true dear reader... we all have the ability to create ourselves in the image that we wish... we own our thoughts, our wishes, our desires, our hopes, our dreams, our failures and our successes... and each day we can choose who we are in this world - how we live our life, that is the perhaps the biggest choice of all.

Life doesn't just "happen" to us, we create it, with our thoughts, our actions, our beliefs. Many will say that life "throws them curve balls and they have no control" and perhaps life does throw you the odd curve ball that you didn't anticipate or something that was completely unexpected - but still you have the opportunity to choose... choose how you wish to see the situation, choose how you wish to feel about it, process it, absorb it or reject it. When we instead pity ourselves and say "this isn't fair" or "how come I have such terrible luck" we give up our "power" and it makes us feel small and removes our choices.

I choose.

I choose to be the person I am every day. I choose how I live my life. I choose what I like and don't like. I choose what I choose and I alone must live with those choices.

Whether they are big choices like work or relationships, or little choices like what to have for dinner they are all MY choices... and I like it that way. Yes, it means responsibility and accountability for my life, I made/make the choices - but I wouldn't have it any other way.

This life I call mine... is mine... and in it I choose where I go next, whether that is a big or little choice... the choice is still mine.

Being present

2011-07-28T23:33:00.000-07:00

Today, right now... in this moment, are you present? So often we go through life working, doing chores, running errands, or going over our day or the stresses in our lives without truly being present to the moments that are in front of us. I have been guilty of this over the years, but about 3 years ago, I surrendered to the present moment (be it good or bad) and in that I found life... real life... what is happening around you and to you and with or without you... and if you don't choose to be present you just might miss the joy, the love, the happiness that is waiting there for you.

I have had a lot of conversation recently with someone special about this very thing... specifically we had been sitting having a lovely dinner, on a patio by the river... and as we noshed away on our food I was struck by everything that surrounded us - the food, the company, the wind in the trees, the smell and sound of the river... and I asked of my companion "do you smell the river" and he needed to stop and think about it... and admitted that no, in fact he hadn't noticed... it is a phrase that is now stuck in my head and one that I repeat often - so I ask you dear reader -- Can you smell the river? Are you present in the moment?

A couple of weeks ago I spent some time with some dear friends of mine and of course, had my camera with me. My friend has the most beautiful gardens and in keeping with the "being present" theme in my life I decided to take some time to capture her garden, to truly walk through the gardens and notice the little things that are so much a part of it that in the grand scheme you miss if you aren't truly present in the moment. The walk-about in her garden reminded me of all of the hard work she puts in, her soul goes into that earth every spring and the fruits of her labour are spectacular... here is a moment through my lens

It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to...

2011-07-15T22:32:00.000-07:00

"It's my party, and I'll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to
You would cry too if it happened to you"

~ Lesley Gore

It is true dear readers - today is my birthday... I am firmly in my 40's now (no more pretending that I'm "30-something", not that I ever did that ;)... today I turn 41 and according to Stats Canada (who says the average lifespan of a woman in Canada is 80.4 years), that means I am halfway through my expected life, although if I carry my grandmother's genes I just might see my 90's.

And why the tears you ask??? The tears are for all the moments that have passed that I didn't truly live, wasn't truly present for, or was too busy to notice... halfway through my life and that is what I regret most... not always being present for my life. It is the only life I have, you would think I would take greater notice of it - but sadly until just a few short years ago I was so busy "planning" my life that I kinda forget to live it too.

I am fortunate though, a series of events in the last few years have reminded me (like a tonne of bricks falling on you kinda reminder) that life is too long for BS and too short to miss a single moment of it. Today I am grateful that I am living the life I have imagined (thanks Thoreau for a quote which fits me so eloquently), grateful that I am surrounded by the most amazing people who support and love me and that I meet the most "interesting people" who teach me lessons along the way as they weave in and out of my life...

I didn't come easily to this point in my life... like everyone else I have "suffered" along the way and in those moments I have learned a great deal... and in my moments of success and happiness I've also learned a great deal... Today I am more tolerant of others, more accepting of "them as they are", I've learned that loss makes room for growth and opportunity, that happiness truly comes from within (truly! trust me on this one), that true friendship is rare but when you find it you better nurture the hell (yes, I swore! I did) out of it or it goes away, I've learned that a hug from your child can make the darkest day bright, that we don't always choose who we fall in love with only whether or not it is right for us, that being passionate about life is critical, and finally that who I am, where I am, and how I am is enough... and in this moment... although I honour those lost moments by shedding a tear, today... I choose life... joy... happiness... and perhaps most importantly contentment.

This is my New Year, if you will, and as I moved forward I want to remember those I love, the places I've been and the moments I cherish that have made the last year THE best one yet...

The Uber Talented Peter Nye

2011-06-19T19:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had the incredible privilege of meeting Peter Nye. You might remember a couple of months ago I posted information about the St. Mary's "So You Think You Have Talent" contest featuring local artists who competed in the areas of singing and dancing among other talents, I was one of the sponsors of the event - providing photo shoots to the winning top 3 performers. Peter won in his category for his cover of the Five For Fighting song Superman (you have to check out the video posted on youtube of his performance).

Peter (and his mom Lynda and little sister Jenny) met me in London to do some head shots - Peter's first ever "official" photo shoot. I have to tell you, this kid brought it! From serious to funny, from 'GQ' to 'cute' - Peter could do it all. I have a feeling this young man will go far, not only is he talented but he is also the kindest soul you will ever meet - thanks Peter for rockin' it in front of the camera, enjoy the sneak peak!

His 'GQ' pose

Peter's trademark look ~ his favourite hat :)

My personal favourite shot of the day ~ those eyes!

We just had to sneak in a couple of quick family shots too :)

There is good in every good-bye

2011-05-31T17:56:00.000-07:00

I heard an expression recently that "there is good in every good-bye" and it struck a cord with me. I realized that as we go through life we don't always give credence to how a good-bye can in fact enrich our life. When we say good-bye to old habits or bad relationships we leave room for new and better things to come into our life.

We have all had good-byes in our life - people come and go, we change jobs or careers, our lives are in a constant state of change (and good-byes) but we don't always "let go"... we can be haunted by the memories of what could have been or what we wished still was... and yet, as time marches on we discover new things in our life, we learn to love again or we find a great new passion or hobby or a challenging new career and we don't realize that it only happened because somewhere along the way we found the good in the good-bye.

So, today I find the good in my recent good-bye. I say good-bye to a relationship with someone who couldn't be honest and forthright, who was ok with breaking promises and telling lies, someone who could see my tears and look the other way, someone who could pretend that I mattered when his actions proved time and time again that I didn't... because to say good-bye leaves room for possibilities and hope... and perchance somewhere along the way, a love that is true and honest, that fills the heart and soul, that enriches our lives and has the possibility of everlasting.

Remember... to say good-bye means that you can say hello to that wonderful and beautiful experience that is just waiting for you. Yes, to say good-bye can be filled with sadness... grieve that, give yourself the moment to have your tears about it... for what ends never really began and you'll see that, down the road... and then pick yourself up and begin again - it will be worth it I promise.

To that end, I remind myself today to never settle for less, to always live my best life and to always above all else remember that I deserve to be loved the way I love, wholeheartedly, unabashedly, and with every breath... and you dear reader, you deserve the same... look for the good in the good-bye and say hello to your future...

Dear Son

2011-04-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

Happiest of Birthday wishes to my baby... 22 years old today.

My dear son,
You fill my heart with joy and bring happiness to all those that know you. You are brilliant and kind, funny and sweet, don't ever give up, keep the faith, know that I am proud of you and all that you have and will accomplish and above all else - remember that fart jokes are always funny ;)
Love ya bunches and bunches,
xo
Mom

Kensington Market

2011-02-21T09:32:00.000-08:00

On Saturday I had the opportunity to visit Kensington Market for the first time. Now you all know I love a road trip and finding the quaint and quirky and Kensington Market did not disappoint. After driving through rather stormy weather we arrived in Toronto to sunshine and all the glorious colours that make up this market district.

Wikipedia says... Kensington Market is a distinctive multicultural neighbourhood in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Market is an older neighbourhood and one of the city's most well-known. In November 2006, it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.Robert Fulford wrote in 1999 that "Kensington today is as much a legend as a district. The (partly) outdoor market has probably been photographed more often than any other site in Toronto."

and photograph it I did... we spent the afternoon wandering the streets that make up this unique district, the sights, the sounds, the colour are almost an assault on the senses - there is so much to see and do, it was sensory overload (in a good way)... I could have shot a thousand images in the span of 1 block there was that much to see. It was fascinating looking through the images when we got back - seeing things in the images that we didn't even notice when we were actually there. Kensington Market is my new favourite place, and if I wasn't such a "small town" girl I would move there - permanent like and spend my days wandering, exploring and capturing all the beauty and rawness.

My darlin' Eddie

2010-12-13T13:20:00.000-08:00

For some reason I am always drawn to the Pet Faces photo challenges on I Heart Faces website. Here is my contribution - my darlin' little Eddie. On a sunny afternoon this past summer, he was lying in the sunshine on my office floor, the light so sublime that I couldn't resist snapping a few shots... I loved that he looked right down the lens at me as he rolled about on the floor, modeling his cat cuteness. Have a gander at I Heart Faces website to see all the amazing photogs sharing their "fur-spirations" too :)

DWTS, french press and fresh laundry

2010-11-08T16:46:00.000-08:00

Being "grateful" isn't a theory... it is a way of life. A friend of mine recently posted something on her twitter stream that said "Got nothing to be thankful for? Check your pulse..." and honestly when I read it I stopped, cold and thought... "yeah, what do I have to complain about? and how often am I truly grateful for everything in my life? and lastly how often do I express it?. I often talk here on the blog about being in the moment and although I work hard in my life to do just that, it is so easy to be swept away but life... it gets busy, work overwhelms you, responsibilities are ever present... but today I want to stop and take stock, and just express my gratitude for all that I have in this life that makes it so wonderful.

Today I am grateful for:
1. My Mom... she is frequently in town to visit with my grandma (Mom lives over 2 hours away) and without fail, she gets up in the morning to go have breakfast with my grandma and on her way back out of town she stops by to deliver a Tim Hortons coffee to me. And yes, although I L.O.V.E timmies (if you know me you this about me), but what I appreciate the most is that my mom thinks of me and goes out of her way to show her love in the everyday of life. Love you mom xo

2. My friends - ah, dear readers, what would I do without my friends?!? They ground me, they help me work through difficult issues, they are there for me. Whether it is talking me out of cutting my own hair (which is never pretty!! and should never be attempted by anyone but a professional stylist), or reminding me to listen to my instincts when things in a new relationship just don't measure up, or refusing to let me sit at home and hibernate - my friends, the true blue ones... are there for me... as I am for them... friendship is a lot like marriage, it shouldn't be "work" but it does take effort and that effort is worth it for those you love and adore. Thanks guys - you know who you are and you know you rock my world ;)

3. My pets - again if you know me, you know how crazy I am for those little fur babies of mine. Their antics, the unconditional love they give everyday, the differences in their personalities add a light and life to my life that I would be lost without. Last week I had to work out of town for the day and when I came home and turned on the hall light, I could see at the top of the stairs all 4 of my wee fur babies (3 kitties and a dog) staring at me through the french door. It made me laugh... to see them all so excited that I was home, and once I came through that door, they followed me around for hours - begging for attention and each trying to outdo the other in the "cute factor" - to me each one is as unique as us human beings are - they have their own quirks and personalities, their likes and dislikes and although they cannot talk they do a great job of communicating their needs and adoration... I love them, plain and simple.

