Thanksgiving!

I am blessed with so many amazing friends (and now they're multiplying with incredible kids)!! I spent my day of Thanksgiving with Katie, Jim, Owen and Ella; a fabulous family and the most delectable dinner hosts. It's always great to be with them and their smiles and laughter, playfulness and creativity. They embody a soulful abundance and the most hospitable warmth...that I tried to capture through the lens. Before the perfect golden turkey and maple pumpkin pie went in the oven, we spent some time in the studio for a few quick portraits.

I hope your Thanksgiving was full and festive. As the holiday season continues, remember to make note of life's details. Maybe it's a recipe, an object, a face or a family portrait. All become part of your journey, your story to be remembered.

Listen!

The annual conference of the Association of Personal Historians was held in Franklin, TN, November 8 – 11, 2007. It was an amazing weekend of speakers, workshops, music and conversation focused around the theme of storytelling; specifically the importance of listening to personal stories and preserving those stories for future generations.

It's hard to put into words the fullness and richness of the experience. For now, please listen to the tune Jane Baxter, owner of Roots and Branches Productions and our conference host and organizer, wrote. In my opinion the inspired song reflects the real, raw, root passion and spirit of the APH community – a community I'm honored to be a part of.

I thank everyone at the conference for reminding me of the essential role of storytellers. Simply, storytellers keep history alive. Sharing stories is fundamental to understanding one another and understanding ourselves. Whether you tell a story to heal or to teach, it's important to tell it. Your experience, your perception is unique to the world and you never know who you will effect by giving. The other side of telling of course, is to listen – with attention and presence; a larger challenge at times. By joining the APH community, I link forces with others who share my values and commitment, on a personal and professional level, to become a better storyteller and an active, open listener. And, wow, the weekend was a testament that in the act of listening, you receive.

In Santa Fe: Lightroom and Photoshop for Photographers

I've been teaching digital imaging workshops at the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops for the last six years and this week an Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom class in Santa Fe, NM marks the last class on the calendar for me. That's right. I'm taking a year off to focus on my personal history and portraiture business. But, this week, like others before, has been a blast! Guiding 12 talented and creative photographers through the process of organizing, editing, enhancing and printing images with the goal of sharing and presenting those images is a thrill. I know, the group shot doesn't quite show the excitement we've been experiencing because it was taken outside. The fun has been happening inside; in the dark, in the digital lab. Don't worry we'll get back outside soon to find the muse.

Apples! Recipes?

Fall is my favorite season. The cooler days, the smell in the air, the glowing colors radiating from the changing leaves is so energizing!! And, the season is filled with nostalgia... which this weekend, came in the flavor of apples! You see, as the landscape changes, so does my culinary palette. My craving for fresh, crisp salads and cool fruit shifts to oatmeal in the morning and warm soups, usually with sesonal squash and other fall veggies, in the evening.

Yesterday, I was out for a drive along the lovely and scenic St. Croix trail, a road that follows the St. Croix river, and although I wasn't certain I'd find an orchard, my eyes were searching for a U-Pick sign. And, when I saw one, I turned in and found myself amongst gorgeous reds, yellow and green varieties of plump, juicy, ripe apples at Pleasant Valley Orchard. The task– fill the bag with Haralsons, the red hearty cooking apple recommended for pies, sauces, and other baking treats. Yup, I was going to try to recreate the applesauce I grew up with.

And, after the bag was filled and I'd had my glass of apple cider and was heading home, I called my Granny on the phone... to say hi and to get that special recipe. I missed her. She called back and I was out of range. She called again and I was fighting city traffic. By the time I was back home, relaxed, ready for a conversation it was too late. But, I cored and peeled the apples anyway, and decided to follow the basic suggestions from a random cookbook; water, cinnamon, sugar, cook. And this morning when I woke up to the slow cooker warming the batch, I dipped my spoon in, took the first bite and wish I had gotten Granny on the phone. Because it wasn't the same. It didn't suit or satisfy the craving.

I guess the craving wasn't just for apples and applesauce, but for the sweet memory of childhood. The days I spent in my grandparents house, on their farm, in their kitchen and in their care. It wasn't good enough to pull ANY recipe from a book, I needed THAT recipe... and I didn't have it. But, luckily, I bought more apples then I needed... so today I will call her again, WRITE DOWN the recipe and try again.

Just in case

you haven't read, Tuesdays with Morrie, by Mitch Albom, borrow it from a friend and spend an evening with Mitch and Morrie. I've seen the book on the shelves or in most instances the moment you walk into a book store, for years, but it took a friend to suggest the obvious, that I actually read it! And, so I did.

And, so you journey into another's life and consider the lessons he's learned... and of course you can't help but reflect on your own. And, you laugh and you cry and you carry on, somewhat different.

Morrie has many lines to quote, but the one I think about in relation to my work life is: "The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning." I feel really blessed to have found a career that is a passion, a love and personal pursuit. Both photography and documenting personal histories allow me to connect with people in a deep, meaningful way and provide them with a product of their story that can live on for generations.

The book, in addition to being a sweet read, is a perfect example of what I hope to do with people; sit down, listen, question and record their experience, their beliefs around Fear, Aging, Marriage, Family, Culture and basically the meaning of life.

On Newsstands: The Santa Fean

I haven't seen the October/ November issue of the Santa Fean yet, but I hear the article on Design with Nature, landscape architects extraordinaire, is out! So, pick up your copy! Thanks to Natalie Baca, art director at the Santa Fean, for a great layout of all of the images.

Joy and Rob

I was able to take some happy snaps of Joy preparing to wed in Milwaukee last weekend. I always love the details, elegance and surprise a wedding day brings. Congrats Joy and Rob!