This past week or so has been a whirlwind, to say the least. So much has happened, it's nearly impossible to detail it all. But we've received so many unbelievably gracious and kind-hearted messages by email, facebook, twitter and ichat. And some actual phone calls, too. Wow. What an outpouring of sweet feeling - thank you!! The two biggest questions we've received - can you share an update & what is she like? The update: We arrived in Cuenca, Ecuador after about

This past week or so has been a whirlwind, to say the least. So much has happened, it's nearly impossible to detail it all. But we've received so many unbelievably gracious and kind-hearted messages by email, facebook, twitter and ichat. And some actual phone calls, too. Wow. What an outpouring of sweet feeling - thank you!! The two biggest questions we've received - can you share an update & what is she like? The update: We arrived in Cuenca, Ecuador after about

warning: grab a nice beverage while reading this post. It's a bit long ... but, i don't think, wastefully so :) Some of you may already know about this, but a pretty significant amount of you will not. That I can not tell you all one at a time, I apologize. But things seem to have just moved so quickly lately that it's been nearly impossible to communicate it all. In addition, part of being more quiet about it all has been the feeling of good-old-fashioned not wanting t

warning: grab a nice beverage while reading this post. It's a bit long ... but, i don't think, wastefully so :) Some of you may already know about this, but a pretty significant amount of you will not. That I can not tell you all one at a time, I apologize. But things seem to have just moved so quickly lately that it's been nearly impossible to communicate it all. In addition, part of being more quiet about it all has been the feeling of good-old-fashioned not wanting

For all those who are en route or about to travel out to Bald Head Island for learnfest - we are quite excited for this week's workshop and so appreciate all the efforts you are making to study with me, Laura Novak, Lena Hyde and Audrey Woulard. We know it's a lot of time, effort and expense and that you are leaving very busy lives on hold just so that you can be here. We plan to make it more than worth it :) Our Monday evening cocktail party will be kicking off before you

For all those who are en route or about to travel out to Bald Head Island for learnfest - we are quite excited for this week's workshop and so appreciate all the efforts you are making to study with me, Laura Novak, Lena Hyde and Audrey Woulard. We know it's a lot of time, effort and expense and that you are leaving very busy lives on hold just so that you can be here. We plan to make it more than worth it :) Our Monday evening cocktail party will be kicking off before you

The Exploring Love Retreat at Miraval Resort. How to sum up? Peaceful. Honest. Funny. Authentic. Sweet. More of all that than any other retreat I've ever been a part of on this particular planet. An opportunity for several diverse and talented presenters and some unbelievably open-hearted (and talented) participants to engage in a dialogue about the topic of love. Which, apparently, includes pretty much every sub topic. It's like having an easy and fascinating conv

The Exploring Love Retreat at Miraval Resort. How to sum up? Peaceful. Honest. Funny. Authentic. Sweet. More of all that than any other retreat I've ever been a part of on this particular planet. An opportunity for several diverse and talented presenters and some unbelievably open-hearted (and talented) participants to engage in a dialogue about the topic of love. Which, apparently, includes pretty much every sub topic. It's like having an easy and fascinating conv

I join so many across the country and across the world in hoping that Gustav slows or redirects - or that at least as many people in New Orleans and other areas being affected can stay as safe as possible. In the course of this year, gearing up for Image X (a gathering that is just as much about revitalizing the fascinating city of New Orleans as bringing together photographers), I've become good friends with one of the key coordinators, who has decided to stay in the city a

I join so many across the country and across the world in hoping that Gustav slows or redirects - or that at least as many people in New Orleans and other areas being affected can stay as safe as possible. In the course of this year, gearing up for Image X (a gathering that is just as much about revitalizing the fascinating city of New Orleans as bringing together photographers), I've become good friends with one of the key coordinators, who has decided to stay in the city a

My two very favorite small humans accomplished big things today. Sophie opened up her first email account and started corresponding in earnest. At age 6, she's a strong believer in the liberal use of emoticons. Preferably ones that bounce and are shiny. And Caleb is apparently a world class gymnast. He shocked us all by executing a perfect roundoff from the couch to the ottomon to the floor, sticking the landing. And then he did it again, flawlessly. Age 4. Who knew??