4. The everyday little things - this is probably the stuff that we take for granted the most but the things that bring us a little joy everyday. Mine are: the french press that I make coffee with every morning, honestly THE best coffee I've ever had in my life; DWTS (Dancing with the Stars for those who don't know), I'm not sure why but I adore this show - it is my weekly indulgence... two hours of great music, amazing dancing and just a lovely little escape from life; laundry (that has already been done), there is nothing quite like the smell of fresh sheets or fluffy white towels just out of the dryer; technology - which makes my life and job both easier and lets me stay in the loop with what is happening in this world, both globally and within my own circle of friends and family... whether it is a text message from a friend saying hi or my social media streams, I like staying connected; and lastly, I am grateful most of all, that I get to live this life... out loud... everyday...

and because every post is better with a picture...

my son... whom I adore and who's laughter is still the best sound in this world

Love is...

2010-10-25T11:00:00.000-07:00

Love is... a look, a touch, a feeling, love cannot be measured but it can be felt... love is time spent with family, a hug, a shared laugh, forgiveness, traditions, saying I love you... love is our greatest desire and our most powerful gift to give, it can lift someone up and it can mend a broken heart and beyond all else, love is seeing things with your heart... living the moments, out loud, full of joy... L.O.V.E.

Fall colours, pumpkins, laughter and twins with curly hair | Family Photo Shoot

2010-10-03T08:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, in the rain, Patricia, Mark and their family braved the cold and the wet to have their family photos done at their home. They have a gorgeous property with beautiful trees and sprawling green space - and they brought in hay and pumpkins for their fall photo shoot... I was in love! Their daughters Meaghan and Sarah are THE cutest little girls you would ever want to meet and certainly hammed it up for the camera. Matt, Mark's brother was wonderful and held an umbrella over me while I was shooting so that my camera didn't get soaked - Thanks Matt! You made a great stand-in assistant!!

Enjoy the sneak peak - for more in this album please visit Mickie Easby Photography on Facebook (click here).

The Faces I Love

2010-09-24T19:36:00.000-07:00

Joy comes in many forms, it can be time with loved ones, a shared meal with a friend, a phone call from someone you care about, even a twitter message can add a little joy to the everyday. Pets (or fur babies as I like to call them) can brighten even the toughest of days... here are my little rays of sunshine.

Missing from the picture is my little Lucy - she hates having her picture taken and almost every shot of her is blurry - but I will persist and someday she'll appear here.

In the meantime, hug the ones you love and look for the joy in the everyday! Tomorrow I'm off to the local corn maze with a friend - you just know there are pictures coming from that little adventure!

Keeping it real...

2010-09-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

The older I get the less I understand but the wiser I become. I do not understand why there is still intolerance in our world, I do not understand why some are ok with destroying our planet, I do not understand sometimes my own actions, but mostly I do not understand why, when it is so easy to be honest that people choose not to be and why in spite of ourselves we continue to be disappointed in others actions. And where does wisdom enter into that... well, I have realized that others can only disappointment me when I have not managed my expectations well, that is... when I apply my own logic to every situation and expect (yes, expect) others to behaviour appropriately, not because I think I'm right per se, but rather that I try to always choose the high road and in that I make the fatal error - the error is, we are all human for better or for worse, and that humanness sometimes is our downfall, but it is also our opportunity to learn and grown - so, with disappointment ringing in my ears and a heavy heart, I turn the mirror to myself and ask this question... "Have I done all that I could do to behave in ways that are loving, tolerant, honest and accepting"... well, the answer is... I'm a work in progress and I'm working on it.

Walk the Line Contest - Johnny Cash

2010-09-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

Hey all, I know you may not be in the area-but if you’re willing to  drive or trek it down to the Pyramid Recreation Centre in St. Marys - You should test your luck in this contest!  

A good friend of mine is the Event Coordinator for the Town of  St. Marys- Pyramid Recreation Centre.  Go to her blog here and comment under her post with your favourite Johnny Cash song and your email address for your  chance to win two tickets to this show!

Draw will be made October 1st 2010. Good luck!

Diane, Andrew and family - Family Photos Ripley Ontario

2010-08-29T11:07:00.000-07:00

So, you may remember seeing some of this fabulous family in their sneak peak on the blog in July. Well, the photos are ready and shipped, and I thought given the fabulousness of this family I would do a second blog post for them. Here are a few of my favourites from their family photo session in Ripley Ontario. Enjoy!

Family photo shoot in Bayfield ~ a two-year old and a vintage car

2010-08-21T12:06:00.000-07:00

This week I had the chance to spend some time with a lovely family at the beach near Bayfield. Carolynn's family were in town and together for the first time in a long time. The newest member of the family - little Gabriel was a hoot and completely not interested in having his picture taken... we did manage to get a few frames with him in them, perhaps not the "perfect family" portrait, but a portrait that is perfectly family. To top it off, I got to shoot Bill and Carolynn's vintage car, a smoking hot, bright yellow, classic car - L.O.V.E!! There will be more to come from this shoot - but for now, enjoy the sneak peak!

Carolynn, Shawn, Bill and Jana

Nora, Shawn, Bill and Carolynn

Jules, Rita, Nora, Shawn and little Gabriel

those eyes... love!

This was Gabriel's idea of being "in" the photo :)

who doesn't love bubbles and little ones

Carolynn, Jana and Lauren - 3 generations of amazing woman

Uber cool

vintage.classic.sexy - L.O.V.E

Jana and Todd family photo session - a sneak peak

2010-07-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

A quick sneak peak from today's session... LOVE the sun flare!

{This Life I Call Mine... }

2010-07-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

Sometime in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise we know that there's
Always tomorrow

Lean on me when you're not strong and
I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride if I have things
You need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
that you won't let show

Just call on me brother when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long till 'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Just call on me brother when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on

If there is a load you have to bear
That you can't carry
I'm right up the road, I'll share your load
if you just call me

Just call me when you need a friend
Just call me when you need a friend...

~ Bill Withers

Diane, Andrew and family ~ sneak peak

2010-07-07T14:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday (in the extreme heat) I had the chance to meet up with Diane and Andrew and their 3 wonderful children at their home farm. Little Alex showed me all around and we captured some fun pictures - he was a little ham though and loved to make faces (which I captured of course!). The funniest moment was near the end - I wanted to capture some frames of Andrew (the dad) and Alex overheard me say "that I'm going to shoot his dad"... he promptly asked if I was "really going to shoot his dad"... I assured him I only shot with a camera ;). Alex's antics kept us in laughter and although some of the photos may not have "perfect smiles" (read: funny faces for Alex) - they are real as is the laughter... and I think capture the essence of this wonderful family.

Enjoy the sneak peak - for more in this album please visit Mickie Easby Photography on Facebook (click here).

Cheers!

Courtney and Alex

Alex was happiest once his folks let him get out his tractor for some photos

Courtney is so gorgeous - love her eyes

James was at work the day of the shoot - but did manage to pop

in for a few minutes so we could shoot off some frames... thanks!

Forest... Trees... Oh! Now I see...

2010-06-24T14:37:00.000-07:00

The older I become the more "wide-eyed" I become about life. I think that I spent the early part of my adulthood being so focused on raising my son and working that I often forget to stop... look around... and enjoy. To that end, I also sometimes put the relationships in my life on the back burner while I ran around doing all the things we all do every day. And for many reasons it was the right choice then - but now... now in my life, I have the luxury of being able to truly enjoy life... in part because I now realize the value in "stopping to smell the roses" and therefore I make it a priority but also because I've taken the time to nurture and develop truly wonderful relationships with folks that I genuinely love and want to take the time to be with.

Some friendships over the years have come and gone - but a handful (some long term and some newer) of folks in my life truly "get me" and the adoration is mutual between us. I read somewhere that a friend is someone that walks in when the rest of the world walks out... I've lived this, again and again... and am so grateful for the friends (and family) that I am truly connected to.

... and sometimes... a friend can be more than we ever realized... and when we are ready we will see the forest for the trees...

J - you make me laugh... thank you ;)

Eyes are the windows to one's soul...

Photo credit: J... you "get me" and for that I am eternally grateful... xoxo

Jan, Len and family - sneak peak

2010-05-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I had the chance to spend time with a wonderful family. We started the session with 4 generations and ended with fun at the water pad in the local park. Enjoy the sneak peak - to see more please click here to go to the facebook album.

Faces and Flowers at iheartfaces

2010-05-18T14:38:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite sources of inspiration is the website I Heart Faces - literally thousands of photographers coming together to share ideas, images and inspiration. This week's theme is "Faces and Flowers". Here is my entry into their weekly photo contest and although the flower reference is subtle I wanted to post something slightly different than the typical "flower shot". Thanks for visiting - much appreciated... and now off to show some blog love to my fellow photogs who've also posted their entries... cheers!

I love the flower in her hair - stylin'

My Mother's Day

2010-05-14T21:20:00.000-07:00

This Mother's Day past I was blessed to spend time with my mom and my son. It has become a tradition for us to go out and about and take some photos - and for the second year in a row it was so bloody cold that within 15 minutes everyone was complaining... lol. I didn't mind... spending time with family and being able to capture those moments warms my heart... it was a day when "just being was enough"... big squishy hugs to my mom and my son... thanks for making my day so special :)

My two favorite people - my mom whom I adore and my son who brings joy into my life

Although he's not "smiling" here - I adore this photo of him

Life is full of little surprises...

2010-04-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

As many of you know we had a photo session give-away as our way of honouring all the wonderful moms out there that give so much to their families. The entries were amazing and it was incredibly difficult to choose just one to receive the give-away. Initially when the contest ended I thought we would be able to make a decision quite quickly, but believe it or not, we truly agonized over the decision - so many wonderful moms were nominated and so many touching stories were shared with us.

So, because we can (it is our contest after all), in addition to the Full Family Photo Session (which includes 2+ hours of photos, multiple locations and a proof album), we've decided to give-away a second prize of a "mini-session" (we'll get together at one location, shoot some great photos in 30 minutes and I'll give the recipient the high res. photos on disc so they can develop them).

Grand Prize Winner of a Full Family Photo Session
Jana Froats as nominated by her mom Carolynn Hyde

"Mini Session" Winner
Joyce Houghton as nominated by her daughter Denise Dona

Thank you so much to everyone who submitted their nominations - you truly touched our hearts. We wish all the moms out there a very happy Mother's Day.

