Clouds above and a few sprinkles of rain a few minutes before we arrive, and then the moment the bride walked down the aisle the sun appeared as if it were timed perfectly.  The audience took in a breathtaking backdrop of the mountain and lake as the couple  gazed into each others eyes and smiled the whole time.  The Sleeping Beauty Ranch was a picturesque location and all was beautiful on this wedding day.

Photograph:  a picture painted by the sun without instruction in art. ~Ambrose Bierce

Grow old with me!  The best is yet to be. ~Robert Browning

Wedding Slideshow

Summer is here, so we headed up to the mountains to enjoy some cool weather and fresh air. There are so many reasons to love camping: bright stars, no distractions from family and nature, long walks to nowhere, discovering bird’s nests, watching the bugs, collecting rocks, devouring marshmallows and hanging out with good friends.  But, at three in the morning, I could have easily come up with a few reasons not to camp!

In wilderness I sense the miracle of life,

and behind it our scientific accomplishments fade to trivia.

~Charles A. Lindbergh

Adopt the pace of nature:  her secret is patience.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.

~John Muir

Here is the latest little one at four weeks old.  Her dreamy angel face makes you think she slept the whole time!  It turned out we got great mommy and baby shots with all the extra cuddling time.   I really just fell in love with newborn photography all over again.

Mother is so sweet and beautiful!  She made it awfully hard to choose the best photos.  She came with no intention of being photographed and even said to try and crop her out and look at these precious shots of her.  A natural beauty….mom and baby!

Happy Mother’s Day!  I was looking for a photograph of me with my children and could not find any recent pictures.  Yikes!  So, this week make sure you get a photo with your little ones.

“All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.”

-Abraham Lincoln

What a beautiful sight this time of year in the Arizona desert, a time of color and beauty to soak in before the heat destroys my yearly attempt to have a flower garden in the desert.

The prickly pear cactus showing off it’s delicate flower.  I love the contrast of a beautiful flower on a rough and prickly plant.

I just could not choose between the color and the black and white. Hmmm. Color is a rarity in the desert, but on the other hand black and white always attracts me especially to demonstrate the desert landscape.  What do you think?

Ocotillo

The majestic saguaro stands alone and is completely amazing to me and I have lived among them my whole life!  The Cactus Hotel, a children’s book, is a must read for all children!

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer.

Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience,

and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

Harriet Tubman

“To myself I am only a child playing on the beach,

while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me.”

Isaac Newton

Today is a smooth white seashell,

hold it close and listen to the beauty of the hours.”

Anon

This adorable squishy little boy is only 11 days old. Here are a few shots for mommy and daddy (and grandma) to have a sneak peek!

My dear friends wanted to capture the beauty of our surroundings in the desert with the sweetness of their special family bond.

Always enjoy my time outside with friends and a camera.

Walking off into the sunset!

Isn’t this sweet!  I hope you have someone to think about to create your very own garden.

If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden.

~Attributed to Claudia Ghandi

A few shots in grandma and grandpa’s back yard. No boys allowed (for now) in this group of beautiful cousins!