IOA photohouse

Hi there 🙂 We have spent some time over the last few months, out on the coast of Washington, visiting the Kalaloch beaches, and the Rainforests both north and south – the Hoh, and Lake Quinalt. Soaking up the sun (ha), and smelling the salty ocean air of the Pacific. Looking at these photos reminds me of all the fun times we share as a family.. Writing this now reminds me just how adventurous we can be, how we romanticize the idea of exploration and dive head first into the ideas we share. Also, though, that pictures conceal as much as they reveal.. I’ll show you some of the fun we had, but know that these trips are truly a challenge. The challenges are rewarding, though.. We have great memories to share, and I’m grateful our children are growing up outside.

Happy Tu B’Shevat everyone (New Year of Trees). This holiday has always been one of my favorites, as a child and an adult.. Planting a tree on this day and reminding ourselves of the likenesses of man and tree, and gaining spiritual insights as to how we can learn from this reminder and be more aware of our roots, trunk, branches, leaves and fruit.. Of our readings this week, what has stuck with me the most is something the Baal Shem Tov said:

“Just as the earth conceals the greatest treasures beneath its surface — both in the form of precious metals and gems that lie buried in the depths of the earth, as well as in the productive energies locked in its soil — so, too, each one of us has the capacity to discover huge reserves and potentials of good and holiness hidden within him or herself. We simply need to mine the spiritual treasures hidden beneath our mundane exterior, and “dig up the earth” of our surface selves to plant the seeds — the good deeds — that will take root, blossom and multiply.”

I’ve had many moments of stillness this week, allowing me to reflect on my actions on this earth.. Towards others, and others actions unto me. I can’t help but wonder if there is a correlation, and if so, should there be? I’m learning..To really ‘tap in’ to what we all have to offer, we need to continually nurture ourselves, and each other. There are so many opportunities to find meaning and give meaning to our everyday lives, and for this I am grateful. I look forward in this coming year, to unearthing the bits of myself that need some actualizing, to live up to my potential – creatively, ethically, and spiritually.

Thanks for your visit ❤

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Today was easily one of the best days of our new year.. Our family was together, on an actual hike through the Guillemot Cove Nature Reserve in Seabeck, WA. My kiddos hiked 4.4 miles all on their own, on a seriously steep trail that led us down to a nice rocky beach. By the end, we were all sweating, feeling awesome, and very grateful to be alive and able. What more is there?

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Some fun and moody pictures, from weeks ago, on an early foggy morning down by the water..

And now our lovely Autumn, will put on the hat..

I love these sweet pictures..

And these ones.. ❤

And because I can’t bare to leave Ilana out, here are some hat pictures, from a different day..

Well, I ended up here, didn’t I? This is a story to tell, for a different day.. A story I’ve been working on for weeks now, and that you’ll see here, soon. (We miss you)

Dearest Washington.. You’re certainly a moody place this time of year. I almost wrote you a letter describing all the gloom and doom you bring with the buckets of rain you’ve been pouring over us, and how you’ve accosted us – with heavy, sometimes smelly, fog – for weeks now.. But then, I realized, this is our fourth winter in Washington, and I have grown to love you. I love your overcast days and foggy mornings. You’ve embedded yourself in my being, and I am grateful.

Ty took the one above, I’m in love.. Our humble little bay. It’s ever changing and oh so lovely, especially trapped in a foggy dusk..

I was down by the canal in Port Gamble.. I took this only for that little black dot on top.. That Stoic Eagle. I was almost upset with myself for leaving the house without a longer lens.. But now, I think I like this! Foggy morning on the water.. There’s always something beautiful to find.

Hood Canal foggy morning.. I love only barely being able to discern the horizon.

This one I took last year at this time.. I was just talking about it the other day, so I thought I would share it. I see this woman all year walking, so it’s pretty special, to me. It was a cold and foggy wintery morning..

All of the above being said about this lovely time of year, I couldn’t help but look back on some pictures of last spring and summer, to allow me some remembrance. Not only of what we have to look forward to in the next few months, but also of a time when my kids were younger and Ty and I took loads of pictures, for the sheer fun of learning and growing and documenting. Before we ever imagined the idea of a website, much less a blog, much much less telling stories with our photos. It’s something Ty’s been wanting to see up here for a while, so I hope you’re happy love!

Oran.. Oh my son. I love these, an immense amount. And that love has nothing to do photography. I love them because I can see my little son, before his first hair cut, before he could walk this entire 2.5 mile trail with me, before now. Time is flying quickly my friends..

I love this place all year round, but this field in the spring.. I want to bring a blanket, a picnic basket and my family, to play in it, for days!

This is a ‘Bushtit,’ pretty common here in Washinton where we live. Their nests fascinate us, and if you camp out with a long zoom, you can catch them feeding the young-ins’ inside. These remind me of sharing a camera with Ty, when one of us would run around trails with the kids, and the other would go find something interesting. We almost never do that now, we stick together, take photos together, of each other and the kids, and moments like these, if we’re so lucky! I’ve been walking by these exact nest sites for months now, thinking, wow, this tree has no leaves.. Only a few months ago, there was so much life!

