Wrought "Iron Man"

We finally got the wrought iron to complete our deck. After the massive landscaping and deck designing and building projects of last summer (that we barely got finished before the frost) we had to wait all winter before we could put on the finishing and vital touches. I pushed to get this done as fast as those little contractors' hands would go, I had this vision of me sipping lemonade on the deck in the evening looking over my garden, and I was just to excited!

Before when we would stand on the deck it seemed so small, as we didn't dare get 3 ft to the edge in fear of falling off....but now it seems so huge as we can now go all the way to edge and utilize that space. I love how it turned out.

We then shopped till we dropped for the perfect dinning set. I was so proud the day it all came together when I found this table on sale ($200 off!) on the side walk in front of Pottery Barn. We then found these chairs at Target and bought all they had left. Yay, for mega deals!

We have since had a few BBQ's out there and loved every minute. The menu for my last BBQ was a compilation of all my cooking classes. Ementhaller cheese fondue with tuscan bead and green apples, corn and edamame salsa, brisket with homemade BBQ sauce, Sanpallegrino Limonata, and then my dad's Mile High Strawberry Pie (a frozen strawberry cream pie with a chocolate crust). Yummy.

Downtown Rising

Looking pretty good. I feel like I live in what all the movies portray as what the future will look like. Way to go all you create people!!!

The Birds

I got to go on the big family outing to Tracy Aviary. Since My older sister has been in town we have experienced more of Utah than ever before, and its amazing once you start looking what amazing and fun things Utah has to offer. I dont think that I have ever been to the aviary and was excited to go and take pictures of the birds. I know its seems a little like cheating to take pictures of these exotic birds in the confines of an aviary rather than rouging it out in the bush but I dont care, a beautiful photograph is a beautiful photograph no matter how or where you shoot it.

First off the ducklings were still balls of fluffy down and were invigorating to watch, so playful, Im like a child when it comes to seeing animals. Seriously. I get so excited.

I have never seen a Cardinal in real life since they are not native to Utah. Ive always seen the calender/postcard version of them when they are usually in the snow perched on a branch with red berries or something. But here is my own postcard version. Photographing birds is a lot like photographing children with their fast movements and the only way to get a good pose is too shoot tons of pictures. But at least birds cant do ugly faces at you are start to cry, thank goodness.

This Bald Eagle had a badly injured wing that stuck out like a sore thumb. I thought that I would try to capture the "Regal Eagle" that he was.

Pretty in Pink.

Ugliest Bird Award. Those eyelashes are really feathers. Wow.

Then there were the Peacocks. Amazing. They were tamer than tame and let me get close for a fashion shoot. They did like to squawk right after the shoot which was shocking to me while I was walking away, I don't think I have ever heard a peacock. I have fed one once in Hawaii, Ouch!, they peck hard and fast. But these birds definitely live up to their reputation, they were extremely proud of their beauty.

I was reminded of a story in a book that I have been rereading. When I was young my mom had us read and memorize all the greek myths in preparation for our family trip to greece. I have recently been reading that old children's Greek Mythology book. (its a family favorite because of all the amazing and silly illustrations) I am reminded of the story of how the peacock got the eyes on its tail.....

Zeus as we all know was amazingly unfaithful (total playa), and one in his plethora of mortal mistesses was IO. In order to not get caught red handed by his wife Hera, Zeus turned IO into a white cow. Hera was not to made a fool and knew of Zeus' shenanigans, so she asked if she could have the white cow as she thought it so pretty. Zeus in order to not get caught had to give Hera the cow who was really IO. Hera then placed the best watchman there was to make sure the cow didnt escape, the watchman named Argus had a hundred eyes all over his body, where 50 were always open at a time, while one pair of 50 slept the other remained awake. After awhile Zeus began to feel bad for IO and sent Hermes the craftiest god down to free IO. Hermes disguised himself as a shepherd and offered to tell Aurgus a story. Arugus had nothing better to do so he agreed to be his audience, but the story was so long and dull that both sets of 50 eyes closed in sleep. Hermes then touched all the eyes with his wand and permanently sealed them shut. Hermes then boasted that he had bored Argus to death. (Much like how many of us felt in some classes in high school). IO was then set free, but not turned immediately back into a human, she wandered around as a cow till she entered the land of Egypt where they made her one of their Gods (thought to be the egyptian God with a cow head named Hathor), many years later her human form was restored. But poor Argus, Hera felt bad for her poor watchman so as a memorial she took off all his sealed eyes and attached them onto the feathers of her favorite bird the peacock.

