Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Today I took a little field trip with my girl. I've been wanting to visit the Boyce Thompson Arboretum out near Superior but it's a bit of a drive for me. I'd put it off long enough and didn't want to miss the last of the wildflowers. March and April are peak. It was beautiful. A must see for locals and visitors. I only made it through a small portion of the park - stopping to photograph so many beautiful colors . . .


My girl enjoyed the flowers and got to experience the cactus first hand . . . literally! Ouch.

There is a nursery with lots of pots of lovely plants for sale . . .

I definately plan to go back and trek up the hiking trails a bit more.

Steele Indian School Park

On our way home from the airport, we stopped by this park. It had been a while since we'd been there. The buildings are had a face lift and the vegetation has matured. Roses have been planted along the fountain way . . . it's a beautiful walking park. Today was very windy and we didn't have a lot of time so we didn't walk around the lake or thru the entry garden . . . we'll go again soon. You can see a map of the park at this link.

a beautiful tower . . .


yes my boys enjoy historical architecture . . . maybe not like you and I do, but in their own way. :)


this fountain area is so fragrant with roses. I know they built a memorial to people that died when two news helicopters crashed over this park, but I didn't see it in the area we visited today.

gorgeous brick work and blue skys . . .

Missing my big boy

“You have to do your own growing no matter how tall your grandfather was.”
Abraham Lincoln

He's off on a three day field trip. Arizona kids in 6th grade do "Outdoor Ed" involving a zoo, watching lions be fed, running around in the pines, etc. And with no electronics at all! They are not allowed cell phones, etc. I definitely miss him and wonder what he's up too. He's growing up . . . as you can see on his "Too cool to be taking pictures like a kindergartner off to school, Come on Mom! Let's go!" face.

Visit with Memere and Pepere

We just finished up a great week of visiting. I've been a very lousy photographer. Scrapbookers around the world would be appalled. I've been so enjoying the visit I've hardly dragged my camera out. My mom though took many more pictures so we'll have those to share. :) Here are a few . . .
Greeting my sister and her son who flew in as well . . .

Playing Memory with the grandsons . . .
DJ came from behind to win . . . he was thrilled :)


Luncheon with fresh basil and tomato sandwiches and old family friends . . .

And back at the ballpark of course . . . but this time with Memere and Pepere cheering too!

A tough loss . . . we held the lead all game but in the final inning, score was 8-10 and a grand slam made it 12-10 ouch. So an extra practice tonight :( Mathias is back in the pitching line up and did great. For two batters in a row he pitched 6 straight strikes, no balls.

At one of DJs game we had to pull our stint manning the snack bar . . . Dad pitched in and helped out - it took him back to his teen years when he worked at a snack bar at the lake. I just have this bit of advice "avoid the clean up shift - that hot dog machine is miserable to clean!"

On the way to the airport - off to the big city to see their baby daughter before heading to the Maineland. I think Dad enjoyed his convention and they definitely got a crash course "Life in the Ramirez Household" I'd love to have them around permanently . . . I'll be eyeing real estate for them :) So more fun to come! I think they are in the air now . . . Bon Voyage Pepere and Memere!

Another Sample

and a final sample of the lastest Senior shoot . . . it was a blustery cold day but I'm happy with these photos . . . I hope she is. She gets them tomorrow. :)

Black and White

I really like black and white photos - they just seem to have more expression, or mood, or feeling to them. These pics really showcase her pretty eyes.

On the tennis court . . .

“Life is like a game of tennis; the player who serves well seldom loses”

HS Senior

just finished another Senior session tonight . . . a fun girl, great smile, and amateur player that I am, I'm sure she could definitely beat me at tennis!

2 Ways to Score

Minor League Rock Hounds

young pitchers are a little wild . . . many times you take one in the back . . . automatic walk to first

once on first you watch carefully for the ball to be bobbled . . .

then you're off like a flash - you might make it past second, maybe even round third . . .

then straight for home as fast as you can . . . a run scored by stealing bases.

Sometimes though you just see that ball coming . . .

and you connect . . . it's solid out to the fence . . CRACK!

and a slide into home just as the ball is coming in!

and why do they do this?

for the snack bar of course!

. . . and that's a ball game folks.

Enough Already!

Danny is teasing me - I've done so many posts using my recent model. Her pictures were so colorful and easy to work with I'm kinda going overboard. Poor girl, distressed one day, in a comic strip the next, what's happening tomorrow?? I promise I'll be back to baseball photos soon! I've got 3 games this week and my parents will be in town from Maine . . . so yeah, we're gonna get personal around here. :)

Comic Art

We went to the library today, the kids are reading in bed, I'm puttzing around on the computer and hit the jackpot! I've been working with line art lately and trying different techniques and stumbled on this look. Fairly easy to do, great comic book look. This will be fun to use on candids of the kids, action shots, etc. Can't wait to do more . . .

Distressed

I'm undecided. Do you like grungy, vintage, textured photos? I've been seeing this editing style a lot lately but am not sure if I like it or not. . .

Color Pop

April Roses Abloom

ASU Senior

just sat down today to edit a Senior session I shot last night . . . so pleased - she was lovely, so friendly and with a totally great smile and laugh . . . here are a few of the first shots we did . . .