this day

along a local street, honoring those who have sacrificed their lives in war since September of 2001 to present day. these small gravestones covered just over 2 miles of road, and are only a handful of those who have fallen in battle. the second shot depicts a young man who did not return home to my town. i stood in this spot for a long while thinking about his mother.

i was struck by the words in the first photo. mission accomplished.



at the beginning of the fence along which these beautiful tapestries hung were these words:

"The Peace Ribbon honors victims of the war in Iraq by creating a memorial to the soldiers and Iraqi civilians who have died as a result of the invasion & occupation of Iraq. Help us to create a panel for each life that has been claimed by this war. They will be displayed around the U.S. to remember and honor those who have died. Join us in this tribute by making a panel".

i lingered and read the stories, some with so few words, some full of color, some with none, each filled with a mixture of pain and hope.

us lately

leisurely walks with family in the unusually dry heat of summer that settled in early this year. trips to her favorite park. neighbors stopping to say hello with smiling dogs. hugs and hand holding and dinners out, when we can. jiji finding her place in this family and our hearts... ransom, beating all odds and still with us 8 months later, permanently etched in, like a tattoo, like an artery, like morning and evening light.

life is not without its struggles or its (sometimes quite overwhelming) ups and downs. but when i sit back, looking at this collection of photos, there is only gratefulness inside of me for the gifts i have received in my life.

here, there, everywhere. and a eucalyptus tree.

(pentax k1000, film)

sorry for my absence in visiting all of you. parenthood, kindergarten registration (eeek!), work, life, a lovely visit from my eldest sister, tornadoes racing after family in texas (all safe!), and making time to (what? relax?) all the while revamping my entire eating habits and how i approach food... well. it's been a long and interesting week to say the least. i've barely picked up the camera but thankfully am getting some nice rolls back ;)

thank you for continuing to stop by and say hello. i sometimes feel as though we're still just getting to know one another, and that is a beautiful thing. i am daily inspired by all of you!

here's to a 3 day weekend- ahhhhhh. now if only i can work in some couch time like ransom and jiji~!

my girl, my toes, and a cat in the corner

(pentax k1000,film)

who we are.

(pentax k1000, fuji superia 400)

our daughter saw these characters on a page in one of Baba's art magazines while working on a project with him and immediately decided each represented one of us. so, i give you...well, ourselves as decided by Ellis :o)

top left is Baba, who brings a flower. top right: ellis who stands. bottom left: ransom (yes, holding a purse no less!), and that's me in the bottom right corner. i like my bunny ears and i am, in fact, flashing you the peace sign.

(the cat is too busy to be a part of all this!)

hope you've had a groovy weekend.

ransom of many names

(yashi, kodak ektar 100)

Mr. Fat Pants. Buddy. Licky Larry. Lean-To. Boober Doozer. My Boy. Stinker-Do. Mister Man. sometimes, just Mister. or Boob.

today i learned your liver is "bigger" and your abdomen has several enlarged lymph nodes, and of course, the ones in your neck are so firm like rocks only these keep growing and i know that this hardness means the cells are replicating at an astronomical rate like something i can't even fathom- i know this because this is my work this is what i do and knowledge is not always a good thing or at least in this case maybe a little ignorance would be bliss. but mostly Buddy, mostly what i heard was that you have become fat (hee!hee!)- that made me smile from ear to ear. because treats are the best and your favorite and you deserve as many as you want for as many days or dare i hope for weeks as you have left.

something tells me the more nicknames you have, these funny terms of endearment, the greater you are loved :) i think i will keep naming you Buddy, even long after you are gone.

happy friday, happy weekend, happy everything!

4 from the Yashi

(yashica mat-124, fuji pro 400)

this one is

(pentax k1000, kodak max 400, expired)

... the magic of expired film. if it only gives me one photo like this (taken at 4pm on the same day and at the same time as my prior post) it's worth the whole roll! happy monday!

saturday in the sun