CM Photo Walk

Last weekend I met up with a group of local photographers to spend a couple of hours at dawn's early light freezing our toenails off...I mean taking photos. Seriously, I think it was 36 degrees when we started shooting. Photo walks can be challenging...forcing yourself to step out of your comfort zone both in meeting new people and new photography subjects.

We started at Ogden's Farmer's Market at the corner of Grant and 25th street. These are Cakes In a Cup...not Cupcakes!

Yummy fresh Garlic...not Garlick...my mother-in-law once told me that our last name is spelled with a "k" on the end as it takes the stink off.

The last of summer's bounty is piled up to display delicious colors.

Most of the photographers had never met each other. It seems I have tons more online photographer friends than I do local...I looked forward to meeting the local talent.

The shyest golden retriever I have ever met...he was so sweet.

Roosters in Ogden is a delicious place for dinner. I have been there many times and never noticed the amazing neon sign marking the entrance. And if you're into that kind of thing, they brew their own beer...including Polygamy Ale...this is Utah after all! Try one and you'll want another, and another, and another!

Playing with reflections and shadows and such with Joni.

I appreciated this abandoned building that was turned into a cool street-scape.

I felt like we should be singing a Beetles song for this photo...you know the iconic photograph on Abbey Road.

It's still early, so the stores were not open yet...I'm guessing Joni goes back for this bag she found while window shopping.

Friends in shadows...

A water fountain re-purposed...can you imagine the stories this water fountain holds!

Ogden has a rich railroad history as it is the closest sizable city to The Golden Spike location at Promontory Point, where the first Transcontinental Railroad was joined in 1869.

The city was known as a major passenger railroad junction because it was located on major east-west and north-south routes.

The Ogden Chamber of Commerce used to have a slogan years ago "You can't get anywhere without coming to Ogden." Growing up near here and later moving away...I find that difficult to believe now.

But it was a fun place to spend a couple of hours. I look forward to meeting with these talented photographers again someday soon! And next time you are considering stepping out of your comfort zone...just do it!

#hoco

Some of my favorite moments as a parent have been with my teenage children and their friends. Dean and I love being involved with our kids and often refer to ours as the "koolaid" house. Friends are always welcome! 

LHS Homecoming or #hoco as Chet and his friends called it on social media, was no exception!

 Excitedly, I couldn't wait to prepare the dinner before the dance for the teenagers. The menu went like this...

Appetizer:

Brie and Pecan Quesadillas with Tropical Fruit salsa

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Salad:

Assorted Garden Green Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette 

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Main Course: 

Pork Tenderloin with Orange Chipotle Sauce

Roasted French Haricot Vert

Hlavaty’s two Potato Gratin

Fresh Baked Country Rolls with Deano’s pure Mountain Honey 

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Desert:

Turtle Cheesecake

Coco Layer Cake

Because Olivia was spending her birthday weekend with us she got to be involved with party prep. She helped "mixy mixy" the cocoa layer cake...pausing only to lick the beaters.

 His first dance...

Since they are very nearly Chet's sisters, I enlisted Jocie's friends to help me serve the meal. I like to think that they were here to fill in where Jocie would have. Teasing Chet slightly...checking out his date...

and approving wholeheartedly of her simple gorgeous black dress.

Dinner was a big success, as the couples seemed to enjoy the meal.

Especially savoring the deserts!

Polite, sincere, and happy...these teenagers were so fun to be around. Olivia fell in love with "yellow princess" and wanted to be next to her all night. In fact if you look closely, you can just barely catch a glimpse of the photo bombing Olivia standing behind the boys in the back row. A big thank you to the teenagers for allowing us to be part of their night...we had a blast! In fact, Olivia might have had the most fun of all!

Thirty

Thirty years ago Dean and I entered our apartment as husband and wife for the very first time where our 95 year old landlord had left us a gift taped to the door. Carefully clipped, was a newspaper headline that read "FOR GARLIC LOVERS ONLY" along with his best wishes for a long and happy life together. Dean reminded me that wasn't how I spelled my new last name in case I had forgotten. But mostly I remember how we laughed that 95 year old Arthur was so witty and clever. We giggled at the thought of him even knowing what love is at his age. Newlyweds know SO much about love right?

