Create with Kim!

The Garden Bouquet in Marquette Michigan is a blessing to Baraga Avenue, across the street from the Children’s Museum and down the street from the Marquette Food Co-op, this shop brings life, grace and beauty. And now they bring to you my postcards. The first image, Man on Bench, which was accepted into an exhibit at the Devos Museum, has been reproduced in postcard size perfect for Father’s Day. It is available now. Soon more designs will be in stock. Drop by and take a look!

Fern Curl, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, May 2009.

Memorial Day weekend, Mike and I headed to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and I’m still processing some of the 1960 digi-captures. It was a trip of freezing cold nights some where we did not return from trails until close to midnight after riding 25 miles on EMPTY hoping gas stations were open in Grand Marais. Trillium blanketed hillsides. We hiked 20 plus trail miles in 3 days. The photo above is the backseat of our Blazer and it has notes (at Flickr) so you can view each item and what importance it might have. The photo below is a self portrait of me in the door of the West Bay Diner. We ate there on the way home. It was heavenly–I ordered the steak sandwich with grilled veggies and fries–it came with a malt in my choice of flavors, too! Be sure to check out the Flickr set of our trip for everything from super-macros on the forest floor to dune and beach vistas.

This is my first photo of an oriole and the first to land in our yard. I am as proud as this pretty guy looks. The birds have been pretty happy around here this spring. Having leaves on the trees and blossoms everywhere. Sure beats that year we had hail strip the trees practically bare.

To me, images are like writing. A photo a piece of parchment on which cherished things are recorded. This image is from my Memorial Day trip to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The delicateness touched me. And, tonight, as I listen to Barack Obama, our Nation’s President talk about family and his job, I feel quieted. For now I see hope again after a somewhat dark day.

You see I was feeling down. Scared over money. Wanting so much.

But I was reminded by our President, my partner Mike, and Leon Katona, that I have so many reasons to be thankful and grateful.

From FaceBook:

Kim Nixon Okay, it’s time to list my gratitudes cause I was gettin’ a bit too f-in murky (feel free to add your gratitudes as comments).6:28pm

Kim Nixon at 6:30pm June 3
I am grateful for the greater range of motion in my shoulder. I am grateful for my sparkler. I’m grateful for the iris, lilac, apple blossom, and the sail boats headed out on Wednesdays. I’m grateful for the dinner invite on Tuesday (my daughter’s home).

Kim Nixon at 6:33pm June 3
Kim is grateful for her job, the people she gets to care for and their families.

Leon Katona at 6:36pm June 3
I’m thankful that I got to see your work at the DeVos the other day! AND that when I went to Peter White I picked up a copy of “Health and Happiness” and saw that you had an article in it!! =]

Kim Nixon at 6:38pm June 3
Kim is grateful for her ability to lose weight and her recent successes. And also for the leftovers in the fridge.

Kim Nixon at 7:53pm June 3
Holy crap–Leon you just made my day!! :-) There are two of my articles in H&H. Okay I cannot feel down on myself right now.

Leon Katona at 9:06pm June 3
I loved your self-image and healing article. I think it really shows that you’ve become more comfortable by submitting that piece. Really lovely work.

Kim Nixon at 10:12pm June 3
Okay…wow…it’s true so much is changing, has changed. Sometimes it is hard to remember even recent positive changes.

Nothing to Write Home About? Interesting that I still took the shot of this dead gull, eh? It was the slight light play, the fact that it had been drug upshore over rocks to a sheltered area by some hungry animal. I thought about life, the turning away from harsh realities and how I actually favored this over the news and piles of bills and email awaiting me (at home) after the trip. I could walk away from it all, ya know? I could live here on this rocky beach or in a shack a bit further from the harsh winds and waves.

Liam’s Tree was planted shortly after his birth. I am watching it carefully this year; last year’s drought has shocked the top of the tree.