 Io is also known as one of the planet Jupiter's moons. Which is appropriate since Jupiter is the roman name for Zeus (along with the name Jove). Hera's Roman name is Juno, for all those Juno fans out there. And there is your daily dosage of random trivia.

Argus. Check out those eyes.

Tribute to Pops

Happy Fathers Day to an amazing father and grandfather. I love you dad.

Since my dad's favorite flavor is lemon I made the lemon pudding cake I recently added to my cooking repertoire for our fathers day dinner. I served it in goblets layered with whipped cream and topped it off with raspberry sorbet. It was so yummy. One of the coolest gifts he got this year was one good looking adoptee. As many of you know my dad collects owl figurines, Im pretty sure that he has collected multiple hundreds by now. I have many memories exploring the streets of the far off places we traveled with my dad looking in shop windows for his next exotic owl. So this year my mom adopted this lovely bird at the Tracy Aviary for my dad. I was reminded of the movie "The Family Man" when the dad names a comet after the wife for their anniversary. I love when people think of creative gifts.

He is definitely a wise bird.... he winks at pretty ladies.

Just a quick list of things that remind me of my dear ol' pops:

-Classical music (and the "classical music" quizzes he would give us in the car where we would have to name time period and composer of whatever song was playing on classical 89)

-The violin and how he would wake us up by bursting in and playing a lively tune on his fiddle 

-Mountain Biking, and then playing his violin in his biking shorts and jersey 

-Wrestling (my dad would have to promise to have a wrestling match with me to get me to practice the piano when I was a kid)

-Cooking breads and deserts while, again, wearing his biking shorts and jersey

-Being the family doctor where every diagnosis was "Walk it off!"

-Having an optimally efficient way of doing everything..... from cleaning our guinea pigs' cages to painting our fingernails

-Never sleeping but still having more energy than I swear I could ever have (well until he sits down)

-Always feeling safe because my dad would go around the house checking everything and locking up late at night.... he even would check to see if all our alarm clocks were set for the right times

-Being the most entertaining grandpa ever, props to a guy who can make anything (a cup, a spoon, a napkin ect.) the funnest toy or game 

-Healthy eating, and finally being allowed to eat coco puffs when I was a senior in high school

-Maps, my dad doesnt have to ask for directions because he always knows wheres hes going.... he even has been known to correct a bus driver when they were going the wrong way on one of our tours

-Traveling, with his hand purse/european carryall and fanny pack

-"Dad in a Can" a phrase we coined when we noticed that he could solve any problem or have anything you need right when you need it...even when you are thousands of miles away from home.

-His short blue running shorts that were once blue but are now a faded violet.

-Sideways- tight-big-shakn' hugs

-Being my photographer buddy on trips, and helping me get the best shot

-Always being there in a pinch, my BFA show couldn't have happened without him

-Setting the best standard.....I believe that it was because I had such a loving father figure in my life that I was able to hold out till I found an equally loving man to be my hubby

Thanks dad.

The blue running shorts, that he is wearing on our cruise because this guy even exercises on vacations. Now thats what I call dedication.

M.A.S.H

Do you (especially if you are a girl) remember playing M.A.S.H as a kid? Mansion, Apartment, Shack, or House. It was probably what got me through junior high.... My friends and I would get pretty creative not only did we have the "who would you marry" category we had... color of wedding dress, honeymoon location, husbands occupation, pets, famous best friend, location of beach house, ect. I remember the excitement while waiting for your friend to count out the results, I probably even have a couple saved somewhere because I was so proud of the results, but most of the time I seemed to always get the duds in each category.........where do you live: shack down by the river. Who do you marry: Mr. Shores (after divorcing his existing wife of corse). Color of wedding dress: puke green. Family Pet: rat with no hair. How many kids: 18. Job: pooper scooper. My future always seemed pretty bleak. But luckly in real life things are turning out pretty darn good. Here are some that I did online....not so bad.....of course I put reece on every line in the "Crush" category, that way I cant loose. Check out the results..... try doing your own.

Hikes

The fam and I have gone on some really beautiful hikes lately. Our most recent was up to the Timpinogos Caves. There was no smog blocking the view down the canyon and across the valley, one of the good things about all the rain we have been having. Another plus, thanks to the rain, is the cooler weather. The sky was blue and sunny but the breeze was blowing cool and fresh. Perfect hiking weather. The hike up was a little steeper and longer than I thought it would be but totally worth it for the amazing view and the awesome caves...

