passage through the fog

morning over the estuary

2012-02-15T16:06:00.000-08:00

And what a beautiful morning it was...

Photos: LCraig

new arrival

2012-02-08T17:39:00.001-08:00

Resolutions

2012-01-01T14:28:00.000-08:00

I'm not usually someone who makes resolutions. As a kid, I may have said that I had some but I'm pretty sure that it was just because it was "the thing to do". As an adult, I've never been in to it. This year however, along with one huge change that will be entering my life, I've decided to give myself some other changes to make on my own!

Have A Baby: ....HA! Ok So this is just a joke, but at least I can say I've accomplished something in the end. :)
Eat Better: I want to try more things, eat healthier and in doing so maybe lose weight? It's great to lose weight but it's not my "goal" per-se. I just want healthier things going in my body!
Move More: Again, will be great to lose weight if it happens, but what I'm really trying to accomplish here is just being a stronger, healthier person. I want endurance and stamina!
Do More: Matt & I can be real homebodies. I am always looking in the paper for what's going on locally & there's so many free or inexpensive things to go do! I can so easily lose hours and hours to reading. I love getting lost in books, but I want to look back and see things that I've done also.
Take & Post More Pictures: I love photography. I don't love posting "my work". I'm going to try really hard to be better and take that risk. I'll also apologize ahead of time if much of what you see are baby pictures once my little peanut arrives!
Go Somewhere I Haven't Been: I don't know where, and I don't know how, but it's going to happen. It doesn't have to be far away but it needs to be meaningful. I've been blessed to be a lot of places including other countries. I wouldn't call myself a world traveler but I do like to go places and see new things. I think it's good to get away and experience.
Make My Bed Everyday: So this one is pretty specific and self explanatory compared to the others. It needs to happen and I'm determined!

So that's my list. It's not huge or incredible compared to other's resolutions I'm sure, but I think it's just what I need in my life, and hopefully it's a list I can accomplish.

Happy New Year all!

december days

2011-12-26T21:05:00.000-08:00

Hello friends!

I don't have much to say for this post other then, I'm sorry for being such a loser about updating this blog. I don't claim to be a true blogger...I could never write everyday, nor do I think my life is interesting enough to post about daily. It seems a bit much anyway. I don't know why I "can't" find time to do this AT LEAST once a month. I'm going to try and remedy that.

If you'd like, tune in next weekend for what will be my first post for 2012! I'm actually planning on having some resolutions which is not something I've done before. *Fingers Crossed* I promise to post!

So for now, from my family to yours, Happy Holidays and abundent blessings!

Mattie, Me, and the peanut. -The Picture People

This is Culture: 2011

2011-10-07T19:25:00.000-07:00

Yikes! Long time, I know.

Well, surprising myself, I actually entered a photo contest which I never do. I'm too afraid of the rejection and never seem to know what photo to put in anyway. So this time, I did my very best to give it as little thought as possible and just picked something. And it was a little easier to pick something for this particular contest since it's specific to Oregon. (I like specifics! I'm a list making, semi-detailed sort of person.)

So, I went to one of my many Oregon photo files, and scrolled through...quickly...and picked:

To check out the This is Culture: 2011...Here!

joy

2011-07-14T18:41:00.000-07:00

Well I can tell you all now, what's been occupying my time of late. Sheer exhaustion that comes with baking. :) Waiting for my second wind to come in a couple more weeks.

Here is my little peanut aka the squatter. (Although, s/he is about the size of a large lime they tell me.) When I saw her/him moving inside me on the ultrasound, I had that moment where I knew this was something real and incredible in my life. This IS life.

a lacking

2011-06-08T19:40:00.001-07:00

I haven't been able to smile about it. Not once. And it's something, beyond all doubt, that deserves smiling. Its something that exudes happiness.

I'm supposed to be happy. I'm supposed to smile.

a walk on the columbia

2011-06-01T19:15:00.000-07:00

I had a very nice walk this weekend after visiting the market with Mattie along the river. It's always a little breezy right down by the water, but it was pleasant nevertheless. One of the things I love most about the riverwalk is some very neat buildings you encounter. Some you can tell have been updated but there's still quite a few that have that old industrial feel to them still.

