Category: Uncategorized

We’re still here. Summer has boosted off into a warp speed that I’ve both come to love and also felt utterly sad about. Everything seems to be going at such a faster pace than my brain is really ready to process. Such is life.

I’ve been busy taking pictures of people doing life. Within a two week window I’ll have shot a wedding, a senior session, a family, and a couple’s boudoir shoot. All of it is so different and I finally feel some of my creativity that has been brewing finally coming to life.  It’s very exciting.

We spent nearly a week in A-town and I didn’t see my close friends and family (framily/family) nearly as much as I’d hoped. Again, such is life.

We’re boosting, brewing and trying to soak some of it in.

 

We typically get together as a family to celebrate my mom’s birthday and spend time camping or at least ‘fake camping’ at my mom and dad’s house. This year, for a variety of reasons, it didn’t work out to spend quite as much time together as we usually do. Barry, the girls and I spent the night at my mom and dad’s and before bed time we all ended up outside in my mom’s garden. Maggie already has memories of past years working with my mom to harvest whatever is in season, so being able to do this was a great way to build on top of those already great thoughts.

While Audrey wandered around, eating an entire cucumber, Maggie stayed close to my mom wanting to have a conversation about each and every part of the the garden. Thankfully, my mom will answer her and talk about plants for quite a long time. I don’t have near the interest or knowledge that comes naturally to my mom.  On that note, I’d been feeling a bit sad about not being able to camp this year, but stopping around in the garden and honoring my mom at Midge’s the following day felt great.

Sixty sure looks good on my mom…..especially when she’s in her garden.

My Aunt Sue had tickets to Jimmy Carter’s book signing and invited Maggie and I to go along with the rest of the gang. We said yes and had a hilarious time doing what our family does best: making memories doing random things together. Without getting stuck writing out too much of the commentary, I’m going to bullet some favorite moments from the evening.

• The Secret Service has their work cut out for them….by the time we made it back to President Carter/Jimmy/Jimmy Carter /Mr. Carter it felt like I’d been at the airport and was ready to fly to Tahiti.
• We spent probably less than a minute with Mr. Carter.
• He spoke to Maggie.
• Mr. Carter was in the middle of signing our books and glanced at Maggie. He did a double take at her, probably because she was the youngest person he’d seen in quite a while, and said “Hi, Pretty Girl.” to her. Sue chimed in and said that she was a redhead. He looked at Mags again and said, “I like redheads.”
• He didn’t talk to anybody else.
• So, by age 5 Maggie got to meet a president and even have him talk to her. Whoeeeee.
• My dad recently got cataract surgery and no longer has to wear glasses. He’s never been to a discount sunglass, whirly stand because all his sunglasses have had to be prescription.  That changed tonight and he was a BIG spender and bought two a pairs within his price range (under $4 each).
• He’s hopeful that my mom won’t ‘make him’ take them off inside……
• So, he wore them inside while we waited
• And a looming police officer decided to ‘watch over’ our table for a bit, Forrest and I noticed.
• We all got books signed by President Carter, my grandpa almost forgot to get his back he was so excited to see Mr. Carter
• Afterwards, we took turns squeezing into the photo booth to document the experience, since NO cameras were allowed near Mr. Carter.
• My dad tried to wear his 3 pairs of sunglasses into the photo booth, but pretty much didn’t make it into any images….if you look closely you can see him.
• I love my family.