Dandelions, penny boards, and two lovely people

I took these photos of two absolutely wonderful people, Shelby and Tanner, a couple of months ago in late summer. The sun was a hazy red due to smoke moving south from the B.C. wildfires, and the evening air was warm and calm. These two make "couples photography" so easy. I follow around with my camera, happily snapping away as Shelby and Tanner fly around on penny boards, frolic in open fields, and hang out in front of a vintage school house. These are some of my favorite photos of these two - aren't they good looking?! And even more, they are two of the most fantastic people this world has. Thanks for making photography so fun, you two!  

Much love, Vivi     

Picnic in the Park

Meet my babe of a friend, Hannah, who casually flicks her hair in response to a clicking camera and has excellent choice in both leather bags and glamorous sunglasses. In one word, she is fabulous, and I am so thankful to call her my friend (since Grade 10!) 

Quite a few weeks ago we took advantage of some glorious sunshine and brought a picnic to a local park. The spread included veggies, cheese and crackers, fruit, iced coffees, and hummus. It was an afternoon spent talking and eating and talking and eating- the best kind of afternoon. 

Much love, Vivi 

Yours Truly, Winter

The beach during Winter brings
Waves crashing in full force against the shore line,
Brave tourists bundled up, young families pushing strollers up the pier,
Avid runners taking the cold as an invitation to beat their best time,
And two friends,
Laughing, talking, snapping away happily as their hair runs wild and their hands freeze
Exploring under dark bridges, climbing over rocks, squealing in delight over the perfect light
And Winter looks upon them and
Smiles
You're welcome, He says with kind eyes,
For the wind and the waves and the grey, bright, joyous day



Yours truly, Winter




(And of course, Much love, Vivi :)

can I hear a HAPPY THANKSGIVING?!

It's Autumn here in British Columbia. The wind is rustling off the deep red and yellow leaves from tall trees, and inside candles are burning and warm meals are being made. It really is my favorite time of year, despite the copious amount of studying that October brings... 

This weekend is also Canadian Thanksgiving, so to all of my fellow Canadians, may your weekend be full of turkey dinners and pumpkin pie. Man, us Canadians are GOOD at eating. 

Happy Thanksgiving, friends. And while I'm at it, Happy Autumn, Happy Saturday, and Happy DAY! 

Much love, Vivi 

What Would Wendell Berry Say

I love Wendell Berry's writing. I read "Hannah Coulter" last summer and it made me want to buy a large farm and raise some chickens. His writing is very nostalgic, and oh so beautiful. I'm reading a collection of his short stories called "That Distant Land" and I sometimes find myself thinking in what I like to call "Wendell Berry sentences." They go something like this:

Good things right now. Oh, there are many. 
There is the 6 foot magnolia tree in the garden, blooming in its full pre-summer beauty, beckoning for the sun's rays to shine upon it and give it the strength to grow.
There is the ocean. The time to go to the ocean. The kindred spirit friend to join me at the ocean.
There is the word. The word of God, the word of encouragement, the spoken, written, unwritten word.
There is the ticking of the clock. An unwelcome, unsettling sound to many, but an ever-present reminder that as long as you are able to hear that ticking, you have a purpose and a future.
There is the sky with its indecision between rain and shine. The clouds and rain drops adhering to the many moods of the day. 
There is the knowledge, built up by ancient dreamers and creative thinkers, pushing aside traditional thinking and making DISCOVERIES. 
There is the endurance that is only fully recognized for its substance once it has been accomplished. 
And yes, there are the people. Where do I begin with the people? The new, the long-time, the young, the old, the laughers, the planners, the story-tellers, the listeners, the deep-thinkers, the forward thinkers, the contemplative ones. Oh, the people. 
Yes, there are good things right now.


Much Love, Vivi

Friends & Beaches

In the midst of writing a Cell Biology paper, I remembered that I hadn't posted these photos. So of course, a break was in order and these wonderful photos are at last being shared! This day was full of joy, exploring, walking on a chilly beach during the sunset, and some good good food. :) 

Much love, Vivi

Five Things to Love

1. Lunch with a sweet friend at the sweetest cafe. London fog latte for her and vanilla rooibos tea for me.  

2. One of my favorite ways to paint water colors is onto cards. Giving a hand painted card to a friend is such a joy! 

3. Chalkboard art in my room as a reminder of the true reason for the season

4. A snippet of our Christmas villages: the pet shop with the lighthouse in the background

5. Oana Befort's beautiful December calendar. I've been faithfully using each month's calendar as a desktop background for a year now! Go check it out- you'll be so happy you did. 

Much love, Vivi