The bridge is always astounding as usual. It's feels like such a permanence connecting Oregon to Washington, that I can't imagine what it would look like without it! (Note to self, research pictures before the bridge went up.)

I have a bad history with the trolley that runs down the tracks of the riverwalk, but I didn't run into it this time, and I have to say I love any train tracks and signage that's around for it. I didn't get to walk as far as I wanted, because I knew there were more buildings ahead I wanted to snap pictures of, but I suppose it will be saved for another day.

Photos: LCraig

things i'm grateful for...

2011-05-23T21:11:00.000-07:00

Ok, I know I'm doing back to back "things i'm grateful for..." posts but I have to say I was feeling a little wrong about putting up an ubercute picture of Allykins that made me happy, without including Mollie. She deserves some credit folks! I enjoy her sun-warmed puppy hugs just as much when they come back inside from sunbathing.

I have to tell you, Mollie is afraid of having her picture taken. I don't know what it is, and it doesn't matter if I'm using my XSI, an old auto digital camera or any of the cellphones I've had, as soon as I'm pointing an electronic at her, she wants to hide her face. (She's been traumatized by our remote control too, poor thing. But that's another story.)

But lo and behold, I got her to give me these great big puppy eyes tonight that melt me, just like the day I met her at the rescue shelter. It's that unconditional love that a dog can give that just floors me.

Pic: LCraig & Comic from here.

things i'm grateful for...

2011-05-18T18:51:00.000-07:00

I've been inspired lately to really think about the things I'm grateful for. Whether they be big or small, I think it's a good thing to dwell on those sort of thoughts that can lift your spirit.

It was an incredibly beautiful day! On lunch, Mollie was out sunbathing again, but my little Allykins was content to sit on the steps. It just made me feel wonderful! I love our red steps and red door. My someday home will just have to have a red door somewhere. (What a horribly ugly mat, but hey, every house has one right?)

With that said, you'll probably be seeing more "things i'm grateful for..." posts in the future. We all need to keep the good juju flowing.

Photo: LCraig

playing with light

2011-05-07T15:19:00.000-07:00

A happy Mother's Day weekend to you all!

So awhile back, I was doing a little bit of experimenting with "light graffiti". I had a lot of failed attempts, needless to say but I'm wanting to try again as soon as it's safe to start carting my camera around with me again. (Though you'll never catch me wishing away the rain!)

I only had one shot that I thought was pretty nifty looking, and feel like sharing. I felt like having a huge FAIL stamp for most of the other shots. You would have gotten a kick out of seeing me attempt some of them! Enjoy!

Photo: LCraig

secrets...

2011-04-25T19:29:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a super secret little project at the moment and I just had to stop and share this photo I came across because it makes me smile! This is my Memo (that's what I call my grandma. Long E, not like "take a memo"), my brother and me in her garden when I'm a baby...obviously if you couldn't tell I was in a diaper.

I was lucky enough to grow up close to all my grandparents and have many fond memories of being with them. My Memo lived right next door so I was often underfoot somewhere in her yard or house I'm sure! :)

Looks like I was picking green beans. I wonder what I thought of them then!

Photo: Unknown, Sacramento, CA

stefanie & alex maternity shoot

2011-04-21T20:26:00.000-07:00

Well...it's a long time coming but I'm finally putting up a few pictures I did of my very dear friend Stefanie near the end of her pregnancy. I'm just putting up a few at this time.

That was my little goddaughter in there! Beautiful Cali Lynn was born September 24th, 2010 (see how bad I am about putting these up??)

Photos: LCraig 2010

spring cleaning

2011-04-19T19:09:00.000-07:00

I'm back!

So it's been quite awhile folks, and I have to apologize. After being in limbo for awhile with moving (but I still don't think I'm out of it...) I decided I really had no more excuses to not jump on here and throw out an update! Mattie & I are well. So are the pups. :)

I will try and make more updates from here on in. I have a lot of pictures to share!

hiatus

2010-11-09T09:36:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you're all aware that I haven't posted in quite some time. I have moved to Oregon and am living with my mom & pop (bless them!) while I look for a place for Mattie and myself. Matt is still working in Cali, so we've been apart. I work full time in Seaside and drive an hour & a half one way M-F. It leaves little time for everything else. I have pictures I want to work on, but no computer. So until further notice, know that I am as well as can be, and will hopefully be back up and running soon.

