lemons

lemons, Canon Digital Rebel

My heart goes out to everyone in New Orleans and the other cities effected by Hurricane Katrina.

Having lived there myself, (my parents just moved a couple of years ago) it is hearbreaking to see the images of all the destruction. So much water it's hard to wrap my little head around.

Hoping you and your loved ones are safe and well.

Loveland

Loveland Pass, Keystone, Colorado, Canon Digital Rebel

Highlights from a wedding in the mountains of Keystone, Colorado:
Taking not one, but two gondolas up a mountain to where the wedding was held. Dressed in our finest, we climbed into the little pods, so high we were above the trees. We were at about 12,000 feet and got winded every time we hit the dance floor!

Seeing the groom, my dear friend Ric, fill his pockets with kleenex before the ceremony {and remembering how easily he is moved to tears}

Seated outside in big wooden chairs, we covered ourselves in blankets to shield ourselves from the rain. Every guest looked like a little monk in a cranberry shroud of fleece, only their tear-stained cheeks emerging.

Mountain biking with the boys the day before, remembering the tomboy in me, as I stood on my bike and pedaled between rocks and mud on a gorgeous trail in the woods.

Coming back late at night from the mountain, back in our little pods dangling above the trees. The sky was thick black and sprinkled with stars, and everything was still and silent as we floated through the sky. The big dipper was directly in front of us and has never in my life looked quite so big and beautiful. It was as if that high up, we were that much closer to it.

The newlyweds, Ric and Rebecca, Canon Digital Rebel

Their wedding truly was loveland. Congratulations Ric and Rebecca!

Rebecca

Rebecca, Canon Digital Rebel

"My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate. That's my philosophy."
-Thornton Wilder

Off to Colorado for a wedding in the mountains. See you next week!

caterpillar

caterpillar, Canon Digital Rebel

This is maybe the most magical photo I've taken in a long time. I didn't realize how extraordinary this little guy was until I got home and zoomed in on the image. He is simply dazzling!

People always celebrate the butterfly {and then he turned into a butterfly!} but I've always been a fan of the caterpillar. In between, in process, on his way to glory, and utterly beautiful.

May we all remember the beauty of the inbetween and to honor & celebrate the process.

P.S. Thank you for all of your wonderful comments, stories {and even poems!} this week. I am so moved by you. Your kindness and compassion filled me up and made me feel very lucky.

Photo Friday: One

little Valentina, Canon Digital Rebel

Photo Friday's theme this week is "One."
Valentina is one year old this week.

a love poem

Limantour Beach, Canon Digital Rebel

This was once a love poem.
Before the routine set in, before the bed got too small and sweaty, before the mosquitos buzzed overhead. This was once a love poem.

Before the sadness arrived each morning, the tightness in the chest and the furrowed brow. Before the loss of hope. Before the cheerleaders put down their pom poms for the lost cause. This was once a love poem.

...

I went to a class on Monday and our assignment for the week was to live in the perspective of, "This is it and I'm satisfied." And if you really step into that, if you really get present to what that means, you see that this is in fact how it all turned out. Like if I ever wondered, "How will it all turn out?" well, now I know. This is it.

This is it and I'm satisfied.

I said this out loud and something about it made my shoulders drop, like maybe I don't have to try anymore. Like if this is it, then maybe I don't have to have a baby at all, we can stop worrying, the efforting can stop.

And for a moment this made me happy, this lack of desire, this tiny suicide, this dream dissolving like sugar in a glass. Like, if I can see that everything ís okay now, there is room for a love poem or two.

dreamy pink

dreamy pink, Canon Digital Rebel

Christine from Swirly has a fun project going on over at Flickr. Each month she'll ask people to take photos of pink things {every month a different theme} and give away a prize for her favorite image. This month is pink bicycles.

Another truly wonderful thing you should know about are the handmade wish containers over at Papeterie Delice. {I have one and treasure it} The sketchbooks are also quite delicious and everything is wonderfully affordable. I'm going to have to get tell her to raise her prices!

red dahlia puff

red puff ball, Canon Digital Rebel

I've been tagged by Mati to write five idiosyncrasies about myself. Here are 5 of the many!

1. I hold my right elbow parallel to the floor when I brush my teeth. I don't know why or when I started doing this, but it feels strange to do it any other way. Matt always jokes that I have "good form" when I brush.

