Thank You Momma

I drag my heavily soaked brush down from the top of the doorway as if I'm steadily yanking down the ripest apple from the top of the tree, the strong musk of latex wafting into my nostrils. In my now almost completely robin's egg blue kitchen (used to be frowning caveman green), I stand and look up at my mom on my husband's shaky wooden ladder. With her roller to the wall, she laughs as Travis and I sing, well yodel/scream, our way through the brilliant Imogean Heap's 'Hide & Seek.' While still giggling she manages to yell out, "You guys! Shut up!!" With an agreeing glance toward each other, Travis and I crank our singing volume way up, being the immature conspiring brats that we are. Still laughing, she continues to paint.

***

I don't say thank you enough, Mom. I mean, I know I say it in those obvious big times like when you stay a weekend at my house, putting your intensely busy life on hold just to paint my kitchen. But what about the little times? Those seemingly small but significant moments.

Thank you for being a friend, a mother all of us children feel comfortable enough to tease, harass, pull pranks on - with the only response being laughter and the occasional smack on the shoulder.

Thank you also for being pretty weak so those smacks on the shoulder don't ever hurt.

Thank you for always trying to smother me with kisses everytime I hug you (I swear you do it now just because you know I don't like it).

Thank you for stopping me from pulling the heads off my barbies. You may have put an end to some serious crime in my future.

Thank you for letting me quit ballet when I had to dance with that.. boy. Cooties.

Thank you for learning how to teach just so you could help your own children. Thank you for those after-hours school sessions at the kitchen table every day. They did pay off, for all of us.

Thank you for sleeping beside me in the hospital when my kidneys were failing. And buying me the sparkly blue Crest toothpaste just because I wanted it.

Thank you for cuddling up next to a sleepy, grumpy teen in the mornings, poking and bugging me until I would wake up, finally threatening with the spray bottle.

Thank you for fighting me every step of the way from seeing a certain young boy. You were right, he was a bad apple.

Thank you for putting our hobbies and sports, our "Mooom, I have to have it" brand name clothes, our tears, our future, everything first. Even with no time, minimal energy and little money - your boys and daughter always came first.

Thank you for that still being the case.

Thank you for calming me down when I had a public melt down over a wedding dress.

But more importantly, thank you for truly loving the man I married. Your relationship with Travis makes my heart smile.

Thank you for supporting my always changing mind and my new crazy and crazier endeavours.

I think I've come to expect you to pull through everytime I need you because you have never let me down. But I shouldn't expect it, you don't have to do many of the wonderful million things you do. You are special and the way you treat your children is special. For all the times I don't say it, thank you Mom. I love and enjoy who you are.

PS. Happy Mother's Day to all you mommas out there (yes, I'm one day late on this post but I mean it all the same).

Uhm.. Yum.

I have an addiction to chocolate. I don't know how it got this bad but it did, I've become a chocolate monster. And it's starting to show, cough, physically.. So in hopes of kicking my chocolate addiction in the ass, I've been going cold turkey. No chocolate, no sugar, no happy taste buds, nothing of the sort (okay, so I broke once on my brother-in-law's birthday). But I just discovered a website of recipes for thee most scrumptious looking, fabulous, creative cupcakes [warning: do not view on an empty stomach as you may eat your computer screen]:

http://mingmakescupcakes.yolasite.com/

Oh, god. Must not break, must not break, must not... dude, are you kidding?!

Funkin'

I've been in a funk; a cold, depressing, self-depreciating, grumpy funk. And I'm blaming it on the rainy, overcast days of BC. But today is ahhh, so lovely out, giving me hope for the end of funk. Summer, baby. Other than my anxiety of hearing fearful screams at the beach when I walk past the hot, toned, tanned beach babes in my bikini, I am so flippin' excited for sandal weather!

I'm excited for my summer play and for my summer goals. Play: horse ranch, road trips, winery tours in the Okanogan, camping, tubing, margaritas, sky diving.. yay!

And then there's those summer goals I mentioned. I used to volunteer a lot but lately life has led me a stray.. I miss feeling so happy to be a part of change, being there for the animals and people that need help. I feel guilty for slacking. So back on the volunteer horse I go! I think this time I'm going to work at the Chilliwack Animal Control. Those babies need a lot of lovin'. Hopefully I'll get a chance to post pictures of some of the adoptable dogs that need our help.

Oh! And there's the renos of course. Gotta keep working and get 'er done. This time next year, I want to see the letters S-O-L-D across our house. Well not literally. If someone graffitied my house I'd probably collapse and die. But hey, I guess if they spray painted 'SOLD' on my house, then it's the new owner's problem.