Here are the winning entries, complete with the pictures submitted - I love the pictures you know :)

Grand Prize Winner - Carolynn Hyde's nomination for her daughter Jana Froats

I would like to nominate my daughter Jana Froats as a candidate for your competition. Jana is a working mother and wife, who takes no time at all for herself. As an esthitician who also manages the other esteticians, Jana often works many long hours, but still seems to be able to handle her house, spending quality time with her children, as well as making sure that there is "family time". ... Jana is my health monitor, given I had become very ill, and had no idea what was wrong, putting it down to the flu.. I actually was taken to hospital by my brother who was called by Jana to take me, she then came to Goderich to

look out for me. The doctor was intent on doing surgery right there and then, but my daughter let her inner Bear mother out and insisted that I be sent to London. Thank goodness that she stood her ground because I was diagnosed with Crohns disease, and had an obstruction which required 5 hours of surgery. Jana made sure that I had after care here at home as well as an opportunity to have a dietician speak with me with regards to my diet once I was well enough to eat. Jana has the most loving personality, she laughs easily, loves deeply, and if angered can be verbally assertive. I would love to see her win this competition, because she works so hard, and is selfless, never taking time for herself. I can tell you she is very photogenic and likes to have her picture taken, all in the name of having fun.

Mini-Session Winner - Denise Dona's nomination for her mom Joyce Houghton

My Mom is the best mother ever. She is not only my mother but mother to many. Even in her younger years, as a newlywed with 2 boys, she fostered babies right from the hospital. She only kept the ones that needed her, which was a boy and a girl. After moving back to the Ingersoll area, another little surprise came along...me!! Oh but it doesn't end...things didn't work out between my Mom and Dad, and eventually, she met my Step-Dad. Add 3 kids to the mix. That makes 8 kids. Throw in 20 grandkids, some cousins and a guy from Turkey, and, well, I have lost count of all of my Mom's accomplishments. Any time I need my mom, I know she is there. All of us know this. Give her a call on Sunday and there is sure to be a lemon pie, pecan pie or even just some cookies and conversation at her house. She hates shopping but loves new clothes, and refuses to get old! At 67 years old, she is very active in her church, goes to the community complex to work out, yoga, and quilting at the Creative Arts Centre in Ingersoll. (Did I mention she babysits a 4 year old too?) Thank you for this opportunity to brag about my Mom. Even if we don't win, I am still a winner because I have my Mom.

Mother's Day Portrait Session give-away... 3 days left

2010-04-17T14:48:00.000-07:00

Don't forget Mother's Day is coming on May 9th - what better gift to give to Mom than the gift of memories captured in photos. It is easy to do... become a fan on Facebook (because this is where we will announce the winner), send me a note at info[at]mickieeasby[dot]com telling me why you want to nominate your Mom or a Mom you know who deserves it.

Deadline is April 20th, 2010!

York University ~ Glendon Campus Photo Shoot

2010-03-21T08:09:00.001-07:00

Last weekend I had the unique opportunity to spend some time with a wonderful group of young adults at York University - Glendon Campus. This group of friends wanted to capture their friendships before the end of the year, as they are all headed in different directions in their lives.

Although the day was incredibly cold and rainy these folks ROCKED their photo shoot. I do a lot of family photo sessions, which are so much fun and I love doing them, but this session was fun in a different way and really let me stretch my creativity! Each one of them has their own style and I loved that we were able to capture that in these photos. We laughed so much during this session, their antics and quick quips made the day! Stay tuned for more pictures from this session!

This was my FAV capture of the day - love the 'angst' ;)

The sneakers I 'made' her wear for one shot - made the photo I think!

Dancin' divas!

Love, love, love her eyes in this shot...

Till we meet again dear friends...

{THIS LIFE I CALL MINE...}

2010-03-19T21:02:00.000-07:00

Oh you better grab a cup o'coffee - this is a novel! ;)

Writing the post about the Mother's Day contest has lead me to thinking a lot about the woman who have influenced my life. My own Mom has had and continues to have a tremendous influence on my life. She is strong and capable, she has been through so many difficult and challenging experiences and yet, she continues to live... I mean truly live her life. A few weeks ago she was in Panama zip-lining and this week she is in New Orleans helping a group rebuild a church that was devastated during Hurricane Katrina... seriously, my Mom knows how to live.

Life - truly living life is a gift... one that can be fleeting - none of us knows how long we have on this earth. Sometimes our loved ones are taken from us far too soon... and sometimes sadly we don't truly understand how important they were to us until they are gone. Sometimes, we simply don't appreciate the moments enough. We are so busy living our lives, working long hours, grocery shopping, running errands, raising children - that we forget to just stop... seize the moment... live the moment... I think that is part of why photography has become so important to me. It is my opportunity to capture that moment in time... the memories fade but pictures can remind us of the stories of our lives and those whom we love.

So much happens in our lives on a daily basis that it is easy to forget the small moments - photographs for me can capture that. It might remind you of a family BBQ and something that someone said and made everyone laugh, or the look of love between two people, or the glow of a new mom looking at her baby. Lots of people shy away from the camera - myself included. I am happiest behind the camera NOT in front of it... but when I am gone and the stories start to fade, it will be the pictures left behind that will remind my loved ones of those moments shared... and if I always hide from the camera how will they remember those moments??

It's funny - tonight as I was thinking about writing this post I made myself a snack (sounds random doesn't it???). I made yogurt with fresh raspberries and strawberries - now, here's the thing... raspberries, always remind me of my Gran. She made THE BEST raspberry pie every!! She also adored raspberries - they were her favourite treat. I adored her completely! She passed away going on 5 years now - and to this day I still miss her - every day. She was my rock, my safe place to fall - she was nurturing and kind and so funny! And she was a go-getter! My Gran, in her 70's was still going to "singles dances" (as she would call them) and loved to have a beer and a smoke. She didn't really smoke at all and I think I'm the only one who knew she snuck them from time to time... but she didn't care... she lived her life and enjoyed every moment of it.

I remember when I first moved away from our hometown where she lived - I was so lonely without my friends and family close to me... I had been used to being able to see my Gran everyday... and then suddenly it was phone calls and a once a month visit. But she would write to me (this was before the days of computers in everyone's home - I know... I'm THAT old!), these cute little letters... and she would always sign her name "Grandma" (yes, with the quotation marks) - it was so adorable. She also had a passion for magazines and she would cut out the "Laughter's the Best Medicine" article from Reader's Digest and put it in with the letter. I still have those letters and I treasure every one of them.

So, back to pictures (and life and raspberries)... I wanted to include a picture of my Gran in the blog post - and when I went looking, of course all my pictures of her are prints - not that there is anything wrong with it, I have framed pictures all over my house, but I don't always "look" at them... they become part of my landscape and I no longer notice them. So... I took the time, to look tonight... to really remember the story that each picture captures... some made me laugh out loud and some made me think of people that were a part of my life but are now gone... but whether happy or nostalgic... the stories, the memories, are part of my story... and if I can capture those stories or even a fraction of those stories for my clients and friends and family that makes my heart sing.

... and because I like pictures and they help to tell the story - I took a picture of a framed picture of my Gran... one my favourites to share with you.

Mom's...

2010-03-17T20:05:00.000-07:00

*edited to add - please scroll to bottom of post for contest details :)

Have you ever sat down to write something, knowing exactly what you were going to say... and then just as you are about to start typing... a mental block nothing, nadda, there you sit... for hours... and hours... and still nadda. I had this whole idea of "What being a mom means to me" and "How important my own Mom is in my life" - and although there is so much that I can say, for some reason I could not put it to paper. So, let’s try again - sometimes in the writing (and not the thinking) the words appear.

Being a mother myself I know first-hand the sacrifices that one makes for your children - and I don't say that so you'll applaud those, but rather I tell you that because I was happy to make those sacrifices. To see my little's smile on Christmas morning because I worked extra hours so that he could have "THE" gift from Santa, the sleepy eyes at night when he's had a nightmare and needs to be calmed and subsequent lack of sleep for me because I could never go back to sleep afterward, the walks we used to take in the evenings no matter how tired I was from the day - in the fall collecting leaves and then bringing them home to make crafts (one such leaf craft still hangs in my living room - a prized treasure), the conflict in his maturing years as he defines who he is, harsh words spoken but always softened with a hug afterward... But motherhood isn't just about sacrifices, it is about the moments that are so fleeting - the games played on a Saturday afternoon, teaching our children to be strong and independent, kissing away their sorrows, giving them the security to explore the world, knowing they always have a safe place to fall, and letting ourselves see the world again through their eyes - full of life and colour, wonder and awe...

My son's laughter still makes me laugh, it is infectious, his smile and kind eyes light up my life and his wisdom (oh he is so much wiser than I) - he is now an adult and always knows just the right thing to say. And where did I learn this from... this mother's love? From my own Mom... she is the strongest, hardest working woman I know. As I have matured as a mother, so too has my relationship with my own Mom. I’ve always seen my Mom as so ‘tough’, I rarely remember her crying when we were younger... a few months ago, when talking to her about my own son moving out and having an empty nest, I was telling her how hard I was finding it. How much I was missing my son... I asked her if it ever gets easier... and she said "No, my dear it doesn't get easier, you always want to have your children close"... needless to say it didn’t make me feel better but it was honest and I love my Mom’s honesty. So, to my Mom who taught me to love and to my son who taught me to believe... thank you.

To all the mom's out there... your sacrifices are appreciated and your love for your children fills their hearts with joy and your words of wisdom feed their souls even when they don't know it. Appreciate the small moments in life, take the time to play and laugh with your kids... they are the memories that will make up their story.

Ok, mushy stuff aside (and I thought I wouldn’t be able to write anything!) Now comes the fun part!

Mother's Day Give-away

Here’s the low-down on how to enter the give-away:

You can either nominate your Mom or someone you know who is a mom that you would like to honour.
Become a fan on the Mickie Easby Photography Facebook page (here’s the link to make it easier).
Send me an email here (info [at] mickieeasby [dot] com) - telling why your mom or the mom you nominated deserves to win the give-away.Tell me what you love about her, what makes her laugh, how she has influenced your life, how has she influenced the lives of her children... tell us her story.
Please include a picture of your nominee - I love the pictures (I am a photographer of course)

Go ahead - get creative!

* Entry deadline is April 20th, 2010*

We'll announce the winning entry on April 30, 2010 (just in time for you to give it as a Mother’s Day Gift - yes, we like to plan ahead)

The Prize:

A photo session with Mickie Easby Photography.

The Not-Small Print:

You cannot nominate yourself - but you could have a friend nominate you.
All email must be received at the email address provided - please no Facebook email. All email submissions must include the subject line "Mother’s Day Give-away". No video submissions accepted. We will accept photos though.
The winning entry will be featured on the Mickie Easby Photography Facebook fan page (hence why you need to become a fan so you can see it) and the Mickie Easby Photography blog.
Submission to our give-away contest grants permission for your entry to be shared/published on all our media forms. All submissions become the property of Mickie Easby Photography.
Photo session must take place in London, Ontario or nearby surrounding community (within 50 km of London, Ontario). The photo session must be used within 3 months of the winning announcement.
A photo consent must be signed by the winner. All images remain the property of Mickie Easby Photography.

{THIS LIFE I CALL MINE...}

2010-03-11T19:06:00.000-08:00

Today was about friendship - how elusive it can be and how easy it is to take it for granted. I am blessed to have many wonderful friends in my life, some of whom I have known since my childhood. We have been through many times together, the good times, the bad times... the times filled with laughter... the times filled with sadness.

