End of January

It is amazing! It is the end of January and it's still snowing and very cold! This has been the coldest January in thirty years and I love it! Mom said I was insane. I am not sure if she means insane all of the time or just insane for loving winter.

As long as it stays cold, I can keep a lid on my hot flashes. I love winter! Summer is too hot for me!

Michael keeps baking wonderful things to warm up the kitchen and I get to taste test them. I love being married to a wonderful baker, who also photographs, who is also the Executive Director of Miss Heart of Michigan.

Speaking of Miss Heart, join us on February 14 for the Miss Heart of Michigan Scholarship Pageant, at the Park Place Dome. It will be great fun. We may witness the crowning of the next Miss America!

Stay warm and I will enjoy the cold.

Chris and Erica's wedding

Michael and I photographed Chris and Erica's wedding in November.

I photographed Erica's senior portraits ten years ago.
Erica was a beautiful senior.
She was a stunning bride!

This is the same church where I photographed my very first wedding,
THIRTY YEARS AGO!

The children were wonderful.

We had a great time, even in the November sleeting rain, snow and cold!

The reception was so beautiful.
I was able to visit with a number of clients who were guests.
It felt like old home week.

What a wonderful couple!

Chris says this image goes in the Man Cave!

Erica cracks me up!

I feel such a great connection with Erica's family.
I photographed Erica and Michelle's senior portraits.
Michael and I photographed their family portraits on
their Lake Michigan beach,
the night before they had to leave their cottage forever.
We witnessed the most beautiful sunset ever!
God showed His glory that evening!
Their cottage and property became part of the
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park.

Her parents are incredible people.
Her grandfather (my mother's "baby" doctor) delivered me,
so long ago!
I am so honored to be a part of their family events.

We wish Chris and Erica years and years of happiness!

There's One Less Mouse in My House

I am so happy to report that there is one less mouse in my house. Michael the mouse catcher caught one so far.

The problem is...he is not the mouse I saw and screamed at. I have to be patient and hope Michael finds the original mouse tonight.

At least one is gone. That is good!

I know that we have more chances for mice since I feed the birds. The feeders are just off the deck, so the mice have leftovers very close to the basement. I will tolerate a few mouses here and there to keep the birds happy and fed. We have about four different kinds of woodpeckers, lots of chickadees, cardinals, mourning doves and goldfinches. They are so pretty against the snow on the trees.

Hopefully, I will have a mouse less house tonight!

There's a Mouse in My House

There really is a mouse in my house. There may even be two mouses in my house. When we went home on Monday night, a mouse ran across the dining room floor! AAAHHHHH! I screamed, scared the mouse and scared Michael.

I know he is just a little critter, but I hate mouses in my house. I grew up in a one hundred year old farmhouse, so I am used to seeing them now and then, but I was hoping that this farmhouse would not be a happy home for mouses. I was wrong.

My brave husband Michael is taking control of the mouse problem. We have mouse traps everywhere. He goes on mouse patrol at night, so I do not have to.

I am still trying to figure out which little bitty hole they are entering the house in. I know it is so cold outside that they just want to have a warm place to live, but they can pick somewhere else to go!

Hopefully tonight, there will be an end to the mouse visits and there will be no more screaming.

Laurel is so much fun!

When we photographed Laurel for her Christmas portrait last year, she was happy,

then we made her mad!

When we photographed Laurel for her Christmas portrait last month,
she was kind of happy,

then we made her mad!

Sometimes, it is hard to be an 18 month old.

Last year, it was teeth.

This year, it was 18 months.

Two years is going to be so much fun!

We love seeing Laurel and baby brother Gage and their parents.

We love their family!

It's Official

It is official. I am old! I am legally old!

Today I received a starter kit for AARP. That only comes when you are officially old. I thought you had to be 55 or something old like that. I will not be fifty until August, so I did not think that I would be eligible until then.

First the flu, which is still taking a toll on me after nine days, then the AARP application. I am falling apart! Oh my!

Michael is still horizontal after his back gave out. We are quite a pair! Next week, things will improve and we will be back to our "old" selves again.

What a start to 2009! It has to get better! I know it will!