And finally, I want to improve my art like crazy this summer. I'm going to take my first photography course (with my momma who wants to learn too!). And I'm going to take steps to focus.. Focus on what I really want to shoot, on my own style, on cohesive editing and collections, on building a name for myself and getting out there. I want to be the best artist I can be. I'm scared and just between you and me.. I've been driven close to giving up. But I'm so fortunate to have people that won't let me, that have threatened to kick my ass if I stop. Even when I am so weak and sucky, they are my support team; my amazing parents, extraordinary best friends and the best, I mean the BEST husband in the whole freaking solar system.
You know what, this crappy weather we've been having lately is no reason for me to be in a funk. I am so incredibly blessed, rain or shine.

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I'll Love Ya Tomorrow

In 4 minutes it will officially be tomorrow. Head should be meeting pillow anytime now. I guess I just had such a good day I don't want to sleep it goodbye. Rewind/fast forward: laughed with (and at) my mom all day, dinner with my husband's wonderful family including a beauty of a remake of Total Eclipse of the Heart, butternut squash ravioli with.. goat cheeeese (!!!!), home to an almost finished kitchen counter top that my husband has been working so hard at, warm fuzzy doggy snuggle sesh and caught up on Glee. Good, right? Yep.

I guess I shouldn't be afraid to fall asleep. Tomorrow will equal = yay! cos I am going on a little day trip to the states with my daddy! For a little while I don't have to be a grown mature adult (trust me, my dad isn't either!) with la-haaame responsibilities. May your day tomorrow...crap, now today - be filled to the brim with pure joy. And if it isn't.. make it.

(B)AMA

This is what happiness looks like.


A warm blankie and cold grass,
a little game we like to call 3up/3down,
hippie smoke, jumping deer
and stumbling upon ..a costume wedding?
Just a little bit of time with the girls that I love.

We are the Tripod.
And I very much so became the person that I am
because of and alongside these two silly faces.

Tripods.
I recommend 'em.

PS. The faceless one on the right is Annie Bananie. She just graduated from TWU yesterday! Woo, Anne!

Music & Marley

You know your song, that one major song that’s all yours? You loved it the first time you heard it and you love it even more a decade later. Your song. It’s magical, spiritual, rip-you-a-part emotional, it’s everything that you are and that you want to be. And hey, maybe you have more than one. But mine is on right now and it’s dancing through my bones.

Atlantic City by Bruce Springsteen. I discovered the original '82 version alongside someone that meant a lot to me, my dog. Curled up at my feet, Marley was there when I stumbled upon this song and downloaded. I remember pressing play and listening to the enchanting power come out of my speakers. I wanted the words to be my language so I memorized the lyrics quickly. Blaring the volume, I sang along with Bruce. And so did Marley. We howled and danced together that day. It was silly and stupid and also totally, completely special. That moment - this song, is one of the last memories I have of Marley.

It’s so hard to speak about him. It’s going on a year and a half and I still can’t speak about what happened or him without breaking down. Long exhaaale.

Back to the music. Other than the obvious romantic kind of love and the obvious magician type magic (*poof!), there are two main things in my life that I feel really encompass both love and magic. Those of course would be animals and art. Clearly, photography is my art of choice. But music very much so is an art form that is a part of my soul. It’s astounding; just a quick melody can make your heart burst or bring you to times of sorrow or make your veins pump with adrenaline. Music is art. Music is love. And music is most definitely magic.

When I hear Atlantic City by Bruce Springsteen I get goose bumps along with an overwhelming, awful heart ache. I’m reminded of a great loss, the biggest tragedy of my life actually. It’s such a rad song though, I promise. Atlantic City also reminds me of an amazing undeniable bond that I had never experienced with any soul. When I hear those drums beat, surges of love, of hope for meeting again - ring in my ears. Best news yet? I just discovered a really upbeat version of Atlantic City, thankfully still sung by ol’ Bruce.

Check out this live version with the E Street band. Although it still makes me sad, this version is happier and helps me cope a little better. Hopefully you will likey.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phXoHJvBap4

Well now our luck may have died and our love may be cold

but with you, forever I'll stay

We're goin' out where the sands turn into gold

...

Everything dies, baby that's a fact

Maybe everything that dies

someday comes back

...

Put your make up on,

fix your hair up pretty

and meet me tonight in Atlantic City

...

Meet me tonight in Atlantic City

Meet me tonight in Atlantic City

C'mon and meet me..

C'mon and meet me tonight in Atlantic City

On the opening day of your shelter Marley, I’ll blast this one just for you.

The Van Herk Babes, Lucas & Corey

More baby fever, I tell ya! I photographed Elan and her baby belly not too long ago now, it seems. And now it's time for little Corey to make his big debut. Take a look at all his adorable-ness and his awesome older brother, Lucas' too.