duane michals...

I am so intrigued by Duane Michals artwork, even more by his philosophy on life and his unique style.  His refusal to be defined by a label or category.  I watched an interview with him on youtube just now and loved this remark because it is so true,

If there was some way that we could understand that being alive is simply not a matter of consuming things and using deodorants.  It really is a matter of being a walking, talking, once in a lifetime offer in the universe... it's never going to appear again.  All of those wonderful combinations that made me, that came together to produce this instance, will never happen again.  And, this is only thirty, sixty, seventy, eighty years which is nothing in time and we don't even see it, we are so dead.  And so somehow, beyond photography, maybe I use the photography some how to explain to myself, to remind me, that I am alive.

maylee...

Last week I spent the afternoon with my friend Tara and her adorable daughter Maylee. Maylee's 3rd Birthday is this month. We went to Jeni's for ice cream and balloons to celebrate!  

an afternoon nap  

+

Jeni's dark chocolate ice-cream

+  

birthday balloons 

= pure bliss!

food matters...

Proof that kids will try new foods from different cultures.

Turns out all you have to do is give them a plate, a plastic knife, let them cut up some of the ingredients and teach them a little bit about this 'foreign' food. Next thing you know, they are eating Somalian rice and asking for seconds.

It is a wonderful sight to see!

new life...

My neighbor's sweet little grandson was born yesterday.  

His name is Kenneth and today is the second day of his life.

 This is my neighbor Jane.  A retired school teacher, librarian and as of this January a breast cancer survivor.  She is just lovely.  This is her with her only child's first baby.  She has completed her treatment, is free of cancer and now is a Grandma.  Life is beautiful! 

a midweek day trip...

Welcome to Greenville, Ohio

home of Annie Oakley, Kitchen Aide mixers, Jane Graham, and the Maid-Rite.  

Maid-Rite is a delicious sandwich shoppe, they are similar to a sloppy joe minus the sloppy joe sauce.  Simple but ohhhh so good!!  Their trademark gum wall is kind of gross but their sandwiches have been one of my favorite things about coming to Greenville since I was a kid.

 

 

(I ordered three, ha!)

On the way out of Greenville we stopped by the cemetery to see Nana.  I was cold sitting in the car messing with my camera.  My mom was outside standing by her parent's burial marker, I noticed her standing there and took this photograph through the car window.  Very candid and kind of sad.  Overall it was a fun day, Nana was with us in spirit!! ☺

the elements of spring...

My favorite thing about spring is how mother nature seems to awaken from the long winter hibernation,

All of nature's little curiosities are energized and preparing to erupt from the ground and trees branches,

I am going to attempt to catch some of these little curiosities before they burst into full bloom.

 

(maple blossom)

(pussy willow)

(farm fresh eggs)