Good friends, true friends are there for us when we need them and sometimes when we don't even know that we need them. They are our shoulders to cry upon, our companionship, our memories, and they remind us who we are when we forget - they fill us up and feed our souls. Friends are there when others turn their backs on you, when tragedy strikes or when love ends - it is the friendships that we have, how we give and receive that friendship that is our legacy... life is not about how thin you are or how much money you have or what kind of career path you follow - life is about love and sharing that love with our friends... being a friend and being able to receive friendship - that tells the story of our lives.

I was lucky today to spend some time with a dear, dear friend that I have known for over two decades - we spent the day just 'being' - we started the day with a hearty breakfast and then grabbed our dueling cameras and hit the road (well, we didn't go far - local to my hometown). One of the most amazing things about our friendship is that we can be 'quiet' together, communicating with only a look or a touch. We didn't talk much today - we just enjoyed being in each others company. There is a comfort in silence with a friend and in that silence sometimes we can communicate more than words could ever say.

To my dear friend J - thanks for the amazing day.

I love you to pieces, I always have - thanks for being there.

The best shots are when they don't know it is happening ...

I heart sun flares!

Hawk in flight...

Nothing says spring in Canada like "Tim Horton's - Roll up the Rim" :)

Dueling cameras ;)

Thanks to my friend for the following pictures of yours truly...

To J - thanks for letting me see 'me' through your eyes...

Spring is in the air...

2010-02-25T19:06:00.000-08:00

March is right around the corner and although there is still a ton of snow on the ground I truly believe that spring is in the air. I have so many exciting projects coming up - stayed tuned for an announcement coming soon - ~~we are going to have a special give-away~~ ... but you can't read anything with a line through it right??? ;)... it's a surprise - you'll have to check back soon to get the details. I also have wonderful client photo shoots that are in the works - a family that is celebrating their new life, a family photo shoot with 3 generations, and the most adorable baby ever, a fun shoot for a group of university friends to commemorate their friendships this year before they leave classes for the summer, oh! and look for a retro-styled shoot coming up... I can't wait!! In keeping with my positive thinking that spring is actually on the way here... I thought I would share a picture from last summer that is sunny and bright and reminds me how much I miss colour in the winter... spring is in the air - can you feel it?

I love sunflares...

2010-02-19T17:43:00.000-08:00

This past weekend included something called family day - it was a wonderful opportunity to spend some time with friends that are family to me.  After yummy white chocolate hot chocolate we hit the park for some fun and laughter - my friend grabbing the camera so her daughter and I could ham it up "Charlie's Angels style".  After that I took over and captured some of my favourite shots ever!

First - me trying to figure out how to hold my hands

Got it... 

Got you... 

... and the laughter

LOVE how blue her eyes look!

The next two pictures are quite possibly my
absolute favourite pictures ev-ah!!!

oh sunflares - how I love you...

Miranda and Marcos - Baby Santi

2010-02-06T08:35:00.000-08:00

I know Miranda has been waiting patiently for her photos of little baby Santi. I've posted sneak peaks for her on Facebook but here is the full blog post - so she can oogle and share. This photo shoot was new for me - I always shoot outside, in natural light - however, a newborn shoot in November and a very cold day meant indoor photos. Lighting is always a challenge indoors and I learned a lot from this session - including patience! A two year old and a one week old do not take direction as well as adults do :) - but the results are lovely and I hope mom and dad will treasure them.

Those eyes... those rosebud lips - who could resist??

Daddy Marcos is from Argentina originally so Mom had the great idea of using the flag in some photos

Mommy love

I think that is a smile (well maybe gas), but we'll take what we can get

Big brother - Little Marcos

My favourite family :)

My favourite shot of the day!

{THIS LIFE I CALL MINE...}

2010-02-05T17:34:00.000-08:00

Awww, Friday... who doesn't love Friday and the promises that the weekend brings of sleeping in and catching up on life after a busy week... time with loved ones, good food and wine, a long, leisurely walk in the park with the dog, catching up on blog posts, editing photos for clients (yes, you just know a sneak peak is coming soon don't you... ), and indulging in the odd movie... aww... the weekend... such promises...

And in a sharp left turn... it has been awhile since I've posted any pictures of my wee fur babies... so I thought I would give you 'a day in the life a pup'...

Oliver and his babies - and yes, they really are that gross looking.

Oliver - I love this face!

{THIS LIFE I CALL MINE...}

2010-01-29T20:51:00.000-08:00

Today I lived every moment, was present in every moment and enjoyed every moment. Instead of multi-tasking I singularly tasked, one thing at a time - focusing my energy on each task as it came up... and you know what??? I actually accomplished MORE... yes, you read that right... I accomplished more by doing less at one time. Why is that you ask in shock (because aren't we all about the multi-tasking these days)??? I think sometimes when we do too much at once, by dividing our energy we make more mistakes and our processes are derailed and sometimes we have to go back and start over again and do the same work twice.

Today... I lived each moment... one moment at a time... and it was joyous!!

{THIS LIFE I CALL MINE...}

2010-01-28T20:15:00.000-08:00

Tonight in my world - a walk at dusk with my pup Oliver, the crunching of snow under my feet, the quietness of the early evening, the full moon lighting up the sky... (and then a quick walk home to grab the camera so that I could capture the moment)... a reminder to just 'be' in the moment... quiet... peaceful... grateful...

{THIS LIFE I CALL MINE...}

2010-01-25T17:16:00.000-08:00

Perspective - when you've lost it and need to find it again...

It is amazing how bummed one can feel in life when things aren't going the 'way we thought they would/should'... and how easily we hand away our power to other people - making them responsible for our happiness. It's not as though what each of us is going through isn't difficult, it is, and in the moment when you are experiencing whatever pain or tragedy that has come into your life we often feel as though it has never been this bad before and we wonder how we will get through it. And when we look back at those times, we see them with softer eyes, we forget how hard those times were and instead we now focus on how hard the current situation might be. In between those hard times are good times - but we tend to gloss over those... if it's not chaotic we don't often give it a voice... but it is those good times, the love and support that surrounds us that gets us through the tough times... we I need to voice that far more often than I do.

I am so fortunate to be surrounded by amazing people, who love and support me, who accept me 'just as I am', who kick me in the butt when I need it, and who let me cry on their shoulders when I need that too.We often don't realize how blessed we are in our lives until tragedy hits... that is when the true strength of our loved ones shines through.

I stumbled across two blogs (one recently and one about 6 months ago) that are a testament to rising to challenges and the strength of love and family. The first is the nienie dialogues - you may have seen the Oprah episode a few months back about this woman's amazing journey back to life from a devastating accident. Stephanie and her husband (whom she lovingly calls Mr. Nielson in her blog) were in a near fatal plane crash. The blog details her life and her journey, her struggles and her successes as she and her family begins to heal. The second blog, Hope4Peyton initially was started by Anissa and her husband as they coped with the journey of recovery for their daughter who was diagnosed with cancer. However, in November Anissa suffered two strokes and the blog, now written by her husband details her journey back to life.

Both blogs are touching and sweet, heart-breaking and soul-lifting... they will make you laugh and they will make you cry... but more than the story of their journey's, is the story of their love. Reading the posts and getting to know them through their stories, what resonates loudly for me is the devotion and love that they have for one another, and their deep appreciation for how precious life really is, and how quickly it can change.

Take some time - read their stories - I am not saying that it will make you feel better, or preaching "well someone always has it tougher than you do", I am saying... you are not alone... we all struggle and we can all come out the other side, stronger, lighter, happier, and more grateful for this life we call ours...

A small slice of this world that I am grateful for... my son... thanks for being you kiddo - love ya, Mom xoxo

{THIS LIFE I CALL MINE...}

2010-01-24T13:18:00.000-08:00

"The caged bird sings with a fearful trill,

of things unknown, but longed for still,

and his tune is heard on the distant hill,

for the caged bird sings of freedom."

~ Maya Angelo

Oh dear readers – I have been so absent from my blog lately. I would love to say that it is because I have been too busy (which I have been but that's never stopped me before), or that I've been traveling the world and had no internet access (this is part fantasy and part nightmare – I mean truly, being without access to technology??? that's the kind of thing that wakes ~~you~~ me in the night screaming!), or that my full social calendar has meant no time for blogging... but dear readers, none of that would be the truth and truly if you are going to write a blog, sort of like an online journal of your life, then you should likely be honest... so, the real reason for my absence???

I've been uninspired and stuck in a wallowing that became epic!! Seriously, I am not usually a 'wallowing-kind-of-gal', but I have been one as of late. Initially, I didn't even realize it, I was simply so tired over Christmas – the long, long work days leading up to the break and then a dead-stop and time to relax... I thought I was just 'in the groove' of relaxing... and I was in some ways and it was heaven... laying around, eating, watching movies, hanging out with family and friends, enjoying all the treats that Christmas brings... but in my head was this sort of running diatribe (di·a·tribe n. A bitter, abusive denunciation. As if you need the definition) – admonishments to myself about this and that... years and years of things that I got stuck thinking about. Things I wish I had done differently, both in a good way and a bad way... longing for a life that I thought I had only to realize that it was an illusion... wishing I had seen realities and truths sooner... reliving moments in my mind, you know the critical ones when you did this and wished you could go back and do that...words unspoken that I wished I could go back and say, and words that I wished I could take back... When tragedy happens in your life (or what you imagine is tragic) I think we all have a tendency to over-analyze the moments leading up to it and wondering what we could have done to have a different outcome.

For me, the harsh reality is that I stayed in something for far longer than I should have ever allowed to continue and in the moments since leaving I have replayed it a thousand times... Maya Angelo says "when someone shows you who they really are believe them the first time" - oh the wisdom of those words... the heartache that I could have saved myself if only I have truly listened to myself, to that intuition that was screaming at me the whole time... I was a bird in a gilded cage... my sight blinded... the words, the wooing, the gifts... his professed offerings of love and forever that became ugly and were used as a weapon - to constrain, to control, to abuse... I became a servant... inside I longed for acceptance and freedom, the freedom to be me and be loved for being me... all the good and the bad... but me nonetheless (oh the words that he used to say that cut me deeply, that left my soul bleeding) and I died a thousand deaths while waiting... waiting to be rescued from its grip... only to realize, long after the fact that I had to rescue myself... and I did... for a long time I thought the price I paid for that freedom was too high. I lost everything in the moment that I left that gilded cage... my sense of security, my home and most of my things, my dignity, my future (you know the happy one that I believed was there waiting for us, just beyond the stress of where we were... it was so blissful in my mind)... I was humiliated by the ending... so humiliated that I turned my back on friends and loved ones so that I could hide what I thought was my shame... you see, the final push for me came when I discovered that my love, the ~~man~~ boy-man I was about to spend the rest of my life with had constructed an illusion... of love, of our life, of security and faithfulness... I discovered the lies and in that life defining moment, with the truth staring in me in the face – I kicked that cage door open and took flight.

The price I paid to gain my freedom was large... I had to start from scratch and heal wounds that ran so very deep... but as a friend reminded me again today... it is nothing dear readers compared to the price I was paying to stay in that gilded cage.

I have learned this lesson so many times in the past two years, but it is worth repeating - as many times as it takes to remember... So, here's to freedom... the freedom to be me... the freedom to live the life I have always imagined... the freedom to have true happiness in my life... the freedom to have my friends and loved ones around me... the freedom to laugh again... the freedom to just be...