2. Whenever I see 2:52 on the clock, I get really, really happy. AM, PM, you name it, I get happy. I even like 2:52's fraternal twin, 11:52. I call it my magic time... and when I catch the number I feel like everything is going exactly as it should, like everything is right with the world.

3. I color coordinate my food to go with my dishes. Did I mention this before?
I also do this with beverages and get very excited when the turqoise fiesta ware cup is clean and I can pour that pretty caramel colored coffee into it.

4. I am an obsessive seatbelt user and bicycle helmet wearer but every once in a while I spontaneously make up a rule like, "If I don't wear my seatbelt now and make the whole trip without dying, I will never die in a car accident."

5. I usually don't use an alarm clock, but simply tap my forehead a certain number of times indicating the time on the clock that I wish to wake up. For example, just as I rest my head on the pillow, I tap my forehead with two fingers and say out loud "1,2,3,4,5,6, 7" and then a tap with one finger "30." My "clock" is now set for 7:30. I swear it totally works.

Now I tag you!

Don't you love that underbite?

Shantu, Canon Digital Rebel

I couldn't decide whether this link was worthy of sharing with you until I saw this photo and laughed out loud. What's funnier than a fluffy cat spooning with an Urkel doll? Nothing!!!

And this is pretty damn cute too.

the dahlia lovers

peachy dewy thing, Canon Digital Rebel

One of the best gifts I gave myself all weekend was getting up early and going to Golden Gate Park in the misty fog. I had heard rumors that the dahlias were in bloom and I was so excited I sprinted to the garden with my camera.


dahlia garden in fog, Canon Digital Rebel

When I arrived, there were already five photographers there shooting. It made me grin as we all quietly moved around them, examining each one so carefully, then click-clicking with our shutters. It was wonderfully peaceful there with these wild, colorful creatures. Every once in a while a jogger or some other new person would arrive, and we would all sigh, "They're so beautiful, aren't they?"

I realized I was a part of a sweet hidden community here in San Francisco that I had never distinguished before: The folks who photograph the dahlias every August. The dahlia lovers.

It made me think of all the hidden communities in the city: the people who walk their dogs on Bernal hill every morning, the people who watch the sunset at Chrissy Field each evening, the people who never miss the third Thursday art walk downtown...

We create community in so many places in our lives. And even if we don't know these folks, it gives us connection and meaning.

Where are your hidden communities?

"If you were all alone in the universe with no one to talk to, no one with which to share the beauty of the stars, to laugh with, to touch, what would be your purpose in life? It is other life, it is love, which gives your life meaning. This is harmony." -Mitsugi Saotome

P.S. It was my husband Matt's birthday yesterday. Happy Birthday Matt! Thank you for being the very best partner and friend in the whole wide world.

Martine Locke really is a rockstar

Martine is a total rockstar, Canon Digital Rebel

At the risk of over-celebrating my friends... they are amazing aren't they? I must tell you to go immediately to Cd Baby and check out Martine Locke's newest album. I have been a fan of hers for many years now and have been so looking forward to this.

Give a listen, then buy her albums!

Happy Birthday Chris!

Chris, Canon Digital Rebel

Just got back from a long weekend in Santa Barbara celebrating the 40th birthday of one of my best friends in the world, Chris Harrington {I wrote more about Chris here}. He was whisked away by his partner Jacques to an undisclosed location (he was even blindfolded at the airport) and landed in Las Vegas where a group of his friends were waiting at the Bellagio. He was totally blown away.

The next part of the adventure was when they flew to another undisclosed location, Santa Barbara, and Matt and I were there at the airport waiting. Actually, we were jumping up and down doing a silly dance as they walked across the tarmac. He was so surprised it took him a while to register who we were. I forgot how much fun it is to surprise your loved ones.

Jacques, Canon Digital Rebel

A pool party and a slumber party followed.

Matt looking adorable in his towel, Canon Digital Rebel

Martine and Chris, Canon Digital Rebel

The beautiful woman pictured above, is Martine Beswick, and she was a Bond girl in her day. (From Russia with Love, Thunderball, etc.) I love looking at old photos of her. She is still as gorgeous as ever...

.......

If you ever find your way to Hana, Maui you should definitely stay with Chris and Jacques at their beautiful rental property called Malanai. {Matt and I built their web site} You will have the time of your life.

Happy Birthday Chris! We love you.