A DAY IN LANDMARK.

Last Sunday morning Mom and I rode into Landmark with Dad to help him clean up the cabins he built there for the Forest Service.  Landmark historically records some of the coldest temperatures in the state and Sunday morning was certainly a cold one out there!  As the water source to the cabins has long since frozen, we had to improvise and scoop water directly from the creek to clean with!  I'll admit I have packed water to jobs before, but NEVER frozen creek water!  (You can bet I won't be volunteering this story to my regular job foremen!)  I sincerely enjoyed spending the day with parents--even if we were working!  By the afternoon it had warmed up considerably and we had an awesome little picnic lunch--complete with a pair of Camp Robbers.  The woods are pretty empty this time of year and it was nice peaceful trip to the backcountry!  On the way home we stopped by Warm Lake and amazingly had the entire lake to ourselves!  If only the drive to work were this amazing everyday!

    

Landmark Creek--Where the Wolves Run!

  

At least this job foreman packs the water for me!  ")

Frost on the grass clumps by the creek

  

    

I LOVE MY MOMMY!

(and snowflake-shaped frost too!)

  

We were able use one of the existing cabins to HEAT our icy water!

  

A LOOKOUT MAP folds down from the ceiling.

Can I get one of these?

  

Dad and I hanging out waiting for our water!

  

Camp Robber

This one wasn't brave enough to take the bread from the top of my head though!

SOUTH CABIN

My Mom worked for the Forest Service in the years just after she graduated high school and she was actually stationed at the Landmark Complex--in South Cabin.  In fact, she addressed their WEDDING INVITATIONS in this cabin!  ISN'T THAT AWESOME?!

Me imagining Mom sitting at the kitchen table addressing envelopes . . .

33 YEARS AGO!!

After visiting OUR historic South Cabin, we drove around the corner to the DUMP!

  

A Forest Service dump is full of SIGNS!

Dad and I really got a kick out of this one!

Idaho Primitive Area:

Yours to Use.  Yours to Enjoy.

")  just for you amy fossette . . .

  

  

WARM LAKE.

Fall 2008

One of my favorite parts of adventuring is finding unusual things.

I found this GORILLA at Warm Lake.

This isn't a self-portrait but it is still pretty good!

I know you will all appreicate it!

GOOD-BYE SUMMER :(

REMEMBERING ANITA.

Last week Amber asked me to do a very usual shoot for her.  She asked me to take pictures of a Christmas cactus that once belonged to her mom.  On October 31st of 2000 Amber's mom, Anita, very unexpectedly passed away.  Since then her CHRISTMAS cactus blooms very early.  In fact, it buds and blooms in OCTOBER.  A coincidence?  I think not!  I was so honored Amber asked me to take such special pictures to honor a woman that meant so very much to me as well!  Anita was such a beautiful spirit and I simply adore her delightful early-blooming cactus!

  

i think the blossoms look like butterflies in flight and i find that

so entirely appropriate as a representation for anita.

  

~anita ryker~

BELOW IS LETTER I WROTE TO AMBER LAST YEAR.  I HOPE SHE DOESN'T MIND ME POSTING IT--I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED WITH THESE PHOTOS!

October 31, 2007

My Lovely Amber,

I just want you to know how much of your Mom I see in you.  You are an absolutely amazing wife, mom and woman and I know she is so, so proud of you.  Such a huge part of her lives on in YOU!  In your smile, in your laugh--in your knowing, caring hands.  I know she is still with us and I am certain she pays particular attention to her beautiful, beautiful grandchildren.  Although I wish for all the world she could be here to rock them to sleep with that very special sway of hers, I am certain she sits with you in the early morning hours, stroking the face of your new baby.  Whispering words of wisdom.

I pray that God will nurture her characteristics in the developing personalities of your children, just as He has so magnificently done in you.  Although she rests in the arms of Jesus now, God left the very best parts of her here, as an unbelievable blessing and reminder to all of us that knew her--and miss her smiling face, her kind words, her absolute compassion.  All of these stunningly remarkable parts of her, and so many more, live on in the woman I can wholeheartedly call my best and dearest friend.

Every year during this season, I am so overwhelmed with emotion.  I miss her--for you and for me, for Isaac and for Anna.  For everyone that knew her and for those that were never fortunate enough to have met and inevitably loved her.  But she will always hold this very special piece of my heart.  Not because of who she was--even though she was so undeniably special--but because of who she gave me, Amber Marie.

Your mom has saved me twice now.  Once through the lessons I learned from her mistakes.  And again by orchestrating our friendship.

I love you Amber and I want you to know my prayers are with you this day.  And my heart is filled to the brim with gratitude for all that you are to me!

Anita--you are loved more now than ever and will never, never be forgotten.

SPENDING TIME WITH THE MCNAMARAS.

Last week I spent ALOT of time with the McNamaras!  I have to admit, it was pretty WONDERFUL!  They are so much fun and a visit to their home is always an adventure for me!  Amber asked me to do a very special photo shoot for her (watch for a post on that later) and afterward, they FED me!  They are such wonderful friends, they are always finding some sort of excuse to have me over for dinner!  I always offer to bring something for dinner but usually end up bringing something SUGARY for dessert instead!  This time I brought cupcakes--definitely not homemade--which Anna was particularly fond of nonetheless!  And then Mike asked if I was coming over to watch the BSU game--and of course I accepted that offer!  I think his new TV is B-E-A-U-TIFUL!  After seeing so much of the McNamaras that week, Anna really warmed up to me--FINALLY!  She is a pretty reserved little girl and although she is getting better, she still usually takes one look at me and runs for Momma!  However, by Friday night--we were having great fun together!  I am so blessed to have such terrific friends! 

    

ANNA SHOWING US HOW CUPCAKES ARE MEANT TO BE EATEN!

AFTER DINNER I SAT DOWN TO EDIT THE PHOTOS I HAD TAKEN EARLIER IN THE EVENING.  BUT SOMEHOW, I DIDN'T GET MUCH EDITING DONE ONCE THE KIDS DISCOVERED THE PHOTOBOOTH PROGRAM ON MY MAC . . .

  

IT STARTED OFF INNOCENTLY ENOUGH . . . 

AND WENT DREADFULLY WRONG FROM THERE!

      

    

    

    

HEY, WHERE DID THE ~KIDS~ GO???

HOW ISAAC REALLY FEELS ABOUT HIS PARENTS!

~

BSU GAME DAY!

MIKE'S PRETTY TV (NOW COMPLETE WITH PROTECTIVE COVER)!

  

ANNA STOLE MY STICKER!

    

    

I FINALLY GOT TO PLAY WITH HER!!!

    

SOMEHOW WE ALL HAD TO TALK ON THE PHONE TO ISAAC . . .

WHILE HE WAS IN THE SAME ROOM!

I DO LOVE MY CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS!

(he's flexing his muscles for me)

=)