Helen had been planning a session for her and Jack for a long time. Apparently, we just needed to wait until it coincidentally coincided with her birthday. Happy birthday Helen!

This week, I have been photographing all types of talented people. For years, I have been in awe of Helen and her paintings, and eventually will have a piece hanging on my wall, I have promised myself. Check out her gallery and prepare to fall in love. But stay away from  "Aspen Woods," because it would look so lovely on my green living room wall.

Not only is Helen a talent, she is also a stunner, and Jack seems to have inherited her charismatic smile and beauty. 
Thank you Helen and Jack and I hope the session was a great start to your birthday weekend away. xoxox

 Some things are irreplaceable. Such as Togan.

We met on the first day of Grade 5. I moved to a new school, I dressed carefully, my plum corduroy capris (okay, I think they were actually knickers,) and my mauve polo sweater, which I proudly received as a gift from grandmother.

It was the wrong outfit. My preppy try-hard did not jive with the dark denim, try-hard tough look for the school. I still, perfectly remember how scared and mortified I felt. How badly I wanted a friend.

It could have gone really poorly. Thankfully though some people looked passed the major first day at a new school outfit mishap and decided that I could be an acceptable friend. Thank you, Togan

Since then, through the same high school, different groups of friends, different high schools, different countries actually, and very different lives, she is still my "best friend from Grade 5."

We get together, not often enough, and we can pick up right where we left off. I am as comfortable in her house as I was after years of going to her childhood home to make tortillas with butter every day after school (mom, that is what I ate almost every day after school for two years.)

Last week, I hoped a plane to Ashland and spent three child free days with Togan. It was so relaxing and fulfilling that it felt like a week.
Ashland is an idyllic city where every delicious, affordable restaurant seems to have exposed brick walls and retro chandeliers. It is where I have now had the best coffee ever, it is where my friend Togan bought cupcakes and ate the bottom so my wheat free self could savour the sweetest butter-cream icing that has ever crossed my lips. It was my first trip to Ashland and I would go again next week if I could.

 I can't end this post without telling you it took me an unexpected19 flippin' hours get to Ashland, by plane people - not driving.

Luck with travel itineraries is something I don't have. Luck with friends though, I certainly do.

Here is the first post of some Togan photos, she looks to-me the same as she did when we met, without though,  the rugby pants we misguidedly wore almost everyday.

 

 

Thankfully the summer holiday came just when it was time. It is time for me to walk into the kids room in the morning and tell them to take their time getting ready, it is time for me not to have to say "you need to hurry" three times a day, it is time for me not to get frustrated when the 7 year old is still singing away in bed at 11 p.m., it is time for us to be unscheduled, it is time for a big long slow breath.

The last few months of school always see me hanging on, feeling unmotivated and frustrated with the day to day kids schedule. So, the summer break came just when this parent needed it, before my parenting patience went to the dogs.

This summer I am trying a new schedule. I will be hanging with my camera Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Monday through Thursday I will be with the kids during the day and working in the office at night.
Of course, Christine will be in the office during the day and I will be popping in each day to make phone calls and put together my to-do list for the evening office time.
So ya'll will still be well taken care of.

I feel really good about it.

We started yesterday, I was out with two of the girls, and they had a request for a stop they wanted to make. I said, of course, but that we would have to watch the time. Then it hit me.

We didn't. We could be as long as we wanted. It freaked me out, I called John, who was totally busy doing something else,  and kept him on the phone for five long unnecessary minutes verbally processing how weird it was.

Welcome summer holidays.

 

Last week, as part of some of the volunteer work I do, I spent the day at Children's Hospital in Vancouver with Gabe and his mom Genie.
I created a day in the life documentation, which I have to keep under wraps for now.

Gabe is fighting Leukemia, and he is strong, playful and as healthy as one could be in this situation.
It was an inspiring, emotional and interesting day.

I don't think I have to explain why it was emotional. Life isn't fair, we all know that, but sometimes it just smaks you in the face as you try to make some sense of why this little beauty has to fight for his life.

Inspiring, which for me, also goes with emotional. We live in a big world, with many injustaces, but goodness is everywhere. On this day, it came in the package of a mother, Genie, and the staff and technology that Children's offers. I look at Gabe, and I see a boy, who yes, has been given the challenge of fighting leukemia, but, he has also been blessed with a mom who loves him so much and knows how to care for him. He has been blessed, with living in a first world country that is going to do everything to stack the odds in his favor and a community that is assisting him and his family. Goosebumps.

Interesting. In 2006 my step-daughter Maggie was diagnosed with Leukemia, she walked the same road as Gabe. So, although I have photographed at Children's many times since then, this day stood out because it was 100% the same as one that Maggie would have had. . This experience brought some interesting and challenging deep emotions and thoughts to the forefront for me. Ones that will most definitely take awhile to process.

Hug your kids.

Love one-another

 

Just saw this in the beef and bouquet section of the paper and feel a bit shy about sharing but am also kind of beaming at how fortunate I am (and know this will make my mom proud when she trolls the blog.)


"NO WORDS TO EXPRESS how absolutely incredible Karen McKinnon and her assistant Christine Morgan are. Thirteen ladies won the bid on a Karen McKinnon photography session at this year's YANA auction. She suggested that we do a Bella Session. This is a large number of women to handle for a single night of photography, but Karen didn't cut a single corner when handling each one of us. It was 7 solid hours of shooting. She photographed each of us with enthusiasm, creativity, and love. YANA is so fortunate to have such a generous spirit on board, and all of us ladies were so fortunate to have had a rich, meaningful, and fun night at Karen's studio. The topper? We all have BEAUTIFUL photographs! We love you Karen."

 I love creating meaningful images and through it I really meet amazing people such as yourselves. That combo encourages me to do always do my best and for that I am the one that is grateful.