Boxing Day at the Beach

2009-12-30T15:00:00.000-08:00

I trust everyone has had a safe and enjoyable Christmas - I had the pleasure of enjoying time with family and friends... the get togethers that have continued all week long. I took the week off work and have thoroughly enjoyed sleeping in, watching movies, entertaining friends and family, cuddling on the sofa with my menagerie of fur babies, indulging in the odd glass of wine, drinking too much coffee, surfing my fav photog blogs that I never have time to read anymore, and now that the year is winding down - it is time to reflect... on the good, the bad and the ugly that made this year unique, as well as looking ahead to 2010 and feeling the excitement about what's up and coming... things that are planned or yet to be planned... so, along those lines... here is my list of what I am most grateful for in 2009...

1. Seeing the happiness on my son's face as he pursues his dreams - hearing his stories, hugging him when I can, knowing that our relationship is rock solid and no matter where we both are in this world, we are connected.
2. My mom and the road trips we take. I know I have talked about this before on here... but truly dear readers, it fills my heart with joy and my soul with the food it needs to flourish! To discover a new place that I have never been to before or even better, go somewhere that I have been a million times but discover something new and beautiful about it and to continue to do that with my mom... reminds me fondly of childhood and will be the memories I will treasure... always.
3. The women in my life that inspire me. My BFF who 'gets me', without explanation, without words... just gets it... always. My other BF who makes me laugh with all her antics. My oldest and dearest friend who continues to inspire the next generation, who has more energy in her late 60's than I had in my 20's... her environmental work, her sharp mind and her loving nature are a blessing to all those who are touched by her presence. To the young woman in my life who is like a daughter to me... her laughter is still one of my favourite sounds in this world, her gentle spirit and her tenacity... the way she just 'is' in this world (in a way I never was at that age), she will go far dear readers... you just watch - my heart swells with pride and I love her with my whole heart! My friend, the 'dog whisperer' - when I remember the moment of first meeting her and look at her now... at all she has accomplished, when I see with my own eyes that she finally believes in her value the way I have from the beginning - I am in awe... she is my hero.
4. My passion, my clients, my photography - having the chance, the gift really, of being able to share in people's lives and capture just a brief glimpse into what makes them tick... it rocks my world and feeds my soul. Having my camera in my hand feels 'right' and from the moment I picked it up for the first time, I knew this was 'my place in the world'... what I was always meant to do... not because I think I am that terrific (oh dear reader there are so many brilliant photogs out there... I aspire to develop their kind of talent), but sometimes, just sometimes I am able to capture through my lens all the beauty that exists in this world and if I have the opportunity to share that with just one person... ahhh... my heart sings! Whether it is the look of love on a mom's face or a moment between siblings, or a slice of life that is otherwise quickly forgotten in this busy world... if I can give that to people... tell their story in pictures... it is enough...
5. Freedom - the freedom to be me in this world, the freedom to dream as big as I want to dream, the freedom to pursue those dreams, the freedom to make this life authentically mine... ahhh the freedom!

I was on the beach on boxing day, disappointment on my mind, not of Christmas but the disappointment only someone 'new' can bring to your life when it is unexpected... looking to soothe my soul in a way that only water can... when I saw this moment (this picture) I remembered how far I have really come this past year... the darkest of dark moments for me... now a distant memory... and from those ashes I was found... I found me... and I am so truly grateful for this life I call mine... 2009 has been a heck of a year... but hold on 2010 is shaping up to be EPIC!

'out of the darkness the light will come'...

Miranda and Marcos ~ Little Santiago

2009-11-28T14:47:00.000-08:00

I promise to post more pictures from Miranda and Marcos newborn shoot done a couple of weeks ago - but in the meantime, here's little Santiago.

Steve and Marg ~ Album 2

2009-11-28T14:35:00.000-08:00

Oh dear readers - this past month has been a crazy one. First illness and weeks of feeling so very tired and then trying to catch up on all the work I was behind on. In addition, I made changes to my photog workflow and ended up with images that were too sharp - too sharp! Seriously... what did I do? Well, luckily I never edit on the original image - however, it did mean that I had to go back and re-edit all of the photos again.

This past month I have also done a newborn photo shoot, had a friend shoot some new pics of yours truly for my website and have started working with a designer to create (re-create) a brand image including a logo - I am sooooo excited! Look for the new and improved website/blog coming soon.

Steve and Marg have been waiting almost a month for their new sneak peaks (and the finished pictures I'm sure), I have edited some new shots for them and when I get a chance I will re-edit the ones already posted. So, without further ado...

Steve and Marg ~ The Sneak Peak

2009-11-01T18:02:00.000-08:00

oday I had the privilege of spending some time with a wonderful family. Although everyone seemed a bit nervous at first as this was their first time doing "official" family portraits, 20 minutes in these guys were rockin' it out. Steve and Marg (mom and dad) are the most adorable couple you will ever meet, and the kids, Brad and Emily are so cute! Emily is a total ham and knew instinctively how to work a pose - I could have taken photos of this little darlin' all afternoon. Her folks even noted that Emily wants a 'family leaf photo' that they can blow up HUGE to put over the fireplace - I, of course, encouraged this, nothing quite like a life-sized portrait to say 'Family'. They even took the time to coordinate outfits, not in a 'matchy' kind of way, but in the way that looks gorgeous in photos and brings the focus to the faces.

This photo shoot had special meaning for me because Steve and I used to work together - to have a chance to spend some time with him and his family AND take pictures was truly a gift to me. The first photo made me laugh out loud when I saw it - I just knew it had to make the blog - note Brad's eyebrow! Enjoy the sneak peak Steve, Marg, Emily and Brad - and thanks for sharing your day with me.

The 'Leaf' family portrait

One of my favourite shots of the day!

{THIS LIFE I CALL MINE...}

2009-10-26T19:40:00.000-07:00

Cycle of Life - this weekend celebrated the 90th birthday of my maternal Grandmother and mourned the passing of her sister my Great-Aunt Ruby. I am sure that this was a difficult weekend for her. She only had one sister and they are the last of their generation - and yet at the same time she was celebrating turning 90 years old! I remember being a child and thinking that my mom was 'old' and she was in her 30's, I can't imagine being 50 years older than I am right now (go ahead, do the math... yes, I'm 'almost' 40!). If you think about that, my grandmother has lived through every decade since 1919. She was born just after the first world war. She saw a second world war in her lifetime, the invention of computers, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the 60's, among many, many, many other things - can you imagine seeing 9 decades of change in your life?!? And at the same time, the loss of someone in our lives reminds us of how precious life really is. Today at the memorial service my aunt's neighbours daughter gave a eulogy. She talked about how much my aunt loved her garden and sharing stories about the precious antiques she had - the treasures that meant the world to her.

Makes me think of my own 'treasures' things that other people may think are just silly or old or useless - like my old 70's rocking chair that I adore... I can sit in that chair for hours and just rock and think, look out the window. Or my collection of Kathie Winkle dishes that I love - 1960's and so classic of that era... to someone else its just dishes, to me, its history... I love setting my vintage white laminate table with dishes that match the era - it just looks like a piece of history. I think about who may have dined before at that very table, using those very dishes - the conversations they might have had, the laughter, maybe even the tears. Yes, it means something to me and perhaps after I am gone it will just be stuff to others... but to me it is the history of those before me and the history that I make while it is mine.

The memories of Thanksgiving dinner or just dinner with a friend, sharing stories and laughter, tears and triumph - all part of our history. We may not be remembered in life for big things - we didn't cure cancer or find the answer to world peace, but in our own way, we made an impact in our world - in the lives of those closest to us. And when our time comes, it will be the little things that will matter... and when they close their eyes, they will still feel the love.

Happy Birthday Grandma and Rest in Peace Aunt Ruby.

{THIS LIFE I CALL MINE...}

2009-10-19T20:24:00.000-07:00

Each and every day I am reminded of the beauty in this world - the beauty around us in nature, reflected in others... we have this opportunity every day to see, smell, touch, taste, listen... but do we? Do we stop and think about how yummie that morning coffee really tastes, you know... the first sip and the small sigh that escapes our lips, the crispness of the mornings - do you breathe in deep and feel that gorgeous air fill your lungs? the changing leaves of the trees that give us the air to breathe? the smell of the soil when you walk on it during a hike? the sound of the birds and the wind? when you hug your loved one, do you really feel the hug? So often in life we miss the little opportunities that are around us each and every moment... the ones to savour and live... I mean truly live... not just in a blur on your way to work or running the kids to soccer practice, but I mean STOP... feel the moment... be present in the moment.

Take a minute today... just one... c'mon you can do it... and LIVE that moment... truly... with all your being... whether its a hug or a sip of coffee, a walk with your dog or a song on the radio... just stop... listen... feel... don't think... don't run through the millions of things you have to get done today... just live... that one moment... and tell me it doesn't bring a smile to your face... the sheer joy that comes from truly being present.

And dear reader... if that doesn't work... make a pile of leaves in your backyard and when no one is watching... jump in it... just like you did as a child. I promise THAT will make you smile!

Bovine Sunset

Yes, I know it is blurry - but way too fun to not share... see you're smiling already!

{THIS LIFE I CALL MINE...}

2009-10-12T19:05:00.000-07:00

Turkey dinner with all the fixin's, a 10 hour drive (and getting lost), a cornmaze and game of tag on the bales of hay, lots of laughter, a hug from my son - home on leave - all spent with family. I have learned a great deal in the last year about what is truly important in life. I always knew that relationships with those that you love is important, but I didn't always take the time to appreciate them... to slow down and just enjoy the moments as they were happening... to jump in with both feet, live it up a little, laugh, get muddy (cornmaze reference...lol), and just truly LIVE the moments. In the past year, I can say I have truly lived every moment - the good ones, the bad ones, the ones we'd like to forget and the ones we hope we'll always remember. I realize now that the key to happiness starts within and radiates outwards - that others or things cannot make us happy - that WE control our own happiness and when we truly have a handle on it, then and only then, can we share that with others. As I've said before, quoting Rascal Flatts "At last I can see, life has been patiently waiting for me" - I'm ready... let's go! oh and by the way... tag, you're it!!!

{THIS LIFE I CALL MINE...}

2009-10-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

Another glorious weekend and another road trip. This time I ran away with my bestest friend, she drove, I shot pictures. She asked if I wanted to go somewhere urban or rural - we picked 'West'... lol. We went to Hullet Marsh and surrounding area - little did we know it was hunting season, so we ventured around a bit while trying to stay out of 'shot distance' - we even went to Ball's Bridge... this gigantic wood and steel structure that was built in 1885. I got some great shots and tried desperately to find a way to crawl under the bridge but it was too slippery and I didn't have hiking shoes on, so we decided that plummeting to my death probably wasn't worth the picture, but next summer when its dry - I am so there! The drive there included poking around some abandon old school houses, an ancient cemetary that was rather creepy, and a pass over the bridge that was 'oh so fast' ~~with me screaming like a girl so says my friend~~ enoying every minute of it!

On our way to Ball's Bridge - stunning spot!

I could have shot a 1,000 pictures here.

My ongoing fascination with doors continues...

