Aw, who can resist those eyes? This is Dolly, my parents' beagle. When I was home last week, staying at my parents' home, I was taking care of this sweet girl. She snuggled with me each night in bed, and we went for long walks and she won my heart over quickly. Don't you love her eyes? Like Memphis, she appears to be wearing eyeliner. Such beauty!Today's internet shares are all about pretty places. First, if I *had* to go back to Miami (please Lord, don't ever make me do that), I would stay here and be happy. And second, if I *had* to work for someone else again, this would be pretty nice...
Today was spent at the hospital with Mom, and trust me when I tell you there's not much here that's visually pleasing. I spent a few hours working on some of my photo shoots from earlier in the week, and I loved this little nugget's hair swirl, so I thought I would show you that instead.For your internet share of the day, check out 
I spent most of the day with Mom at the hospital. We read trashy magazines, played cards, shampoo'd her hair and applied fresh makeup. Between that and keeping everyone updated on mom's progress, I'm pretty wiped out. More tomorrow...
I had a super fun engagement session on Monday night between emotional phone calls with family and a huge storm. It was just what I needed -- sometimes a creative distraction falls in at the perfect moment.Today, I've been busy with work meetings, phone calls and emails all while flying to Wichita on the cheapest flight I could find on short notice during the week of a holiday. Which is why I am in Chicago on a 3.5 hour layover. But you know what they have at this airport? A yoga room! With mats to use! You better believe I took advantage of that perk right there.For your internet share of the day, 
So remember when I shot those ballet photos? Well, they are finally out in the open now, so I wanted to share them with you. These were my favorites from the day -- I hope you enjoy them as well.I'm heading back to Kansas tomorrow to be with my mother, so things might be slow or quiet on the blog for awhile. Please be patient with me...
We got up early this morning and packed up, drove to Portland (through horrendous traffic), turned in the rental car, got through security, got on our 3+ hour flight, picked up the dog, and we are now home and the kid is in bed at 11 pm. We are completely wiped out.So here is a photo from earlier in the week. This is Haystack Rock, which you probably recognize from The Goonies. We were there on Monday with the family, and I took these photos because of the crazy flocks of birds that were going nuts at the top of the rock. There's a closer image below so you can see what I'm talking about. It was so cool.
Next week we'll return to normal around these parts. We had an amazing vacation, but between the baby who refused to sleep while we were away and the news about my mom and the travel, I am operating in zombie mode.See you kids on the other side (I hope).
Today we drove to wine country with Ez and tasted Pinots in the warmer-than-usual climate. I guess "normally" this time of year it's in the 60s. Today it was in the 90s! The weather was lovely. Then tonight when we returned to the coast, the beaches were socked in with fog. We went for a stroll down along the water and I snapped a few images.While the wineries were beautiful today, I wasn't really in the mood for them. I got a call late last night from my brother, telling me my mom was on her way to the ER. I was up all night waiting for updates on her health, and this morning and afternoon, while I had my phone at my side (and checked it constantly), tasting wines wasn't really what I felt like doing. Walking in the fog was more my speed today.I know many of you will be curious about my Mom's health, but I feel like those matters are her stories to tell, not mine, and I want to protect her privacy. All I will say is that she was admitted to the hospital, and we hope she will be released by Monday. Please keep her in your prayers.Below are a few more photos from today. I think you can tell, I just wasn't really in the mood to shoot.
This is the view from the beach, back at the homes on the coast as the fog started to lift a little.
These wineries are kinda pretty, eh?
And the lavender grows like mad here! I think I have killed about 7 lavender plants in my time in Minnesota. Oh man, if I lived in Oregon I might actual GARDEN. FOR FUN.
Today we ventured over to Astoria for a delicious lunch and to check out the town. Astoria seems to be to Portland what Duluth is to Minneapolis. Lots of cool dive bars, lots of ships, and a town on a big hill by a lot of water. This photo was taken right at the mouth of the Columbia river (a lot of the ships enter the river here from the Pacific and some make it all the way to Portland).It was a great daytrip, and then tonight I met up with my high school friend Tucker, who drove down to the coast from Portland, and we had dinner while watching the sun lower over the ocean before hula hooping on the beach. Yes, she made me do it. She insisted it brought pure happiness each time, and I'm not gonna lie, it was pretty fun. (Jamie was back at the cottage putting the boy to bed. The day I get Jamie to hula hoop on the beach, I *promise* I will capture a photo of it!)