The Pinehurst Inn

This summer, I traveled to Bayfield, Wisconsin, a sweet town on the southern shore of Lake Superior – the gateway to the Apostle Islands, to learn about an amazing Bed & Breakfast run by Nancy and Steve Sandstrom.

Nancy and Steve are a dynamic couple, juggling fruit salads and french toast, with deeper missions and goals. A main priority for them is offering a setting, where people can relax. What a concept! It's bigger than you think. They realize the importance of relaxing; taking the time to reconnect with oneself, each other, and taking the time to listen, to breathe, to come to life again. Another mission is an environmental/ sustainability mission; living on this earth as lightly as possible.

Please take time to learn about the Pinehurst Inn and Nancy and Steve in their following StoryPortrait's!

The Pinehurst Inn StoryPortrait

The Pinehurst Inn _ Part I of II from StoryPortrait Media on Vimeo.

The Heart & Soul of the Pinehurst Inn

The Heart & Soul of the Pinehurst Inn – Part II of II from StoryPortrait Media on Vimeo.

Now, experience the Pinehurst Inn and Bayfield, WI for yourself – make a reservation at the Pinehurst Inn!

Santa Fe Living Treasures

The Santa Fe Living Treasures, an all-volunteer group that I am thrilled to be part of, will honor four more elders in the Santa Fe community today, October 18th.

Jack Loeffler, Zenia Victor, Gaylon Duke and Amarante Romero have creatively and passionately contributed to the lives of others through their service, their life work, their ideas.

Zenia Victor & Gaylon Duke love traveling the world.

In 2000, they started the Bali Art Project, with the mission of giving young people who wouldn't likely have the opportunity to travel, the opportunity. This experience of travel, culture, art, history, religion, community, changes lives.

Jack Loeffler, an adventurer, an environmental activist, a musician, an aural historian, folklorist, anthropologist, sound engineer, radio producer, is a legend.

He has a huge smile, a huge heart and is devoted to the land, and all its inhabitants. When he received the Governor's Award for Excellence in 2008, they called him a national treasure.

Amarante Romero is an old-time Santa Fean. He knows this place, its history, its hardship and the power one person can play in community. He gave credit to families who couldn't pay at the store he ran. He dug wells for those without clean drinking water. He was a voice in the public sphere for water conservation and environmental protection.

Visit the Santa Fe Living Treasures Website for more information.

Santa Fe Living Treasures Website is ONLINE

I just redesigned the Santa Fe Living Treasures website and would like to share it!

Please visit: www.sflivingtreasures.org to learn more about the Santa Fe Living Treasures, how to nominate a treasure in Santa Fe, or how to start a Living Treasures program in your community!

Special thanks to Hope Kiah of Santa Fe Web Design for the programming help!

Being New Mexican

Last week I was able to take an environmental portraiture workshop at the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops with Jonathan Torgovnik. Jonathan is an incredible photographer; compassionate, creative, aware, generous. If you are not familiar with his work, please take the time to watch Intended Consequences and visit his website, Jonathan Torgovnik Photography

A workshop week is never what you expect. You arrive with expectations and your list of needs and the week goes quickly. On Friday, inevitably you realize, or start to realize, what you got out of the week, is not what you expected, but typically what you needed.






The subtle lessons of the week for me: Get back to the heart of inquiry. Find the story. Commit to the moment. And, a big reminder, personal projects are essential.

So, a simple idea came to me, one that I've thought about since moving to New Mexico almost ten years ago. What does it mean to be New Mexican? No matter how long I reside here, I am from Virginia, not New Mexico. So, what does that mean? How do people from New Mexico understand the place, the land, the culture to the depth of it being part of their identity? My inquiry: Place and Identity in New Mexico, "Being New Mexican". I met three amazing individuals this week who shared their story and definition with me. Please email me with names and contact information of people who might like to share their story of Being New Mexican.

Portraits at Beneficial Farm

They weren't expecting to see me walk into field on a rainy Thursday afternoon, but Kim, Ann and Matthew were gracious to let a random photographer observe and take a few pictures.

Beneficial Farm is biodynamic farm located on an incredible piece of land on Glorieta Mesa, southeast of Santa Fe. It's an amazing place to spend an afternoon. For the people who live and work there it is a beautiful way of life. Thank you for sharing!

Again, as a photographer, you have to find subjects, you have to keep practicing.

Summer and Kurt Engagement

What a pleasure to get to know Summer and Kurt. We met at the Tea House on Canyon Road and then headed up to Aspen Vista in the Santa Fe National Forest for an engagement portrait session. What can I say about them? They are so natural, so lovely in love. You all make me smile! Their wedding is a few weeks away. Documenting their day will be a wonderful honor.

Kim and Chris

It's wedding season! Thanks so much Kim and Chris for opportunity to capture your beauty, your connection! Congratulations!