39/365 Chad and Doug

I had one of those Mondays...I spilled my breakfast on me, the garage door opener didn't work so I got all wet getting in my car, someone parked in my space at work, I had to go to the dentist, and well, it was Monday...it all made me a bit grouchy.  But then I met my brother and brother-in-law for dinner after work.  I love these two guys...they always make me smile and laugh.  They were exactly what I needed to kick me out of my rainy day Monday mood.

38/365 Seafood and Wine Fest or costume party?

More from the Newport Seafood and Wine Fest.  Many of the festival goers dressed in costume...as did some of the vendors. Everyone was in high spirits and having fun!

Crabby women.  So cute!

Wild Rose Winery chose a Wizard of Oz theme.

Chip and Buffy...so proper, so pink!

Crabs came dressed with themselves...how unoriginal.

Beauty queens.

Did I mention it was a bit crowded?

Naked Winery dressed as many Marilyns.

Nothing goes better with a full-bodied red than a pink boa.

37/365 How to eat an oyster

We went to the Newport Seafood and Wine Fest this weekend. Watched this brave young girl eat her first oyster.

Step One: Ask this nice fella to pick you out the largest oyster he has.

Step Two:  Make sure all of your friends are there to witness the event.

Step Three: Swallow a big raw chunk of oyster.

Step Four:  Try not to barf.
She did well...she actually choked down the whole thing and as far as I know, kept it down.  You go girl!

36/365 Sunset at Otter Crest

The view from our deck....God did good.

35/365 Snow day

34/365 In the news

"Government debt to hit new high"....does this worry anyone else besides me?

33/365 Piper and Ralph

Took this photo of Piper and one of our dearest friends Ralph at the Vancouver Chamber of Commerce Shop Local Showcase.

32/365 Brianna

Brianna modeled for my lighting class today.  She was very patient as I fiddled with lights, poses, and froze her out with a fan.   I think the first is my favorite, but I love how the third shows off her beautiful green eyes and the last her cute smile.

31/365 Walk reflection

30/365 Spring preview

Today we had a preview of spring...mild temps, sunny skies, flowers blooming, dogs in the grass.

29/365 St. Francis of Assisi

I had a stressful day today and this picture reminds me of one of the most serene and spiritual moments in my life.  This is the Basicilca St. Francis in Assisi, Italy.  The Basicila is beautiful, but when I entered the chamber of St. Francis's tomb, I was overcome with a sense of peace and love....it is a feeling I'll never forget....and one I so needed today.

28/365 Eric's birthday

Today was Eric's 47th birthday.  Jessica and Jesse came over to celebrate with Eric, Piper and I.

Birthday boy.

Instead of cake, Eric wanted ice cream and Oreo cookies.

He asked for a new suit for his birthday...so I bought this fabulous pink Ken tuxedo and told him he could exchange it for a suit in his size (pink color optional). 

27/365 Peanut is skeptical

26/365 Wishin' it was summer

It was a rainy, dreary day today, with no time to take a photo.  I found myself looking out my rain spattered office window several times today wishing for summer.  I took this photo last summer in Cape Cod.  It was a hot, windy day and I spied these two ladies, looking out at the ocean.  They looked so cute in their hats..they were talking and laughing and enjoying each other's company so much.  I thought they were adorable.

25/365 Happy Valentine's Day

24/365 Mickey and Leah's baby shower

Mickey and Leah had a Jack and Jill shower for their soon-to-arrive baby boy.  Leah's doctor says she is having a very large baby...she looked pretty uncomfortable, but happy and with the beautiful kind of beautiful only an expectant mother has.

Beautiful Leah.

4-year old Moses plays the "Guess what the baby food game is" with his mother.  His eyes are going to melt girls hearts when he gets older.

Dad-to-be Mickey with Eric.

Why men don't attend baby showers. 

23/365 Black Swan

Piper and I went to see Black Swan tonight. It was brilliant...haunting...disturbing....beautiful.  Took a photo as the credits rolled.

Ed Hopper as inspiration

Last summer we went to Cape Cod, where one of my very favorite artists, Edward Hopper spent a lot of time.  His paintings perfectly captured the soft, dreamy light that envelops the tip of the Cape at dusk.  I saw this scene in Provincetown and I felt as if I had been transported into one of his paintings.

22/365 Hospital at the Historic Reserve

Walked over to the abandoned hospital at the Historic Reserve.  Built in 1904, it sits empty on a bluff right above busy, noisy I-5.  It looks like it's still in decent shape.  I would love for McMenamin's to come in and do what they do so well, and turn it into a funky hotel.

Front doors locked and chained shut.

Moss making it's home on the doorstoop.

21/365 Alone with an egg

Came home late from class tonight to a silent house...everyone was asleep. I love the house like this.  Quiet and still, dark except for one soft light from a lamp.  Since I hadn't eaten since lunch, I made myself a late night dinner of an egg and toast. Sat alone in silence to eat....just me, my thoughts, and an egg.

20/365 Ebony got pissed

Was playing with my new prime lens this morning.  The cat was my photography victim.  She didn't like it much.  Can you tell?

19/365 Jake's Grill

Eric and I had a meeting after work and didn't get the chance to eat before it started.  So after the meeting was over, we headed to our favorite place, Jake's Grill for their late night happy hour.

18/365 Piper poses

Piper helped me do my studio lighting class homework tonight.  She's a great model...very easy to work with and of course super cute.  But, we had to cut the shoot short since my lights kept blowing the fuses, which was blowing my husband's fuse.

Classic Rembrandt light looks gorgeous on Piper.

Cowgirl up!

Sure she looks all thoughtful and everything....really, she's texting.

17/365 Kimmie's Broom

Found on the docks at Newport.  Who is this Kimmie?  Why did she leave her broom here?  Why won't she give me a ride?  So many questions.

Hate/Love

While walking at Nye Beach we saw an exposed concrete foundation up on the hill.  From the beach we could see it was covered with graffiti, so we climbed up the seagrass hill to take a closer look.  Some of the graffiti was artful, some just crap.  Some hateful, some hopeful, some just weird.

Liberty and the Planet of the Apes?

Really?  I thought we were all beyond this kind of ignorant thought.  Made me sad.

Positive, cute, hopeful, upbeat....yes, if there is goinig to be graffiti...make it like this.