So much sunshine.. I can’t wait for this! I almost brought the exposure down on the whole lot of these, but I really couldn’t do it! This is how it was, and what I’m longing for..

Ty’s beautiful pictures.. I love coming home to look at what he’s shot for the day. Flowers, bees buzzing around flowers, in focus, totally amazing! I’ll stop here for today.. With thoughts of spring, summer and sunshine. Have a great weekend everybody!

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Something about me: I have always been, and continue to be blessed with strong women around me and in my life. Mentally, physically, emotionally, you name it, women have this strength. There is something magical when women come together, instead of repelling each other away, and I relish and appreciate opportunities that I have to gather with friends, to take walks together, and to go on adventures. Even in very familiar places, there are new discoveries to be had. This walk was full of them and it’s so nice to look at these photos and see my kids with their friends, playing outside and making memories. My friend, Jessica, is also a photographer who has helped me grow in many ways. I have learned a lot from her, and I am thankful! Check out her blog post to see her angle of view of this walk, it’s easy to see how I’m inspired by her work..! friends

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People taking pictures, very fascinating. Plus, they are friends, and I couldn’t resist.

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Sweet moments.. Ashton and Oran. The difference in age here is almost ten years. Yet, I feel like my son is engaged and looked after when he plays with these older children.

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His name is Cedar! I love the inquisitive look on his face, and the lines in these photos lend well to making this diptych. It’s very interesting, to me..

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Sweet moments.. Jessica and Ilana.

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Tovah is sure becoming a more often than not, subject for me. I hope I’m not boring you, but she does these pretty things sometimes.. And the older she gets, the more part of our family she is becoming.

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So, here Jessica and I switched lenses. The top I shot with the 50 1.2, and the bottom I shot with the 35 1.4. I love to see the difference in angle between these two lenses, it’s very interesting to me! I’ve always loved really isolating subjects, but I can see myself walking down a road that may be leading to the 35, one day..

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This is one of my favorite photos of the day (above). I really can’t stop thinking about it. It’s moody, and honest. Everyone is involved, and it’s nice..

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It’s amazing how much more is in the frame with the 35! There is certainly a lot more to think about and frame up. I’m not sure I nailed any with the 35, but I learned a lot!

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I think the kids were looking at each others teeth here. I love that Oran ditched this conversation and decided that leaning over the boardwalk to reach for the murky water, was a better idea..

This face, it’s certainly a nice one to photograph. He’s so darn sweet natured..

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Fun moments on the boardwalk.. I love this one of Ilana. This is very much how life is. I can usually see her, but she is always an arms length (or two) ahead of me.. Not just on walks, in real life.. In growing up.. She is a stealthy learner, her teacher says. Always observing and looking and contemplating. She knows more than she lets on.. And I see that here.

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Adjacent to the trail head parking lot, is a skate park. And though we’ve never ventured over on our own, my kids took no time warming up to the fun it offered. And although I’m not super in love with any of these as great photographs, I love each of these moments, so I thought I’d share them too. _MG_2327 OranSkating _MG_2331 IlanaSkate-1-3

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Nap time.. It’s always a fun time for Autumn.. How long can we play before she decides she’s just too tired? We were expecting Ty home around noon, and he called shortly after..

“Hello” – “Hey baby” – “I’m sorry love, I tried” – “It’s okay baby, I love you” – “I love you too”

And, I didn’t mind much, because I was in the middle of opening the blinds and felt like snapping some photos of my silly little love. Autumn was on my hip, I was holding the phone between my ear and shoulder, and I could sense Ty’s utter distraction (frustration) on his end. We were both involved, and it was good. And one wonderful thing is, he was home before we knew it, and I even had some quiet time to edit these. What more is there in this life, really? Love, laughter, living in the moment, relishing the flow, accepting and humbling ourselves and the ones we love. Today was a good day. Here are a few of my favorites.

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IlanaReflecting-1-2 Those of you who have seen my work, even a little bit, must know this story well.. Reflections are kind of my thing.. I’m not sure why. They call my name, and I come running.. This time, so did Ilana, and I am grateful for her never-ending curiosity and for her immense fascination with water, of all kinds. I love that the stillness of a reflection can absorb movement and transform itself. It’s an elementary idea that seems to fascinate us all.. It reminds me of so many greater ideas in this life. That maybe one little action will have a reaction that will transform into something greater than we had imagined.. I’m inspired by this short story. I hope you are too.

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Steve and Lisa, my amazing family, my cousins! (Yes, I’m super excited to be related to you). You both have taught me so much about this life.. You showed me a slice of what marriage looks like before I was ever interested in knowing. You have changed my life for the better, in ways that I can never thank you enough for. I love you both from the bottom of my heart and I am wishing you a Happy Anniversary today!!

Oliver, you have the funnest parents. In. The. World. I wish we lived a bit closer so that we could hug you more often, read books together, play outside, go adventuring, share meals, and all the rest.. We love you!!

And, I LOVE these pictures. They make me smile and laugh and giggle, all the time.