This was actually shot through the sun roof of the truck

I am also developing a fascination with old rusty things...

this was near one of the abandon buildings - like a graveyard of old farm equipment

Ball's Bridge

Yours truly - hamming it for the camera... photo courtesy of my

uber talent friend :)

...and a side of Artsy

2009-10-02T17:29:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was filled with lots of laughter and good times with family. My mom and I are quickly developing a tradition on our weekends together of doing a wee road trip after breakfast on Sunday. These road trips remind me of my childhood. My mom piling us kids into the truck and off we would go on our grand adventures - some of my favourite memories are of those trips. Now, I take my camera along and invariably you will find my mom and I stopped along side the road as I run about taking pictures. Thanks Mom - I'm glad we'll have lots more time now to make new memories - big squishy hugs... xoxo

25 Things That Rock My World

2009-09-28T18:42:00.000-07:00

So, we have all seen them... lists of things that we are grateful for, lists of things we love, to do lists and done lists. This is my list – '25 Things That Rock My World'
1.Hearing my son's voice on the phone and knowing that he is happier than he has ever been before because he is following his dreams.
2.My mom's pickled beets – yum, yum!!
3.Walking in my front door after work and having all my fur babies run to greet me – you've never felt love till you've been mobbed by 3 cats and dog.
4.Friends – not just any friends, but the ones that are there for you, day in and day out, whether in crisis or in times of happiness. Friends who understand that sometimes you just feel blah and it's ok.
5.Music – rockin' music, goodies but oldies, soft music, 80's music... lifts me up, speaks to my soul and soothes me.
6.A hug from my Mom – the grab ya, never let you go, know that you are loved kinda hug!
7.Photo shoots with brave clients who are willing to let you stretch your creative muscles.
8.My wee Frankie (the black and white one you've seen on here before) – when he walks by me and gives this half purr-half meow... just tugs at my heart strings and fills me up.
9.Facebook – yes, I admit it, I'm addicted to it. Mostly because it allows me to stay connected every day to those nearest and dearest. I get to see what is happening in their world, see the pictures, hear the stories and always feel like even though they are far away, they are near by too.
10.A hearty breakfast on a lazy Sunday morning at a quiet little ma and pa restaurant. The kind that tastes like mom used to make – but better because I don't have to do the dishes.
11.Road trips – of any kind. I love to see the world around me. I don't have to travel far to find things that are interesting and fun, silly or beautiful. And a road trip with my camera and a driver – HEAVEN!
12.Waking up before the alarm – no one really wants to hear that horrible noise in the morning.
13.People that say what they mean and mean what they say. You know who you are...
14.Realizing that your dreams are finally coming true!
15.Puppies – all puppies, mine included. Their kind nature and loving loyal hearts will brighten the greyest of days.
16.Knowing myself and being true to what's important to me.
17.A rockin' career that allows me to use all my skills and keeps me busy.
18.Coffee – mmmmmmm... coffee... couldn't live without it!
19.And of course no list is complete without Kraft Dinner – the perfect comfort food.
20.Finding joy in the simplest of moments – a conversation with a friend, a good, hearty laugh over an inside joke, the sunshine in the morning as I drive to work, hearing my son's laughter, looking around and seeing my fur babies sleeping peacefully.
21.Reminiscing with family and telling the same stories over and over again every time we get together because it makes us laugh.
22.Family photos (you'll see why)
23.My blackberry – I love to stay in touch with everyone and who doesn't love email on the go.
24.Making new friends and reconnecting with old ones.
25.… and finally... freedom... the picture says it all – pure bliss, with the wind in your face and not a care in the world.

Freedom...

Baby Bump ~ Miranda and Marcos {Album 3}

2009-09-23T17:52:00.000-07:00

Ok - I admit it, I am completely in love with this series of photos. Seriously, I could not have taken a bad photo of this mom. My favourite from this group of images is the last one - just something about the expression on her face that speaks to me. Back to editing - I know Miranda is super excited to get her hands on these pictures :)

I know every photographer probably does a shot like this

but I couldn't resist - how adorable are those little slippers?

Baby Bump - Miranda and Marcos 2

2009-09-20T09:01:00.000-07:00

More baby bump for Miranda and Marcos (I know mom is checking every day for more sneak peaks :). The first image is the only one we were able to get of little Marcos' hands on the belly. He was a spit fire that day (as most 2 year olds are) and try as we might he just didn't want to pose. Although the focus was baby bump, we got some great family shots as well. Enjoy!

This mom is so gorgeous - she should be modelling!

I luv the look on their faces - so cute!

How adorable is this little one???

Gorgeous 'baby bump'

Baby Bump - Miranda and Marcos

2009-09-13T19:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was such an amazing day. First of all it was a beautiful summer day - gorgeous sunshine and warm weather. Secondly, I had the chance to photograph Miranda and Marcos's family again. You may remember them from a session I did back in May - today was 'baby bump' photos. Miranda and Marcos are expecting their second child and at 7 1/2 months pregnant it was the perfect time to get some shots of this gorgeous mom. I emailed her today a couple of sneak peaks and with her permission am sharing them here with you, dear readers. Enjoy - much more to follow in this series.

Miranda's mom joined us to take care of little Marcos while we did mom and dad's photos - had to capture just a couple of both moms :)

I LOVE this photo - just something about the expression on their faces

I almost cried when I saw this one...

My fav so far

{THIS LIFE I CALL MINE...}

2009-09-07T15:17:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine has this saying about change and tonight as I reflect on the change that is all around me in my life I thought of this... so, being the techno geek that I am, I googled the saying - the only constant is change and the following is the wiki entry on "Heraclitus ~ a Greek philosopher known for his doctrine of change being central to the universe..."

He is quoted as saying "nothing endures but change" with versions of this including:
"There is nothing permanent except change"
"The only constant is change"
"Change is the only constant"
"Change alone is unchanging. "

Changes comes along everyday, when we expect it, when we least expect it, sometimes not when we want it, and sometimes when we want it least. When we grow up... when we marry or go to school... when we have children... when our careers take different paths... when people enter or leave our lives... change is around us always. Sometimes we see it coming or know that it is around the next corner... sometimes we are surprised by it... but we shouldn't be - as we all know, change is constant and change is unending.

The phrase though "nothing endures except change" I actually disagree with. There is something else that endures, something that we cannot always quantify, or see, or touch - but surrounds us if we are lucky. For what also endures is love, the love a parent has for a child, , the love we have for our friends and our families, the love for our pets and our passions, the love we have when we look into the eyes of our beloved and see only love reflected back at us - life changes, for this is certain, but love, ah love... love is there even when we don't want to love any more, love is there even when our loved ones are far away from us, even when we are angry or upset, disappointed or hurt - if we truly love, then no matter what changes are afoot in our lives - the love will always be there.

... and yes, dear readers - a sappy post perhaps, but one that speaks of what it is my heart right now - the love for my son, who although is far away now, is close in my heart and when I close my eyes... I can feel the love.

This is my story - what is yours?

{THIS LIFE I CALL MINE}

2009-08-28T07:12:00.000-07:00

This past week has been been filled with amazing moments. The week began with a mini vacation to Montreal. My fabulous mom gave my son and I the gift of a vacation together in Montreal - her treat. We were lucky to have 4 wonderful days together to catch up on life, hang out, share some laughs and new experiences. My son is leaving soon (in 9 days to be exact) and this was our last chance to just have some mom/son time before he goes.

{Looking from Dorchester Square were we started our tour}

{Downtown Montreal}

Montreal is an exciting city and we loved every minute of exploring it. We arrived in Montreal via the train, a long journey (almost 8 hours on a train), but stress free and no worries of getting lost. The first full day in Montreal we went on a bus tour (yes, this would seem more like a 'senior' thing to do - but what a great way to see all the local attractions with a guide who can explain the things that one might have missed otherwise), seeing 200 local attractions - hearing about the history of this amazing Canadian city. Our first stop along the way was Notre Dame Basilica of Montreal (click here to see pictures) - we were awestruck by the magnificent architecture of this amazing church. When we arrived they were having Mass (that meant yours truly couldn't take any pictures), just to be in that place, to hear the voices rise to the ceiling, to see the beauty in every corner - I am still at a loss for words over the experience.

{Notre-Dame Basilica}

We saw many other amazing attractions along with a pass through many of the traditional tenements in Montreal. We saw the Olympic Stadium, the Biodome, the St. Lawrence River, Mont Royal and so many more - too many to name. I, of course, was camera crazy (taking just over 800 photos in 3 days - no, I won't post them all, but you know there are a few coming :). The second day in Montreal we went to the Biodome - this incredible structure that houses 4 unique natural environments including a tropical rain forest. We saw native trees and plants and animals - including a bat cave (blek - I sooooo don't like bats, they freak me out) that was thankfully behind glass. We capped our day off with shopping on St. Catherine Street in the 20kms of underground tunnels, rode the metro, and had a fabulous supper at Reuben's (they have the BEST Montreal smoked meat sandwiches!).

{Reuben's famous Montreal smoked meat sandwich}

What I will remember most about this trip are the laughs that Andrew and I had along the way. From the tap in the bathroom that wouldn't shut off and came apart in my hand, to the people watching along St. Catherine Street and some of the "fashionistas" that passed us by to the reminiscing of his youth and moments we have shared along this way in our journey to his becoming an adult. I will treasure these moments in my mind and my heart for years to come.

{Andrew in front of Olympic Stadium}

And this dear reader, leads me to the second part of the week - Yesterday, my son Andrew officially became a member of the Canadian Forces. He has dreamed of this moment for years - when he was in grade 6 and just a wee gaffer of about 11, he saw a documentary on our troops. In that moment, his life and his direction in life was set - he knew from that point forward that he wanted to serve our country, to give back to our community as a whole and embrace the experiences that will await him.

His father, his Nana and I all attended the ceremony were he was sworn in. As they called his name and he took his solemn vow I choked back the tears... tears of joy for him to see his dream come to fruition, tears of sadness because I will miss him dearly and tears of pride - my wee lad is now becoming a solider. The staff at the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre where the ceremony was held, were so kind and helpful. They talked about the sacrifices that our sons and daughters, mothers and fathers were making, the unwavering support of the family and friends to help them get there and the servitude that our newest troops are undertaking in their commitment to the Forces.

The Detachment Commander was inspirational and gave some great advice - the most profound being to "keep a sense of humour", to "always have a positive attitude no matter what" - it is advice that we could all use in our daily lives. One by one, they called the 16 men and women who sat in the front two rows - each taking a solemn vow to serve our country and conduct themselves with honour, integrity and courage. In those few short moments that we all shared in that room - watching our loved ones take the next step in this journey, we all became part of the larger family that is the Canadian Forces.

To my son - my heart swells with pride and joy watching you make this transition in your life to the realization of your dream. Be brave (as I know you will), be kind, work hard, have faith in yourself as I do, and know that your family loves you and supports you very much.

{Andrew being sworn in}

... and finally dear readers - hug your kids, kiss your wife or husband, call your mom, enjoy the sunshine, be

positive, see the joy all around you ~ live the moments in your life... truly... fully - remember they are your story.

hugs,

Mickie

{Andrew and his proud parents}

{Nana, Andrew and yours truly}

The Best Date Ever!