My two very favorite small humans accomplished big things today. Sophie opened up her first email account and started corresponding in earnest. At age 6, she's a strong believer in the liberal use of emoticons. Preferably ones that bounce and are shiny. And Caleb is apparently a world class gymnast. He shocked us all by executing a perfect roundoff from the couch to the ottomon to the floor, sticking the landing. And then he did it again, flawlessly. Age 4. Who knew??

My awesome husband aged this weekend, and we celebrated his ability to continually get more attractive with each year by heading up to Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia for a long, restful, peaceful, blackberries-set-to-off extended weekend. A full-on vacation, with doggie & all. If you've ever visited the area, you know how simply gorgeous it is... (all captured with point & shoot) We spent a good deal of time in the hot tub! And lots of kayaking... Can you believ

My awesome husband aged this weekend, and we celebrated his ability to continually get more attractive with each year by heading up to Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia for a long, restful, peaceful, blackberries-set-to-off extended weekend. A full-on vacation, with doggie & all. If you've ever visited the area, you know how simply gorgeous it is... (all captured with point & shoot) We spent a good deal of time in the hot tub! And lots of kayaking... Can you believ

My friend Estes Shane Whalen released his second album recently, and I am not only impressed, I'm playing the CD over and over because Goodbye Mr. Redfish is just that good. I have several favorites, ranging from rowdy bar-playing fun songs to acoustic, harmonious beautiful melodies. Speaking of beautiful harmony, check out "I Do". Quick Warning - if you play Women & Beer - first of all, I officially do not endorse any of those lyrics!!! - secondly, make sure that here

My friend Estes Shane Whalen released his second album recently, and I am not only impressed, I'm playing the CD over and over because Goodbye Mr. Redfish is just that good. I have several favorites, ranging from rowdy bar-playing fun songs to acoustic, harmonious beautiful melodies. Speaking of beautiful harmony, check out "I Do". Quick Warning - if you play Women & Beer - first of all, I officially do not endorse any of those lyrics!!! - secondly, make sure that here

Michelle Obama spoke to the largest crowd that's turned out yet to meet her when she visited Raleigh. Nearly 6,000 people filled the Reynolds Coliseum at NC State to hear Senator Obama's wife talk about her thoughts on him as a person and as the possible next President of the United States. It was a highly-charged crowd that gathered, and she did not disappoint with her message of hope, realism, and who people are "when nobody's looking". I'd like to say thanks to John &am

Michelle Obama spoke to the largest crowd that's turned out yet to meet her when she visited Raleigh. Nearly 6,000 people filled the Reynolds Coliseum at NC State to hear Senator Obama's wife talk about her thoughts on him as a person and as the possible next President of the United States. It was a highly-charged crowd that gathered, and she did not disappoint with her message of hope, realism, and who people are "when nobody's looking". I'd like to say thanks to John &am

We just had a wonderful, eventful weekend - starting with Saturday morning, the aptly-named Wondergirl 5K Race, put on by the fantastic Girls on The Run organization. I was walking over to the start line, with the kids all packed up in the double jogger (I was already registered to race it) when my 6 1/2 year-old Sophie decided she'd like to have a go at it, too. A little history on this...months ago, we agreed that she would be able to get herself a pet if she could run a

We just had a wonderful, eventful weekend - starting with Saturday morning, the aptly-named Wondergirl 5K Race, put on by the fantastic Girls on The Run organization. I was walking over to the start line, with the kids all packed up in the double jogger (I was already registered to race it) when my 6 1/2 year-old Sophie decided she'd like to have a go at it, too. A little history on this...months ago, we agreed that she would be able to get herself a pet if she could run a