{{discover}} - DPP '10

Montana is so raw.  I love driving along it's backroads because they never disappoint me.  Mile after mile is fascinating. Deer, elk, antelope (pronghorns), buffalo wander in view, oblivious of me and my camera.  And, once-in-awhile, Montana shows me something chillingly beautiful.

I doubt this Golden took down the doe she is perched upon, but she was taking full advantage of the situation.  We sat and watched her from our roadside 'Acura Lounge', sipping cinnamon lattes and whispering questions and exclamations about her.   Laughing at the Magpies who wanted in on the action but were a tad skittish around that wicked shnozola of Ms. Golden. 

{{view}} - DPP '10

In the blue light of the morning I would stand on the deck and watch the deer and cattle come down the water to drink. 

{{majesty}} - Dpp '10

{{retreat}} - DPP '10

Our little cabin in the woods, along the Yellowstone river.  It was such a cozy place to be with my delicious man.  Miles away from civilization :)

{{glow}} - DPP '10

Downtown every window is lit.  *sigh* Love this time of year.
J is taking me away for a couple days.  A belated anniversary rendezvous. 
I'll post my weekend photos and Monday's when I return.  Have a lovely weekend.

{{bloom}} - DPP '10

If you only knew how many years I have waited to have a glass teapot just so I could watch these blossom...

And then, a white elephant night comes along and here I am with a clear view.
Minda and I decided it called for an Oriental night.  We made sushi, and egg rolls and shared tea - flowering tea :)
Seems an odd thing to do in the middle of December surrounded by 3 feet of snow, but it was lovely.  Completely lovely.

{{memory}} - DPP '10

I have always been captured by simplicity.  Uncomplicated life - not easy necessarily, just an unpretentious, clean, sincere, modest and wholesome life.  When I was small (maybe 4?) I remember seeing a picture of a bonnetted girl in a dress holding some flowers.  Her name was Holly Hobbie.  I was enchanted from that moment on.  I wanted to have her life.  She was kind, thoughtful, and a friend.  She spent time gardening and giving away produce, mailing letters to sick friends and far away ones, quilting together with old and young, and wandering through fields alone pausing to look at the bees and clover, sitting in the shade of a tree and pondering...  It was my dream to be that lovely of a person.
She disappeared from my life as I got older.  Then I became a mom & I suddenly wanted those dreams for more than just me.
I researched Holly Hobbie and much to my surprise found her to be the illustrator of the cards, books, and poems I had dreamt over as a child.  Then I found she had just began a new series of books for this new generation.  I wondered if it would be as sweet and beautiful as Holly had been to me.   I found Toot & Puddle just before Christmas one snowy afternoon in one of those cutesy, over-priced novelty shops that I was browsing through.  I sat down in a chair close to the window and began reading about these 2 best friends in that magical winter light.  I finished it in tears & read it again.  It was the same Holly Hobbie who loved home, and relationship, and simplicity.  This time, however, it was 2 little pigs (the cutest you ever saw) & they love each other enough to let the other be themself.  Toot is a traveler, but never forgets to write home and always comes home anxiously in the end.  Puddle is a homebody, but he loves hearing of the faraway places and makes Toot's homecomings the best.
My kids all love these stories now right along with me.  We love the beauty of the illustrations, the fun way Holly tells their stories, and the adventures, but what we love most is their love for one another.  Their bond.
I don't know Holly, but I wish I did.  I wish I could tell her how much she has meant to a little girl who grew up in rags with the hopes of being someone who would be loved by others for her love and care for them and who had enough to give abundantly.  I wish I could tell her how 3 kids, years later, grew up watching their mama get choked up over the sweetness & beauty of 2 best friends giving each other  the best of themselves without reserve.  I wish she could know their love for each other and their friends and how they feel built up and are filled with a desire to be even better friends when they read her stories.
They are captured by simplicity, though our lives are anything but simple.

{{indulge}} - DPP '10

Every year a friend of mine invites several friends to bake 6 dozen cookies and come spend an evening fellowshipping and exchanging treats.  I don't see many of these ladies at any other time of year so it is always special.   This year my contribution was a family tradition.  MaCarroonies!  Cassia and I love these cookies so it could be dangerous that I baked enough to take to the party plus an extra dozen to take to friends who weren't able to come plus 2 dozen more for us.  That means it's time to hit the exercise overdrive button!

{{gather}} - DPP '10

James' works for a small business.  One where most of the employees have worked for 20 years and have become family in many ways.  We just barely became a part of this 'family' yet the others have welcomed us with friendship.  We feel blessed.

Last night we were treated to time together.  Ahi, Tenderloin, Amazing appetizers, Malbec, and laughter.  It was some of the best food I've eaten in years but the company was the best part.