Fast forward thirty years...having a lot more perspective and wisdom, we escaped to the Dominican Republic to celebrate the milestone anniversary!

It's hard to believe that we have been together for that many years. I have been asked how we stay married for so long. I will tell you, I don't know exactly! But maybe it's just simply committing to STAY married.

I would never say that marriage is easy...we all know it isn't! But then achieving something worthwhile never is easy. For better or worse...the balance can seem to weigh heavy on the worse side at times. But the good times far outweigh the bad in the end. 

I believe love and marriage goes through stages. The first being all about romance...it's the easiest. The fodder of Hollywood and romance novels, romantic love sells and we can't get enough of it. 

The novelty of new love leads you to think about your partner night and day...idealizing everything about them. You want to spend every moment together because your brain is literally addicted to being in love.

After the dazzle of romance wears off, it's time to dig down and really get to know that person you married. I adore his passion for living and energy to start exciting new projects. And he is my number one fan when it comes to quilting or photography or anything else I love.

Living with a person day after day, year after year can be difficult. Your once idolized perfect spouse now has habits that might make you crazy like never shutting the cupboard doors (I do that), or leaving things laying around (he does that).

And let's face it, children can really complicate a marriage.

Through the years we have had moments of complete joy and perfection...

our wedding, births of each of our four children, graduations, special holidays, sunshine and powder ski days, great vacations and becoming grandparents.

But we've also had lots of imperfect moments...

sick babies with sleepless nights, worries over teenagers,

tough decisions, mistakes, employment worries...

and moments of great sorrow.

The loss of Jocie rocked our world and still leaves us unsteady.

But those moments of imperfection, hardship and sorrow, though they might be gritty and nasty and completely unbearable have helped shape our marriage and brought us closer together.

After 30 years our love is deeper and more mature. I know that unequivocally he has my back. And when I make him crazy, I know all it takes is a freshly baked pie to apologize.

Looking back...it's been an incredible 30 years being married to my sweetheart. He makes me laugh, surprises me with large Diet Cokes when I need it, and understands me like no one else can. It seems old Arthur might have known something about love after all.

Girls Weekend

August came and went so quickly...filled with family and great times. I blinked and suddenly it is now the middle of September. With Lawyer Girl home for a quick visit in August, it was the perfect time to have a little girl's weekend getaway. No stinky boys allowed.

We started with dinner at Vinto's where Olivia got a "V" tattoo from a very handsome waiter, along with a bowl of mac and cheese.

We checked into the hotel where we quickly found the "pool-drink" as Olivia calls it.

Basically it was Mama Cass, Auntie Didi, and Nanny Lisa doting on Olivia the entire weekend. You might even say it should be called Spoil Olivia Weekend instead of Girls Weekend!

 She adored all of the attention of course.

 A session of toenail painting; Olivia chose a lovely shade of teal.

 She gets bigger and brighter every single day!

Where else can you lay your blond hair on soft down pillows and have a little "paddy time" before breakfast!

I have always loved being the mother of three beautiful girls...but I love being the grandmother of a beautiful grand baby girl even more!

Breakfast of champions.

Nearly three years old...her little self is growing up so quickly.

My breakfast of champions.

My daughters...beautiful and brilliant.  It is remarkably fulfilling to see Olivia being loved and guided by both of them. Certainly we feel Jocie's absence, as I imagine we always will. Realizing we were so close to Library Square, we walked the short distance to see if we could see Jocie's name inscribed on the Intermountain Donor Services Monument.

Lots of name searching on the glass wall and finally an internet google search...we found her name surrounded by other donor heroes. I can not give enough praise for this organization and all the great things they do...and proud Jocie is a part of it.

I found it sweet and comforting that Jocie was included in our weekend plans and I have to believe it wasn't accidental.

Finally...no girls weekend would be complete without a little shopping. Olivia found a way to occupy herself in Anthropologie.

And so did I!

Girls Weekend  was an overwhelming success and a new tradition has most certainly been started!