Road Trip

A couple weeks ago, Marina and I went on a mini Northern California road trip to attend the bridal shower of one of my best friends in my home town. We picked up strawberries on the side of the road.

(Aimee, the radiant bride-to-be with her grandmother)

We spent the night at the beautiful home of our good friends (thank you Cathie and Richard!) and stayed up late drinking wine, eating salad from the garden, and playing Settlers of Catan. It was so good catching up and being in a familiar space. Even though my parents don't live in Willits anymore, it's where our roots are. It is home to so many people that I love and so many memories. It has changed quite a bit since Jeffery and I moved away, and every time I visit it feels smaller and sleepier, but it stirs up nostalgia like no other place.

We got an early start the next morning and stopped in Hopland for some pie.

After eating our crumble-topped blackberry pie (heaven) we headed east towards Tomales Bay to pick up oysters for our 4th of July celebration in Santa Cruz. (More on that coming soon!)

Marina lived in Marshall for many years. When my mom was a kid, and when they first moved from San Francisco, they had a farm next to the Straus Family Creamery, where they had ponies and peacocks and a Jersey cow and they played in the wildflowers on the blonde hills overlooking the bay. And when I was growing up, Marina lived in a beautiful loft above a warehouse, right on Tomales Bay. I have fond memories of visiting her in Marshall and taking long walks along the pebbled shore. We canoed to Hog Island a number of times, and in the summer time floated on inner tubes down the creek that skirts Shoreline Hwy. The older I get, the more nostalgic I become, and this trip stirred a lot of memories for me. Northern California is a magical place, and I feel fortunate to call it home. 

Film

Final photo credit: Tim Miller (?)

We recently got a roll of film developed that had some shots from our honeymoon. Photos we took along the Kalaulau trail on Kauai and photos of one another after hiking the two miles to Kanakapiai Beach. I love all the sun spots.

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Before poppies we had tulips, briefly.

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I love this one of Jeffery and me at his birthday BBQ in Golden Gate Park. I love how film is more of a time capsule and you get to be surprised by it (especially when it takes six months to use up a roll). I should really shoot with more film.  

(More honeymoon photos here.)

The City in the Background

I'm learning that photography is a lot like writing. One of my writing professors one said that you have to write and write to get all the crap out before you can get to any of the good stuff. I think the same goes for taking photos. Take a dozen photos of something, and maybe the last one will be a keeper.

I love having a poppy garden on my fire escape. They exist in a state of continuous transformation. Almost as soon as they open, their delicate petals fray, then fall away. Photographing them outside, they dance and flirt with the wind. They change expressions, opening and closing, exposing their centers. Some of them shy away, others show their faces.

When we move, I think I'll miss our little garden the most. But this move will get us one step close to having a real garden of our own someday. That's the dream anyway.

A New Place

Jeffery and I checked out an apartment in Oakland on Sunday. We've been looking to move out of our tiny one bedroom for over a year now, and the right thing hasn't come up. We liked the place a lot and applied for it (two bedrooms, lots of light, parking, close to BART, washer/dryer, cat-friendly), but tried not to get too invested. It felt a little too good to be true. On Wednesday we signed the papers and we get the keys next week! The landlord said he googled us, read my blog and loved it, and knew that we were the right people for the apartment. :) So it's time to say goodbye to my poppies. We'll start moving next weekend. On Monday I am off to Willits for a bridal shower and then my parents fly in and we're renting a house in Santa Cruz for the 4th. Exciting times. Goodbye San Francisco, your exorbitant rent prices will not be missed, hello Oakland!

When We Got Married

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I received some photos of the ceremony from the talented Mr. Deuel. I am doing my best to hold onto memories from every single moment of that day, but six months later I'm already finding that it's easier with the help of photos. Everything and everyone was so beautiful. The love was palpable, evidence of it in the work that made it happen and the celebration that followed. That so many people came from far away to be there. That we were all together in such a beautiful place on a perfect day. We felt so lucky. How did we get so lucky? That these could be our people, that this could be our day? Thank you again to those of you shared it with us. And thank you Travis for capturing it so beautifully. Such a gift.

Sam & Christian

Jeffery and I attended a beautiful wedding in Grass Valley a couple weekends ago. I've known Sam as long as I've known Jeff, and I feel lucky to have had a front row view of watching these boys grow up. The location was perfect, the weather was very accommodating and the bride and groom were glowing. Congratulations, Sam and Christian!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

This picture was taken of my mom on her (4th?) birthday in San Francisco in the sixties. She is sneaking her brother Toliver a lick of frosting. I love the fabric of her and Marina's dresses and the flower crown in her hair. When Marina asked Mariah what kind of cake she wanted for her birthday, she responded, "I want a lady." So Marina attempted to make a lady cake, and it collapsed, making it a memorable birthday.

Happy birthday, mom! I wish I could be with you to celebrate.

Happy Father's Day!

Photos by Travis Deuel

Happy Father's Day to my wonderful father. This past year has been a pivotal one for me, and I am so thankful for your encouragement and support. I am grateful for the life you and mom created for me, and I am in awe of the new one you guys are living on the Big Island. You are proof that it just keeps getting better.

I got some photos of our ceremony from Travis, which I'm excited to share later this week. Jeffery and I had a great time at our friend's wedding this weekend. It was so beautiful that I ran out of space on my memory card before the first dance. Time to buy a second memory card. Photos of that coming soon as well!

P.S. Last year's Father's Day post...

Blossom

Jeffery and I are off to a wedding in the Sierra foothills this weekend, north east of Sacramento. It's supposed to be 102° and I am going to wear this dress in navy with white saltwater sandals. I love my new saltwaters. They are really comfy and go with pretty much everything I own. It's nice having a white shoe in the summer to brighten up an outfit.

Today we are six months married, and I love being married. I love it that we are in this together and we have each one another's back. I love doing nice things for him and doing what I can to make his day easier. Marriage requires selflessness. It is no longer all about me, I am part of a family, part of a greater whole. And I feel like it gives my efforts more meaning.

He's in the wedding, so he left yesterday, and I'll take the train out to meet him Saturday afternoon. This is the first time since being married that we've spent time apart. It definitely makes me appreciate having him around. It will also be our first trip out of the city since our honeymoon, and the first time since we've been married that he hasn't been working three jobs while going to school. So, no homework, no obligations. For the past two years we have both had our noses to the grindstone. This is the start of our hard work paying off and for the first time we can relax and enjoy.

Welcoming Baby

Since photographing Ramsay a few months ago, I have been wanting to do some more family portraiture. Last week I had the opportunity to shoot one month old baby Grace and her 2½ year old big sister, Ellie. They were a lot of fun, and a challenge. Windows of opportunity are a lot smaller when you're working with little ones. Anything can change in an instant, and does. Thank you, Katie, for once again being my wingman.

This last photos makes me laugh every time. Thank you, ladies, for sharing your day with me. And welcome to the family baby Grace!