2009-08-09T18:02:00.001-07:00

While working on a photo shoot for my client, and needing a wee break - I turned to blog surfing, my favourite guilty pleasure. I was on the blog of a photographer that I admire immensely, the fab.u.lous Becker (click here to check out his gorgeous work) and while exploring his latest posts I found this hilarious "Build your own Mad Men" - I couldn't resist, so here I am... "Mad Men-ified" girl style, on a virtual date... too funny! Click on the picture to make your own, you know you want to ;)

A Sneak Peak

2009-08-09T12:06:00.000-07:00

I am so excited! Today I had a 'sneak preview' with my client Karen - she is having boudoir photos done as an anniversary surprise for her hubby. She loved the photos! I couldn't resist any longer so I am posting 2 sneak peaks - nothing that will "give away" the surprise but just a wee sample. She has the most amazing eyes, every photo of her is just stunning - she was a dream to shoot. I had a difficult time picking just two to post. Hope you like the ones I picked - enjoy!

{THIS LIFE I CALL MINE...}

2009-08-07T16:48:00.000-07:00

I am so grateful for this life I call mine - the blessings in my life are so many, but the one that means the most to me, is being a mother. This is a time of transition for me... from mother to just me... from my life being first and foremost about my son to my life being whatever I decide it should now be.

My son Andrew is about to embark on the most amazing journey in his life. I have been a mother for 20 years and although I will always be his mother, he moves towards adulthood and needs me less as a mom and now more as a friend. I treasure the moments that we have had together - and fondly remember all those years raising him. I remember his infectious laughter, the kind of laugh that makes you smile you just can't help yourself, his favourite book that we read and read and read until it almost fell apart... a book that I still have in his memory box. I remember the tough times when I worked 3 jobs to support us and the good times when we would jump in the car and take off on a road trip together. My little boy is now a man - one who leaves soon to begin a life that he believes in, that he has dreamed about for years, a journey that will test him and challenge him, but a journey and a life that he has longed for and one that I know he will thrive and soar in... I will miss my little boy but am so proud of the man he has become.

{my son and I ~ then}

{my son and I ~ now}

This is now my time... my story, my future... Rascal Flatts says in one of their songs - 'At last I can see life has been patiently waiting for me. And I know there's no guarantees, but I'm not alone'. Although 'alone' for the first time, I take a lesson from my son's book of life and am creating my own path.

I have started - finding my passion in photography (including doing my own self-portraits...lol), immersing myself in it - soaking up all the knowledge and information that surrounds me, looking to others that I admire for inspiration.

Thank you for coming along on this journey with me - we've only just begun.

Andy, Dean and McKenna - 2nd album

2009-07-25T15:25:00.001-07:00

I finally finished editing the photos from this family photo shoot and had to post a couple more for mom and dad to see. This little one was in constant motion from the moment we arrived at the park - the above photo was part of a series of her singing and playing on the mini piano at the playground. Enjoy :)

{THIS LIFE I CALL MINE...}

2009-07-19T08:24:00.000-07:00

{*warning - added after I wrote this novel... its a long post...
grab a cup o'java... settle in... here we go... }

There is so much to be grateful for and this week (my birthday week) was just the reminder that I needed.

{my friend who does NOT like having her pic taken...lol}

First - my b-day... my oldest and dearest friend comes over with her daughter (whom I've literally known since birth - well actually even before birth :) to make me dinner. I arrive home, a bit early... oops... and the three of them (my son included) are like "you're early... don't come in yet!"... so we sit in the hallway for a few minutes while they finish whatever surprise they are working on. I am quaking with excitement... see I LOVE surprises, but hate surprises that I don't know about... I'm one of those people who shake Christmas presents under the tree, if someone is silly enough to put them there longer than 5 minutes before I'm allowed to open them... and I can guess each and every present... I LOVE to know what the surprise is. My son takes great delight in torturing me about presents and surprises (well, I may have done this to him once or twice when he was little)... he is always giving me little hints that make me crazy with wanting to know, but never enough details that I guess... so mean... anyway, back to the b-day... FINALLY they let me into the living room/dining room and there I see the most amazing sight EVER!! it is a table full of all my favourite comfort things... are you ready... here's the list:

Kraft Dinner (a whole case! - see pic above) Cheezwhiz, Olives, Ruffles Sour Cream and Onion potato chips (there are no other kind you know!), chocolates (2 boxes - Turtles and Laura Second Mints), pecan pie, a platter of cheese and crackers, white wine, the most beautiful flowers in a vase, 4 flowering plants, and Giorgio Beverly Hills perfume... I mean c'mon!! is that me or what??? ok, for those who don't know me well yet... my favourite comfort food ever is KD, yes, I can eat it everyday! and I've been known to eat nothing more than cheese and olives for supper with Ruffles for dessert :)

Now top off my favourite foods with chocolate, wine, perfume and flowers and you have hit the nail on the head! (you just know there is a picture coming of this don't you???)

{ahhh... comfort...}

So, after I get over the shock of it all - they tell me how it happened. Turns out, my mom when she was down a week earlier to spend some time with my son before he leaves (that's another post, for another day...), they went shopping and she bought me all my favourite comfort things and then my best friend, Dee adds the chocolate, wine, flowers and so on... am I a lucky girl or what!?! On top of that, she makes me dinner (veggie lasagna...yum, yum!)...

Now, here's the funny part... there was a little red box just sitting there with a pretty bow on it... my friend says I have to open it first... the box is filled with red Swedish berries!... some of you know what happens next... Dee and I both grab a handful and we start the "Great Swedish Berry War" in my living room... the look on the kids faces was priceless... there we are running around like we're 8 years old, having a food fight with berries. You may be wondering "why?? what is the matter with you people??"... here's the backgrounder...

my friend and I met many years ago when we were both teenagers... we worked at a local store that was part convenience store, part mini department store... and when we worked together and it was slow and boring, we would dip into the penny bins of candy (Swedish berries) and we would have berry fights... literally running around the store, pumelling each other with berries until we laughed so hard we couldn't throw them anymore... we still talk about these berry wars to this day... and laugh and laugh... so, we initiated the kids (who are now adults - that just makes it funnier) into our "Berry War" obsession... i am still finding berries everywhere!! the cats are enjoying playing them with immensely!

Are you tired yet? More to come... don't stop now... you know you want to read more...

After my friend and her daughter left, my son and I sit outside to play with the sparklers that my friend bought (in the dark with the camera of course!) and just "chill"... as my son and I sit there, talking... about nothing in particular... in my mind I'm thinking... "I have SO much to be grateful for", the idea of a post about this begins to percolate in my mind... so here's my list:

My son... not only do I love him (he is my son, right), but I truly like him. I love who he is and who he is becoming. He has this steadiness about him, he's unwavering in his morals and standing up for what is right, he is a quiet leader... he brings out the best in others and has the kindest soul I've ever seen... I am grateful for his presence in my life - his wisdom (oh, he is so much wiser than I), I am a better person because of him

{I love you kiddo!}

My mom - we are so much more alike than I ever wanted to admit in my youth. She is the hardest working person I've ever met, even into an age where she should be "just enjoying life", she works hard and she plays harder (wing night/small town/rum/wine/snorting laughing good times... love ya Mom), as I've learned who I am in this world - what makes me tick, I've grown to appreciate her more, understand her more and love her more each day. She has truly become, not just my mom - but my friend

My fur kids - I have 4 of them. My 3 kitties (Frankie, Eddie and Lucy Lu), and my wee pup Oliver (who made an appearance in my last post). Here are the moments that reflect what I love about them in my life. First there is Lucy Lu, my little diva. We rescued her in the winter and she has thrived since finding a home with us. She HATES to be picked up UNLESS its her idea! If I am sitting in my granny rocker (vintage 1970's thank you very much!), and she comes along for a cuddle and I'm busy... she will wait... watching... making her approach... circling the chair and when you have stopped watching she POUNCES!! like a little ninja and suddenly she's on your lap... purring and expecting cuddles... there is no discouraging this gal!

{Lucy Lu - aka "Little Ninja" - looking all innocent like}

Next is Frankie - he is my little darlin'... the sweetest disposition you will ever see and the softest fur ever... he's so very timid... but demanding at the same time... when I am working away on the computer, he will wander up beside me and meow this half purr, half meow that I can't even describe - and if you don't reach down to pet him, he will stand up beside you and tap you with his paws... insisting on a pat... he likes the attention... he never just walks into a room... he always meows to announce his presence... lol... as well, when I go into the kitchen to make coffee or do the dishes he runs into the kitchen after me - sounding like an elephant - how he can be that loud I don't know... and he dramatically FLOPS at my feet... so funny

Finally there is Eddie and Oliver... Eddie is my orange tabby and has trouble written all over him... first off, he's a thief! anything little, or not so little is game to him... do you know how many pens, zip drives and bibs and bobs I've lost??? he even sometimes steals my bra in the morning if I am silly enough to leave it on the bed while I shower... my BRA!! what is that??? anyway, Eddie LOVES to have the dog chase him... usually while Oliver is napping (he does this a lot now as he is officially a senior citizen)... Eddie will bolt through the living room and run straight into the bathroom onto the counter... then back the other way running down the hall and jumping onto the boxes in the closet at the other end. Eddie will do this 5 or 6 times until the dog begins to chase him - Eddie has it down to a science, he can run past the dog, jump on the counter... the dog in hot pursuit, Eddie will do a "matrix" along the wall, jump OVER the dog and run the other way... seriously, I am often laughing so hard watching this that I have tears running down my face

And lastly on this list of "gratefulness" (although there are many more things I am grateful for - that will be another list, for another day)... my friends... my bestest friend, Karen (my step-daughter) and my grand-baby... yes, you read that right, my grand-baby :) - the who, what, how and why of it for another day... and my oldest and dearest friend Dee...

Karen and Julia are my light - Julia (my grand-baby) I call Peaches... I have since she was a wee gaffer and still do now and she's 10! This year for my b-day she made me two beautiful cards and bought me (with her OWN money) a beautiful sterling silver necklace with a pink heart pendant... I was so touched I almost cried! She reminds me that life is precious and these moments are gone in the blink of an eye... she is my reason for being in this little town I now call home... her smile and laughter brighten even the darkest of days and her hugs make everything right again in the world. Karen (her mom and my best friend/daughter) is the most honest person I know... she is honest about who she is and what she believes in... she is NEVER afraid to be herself, no matter who is watching or present... she is her... ALWAYS - I have envied that in the past... her ability to just "be"... its a lesson she is always teaching me and one that after the last year of aha moments, I have finally figured out!! Thank you!

{Nana and Peaches}

Dee - you keep me gounded... you remind me to be gentle with myself and to "breathe"... we have so much history together... similar paths we have followed... you are on your way my friend... the future is now yours to write... thank you for making this the best birthday ever!!

and that dear readers is the end of this post... {this life I call mine}... big contented sigh...
thanks for coming along for the ride...
hugs,
Mickie

Napping on the news

2009-07-13T19:13:00.000-07:00

I have been following the website www.iheartfaces.blogspot.com for some time now, and when this week's category came up (Pets) - I knew it was time to jump in. Below is my entry into the contest.

