Inspiring the Sick

So I'm sick, well kinda sick now, well sick enough that the only pic I want of myself is one where I'm almost unrecognizable... so here's me (see pic with mysterious eyes between a cup and a hat) sitting at the computer trying to figure out my website needs (I know I know I need anything because I have nothing...) anyway, I decided to catch you all up on life here. It's cold, very very cold! The thermostat reads 67 but I think it MUST be wrong because I'm freezing...but maybe it's just because I'm sick. Hanna is running around in a T-shirt. Hmph one of us is not wearing appropriate clothing for this cold situation.

Anyhow, being sick I decided to get inspired and grab my two willing victims (aka. Hanna and Rush) and do a "sick" inspired photo shoot. I think Hanna was way more into it than Rush. We kept having to explain to him that the "cone" was pivotal to the whole thing and he MUST wear it...(see the pic above for the dirty look he was giving me when I finally took it off and explained to him that it was all in good fun!

Fingers are freezing and I have to cook some very garlic-ish chicken for dinner so this post will have to wait to be completed until later tonight....

This is Lizzy. Hanna and I had the pleasure of having a fun (and very chilly) evening shooting pictures of Lizzy. We were "taking senior portraits" but as you can see we drifted away from the traditional. Hanna was my assistant and let me tell you she was incredible! If anyone needs the complete package when it comes to assistants then hire Hanna. She can sing, dance, tell jokes and even hold a strobe when needed! BTW for anyone who doesn't know, Hanna is my 9 year old neice.

Well I'll show you more shots of Lizzy but I'm off to go help some passengers with some bags at my glorious job with Delta airlines. (my newest job)

And I seem to have taken over this blog but this is really about the lives of Jason and I, he's been an amazing demolition hero and has exposed most of the guts of our newly purchased home in Black Mountain. I'll have to get him on here to give updates etc. (one day our little place will be amazing!)

Falala...la...what!?!

So definitely not your average Christmas photos but thought I'd pop these up here before posting the usual and blogging about our wonderful Christmas. These babies were born one night when we were brainstorming about a present for my dad. I asked Jes about doing a portrait of all three of us on a mug. (That got x-ed) Then Tim, our good friend chimed in "mug shots!"...that was all he had to say, everybody's invisible lightbulbs flicked on!!! That's it! It's a pun for Jason and a literal for my dad (he's a prison psychiatrist now.) A late night photo shoot was planned, felonies were contrived and make-up was applied and...TADA!!!! Three rough characters were born!


After receiving his mug, my dad has affectionately dubbed the three of us "PBA", "Quick Draw" and "Flasher"...hmmm for some reason I think I might have suffered from this a little more than my other two accomplices!

Merry Christmas! Normal pics to come...hope you all had a beautiful holiday and celebration surrounded by everyone you love.

and by the way...don't know what happened but in my rush I must've linked these paragraphs to a photo "click" here to see what's hidden beneath.

"HAVE A HOLLY, JOLLY CHRISTMAS....!"

This one goes out to all of those poor souls who have ever attempted the holy grail of Christmas....a perfect Christmas card! (I couldn't help posting this snapshot. It makes me laugh because it says so much about trying to co-ordinate a parent and a child and get exactly what you are hoping for.)

These poor reindeer nearly tore their antlers off trying to get the perfect pic...two people in one pic, late at night is nothing less than a big disaster waiting to explode! But don't worry, they kept going and finally we had a whole bunch of holiday fun to choose from.

Nan

So I had banned myself from taking pictures and reading books until my website is up and running, but as we all know that hasn't happened yet. It's still a ridiculous mess and I realized I felt like I was missing so much by not taking pictures... and since my threat hadn't made me work any faster, once again, my camera is back on the job. Jes, Jason and I (Hanna too occasionally) have been snapping away through the holiday celebration and Jason's birthday. Maybe I'll get some of those photos up...just maybe...

But for now I was thinking about the blog and our little handful of friends who were amazing and re-discovered my new posting and decided that you guys needed to see something new.

I think you all have met this lovely lady but for anyone who hasn't, this is Nanette Cole, one of my beautiful grandmothers. She was gracious enough to let her camera-crazed granddaughter take some portraits of her at around 10:00p.m. this Saturday evening while everyone else was decorating our new tree.
Lately I've had this feeling that if I don't take time to do something with someone when I think of it then...what if...what if they're not around by the time I get around to it? Not that I'm expecting to lose my grandmother...I've just been thinking about all the times I've taken for granted and all the things I want to remember ...we're never guaranteed the future...I don't want to regret the past. I think that's why I love photography so much...it captures the beauty I see and keeps it for all of those other times when we need to remember. In short, that's why I pleaded with grandma to let me set up some lighting and take her portrait when most people just want to be curled up in bed- to keep the moment of her looking cozy in her jacket in the retro chair by the fire. I'm glad she's such a good sport!

So this is one of the several frames we took that night. This is Nanette Cole: born in Boston, raised a traveling "gypsy" enjoying the depression with her brother, mom, and interior designer dad, married my grandpa and raised my mom, uncle and aunt in Atlanta, Georgia and is one of the most amazing gourmet cooks and seamstresses I have ever know!

It's That Time of Year!

It has been over a year since we've posted anything on this poor site so what better day to bring it back to life than Jason's birthday! I love when his birthday rolls around because for the next 8 months he can't pretend like I'm 2 years older than him. (One day I'm going to figure out how to become younger than him but until then I'll enjoy the parts of the year when we only seem 1 year apart.)

Happy Birthday Jason! I'm blessed to celebrate another year of having him in my life. I can't imagine how much laughter (and everything else in between) I would've missed without my crazy man!

Besides all of the other wonderful things that I ask him to do, he's also my part-time model. My niece, Hanna, says he looks like a mysterious super hero in this picture and I couldn't have said it better my self!

Happy Birthday Superflightsuitman! I love you!

...I wonder after all of this time, who will discover this post first? Anyone? ...maybe it will just remain as a birthday secret ...

An Ode To Sweet Ellen Mekay

Oh saddness...I was a bazzillion miles away on your special baby day!
But don't worry I was still there...or at least here...thinking of you there hoping that you felt loved as you opened tiny Ellen treats and feasted on delicious sweets and shared this special day with those who love you the most. (except me that is!)


So in honor of Ellen and our collective "SILLINESS" here's an ode to your little toot:

Silly sweet Ellen Mekay
That’s what you’ll be
You’ll see one day.

And little you I can’t wait to see:

You’re cutie toes
And bunny nose
With nose triangles
And silly tangles
Bouncing in your curly twirly hair
…ok that’s not fair…
I’m not sure about the hair,
Straight or curly
It will be perfect most surely

I can’t wait for the days
I get to watch you skipling in your footie p.j.’s
And dipling your little fingers into everything sweet
Swirling paint and making messes with your silly dancing feet

And I bet you’ll have a silly button
Just like your mommy and me
And be a crazy wonderful little “punkin”
‘Cause that’s all you need to be…

I’m sure you’re gonna be one of the funniest toots anyone did meet
But if your not and instead your shy, loving and sweet…

Then you’re you and that’s the best
And just as good to me!

And would you call me “Auntie”
Would you would you please?
And Grow up proud of your mommy
Because she’s the bestest you’ll ever need.

I love you love you Ellen Mekay
And can’t wait for the day….

THAT YOU’RE FINALLY HERE!