Autocrats (and other dudes that ruled)

Last week I was sitting on a bar stool at our kitchen counter drinking my coffee. Sunlight was streaming through every window in our house, the way it does every morning (my favorite time of day to be at home.) Scott sat across from me at his desk working diligently on last minute finishing touches to some pieces for his solo show. The sliding door behind him was open, Daphnie walking in and out at her leisure. Though we're extremely happy, our lives have felt non-stop lately and I've been feeling the physical effects of the stress. We keep saying, "I can't wait for July." Who are we kidding though, July will probably fly by just as quick as June. But somewhere in the fast-forward mode of summer, I was able to sit quietly in that moment on my kitchen bar stool and realize that life is how it should be and instead of wishing away June, that I should be present and appreciate these seconds right in front of me.

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I said to Scott in a someday, one-day-in-the-future kind of tone, "This is how I want our life to be."

He lifted his paintbrush from the paper and with a cheesy grin said, "Excellent! Because this is how it is!"

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I grabbed my camera and snapped a picture. I wanted to remember our lives right then in that moment.

Scott's solo show is TONIGHT!! It's so satisfying to see it come together and be REAL after months and months of preparation. I think he and I both are more excited about this body of work he's created than we have been on anything else in a long time. So, if you're in Durango tonight please come by to have a beer and look at original works full of both history and whimsey. You won't regret it.

What:      Autocrats (and Other Dudes That Ruled) featuring 54 new paintings by Scott Dye

Where:    Studio&  1027 Main Ave. Durango, CO. (across the street from Carver Brewing co.)

When:     5:00-9:00pm

Website:   scottdye.net

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Happy Father's Day

I didn't know my Dad for most of my life, and for the time that I did know him, I didn't like him. But three years ago I mustered up all of the courage and strength within me to go visit him for the first time in my adult life. I finally wanted to know who my dad was.

Sitting at his dining room table, I thumbed through photo albums he'd put together of childhood photos I hadn't seen in years. I looked with curiosity at the way he decorated his house, the things he had on his shelves, and mostly at his face. I found myself trying not to stare at him but I couldn't help it. I didn't realize his eyes were blue. I didn't know about the creases in his skin or the way his lips were shaped when he'd laugh. I carefully made jokes, not sure of his sense of humor. We went to a Mexican restaurant and I sat across the table from him and drank a margarita.

It was surreal.

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I took this portrait of him last summer when he drove to Colorado on his motorcycle for a quick visit. After taking the picture I found myself staring at it for long periods of time. I still stare at it, amazed that this is my dad and amazed that I spent most of my life not knowing him. As much as I didn't want to accept it for a long time, I can finally acknowledge that I am my father's child. Looking at him now I realize we share similar features and similar interests.

Happy Fathers Day to my dad, David. I am so happy I chose to understand you, get to know you, and have you in my life.

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LATELY

 

Lately I've been thinking non stop about the ocean. So much so that I spent an evening last week looking through pictures from the short time I lived in Florida in 2011. With surprisingly teary eyes I nostalgically picked out a few images that conveyed the mood I was craving, full of salt water, pink skies, brown bellies, and that sound when a wave crashes the shore. I need a vacation. I think this is because since June began, life has picked up it's pace and feels like the days of summer are already slipping quickly between my fingertips. When I look at my calendar this month is a blur to me. There are weddings (including a trip to San Fransisco to shoot with Claire!), two work trips for Scott, an extra member in our household, lots of dog sitting, big art shows to get ready for, work, and hopefully some time to enjoy the beautiful sunshine. It's not the ocean, but maybe the Animas river in Durango can curb some of my cravings. Until then, I'm going to leave you with some random photos from around the house this week as I go prepare for a wedding I'm shooting tomorrow! Happy Friday!

This week has been...interesting. I took on the responsibility of watching over my friends' two French bulldogs, Quasi and Uva. They snore all the time and look like little aliens. My dog, Daphnie, isn't a big fan, but she's quietly tolerating their weirdness until they leave Sunday. After a night of barking and a surprise pee on my boyfriend's brand new Osprey backpack, I think we are ready for a quiet house next week too.

We have a shared garden space with our landlords (master gardener extraordinaire.) They were kind enough to give us two raised beds which we filled with carrots, peppers, tomatoes, and herbs. What we couldn't fit in the raised beds we decided to put in pots on the patio. Scott is particularly excited about his peppers of all varieties. He said at some point he will play screaming death metal for them so they grow angry and hot. (And he most likely will.) This is why I adore him.

We eat tacos a lot. This night was particularly good, complete with grilled flank steak and watermelon sorbet!