City Museum

This weekend I flew in and out of St. Louis like a spring storm to shoot the wedding of Alissa and Eric at the City Museum along with John White.

These are just a few (pre-processed shots). There will be more as I've only downloaded two of the eight memory cards.

Alissa and Eric embraced the City Museum and embraced the day. Out of the box and up for anything. They climbed through tight spaces, kissed in airplanes and jumped into the ballpit. We didn't even make it into the caves or the circus!

Thank you Alissa and Eric for being the rockstars that you are!

Phone

The more weddings I shoot, the more I come to realize there are some non-traditional moments that always seem to happen, I guess making them traditional. Of course putting together a wedding is a monumental event involving a lot of...involvement, coordination, patience, and perseverance as well as a lot of time on the phone. How did they get it all together pre- Bell?

My most recent wedding in St. Louis was an incredible experience. Ellissa & Jim planned their day to the 'T' with portraits at the "BoTan" and all the rest of the goods inside St. Louis City Hall. If it's been awhile since your fifth grade field trip to City Hall...it's time to revisit these roots.

Ellissa's phone rang off the hook and most of the calls were from 'to be' husband, Jim with bad phone reception. They spoke off and on throughout the day as co-coordinators of any event would...even minutes before walking down the aisle. Here is a short collection of what I will simply call "Phone".

Into the Woods. A birthday Gift.

Climb the mountain and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The wind will blow their own freshness into you And the storms their energy while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. ~ John Muir

Saturday was Zeta's birthday. He turned 32. His parents came in town. And we went to Yosemite.


Speechless.

Last year for Zeta's birthday celebration, we, a conglomeration of friends from the Green Tortoise and band friends, gathered a Kanziman where we ate, drank and were merry till the sun came up. The night consisted of the typical dibauchery turned up a notch with bellydancers, hookahs and lots of alcohol.

This year Zeta's parents flew in from Virginia Beach.

Saturday morning we all arrive at Zeta's apartment for a Happy Birthday 'Let's Go'...and he's still in the shower. His dad, Alan, sits on the couch with an unlit cigar already in his mouth and his mom, Marie, organizes his fridge while explaining to me her every step. I unsuccessfully attempt to make coffee for the ride.

We finally head out the door after Zeta agreed the coffee was horrible. Donned in scrappy clothes for 'mining' we were headed to our destination; a gold mine outside of Sonora. Marie and Zeta both have a 'thing' for mining...or treasure hunting more like it. Two years ago we went opal mining outside of Winnimucca (the same Winnimucca Johnny Cash sings about)

To our surprise, the mine was less of a running mine and more of a tourist attraction as a guide in overalls and lots of facial hair hands me a $12 pan with gold guaranteed to be in it. Here's a pan, find the gold in it. My gold rush consisted of five small shiny flakes. Luckily there were lots of other pretty rocks to keep me interested.

After a few hours of bending over a wood tub with water running through, we were able to pull Zeta away from his search for riches. Back in the car for the 1 hour...no 2 hour...no 3 hour drive to Yosemite.

As we enter Yosemite, it's slightly raining, cold, with snow covered ground. The air was crisp and seemed to jumpstart my lungs as I could feel every molecule of fresh air within me.

It was now about 5pm. So due to a setting sun somewhere behind the clouds and less desirable driving conditions for Alan, my first experience with Yosemite was meerily a drive by.

Yosemite is best taken introveinously. In the veins. Up. Down. In front of my eyes. ALL OVER was more beauty than this girl could take. A climbers paradise. A photographers inspiration. I fell in Love.

We returned home exhausted. Depleted but happy to have enjoyed living the day experiencing the gift of Yosemite.

midwest stars

Flora. Taco Night. St. Louis.

Friends.

Family.

Story time.

Home

Home. Happy.

After the best sleep one can have resting upon a clouded mattress jumping from dream to dream, I am awakened by Frankenfurter, the black cat of the house. Frankie talks like a excited four year old and the spring sun shines into my room that is transforming into the office/storage/guest room. Dad's in the kitchen cooking. Shaking orange juice, zapping bacon, scrambling eggs, chopping fruit, and flipping pancakes topped with a wheat free waffle for his 'special daughter'. Some say this is the fastest you'll ever see Dan Cross move. Breakfast served.

My father, a new retirree from Annheuser Busch after 24 years of solid service has now realized his potential as a Grade A breakfast chef.

It's nice to be home.