We had two wonderful engagement photo sessions this weekend and we got to play outside with two beautiful couples. It's January, but the weather in San Francisco has been fabulous! It reminded us of how much we love being outside and that we are so fortunate to have a job that takes us out to so many gorgeous places. We hope you get a chance to play outside this week as well :) Get some sunshine!
Flowers in the garden. © Bowerbird Photography, 2013.
xoxo,
Ariel + Sam
Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968)
A walk along the coast. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Ocean Beach, San Francisco.
xoxo,
Ariel + Sam
On our recent trip to Seattle, we played tourists and walked to Gasworks Park with our artist friend, Eliza, and hung out at the sundial, on the top of the hill, overlooking Lake Union and the Seattle Space Needle. What's cool about this sundial (pictured below) is that you have to stand in the middle of it and watch where your shadow falls, in order to tell what time it is. As we talked about how we structure our days as artists, the perfect symbol for our discussion was right under our feet.
I've been thinking about time a lot lately in relation to my New Year's resolutions. Mostly, these thought bubbles read something like this, "If only I had more time to journal, exercise, or [fill in the blank]! Can't I just put it off until tomorrow, when I'll be better rested, smarter, and stronger?" But, like the insistent whine of the tea kettle, the shrill tones such self-defeatist mind-chatter actually does well to motivate me to get off the couch... and pour a cup of hot tea. For me, sipping tea and finding insight go hand-in-hand. After a cup, my resolve is strengthened, my wisdom restored. Even if it seems like there are just not enough hours in the day, I take up the challenge of proving myself wrong. And, when I set out to do what I thought was impossible, suddenly, instead of less time, I find that I have more. Instead of reacting to my circumstances, I end up creating them.
As an artist, it's important for me to spend time doing things that enrich my soul, broaden my perspectives, and ultimately, make me happy; for, as I watch my shadow count the hours on the sundial, I want to be sure that my time doesn't end up sneaking way from me.
Seattle Space Needle seen from Gasworks Park sundial. © Bowerbird Photography 2013.
I love that they built this sundial in cloudy day Seattle. It's a friendly reminder that, yes, the sun will come out eventually :)
xoxo,
Sam + (Ariel)
When Ariel and I fly to Seattle, we always stop by Grandma and Grandpa's house for a visit. It always feels like home, often there is wood burning in the stove, and the smell of freshly baked bread greets you at the door. Grandma's ability to conjure countless pies and yummy things from her sleeves, would impress even Houdini. She's not happy until we have something scrumptious in our hands to munch while we relax on the davenport (what she calls the couch).
Grandpa's throne is his easy chair. He has several atlases, books, and maps stacked up around him like little turrets. Now, he's added an ipad to the pile, and is evidently a big fan of the "street-view" feature of the map app. He's always eager to point out where a story takes place on his maps; and he always has a story to tell. This December, he told us about his trips to Scotland and Morocco when he was a sailor during WWII; the missile that barely missed his ship and hit the one behind his in the waters off Normandy on D-Day; and the grass huts and starving villagers that he encountered in Korea. While on shore leave, he ran across some Korean children who looked like they were in need, and gave away all that he had on him - emptied his pockets, took off his shirt and his socks -- and returned to his ship looking like a desperate castaway. All these stories were very interesting, but what really caught our attention was when we learned that, in two days, they will have been married for 70 years. We asked if they had plans for the day. They said they hadn't given it any thought. We couldn't let them get off so easily, "70 years! That's huge!!! We have to celebrate!"
Ariel and I got moving. We had two days to organize a party, which meant mobilizing the relatives and initiating a telephone/email tree, setting the layers of a towering lasagne, and preparing handmade decorations.
Whew! With a trunk-load of casserole dishes and bake pans, we arrived at their house, but before the party started, we just had to pull Grandma and Grandpa aside for a little video interview, which we have posted above for today's "Finding Focus" inspiration. More photos from that day on our holiday post, here.
Congratulations Grandma and Grandpa!! And to all those lovebirds out there, just remember Grandma's advice... the secret is "patience."
xoxo,
Sam (+ Ariel)
The holiday season is packed with family, friends and travel, so we thought it would be appropriate to cram in one big blog spot with photos from the season. Our holidays started in Seattle, visiting Sam's family and celebrating the Grand Suver's 70th wedding anniversary! Isn't that just amazing?! We ended up throwing them a party, with handmade decorations and a feast of homemade goodness that kept us cooking in the kitchen for over two days.
Although we visit Seattle annually, our trips are usually too busy for much playtime in the city, but this time we sneaked away for a nostalgic romp around our old college campus, ate at our fave pho restaurant on the Ave., drank too much coffee in Ballard and saw friends. And yes -- it was wet and rainy the whole time! Classic Seattle!
On Xmas Eve, we flew back to San Francisco, arriving just in time for lasagna with family and our friend's Marika + Jess, who were visiting from MA. Jess hadn't been to our home before, so a hot pink wall photo was very much in order :)
New Year's Eve, we kept it pretty chill, eating a pork roast that Dad made, and hung out with friends in Mom + Dad's living room. We'll admit, we watched a travel documentary and went to bed just after midnight.
For the first day of the year, the weather was stunning and we hiked with Auntie Yam and Mom + Dad in Tilden Park. There's no better way to celebrate the new year than by spending the day in nature!
The Grand Suvers celebrating 70 years together! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Family Photography, Seattle.
70 years! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Family Photography, Seattle.
Suzzallo library. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Travel Photography, Seattle.
Suzzallo library. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Travel Photography, Seattle.
A trip down memory lane, walking around UW campus in the rain. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Travel Photography, Seattle.
Rain in Seattle. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Travel Photography, Seattle.
One of our favorite spots on campus, The Quad. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Travel Photography, Seattle.
© Bowerbird Photography 2013; Travel Photography, Seattle.
Art on the UW campus. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Travel Photography, Seattle.
Wave bench on UW campus. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Travel Photography, Seattle.
Gasworks Park. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Travel Photography, Seattle.
Ballard. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Travel Photography, Seattle.
Coffee break in Ballard. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Travel Photography, Seattle.
Christmas eve in San Francisco. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Food Photography, San Francisco.
Jess on Christmas eve in San Francisco. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Family Photography, San Francisco.
An improvised fireplace for Christmas Eve in San Francisco. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Family Photography, San Francisco.
Christmas Eve in San Francisco. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Family Photography, San Francisco.
Marika + Jess on Christmas Eve in San Francisco. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Food Photography, San Francisco.
Cheers on New Year's Eve!! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Family Photography, San Francisco.
New Year's Eve in San Francisco. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Family Photography, San Francisco.
Dad + Mom made an amazing feast for New Year's Eve! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Food Photography, San Francisco.
Steve on New Year's Eve. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Family Photography, San Francisco.
Hugo!! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Family Photography, San Francisco.
© Bowerbird Photography 2013; Family Photography, San Francisco.
Mom directs us to a bright new year! © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Family Photography, San Francisco.
New Year's Day coffee in Berkeley with Auntie Yam. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Family Photography, Berkeley.
Dad on a hike in Tilden Park on New Year's Day. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Family Photography, Berkeley.
Mom on a hike in Tilden Park on New Year's Day. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Family Photography, Berkeley.
Tilden Park - New Year's Day hike. © Bowerbird Photography 2013; Nature Photography, Berkeley.
A very happy, joyful and fabulous 2013 to you all!
xoxo,
Ariel + Sam