The caves were totally magical. Like another world. It was a perfect time for me to venture among stalactites and stalagmites, formations of the deep, as I have just finished reading Jules Vern's "Journey To The Center Of The Earth". For some reason the old movie based on this book, 1959 version, was one of my favorites (the one with James Mason and Pat Boone) besides having a total crush on the guy that played Axel, I thought it was one of the most mystical and exciting movies. Seeing it now-a-days kinda makes me giggle at the old "special FX" but the story will always be a favorite.

ohh the slimy calcite sliding down the walls. yummy.

To get my little nephew to come on the hike with us we told him we were going to the Bat Cave, which is the coolest lure I have ever heard of. So since he is totally obsessed with Bat Man he was stoked, he dressed up in his Bat Man PJ's (the ones with the detachable cape of course), his bat man socks, and his bat man shoes and was rearing to go.

Charlie's Angels. best go-to pose ever. No need to ever be frozen in front of the camera.

Even Bat Man gets tired. I was pretty pooped too, I would have fallen asleep on Reece's head too, if I could have gotten him to carry me.

We also climbed big beacon, if your not sure where that is and you are in slc, just look north. Always a great hike. The entire trail was surrounded by yellow wild flowers. My dad loves to hike up the face just to make everyone sweat a little bit, and then go down the side, which is a much gentler slope but will still make the joints ache the next day. 

Me pushing against the colossal radio deflectors. My attempt at a visual illusion.

And as if climbing to the top of the mountain wasnt enough, my dad was as excited as a little boy to climb the decrepit beacon tower on top. We all thought it would be fun... till we reached the top and felt it sway under our weight.

Im just amazed at how green slc is right now. Usually the vegetation would have transitioned into its annual summer shade by now (a brownish tan). Gotta love it.

Birthday Tea

My three sisters and I took my mom out to afternoon tea for her birthday. We went to the Beehive Tea Room downtown, and what a gem! The little shop is decorated from top to bottom in vintage decor making it possibly the cutest little nook in town. (The bookcase next to my mom has given me a new desire to organize all my books at home by color, anyone have extra red or green books?) The blessed thing about having a family full of girls is that I can always have the perfect Girls-night-out. We had a blast sipping our tea (actually the best hot chocolate ever, note to self: shaved dark chocolate is a hot-chocolate-topping must, along with a Mt. Everest of whipped cream) and nibbling on dainty little cucumber sandwiches. It was a scene sprinkled with the perfect amount of Jane Austin flare. We all walked away with a craving for "The Importance Of Being Ernest".  

3 Years.

    

Reece and I have been married three years on May 25, and what a joy it all has been. I am truly so blessed to have Reece in my life he is the most incredible man. Among being amazingly talented, totally fun, friendly, ambitious, hard working, and enthusiastic, Reece has been incredibly loving and supportive of me ever since I have known him. He is what every photographer (or any girl for that matter) would dream of as the perfect companion, he is so selfless and helps me chase after any passion. I cant forget all those times he sat in the pitch dark with me all those hours that I had to develop film (cause after a couple hours the dark does get a little creepy and we all know how creeped out I can get in the dark..... kind of ironic isn't it since Im a photographer and even have a specified "dark room"). How he would bring me lunch just to see me since I was spending 11-14 hours a day in the lab for alternative processes, how he would always be so willing to be a model for me or assist me on any shoot. And now he is a fellow photographer and my total tech support. He even got me a new 40D with a 70-200 zoom lens for my anniversary present this year and was so excited to give it to me. But not just with photography Reece has supported my big dreams in everything from extreme home makeovers to extreme makeovers (just the dying and cutting of my hair, no surgical nips and tucks!) Ohhh and let us not forget the obvious.... he is sooo unbelievably handsome. Totally dreamy. I love you piecers.

 

We went to the melting pot for our anniversary dinner and low and behold the gold doors at the boston building were right across the street, oh the memories of shooting our engagements in front of that glimmering portal. So we trotted over and tried a recreation of our favorite shot from that romantic photo session. We tried our best but taking it ourselves was a little harder than having our photographer Michael shoot us.... even when he was using a handheld 4x5 graphflix with type 55 polaroid film.  But the picture is still sweeeet even if its not a total replica.