It is my wee pup Oliver - although now officially a 'senior' (he turned 7 in May), he still acts like a pup. This photo was taken a couple of months ago after a long play outside; he fell asleep under the coffee table on the local newspaper - too cute to resist. Thanks for taking a peak - the community and gorgeous photos that folks share at iheartfaces continues to inspire me week after week - thank you!

Sneak Peak - Andy, Dean and McKenna

2009-07-07T19:42:00.000-07:00

Tonight I had the opportunity to do a photo shoot for a wonderful family. Just had to post a few sneak peaks for mom. Enjoy... more to follow :)

Family Photo Shoot

2009-07-02T18:20:00.000-07:00

Commentary to come...

Wendy and the kids

2009-06-15T19:45:00.000-07:00

A very dear friend of mine wanted to have some family portraits done of her and her kids. I have known this family for many years and remember when the kids were "knee high to grasshoppers" - now they are all grown up and I had fun capturing their personalities in the photos. Initially we had a hard time coordinating schedules so the kids and I plotted together to plan the photo shoot as a surprise for their mom. It worked beautifully and she was completely surprised - I knew the shoot was a success when she cried after seeing one of the pictures of her and her kids - so touching!

The shoot was awesome - the kids (well adults now) were so cooperative and we had a blast wandering around the train yard and nearby vacant lot to get some great photos. The main image (the one above) is my favourite of the session. Thanks Wendy, Ryan, Kate and Rolland - I had so much fun doing the pictures - enjoy!

Andrew

2009-06-12T19:22:00.000-07:00

I took these photos a few months ago, but hadn't finished the series till tonight. I thought it was fitting to post a wee homage to my wonderful son as he is about to embark on a tremendous journey and we are all so proud of him.
Love you kiddo!
Good luck and safe journey... Mom xoxo

Moments to Treasure

2009-06-08T18:33:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I had the chance to spend 2 whole days with my mom. We don't often have a lot of time together - visits are often snuck in between other life commitments. This weekend though was just about us... "mother and daughter"... and the moments we had I will treasure forever.

Our weekend included a visit to a local art gallery and a wonderful conversation with local artist Brian Dalton, exploring the town I grew up in (Ripley Ontario), a visit with the cousins at "wing night", shared laughter including a moment so funny I actually spit wine out my nose... yes, yes I did, you had to be there... lol.

The best part of the weekend was the road trip with my mom the next day - we spent hours driving around visiting all the things I remembered from childhood like the public school I attended, the house we lived in, the best ice cream cones in the county at a local mom and pop store among many other places. We even stopped so I could take a picture of the farm my Gran had when I was a child and a surprise visit to my favourite Uncle.

I remember as a child my mom packing my brother and sisters and I into the orange pickup truck we had and off we would go day-tripping. She would pack a lunch and we would hit the road. Every time we got to a stop sign my mom would give each of us (in turn) the option of picking the next direction. I'm sure sometimes we must have drove in circles but mom never said anything, just let us pick the next turn or go straight as we wanted to.

My favourite trip ever ended up with us in Clifford, Ontario - having a picnic near a small stream, such a pretty spot. And try as we might, we never found it again - such were these adventures... each one unique, each one filled with its own story, each one a memory that I will treasure always - just like the trip on Sunday... moments to treasure. Thanks Mom, I love you!

My Gran's farm - gosh has it changed.

Countryside on our road trip

The cousins

My gorgeous mum!

No post is complete without a fur baby making an appearance - this is my mom's newest baby. Aptly named Mr. Dressup (its a story - but I won't share, well maybe later... LOL)

We ended our road trip with a visit to my uncle, whom I've always called "Snookey". The story goes that when I was a small child he used to call me "Snookums" but I couldn't say that and in turned called him Snookey - which has stuck all these years. Still one of my favourite childhood memories - so wonderful to see him - thanks Mom!

A day enjoying the sunshine...

2009-05-23T19:30:00.000-07:00

This picture is my favourite from the day.

A little nature shot at the park.

The next 4 photos are a series of a rock dropping into a stream - I love the details of the water splash :)

Miranda and Marcos - album 3 (last one)

2009-05-22T16:48:00.000-07:00

This was such a fun portrait shoot to do and I have thoroughly enjoyed capturing these memories for Miranda and Marcos. Can't wait for the next series :)

Cheers!
Mickie

Hard to capture this little one while on the swing - but he was having a good time for sure :)

Love the picture of mum and dad - too bad the little ones eyes were closed... still cute and worth posting though :)

Nearing the end of the photo shoot - he definitely wanted more slide time...

Miranda and Marcos Family Portraits - 2nd album

2009-05-17T20:17:00.000-07:00

I love this shot of mommy and baby

Daddy and baby - how adorable!

I adore the look of joy on his face - he loves slides and was tickled to get to play at the park while we took pictures.

Look at those gorgeous eyes mommy - best shot of you that day :)

Family Portrait Session - Miranda, Marcos and little Marcos

2009-05-12T20:29:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity tonight to spend some time with a wonderful family. Miranda and Marcos have an adorable two year old (little Marcos) who is constantly in motion. I had so much fun and just had to put on a few 'sneak peaks' for Miranda. Thanks for letting me capture a few moments in your life - hope you enjoy these... more to follow.

May 13th, 2009 - more pictures added to the album... enjoy!

Feeding the neighbourhood ducks

This is my favourite shot of this little one from today

Look at those gorgeous blue eyes!

After a long day - the little one getting ready for bed. Night night little one... sweet dreams

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T19:36:00.000-07:00

I am truly the luckiest gal in the world - a wonderful supportive mum and a great kid. Mother's Day for us, was supper cooked by my amazing kid... ham tetrazzini... yum, yum! Then mum, Andrew and I got to hang out and watch a movie last night ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" - great movie and story line... i.e. life lesson stuff - but very, very weird ending... man to baby?? i don't get that... but I digress). Today was a photo session at a gorgeous old building in my town. Beautiful architecture and of course one of my favourite subjects - "my family". Tonight a little quiet time with the fur babies in my life - all vying for attention at the same time...lol. Truly, they are just grateful I don't have the camera in hand... wee Frankie mewing constantly for attention... too cute! Here are a few photos from the day ~ enjoy!

p.s. more pictures to come in this album... :-)

Mum and Andrew

Food for the Soul

2009-05-03T18:34:00.000-07:00

Today was far too gorgeous to not be outside. Facing laundry, house cleaning, errands and other assorted domestic duties - I heard the call of the waves... turning a blind eye to the chores, I hopped in the car and headed to the beach. The waves crashing against the shore (not yet the pristine beach that it will be once graded - but relaxing nonetheless), the blue sky, wind in my hair (sand in my shoes), camera in hand... a little slice of heaven...

There is just something about drift wood that attracts me.

I LOVE that I was able to capture the wave as it rolled into the sand - the full res version of this shot is amazing (if I do so humbly say...lol)

Look at that sky - if that doesn't make you smile, I don't know what will...

Can you spot the spider? He was FAST and tough to catch - took about 8 shots to get him.

I think this is my favourite shot from the day.

Drift wood

More drift wood...

and yet, more drift wood

Family...

2009-04-27T16:35:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, April 25th, my son Andrew turned 20! My oh my, how time flies. I remember him as an impish young man with a grin and dimples to that would make you smile. Not much has changed - he's grown now (over 6ft tall!), but still has that great smile and is a beautiful human being - I am so proud of this young man.

For his birthday - we took his sister, her husband, their little one (his niece) and his dad for a photo shoot. A day spent in the company of family - heaven!

I love the smile on her face

I can't take credit for this photo - Manny became the photographer so I could get a few shots of my son and I on his birthday. I remember the days when he used to rest his head on my shoulders... sigh... enjoy those early days... they don't last long...

Andrew hamming it up for the camera

Andrew and his niece - hamming it up as usual

The "posed" family shot...

and the real family shot... below...

Thanks guys - I think the real present was mine... spending the day with family... a gift... one that I will treasure always. Happy Birthday kiddo - I love ya!

Trains and Yard

2009-04-24T16:08:00.000-07:00

I have a passion for all things industrial - I love the "realness" of old and abandon spaces. Trains in particular have a romantic appeal for me (too many old movies I think). I love the shot of the train's graffiti reflected in the water.

While I was getting ready to move (and not feeling too motivated to pack), my son and I jumped the fence near our old house to take these pictures at the train yard and factory nearby. The devil is in the little details in life I find... and these pictures reflect that (in my humble opinion anyway... lol).

Stay tuned for more from this series...

This image was very dark (out of the camera) and I processed it to reveal the details inside - it added a graininess that I simply adore.

Me, being cheeky about "not trespassing - when prohibited"... lol

Although I love the imagery in this photo, there is something rather spooky about it. It was barbed wire on top of an old factory... but it has an eerie quality.

This photo is courtesy of my son - I was too chicken to lie down on the railroad tracks to get this shot... so I told him how I wanted it framed and he took the picture while I listened for trains... lol

Cats and Dog

2009-04-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite subjects is animals - my own in particular. The first picture is of my pretty girl, Lucy Lu. You may remember her from earlier posts, just after we rescued her. She is doing amazing and has doubled her weight since she found a home with us. She has become "Queen of our castle" and bosses all the boyz around - this girl takes no guff!

Lucy Lu

Frankie - looking for attention while I was playing with my camera settings. I love the expression on his face.

Eddie - pretending not to notice the bright flash!

My wee baby, Oliver - napping with his bear... too cute!

St. Mary's, Ontario ~ April 2009

2009-04-22T19:52:00.000-07:00

I recently spent the day, camera in hand, with a friend in St. Mary's, Ontario. Although I have often travelled through this quaint little town, I had never really taken the time to appreciate all that makes it unique. These are just a few of the photos we took this day... stay tuned for more posts from this series.

One picture - two views

On the train trestle bridge... fear of heights stopped me from going out any farther though... that and the fact that these tracks are actually USED by trains... lol

On the drive to St. Mary's

Initially we thought these were eggs in the water... but the more I look at the photo the more convinced I am that they are bubbles... I think...

This is one of my favourite shots from today.

Family...

2009-04-11T19:18:00.000-07:00

Family - the best days are those spent in the company of loved ones.

Urban Decay

2009-03-18T16:54:00.000-07:00

Local train yard and factory in Woodstock, Ontario

My son reflected in the water... this was an example of happenstance for me... I was shooting something else and this was the result...

My son - either in a reflective mode, or just annoyed that I've taken 50 photos of him at this point... lol

Although at first glance this looks like a fish, it is actually a bolt on the front scoop of the train.

The faces of Andrew...

2009-02-15T20:35:00.000-08:00

Eddie - from nose to toes...

2009-02-15T20:27:00.000-08:00

Whiskers

Napping

Toes...

Whiskers

2009-02-14T06:43:00.000-08:00

Lucy Lu and Eddie

2009-02-01T18:39:00.000-08:00

~ Lucy Lu - tired and needing a nap

~ Her "kiss me" pose

~ Eddie - our little ham

Family

2009-02-01T18:32:00.000-08:00

Koda and Diesel

2009-01-28T18:41:00.000-08:00

Koda - waiting patiently

Diesel - waiting for her treats

Koda - animal spirit in the snow

Family - January 2009

2009-01-22T18:28:00.000-08:00

Lucy Lu - January 2009

2009-01-22T18:27:00.000-08:00