1,000 miles is just too far...

Oh, I miss getting together with my family! We were recently blessed to have my brother, sister-in-law, and niece come for a visit. How much fun we had! We packed a lot in for the few days they were here - the arboretum, an arts festival, the State Fair, a round of golf, and a swim outing, to name a few. Here are some of my favorite images...

Napa Journey

Can a place find its way into your heart after just one day? Can a day of traveling with three children be called a romantic journey? Miraculously, perhaps, I think so. The Napa hillsides enchanted us with their pristine rows of lush vines juxtaposed with waving golden grasses, interspersed with grand and noble wineries as well and charming, quaint ones. There was something about the quality of the light, the palatte of colors in the hills and sky, that caused me to draw in my breath. It would be a great place to go as a couple, and I hope to return for a more leisurely visit. This time around, we had to endure groans of, "Why do we need to stop at another vinyard?" "Isn't this place just like the last?" "I'm hot. When will we get to Yosemite?" Here are a few images from our brief but beautiful time in Napa Valley.








Beringer grapes















Gorgeous flowers were everywhere.














And of course....grapes!















Peju, our favorite vinyard.


















Peju's lovely grounds.

















Even barrels are beautiful at Peju!














Waiting to be sampled...












Stained glass in Peju's tasting room.










Hope you enjoyed the journey! Get ready for Yosemite, a favorite destination of Ansel Adams - and me, too!

Taking Time out from the Normal Routine

What do you get when you take a family of five, a loaded-down minivan, a packed itinerary and thirteen days to explore California? A LOT of fun and a LOT of togetherness! Our recent trip was a great time to reconnect with one another and with friends, to enjoy some beautiful sights, and of course, to take a lot of pictures to remember it all by. And since a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll stop my ramblings and share a few. So put on your walking shoes and come along! Today we'll tour San Fransisco:





















I so wanted to be on one of these sailboats!






A quick snap of the family. (Disclaimer: These people don't want to take the time to set up anything. "Snap and let's go!" is the motto here.)
















Some ruins from Alcatraz, a nice roosting place for a gull and his mate.











Maci loved the funhouse mirror! She's getting quite tall these days...























Evan waiting for the cable cars. California set record-breaking temperatures during this most unusual heatwave, so the 1.5 hour line was not much fun for him. We can, however, say we did ride the trolley. Love those bells!





Tune in soon for a tour of the Wine Country!

Fresh beginnings and second chances...

I'm so thankful for them! Every day holds promise of a fresh start. It may be a time to try something new, or maybe just try again. A time to embrace the moment and make the most of it.

We've had a wonderful reminder of this in our backyard over the last months. A pair of mockingbirds had built a nest in a low vine on our deck. We enjoyed the anticipation of watching the five blue-and-brown speckled eggs. After about two weeks, five little hatchlings filled the nest. It was fascinating to be able to see into the nest so clearly. We especially enjoyed feeding time, as the little open-beaked birds demanded their fair share. They began to grow and get their feathers. Their eyes opened. But then...something happened. I woke up one sad morning to find that all five were gone. There was not a trace of them remaining. I'm not sure if it was a cat or a predatory bird, but we were so sad to see them come to this end.

A few weeks later, the pair* came back and built a new nest, still in a vine, but this time much more hidden and protected. We were again able to observe the daily routine of the nest. This time, four eggs were laid. Of the four, three hatched. This time, they have grown to the point of almost crowding one another out of their tiny abode. I've been out with my camera a number of times (imagine that!) with the parents loudly warning me from the roof of our house. Hopefully they've learned that I won't hurt their babies. I just try not to interrupt meal time for too long! They have almost all their feathers now, and I expect that any day now, they will stretch their wings to fly. And what a joy it will be to see that!

* How do I know it was "the" pair, you ask? I just know. Of course, they have to be! ;-)

Realizing a Dream

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

How amazing it is to get to realize a dream! For so long, I have desired to make a small difference in the world through my images, through touching the lives of people whose paths, if only for a moment, intersect my own. Through the grace of God, I am watching that dream unfold. It is taking plenty of planning and hard work, but it is the dream itself that pulls me onward and upward. And as I have believed, I have been encouraged by others who have believed along with me. Thank you.

I am exhilarated. I am humbled. I am very, very, grateful.

The text in the storyboard below reads: To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. ~Anatole France