Photo: by SBrown Astoria OR 2010

a summer day in oregon

2010-07-08T21:12:00.000-07:00

I had the amazing pleasure to spend time with my family in Oregon this weekend for a family reunion of sorts. The weather was INCREDIBLE! The wildflowers were blooming everywhere and I had a constant urge to pull the car over to pick them. :)

Photos: Clatskanie OR LCraig 2010

sunsets

2010-06-11T20:37:00.000-07:00

I rode over to Lodi Lake this evening and sat by the wind swept water where the ducks lazed by, too absorbed to be bothered by the likes of me. I sat and I pondered how to bring about a new change in my life.

Photo: Lodi Lake LCraig 2010

bliss

2010-05-13T21:07:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here listening to the song I walked down the aisle to...Mozart's Serenade No. 13 for strings in G Major (Eine Kleine Nachtmusik). It moves me so! The word I would use to describe it is Hopeful. (I highly suggest listening to it!)

I wish it were possible to bottle happiness to save for those "rainy days" (although, rainy days are usually happy for me). Today, I have an overabundance of joy! I feel so in love with my husband, and it feels great that he can still give me butterflies and have me grinning like a schoolgirl when I think of him. I know I have bad days, same as the next person, but today I'm reveling in my good juju. I hope it can be passed on to you.

Photo: Alyssa Ballisty Photography

from my mother's garden

2009-10-06T20:59:00.000-07:00

My mother inspires me...just in general...but especially from her garden. I sometimes fear I don't have a green thumb but I'm trying. Someday soon, I hope to be in her home more often soaking in all her wonderful teachings and love.

I love you Mom <3

Photos: Clatskanie, OR LCraig

rebirth

2009-09-22T19:18:00.000-07:00

I had an epiphany about my life while I was in Victoria, Canada last week.
I dream many dreams, and hope many hopes; and close to never do, I act on them. I never take time to work on my pictures instead of constantly delving into yet another book. I never take time to pull out all my brushes and paints and canvas when I feel inspired. I'm so tired of living a life crippled by this intense fear I have of failure.

I want to capture what I see through the lens and share it. I want to paint my inspirations. I want to believe in myself.

Photos: Yosemite 2009 LCraig

drowning

2009-01-18T15:11:00.000-08:00

I think I might be drowning.
Drowning in all the silence of unsaid things.
A silence so loud it's deafening inside my head.

happy christmas

2008-12-16T16:27:00.000-08:00

share my smiles
Photo: My Mollie :) 2008 LWold

thankful

2008-12-02T10:32:00.000-08:00

It's been a couple days since I've come back to Cali now. My stay in Oregon was quite heavenly to say the least. Staying with my Mom and Pop was so much fun, and spending time with my brother was great. Being with family that you see rarely is such an opportunity. I gained such a perspective being up there, and so did Matt. As my Mom wishes for me, I also hope for myself, that Matt and I are just a fraction as happy together as my she is with my Pop. It is a rare sight indeed, to see love and a life like that. Good wishes and hopes on me!!
Photo: Cannon Beach, Oregon 2008 LWold

awake

2008-11-09T09:03:00.000-08:00

I am lying awake.
The numbers on the clock tell me it's only three hours into the new day,
but it's raining outside so I listen.

The soft tapping on the windows, the pitter patter on the concrete,
tells me She's gentle.
Drip drip drip on the front porch steps.
Quietly coaxing me to come out and enjoy the dark early morning with Her.

Little loved one snoring softly under the covers.
Wishing she would roll over so I could listen better;
not having the heart to wake her from her peaceful slumber.

And before I know it,
I can't hear the rain on my windows anymore.
Just the wind rustling the drying leaves of the trees two houses away.

I feel sad.
As though a good friend called on me for a rare visit and didn't stay for me to meet Her.
She comes and goes as she pleases and
the signs of Her coming will be few and far between.

But for a moment, I was incandescently happy.

Photo: Greenwood, CA 2005 LWold