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Whew! What a process to revamp the ol’ blog, I tell ya! I had been looking forward to the upgrade from ProPhoto for months. It came right at the same time that I was itching to change things up and give the business a new look and feel. So, let me know what you all think. The new template is pretty robust so there was lots to change and create anew. Luckily, Juliet started daycare this week, so I had my days free to lock myself up in my office and work away. It was an incredibly foreign feeling to have time to myself and the house… it’s oh so quiet! LOVE. Her first two days away were successful and she even seemed rather amped in the mornings to go. Then we hit day 3. Today. I knew we were in for it when she asked me repeatedly this morning, “you going with me, mommy, to daycare?” Fast forward to drop off…. a quivering little lip gave way to a full blown melt down as I attempted to leave her. Precious arms clamped around my neck with a terrifying death grip, tears streaming down her pathetic little face and hysterics in her shrill cry… it was just heart wrenching. Poor thing. This is all new. Up til’ now, it’s been day after predictable day with momma. I’m hoping when I go pick her up in a few minutes that she won’t hold it against me. Sigh my conflicted heart.

Here she is on her first day, reluctantly heading towards 10 new 2-year-olds and away from the comfort and security of mommy.

And one for the music file. I’m smitten. His voice. The lyrics. His hair. Seriously people. He’s got a bit of a Johnny Cash vibe going. Love this song.

P.S. I’ve started a Facebook Fan Page… see tab at left for link. I’d love to have you join!

While nearly everyone is busy posting about Christmas and the new year, smothering their blogs with wintery white images and cold December moments captured, I, on the other hand am dreaming of warmer days, colorful hues and the splendor of summer’s offspring. It’s true, I desperately pine for summer. It is my magical time of year. It happens to me every winter and this winter more so than years past… SAD. Not boo-hoo sad, but Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD). The long winter months in Northern Wyoming and I just don’t click. So, in order to keep myself sane, I am working on more images for my floral fine art series and yearning for that first inkling of spring. Months to go, I realize, but in the meantime, I’ll pacify myself with these images.

I’m not a total Scrooge when it comes to winter, mind you, as we will be bringing in the new year on the slopes of Bridger Bowl in Bozeman, MT. The slopes are where Jason and I met 12 years ago and where we fostered our budding relationship. It’s a crying shame that we haven’t been back in nearly a decade. Jason is “down grading” to skiing from his beloved snowboarding and after this many years off the slopes, we should  pretty much both be beginners again. Beginners that are horribly out of shape and in no physical condition to be ripping up the powder like our former 20-something-selves. Aiden will be attending ski school, where I hope he takes to it and receives instruction better from strangers than I know he would with good ol’ mom and dad. Juliet? Well, we’re no dummies, she’s in full time daycare all weekend. I’ll be packing my pint sized G7 with me on the slopes, so maybe those white, wintery images may very well be gracing the blog afterall. More of that in twenty-ten!

Wishing all you readers a safe and festive new year. I leave you with the second installment of what’s rocking me—> somber, yet hopeful… me exactly – right now.

Music is such an integral part of artistic expression for me and a lot of photographers I know. Here’s what’s currently feeding my soul. BTW, I am in no way a country music lover. Quite the contrary. This song does have a slight country feel to it, but its somber, easy melody resonates with me nonetheless.