Dizzy Swallows

This Belly

August 19th, 2015

Undeniably, there is a certain gravitas to the hugely pregnant belly. It demands respect by virtue of its very existence, its ponderous curvature. It exudes an aura of eminent, profound transition, as a physical manifestation of this ever changing life.

I am fortunate enough to count among my close friends two unbelievably talented photographers, who honored Jacob and I with the gift of maternity photos. Though I have rarely felt less photogenic, I am eternally grateful for their kindness in documenting this incredible time for us.

This first set of photos is from the incomparably lovely and ridiculously accomplished Mercia Moseley.

After suffering through the majority of a summer that has blistered the Northwest with record high heat, we finally bit the bullet and bought a pass to our local outdoor swimming pool. Good gracious, I can’t imagine why we waited so long. (Until now, I’ve been surviving solely … Continue reading

How to Win at Camping

September 11th, 2013

Hello my darlings! Today I am thrilled to share a guest photographer, my dear friend Hannah Wahl. Labor Day weekend we enjoyed a foursome camping trip with Hannah and her fiance, Will, at gorgeous Baker Lake. It was the perfect final getaway of the summer, complete with breathtaking mountain views, a milky blue alpine lake, massive, mossy trees, copious amounts of good food and good company, even an impromptu raft adventure. Our two friends brought an entire chicken to spit roast over the fire, which inspired me to feature Hannah’s gorgeous photography along with Will’s recipe for the chicken. To that end, please enjoy our interview style conversation below (with my notes in italics). May it be an inspiration to future camping expeditions!

Q. Tell me a little bit about your philosophy as a camper.

A. Always remember the #1 rule of camping: “We’re roughin’ it.” My dad always said … Continue reading

Bayon Sunrise for the Summer Solstice

June 21st, 2013

Wishing you all a happy summer solstice! Thought I’d share a few photos of a glorious sunrise we experienced at Bayon, Angkor Thom – part of our adventures in Cambodia and Vietnam. I still recall the immense feeling of peace, the sun just beginning to warm those beatific smiling faces, the jungle waking up around us.

It seemed appropriate for the return of the sun. Don’t forget you can click on a photo to enlarge it…

… Continue reading

Meet Tippi

February 22nd, 2013 2 Comments

As a child, how many of us dreamed of living with animals? Certainly, Mowgli and Tarzan have inspired the imagination of countless children.

Meet Tippi, who grew up in a world not entirely unlike that of Rudyard Kipling’s young hero. Born in Windhoek, Namibia in 1990, Tippi Degre lived with her French parents, wildlife photographers Sylvie Robert and Alain Degre. The three of them travelled extensively through the African bush from Tippi’s infancy until she was 10.

Sylvie, Tippi’s mother, explains: “She was in the mindset of these animals. She believed the animals were her size and her friends. She was using her imagination to live in these different conditions.”

Tippi had unusually strong bonds with many creatures, including a 28 year old African elephant, lion cubs, a leopard, an ostrich, mongroose, meerkats, a crocodile, a baby zebra, giraffes, a cheetah, and many more.

“I speak to them with my … Continue reading

Little Bits for a Monday

November 5th, 2012
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