Wandering...

I remember my parents taking a "Sunday drive" every so often...and while I am certain it was their way of getting away from us teenagers for awhile, it was also their way of exploring, wandering, finding quiet hidden gems in the areas where we lived. 
My husband and I wandered a bit last Sunday, on our way home from a beautiful wedding on the North Fork of the Salmon River (Congratulations to Ryan and Ashleigh!).  We wandered, in fact, so much that we took the same road several times, up and back...not because we were lost (*ahem*) or because our GPS didn't know where the heck we were (*ahem*) but mostly because we were just wandering...!  We saw a part of our state we'd never really explored before; incredibly desolate and unusually beautiful country in North Central Idaho.  And we met some nice people who own and operate a great little gem of a hotel/cafe/store/gas station in North Fork, Idaho called the Village at North Fork.  Incidentally, they also catered the wedding and it was so yummy!
Here's hoping we all have time to wander in our lives, to discover roads less traveled, meet new people...and that we always return safely home.

Faces.

I love these faces.  They make me happy.  And sad.  All at once.

I am planning to host a gallery of Images from Burma this Fall at the Art Walk...stay tuned!

It's Summer, in my heart anyway...

...and we have some pretty exciting things going on around here!  I love summer, and it seems like it might actually be arriving afterall!  I especially love all the opportunities we get to travel, see people and places, and play outdoors!

We recently just returned from a quick trip to Corvallis, Oregon, home of the Oregon State Beavers, where we sat proudly in the stands of Reser Stadium to witness our daughter's college graduation!  Yay Allison!!!  We were/are so proud...a bit emotional...and overwhelmingly happy!

We followed graduation with a fun wedding shower for Stephen & Allison and then followed that with a group dinner and then a rowdy bachelorette party!  I am getting way too old for long days like that, but nevertheless, we all had a great time!  I am so entirely thankful that there is so much to celebrate, and so many great family members and friends to help us celebrate!

As a result of the crazy, busy, fun, chaotic summer ahead I have decided not to take on any NEW portrait clients for the summer months, to allow me a little breathing room, a little more play time...and a chance to catch up our fine art photography!  I finally updated my Heart & Soul Images webpage, but it's been almost a year since I've updated our Mike & Kris Ryan Photography website and we have some really great work to share!  So, stay tuned!

As for me, I have some packing to do...let the summer fun begin!

Looking for a suitable caption for this silly photo...

"The guy down the street has really let his place go..."
"For rent, a cheap fixer-upper..."
"Our neighbor is a real animal..."

Mike and I wandered a bit last weekend, and came across this little shack of an abandoned house that I thought might be fun to photograph...and then this little guy came out the front door...  Actually, there were several calves inside...and their moms standing outside hollering at them to quit goofing around!  It was a funny scene.  Only in Idaho!

Just words this time.

Nothing is so strong
as gentleness.
Nothing is so gentle
as real strength.

- Frances de Sales


I read this the other day, in a book that mostly collects dust on my bookshelf as I never seem to have time to read...why is it, by the way, that reading is such a guilty pleasure...? Why can't I curl up with a good book without feeling like there is something else I should be doing?! The never ending to do list looming somewhere on the kitchen counter...! And yes, I have even tried to outsmart that guilt by putting "reading" on the list, but alas, I am not fooled!

I digress...I loved this quote!