{{adorn}} - DPP '10

We are, little by little, getting things out for the season upon us.  I love to decorate, but we don't have much.  It's so important to me to do what I can with the limited time and funds we have, though.  Like this.  A friend gave us this wreath for our door when we moved in & we just added some cranberry picks to make it more festive.  Simple touches, here & there, as we can. Creating a sense of place, of cycle & custom, of home.

{{treat}} - DPP '10

One of the reasons the holidays are so splendiferous?  CUTIES!  Lovely little Clementines, with their sunny color, and darling size that make our spirits and tastebuds soar. 

{{warmth}} - DPP '10

Winters are long in Bozeman, and covered from Oct. to May in feet of fluffy snow.  Before moving here I knew nothing of Patagonia Capilene, fleece or down sweaters, or Merrell Apexes, or YakTrax, or Smartwool.  Now I not only know about them, they are highly coveted. 
Cold?  Not these tootsies!

{{stay}} - DPP '10

Staying home. Staying cozy. Staying warm.

{{comfort}} - DPP '10

It's time again for the December Photo Project!  LOVE this month of documenting my world.  And so, we begin...

Broccoli feta soup.  A recipe made up on the spot that was devoured by my family. :)

21

Cassia requested a family gathering for her birthday.  That may no seem like a whole lot, but with our schedules it takes some major finagling.  We were able to pull it off the day after her birthday, though!  When asked what she would like for dinner she gave me a pretty quick reply - Salmon!

Being in Montana makes it kind of scary buying fish.  Costco has come through for me more than once and they did again.  We enjoyed Wild Pacific Salmon, Baked Potatoes, Green Salad and Cran-raspberry spritzers. 

Our family isn't much for cake eating, so we are always poking candles into other things so wishes can be made over them.  :) 
We could not be more proud of our firstborn.  Sensitive and compassionate, kind and warm.  She can let go of things rather well, but not people.  Once she has them in her heart she is tenacious to hold them, pray for them, minister to them. 
I wish I was still at home full time to be able to really make these days as special as we used to, but that is not the season we are in right now.  Right now I'm thankful we could gather; all at one time, in one place, for one purpose - in celebration of a beautiful life, being well lived, fully enjoyed, and treasured by many.  The 21 years of the life of Cassia, our daughter/sister/friend.

22

Love him like crazy

James and I celebrate 22 years of being friends and lovers, having 2 to tango, knowing one another inside-out, being each other's significant.

Thankful

Making of a Dream

Having your son move thousands of miles away from you is bad enough; having him move to North Hollywood really makes you uncomfortable.  Then you pray and hear God saying to let him go and trust Him.  

Then He begins to move.  Money needed comes quickly.  A friend, who is a believer, calls to say he has just moved around the block from the dance school your son is trying to go to and wants to give him a place to stay.  Plane tickets are arranged & so is a ride to get there.  

Then he arrives.  He's chosen his first day at school to dance back up with a rising star.  He goes to  a good church.  He and his roommate begin writing music together and making tracks of ones already composed.  They pitch one to an agent, who pitches it to a producer. 

Then 3 weeks into a new home, new church, new classes, the producer says, "Let me hear more of your stuff, Tofer".  And just like that, just like only God can, your son is finding himself in the middle of a dream becoming reality.  Not just for himself but for the man of God who gave him a home, and even more, a friend to lean on. 

 Learning the board and the equipment of a major recording studio.

 Arranging harmonies.

 Laying down tracks.

 Finding favor with major players.

And loving the journey - keeping it real - letting God lead.
I'm still praying.  Still asking Abba to hold his heart, keep him safe, keep his focus centered, and bring him safely home.  ... I am still the Mama, after all.

Haunting of the Hollows

Minda has had a vision to dress up and haunt the grave yard for a couple years now.  Wandering amidst the headstones in a long white gown and me photographing it.  We had just been to the cemetery however, and I wanted to try somewhere else.  So we headed to our old "haunt", The Hollows.  We were hoping it would be snowing but instead just ended up with freezing temps!  Minda was brave.  To remove one's down coat and stand in chiffon sleeves just for the purpose of capturing brilliant photos... maybe I should say crazy instead of brave!

What do you think?  Worth braving the 30 degrees Fahrenheit? 
She keeps pushing my creativity.  I love that. 

Come to Life

James and I have made a tradition out of being in the audience whenever Jeni releases a new CD (and sometimes in between).  We've been getting to know some of our neighbors better and wanted to share this night with a couple of them.  It was a great evening.  Jeni had a cold and struggled through the sets but it didn't detract from the vibe. One of our favorite things about Jeni & Jake is the love and respect that they have for each other and the community.

 We know we are going to sigh, smile, laugh, and feel at home in their presence.

We are never disappointed!  

 

A little moment.  Not the best moment.  Someone (for the first time in my photography career) told me I was being distracting.  Not sure how - no flash, no sound, not even getting up and walking around- but I wanted to respond kindly, so I stopped until the very end with all photos or video.