{Just} Twin Cities Fine Art Photography

"Luxury is not a necessity to me, but beautiful and good things are."
— Anaïs Nin

{Partner} Twin Cities Fine Art Photograhy

"It was at that age
that poetry came in search of me"
— Pablo Neruda

{Sunshine & Sand}

A few quick pics from the Gulf. We are in PA now and ready to head back home in a few days. I will spend the 16 hour car trip home brainstorming how I can afford a second getaway home on the Gulf as a haven from the horrid winter cold.

{Book Worm} St. Paul Lifestyle Photographer

Books Stores, Shel Silverstein. Two of my favorites woven together quite nicely.
I had the chance to finally check out the Red Balloon Bookshop on Grand Avenue in St. Paul after years of it sitting on my "to do" list. It is a marvelous store full of beautiful new books, colors, ideas, children, toys and fun. I'm only sorry I have been there when my children were smaller and taken in their stories hours led by puppets and mingled with songs, books and themes.

I sat down and read through my old favorite Where the Sidewalk Ends as we waited for story time to start. It took me back to 3rd Grade at Grandview Elementary School where I would hoard Shel Silverstein, Boxcar Children, Ramona Quimby and Peanuts Cartoons during Library Day at School. With that I'll leave yo u with a few pics, since that is my thing to do and one of my favorite Shel poems of all time. I think you ever quite out grow this one...

God's Wheel
by Shel Silverstein
GOD says to me with a kind
of smile, "Hey how would you like
to be God awhile And steer the world?"
"Okay," says I, "I'll give it a try.

Where do I set?
How much do I get?
What time is lunch?
When can I quit?"

"Gimme back that wheel," says GOD.
"I don't think you're quite ready YET.

{secret life of us}

"some things don't matter much. Like the color of a house. How big is that in the overall scheme of life? But lifting a person's heart--now, that matters. The whole problem with people is...they know what matters, but they don't choose it...The hardest thing on earth is choosing what matters."
— Sue Monk Kidd

{Observations} St. Paul, MN Lifestyle Photographer

“I've actually gone to the zoo and had monkeys shout to me from their cages, "I'm in here when you're walking around like that?"”
Robin Williams

I am a big fan of observation and study for pure pleasure. In most places, I feel quite content to sit back and take in all the details and interactions of an environment. Zoos have always been an enjoyable place to do this very thing even back before I had children. Although these days, the moments slow, quiet and leisurely observation trips are few and far between, I still relish the opportunities that a few minutes of monkey watching can do the day. Admittedly, these funny monkeys are a favorite of mine at the Como zoo. They remind me of little old men with their mustaches and quirky, intense behavior. And, well, who doesn't love an ostrich if only for its glorious long and stringy neck...and how it can rotate its head to face you while it's body remains still and give you that look that makes you laugh and feel a bit stupid at the same time.



{I enjoy this last one where I find this guy to seem particularly cheesed off that hoarding in on his space}

{Father's Day Love}

“Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.”
-James Arthur Baldwin

Happy Father's Day to my dad and husband whose love and support through life has supported, strengthened and encouraged me, my children and others to be who they are always.
A true blessing and gift to receive and one we would be lost without!
And Happy Father's Day to all the special dad's out there who make each day better, brighter and full of joy for the special people in their lives.