Tilda Tuesday: The Grands
We have very special guests staying with us this week and Matilda especially couldn’t be more excited. Her grandpa (my dad) and gammy (dad’s lovely wife) have made the trip out from Georgia for a visit. Tilly has fresh laps to cover in her orange and white fur. She turned and looked at me with crossed eyes after I took this shot. I’d say she’s in heaven. And so am I. 🙂
Happy Tilda Tuesday my friends!
“This shark, swallow you whole” -Quint
We surprised Dad last week for his birthday on Martha’s Vineyard. Also known as Amity Island, it is where the movie jaws was filmed 30 something years ago.
And Patrick spotted Jaws right here on the island!
Joey’s footprints.
A wet seagull feather sparkled on the sand.
Gayhead Lighthouse.
An osprey nest is housed up high and we watched as one circled in and joined it’s mate and young ones.
Joey enjoyed tossing sand into the ocean at sunset.
A few folks were fishing off the jetty.
Seagulls were everywhere. If you brought a picnic to the beach, you had to make sure you didn’t leave any food unattended or else you’d go hungry. These little thieves are fast and sneaky!
Sunsets were few and far between. The skies were overcast most evenings but we lucked out with this one.
We also enjoyed walking through craft markets and galleries in the many villages on the island.
There was an abundance of wildflowers. The wet and humid summer has done them well.
The ferry ride to the mainland on the last day was foggy, overcast, and dreary.
But the sun peeked through at times giving a calm and peaceful view.
It was so awesome surprising Dad like this. We all had a great week and he said this was the best birthday present ever. So glad we made it out there this year. Thank you Debbie for making it happen!
Menemsha Sunsets with Joey
Joey and I sat and enjoyed the Menemsha sunset yesterday evening.
Today is my Dad’s 70th birthday. His lovely wife flew us out to surprise him and boy he was surprised! We are enjoying our time together here on Martha’s Vineyard and wishing we could take the beautiful rain back home.
Back to My Roots
Last week, Patrick and I made a trip back to my roots to see family. We left the ranch with snow covering the ground and arrived to a warmer climate where they are still enjoying fall.
I, along with Dad and my best friend Terri and cowboy Patrick, photographed my baby cousins wedding and it was such a beautiful and happy occasion. She’s all grown up but I still see her as my little 12 year old cuz! My, how time flies.
And I’m most excited about meeting my brand new 3 week old nephew. He’s so sweet and snugly.
Baby Trent and his big brother Joey are storing a lot of sugar in their cheeks for me to consume while I’m here.
For the next couple of weeks, these blog posts will be reports from Georgia. I have a full schedule with photo shoots, good times with family and friends, and maybe even a concert or two.
Be well y’all!
10 Days in Georgia= Babies, Brides, and Rock & Roll
My recent trip back east was very busy and so much fun.
Aidan and Alena
I met the brand new son of one of my favorite couples in my hometown.
Jubee and The Morning After at Grants Lounge in Macon
Attended a fabulous rehearsal party for another favorite couple and enjoyed the tunes of Macon’s newest and hottest bands, Jubee and The Morning After.
Dad and Joey
Spent quality time with my Dad and nephew.
Patches
Patches never missed a family gathering. She was always in the middle of everything. She would even eat when we ate.
Walden-Weatherford Wedding Extravaganza at the Cox Capital Theatre in Macon
Laughed, cried, and rocked out at the Wedding of the Year. Will and Kate who?
My baby cousin Delta and her fiance Matthew
Photographed a newly engaged couple.
Echo and the Bunnymen lead singer, Ian McCulloch
And ended the adventure in Atlanta photographing a concert with my bestie in the most difficult venue and lighting set up that I have ever been tossed into. More about that on Concert Sutra at a later date.
All in all it was a great trip. The weather was pleasant and the cicadas were loud and creepy. Dad says he can’t believe they’ve got to deal with those insects every 13 years. 😉
I was able to laugh with most but not all of my dear friends. I did not get a chance to visit my friends at Theatre Macon and I send my apologies to them. I WILL spend time there on my next trip back east because I truly miss them.
Today, I’m getting geared up for full day of shooting at the University of Wyoming tomorrow and I’m very much looking forward to it
Happy Friday my friends. Uprooted Magnolia will be back in full Wyoming swing next week. I’ve got brandings to shoot, landscapes to fill my lens, and more Wyo spring air to inhale.
Toodles,
Leah
Checking in from the Southland
Sleepy Sunday Afternoon
I know I’ve been absent from here. I miss you.
But I’m still in the southeast and have been running around non-stop since I arrived. With a bridal party to attend a couple hours after getting off the airplane, a weekend full of wedding events with fabulous friends, stealing sugar from my nephew, quality time with the family, a visit with a 2 week old handsome baby boy and Wii bowling with his 4 year old brother, photo shoots for long time clients, oh the jam packed schedule goes on and on and on, I’ve barely had the time to check in with y’all. The last leg of this trip will be in Atlanta with my bestie for a concert and various projects we are working on.
I have so many images of this week to process and I’ll share a little of that with you here once I settle down in the meadows of home. But before any of that happens, I shall nap like the little ones on the lazy Sunday after my return.
Later Alligator,
Leah
Saturday in Downtown Wheatland
Last Saturday was my day to work at the Gilchrist Gallery and the folks were still here. It was ok because they wanted to see it and walk around downtown Wheatland.
Various sights around the Gilchrist Gallery
But an hour after we were there, the Art Guild came in for their monthly meeting and they offered to watch the gallery so that we could go explore downtown.
We went to the thrift and antique stores and Dad found some great old records. Debbie found plates and I found another fabulous leather purse. Check this out, it’s a convertible!
I just love secondhand treasures.
Full Moon Over the Meadows
The night of the harvest moon was too cloudy for photographs but the evening after was beautiful and clear.
This was the day that my folks arrived. We all stood in our front yard and Dad and I took a lot of pictures.
A couple of bucks were fighting in the meadow while Debbie watched through the binoculars.
This was a great start to their visit and a beautiful introduction to ranch life in Wyoming.
Good Company, Oh I Can’t Deny
Excuse me for borrowing and changing lyrics from a 1970’s rock band but I just couldn’t help it.
Dad and Debbie arrived last Thursday for a visit and they left today. Dad has been here once before. It was back in March and in the snow when he brought me out here to my new home. It was great for them to see how beautiful it can really be here in the “middle of nowhere” in Autumn.
After a couple of days of house cleaning, I was happy I could finally go out to pick flowers for the house. It was the last thing on the “to do” list before they got here. You know how much I love flowers and I wanted it to look nice for the folks. They’ve been on the road and in hotels a lot lately so I wanted to cozy it up as much as possible.
The sunflowers are just about gone but I spotted these pretty white flowers popping up everywhere. Of course a Wyoming centerpiece isn’t complete without a little wheat dried wheat grass.
This heartshaped basket holds a small arrangement to greet them as they entered our home. Then I set up some smaller arrangements for their bedside tables. I also placed a framed picture of my Yellow Finch because they both are bird lovers.
And I chose these vases because they are the color of their Z car.
Yay! Here they come down the hill. This car is a color of blue that I don’t even know you’d find in a Crayola box. And it definitly doesn’t fit in around here.
They successfully crossed the Bridge to Paradise.
We had a great time and the weather was perfect.
They left this morning for their next adventure through Colorado and New Mexico. But while they were here we took peaceful drives through the country and traveled through some real “middle of nowhere”. I’ll fill in the gaps with more photos of their visit. For now, I’m sorting through the shots and reflecting on how great it was to have them here.
Martha’s Vineyard: My Nephew
Wonderful few days last week spent with my family on The Vinyud. Joey is 18 months old now, walking, talking jibberish, and is ALL boy.
He would flash his long lashes and baby blues after playing in the only dirt hole at the park .
Show off his teeth while laughing at that big guy we call Patrick.
And would act coyly when asked for a high-five.
Two Fathers Today
me and dad, 1992
Who knew I’d end up being the photographer at his wedding 16 years later.
photographing dad and debbie, 2008
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me and dad, 2008
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My brother became a father in December 2008 to the most beautiful baby in the world. I knew he’d be a good dad because he is a great big brother to me.
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ken and baby Joey, 2008
Joey loves his daddy. He looks just like him too.
ken and baby Joey, 2009
Happy Father’s Day fellas. Miss you and love you. Hope you are having a marvelous day. xoxo
Fast Times at Spring Creek High
We’ve been in Nevada for a few days for the high school graduation of Patrick’s nephew Kaleb. It was a windy yet beautiful drive through Wyoming. Salty, humid and hilly through Utah. Dry desert through Nevada. A 10 hour drive and I loved every minute.
Windmills in Wyoming
Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
Train crossing the Flats
Kaleb graduated 3rd in his class. Such a smart and kind young man. I enjoyed meeting him and his friends.
Yay Kaleb!
Congratulations Kaleb and the 2010 Spring Creek High School Graduates!
Our drive home was great until we got back into Wyoming. Storms were brewing all around us.
Sheets of rain were blanketing the meadows and farmlands.
We drove as hard as we could but were not successful at outrunning the storm.
And WAM! Suddenly we were caught in a massive hail storm on highway 34. Have you ever been inside a car when hail is pounding so hard you can’t hear what the person next to you is saying? If you have, you know what I’m talking about. Frightening.
We made it home safely just before it started pouring down at the ranch. We slept so good to the sound of rain I barely remember my head hitting the pillow.
Remembering Mom
A newborn Harriet with her mom, my Mema.
A newborn Leah, with mom and brother
Me and mom goofing off during a family portrait session. This was right after the diagnosis.
Watching the stages of the cancer take the life right out of her, fighting it with all her might, made us angry. Sad. Tired. We wanted her pain to go away. And when she took her last breath, there was relief on her beautiful face. She didn’t have to fight anymore. She was finally free. It’s been 3 1/2 years since she’s been gone but it feels just like yesterday. I feel her with me everyday, and I’ve found peace while spending time in the hills of southeastern Wyoming.
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It’s amazing how life goes on after losing someone so special. Everyday feels like that dream you have when you just can’t run fast enough. You’re moving in slow-motion and you just want to give up. And then someone comes along a year later to perk up your dad and breath new life into him and the family. A kind and loving woman named Debbie. She’s such a blessing.
Debbie and Dad: wedding dance
I hope we all took time on Sunday to reflect on how important our mothers are to us whether they gave us life and whether they entered later in life. We should let them know our appreciation for them more than just on Mother’s Day.
Thank you Debbie.
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Thank you Mom- miss you.
Uprooted Magnolia 
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