My Beamer Girl!

No, we didn't buy it.
It was in the show room.

“It is through living that we discover ourselves, at the same time as we discover the world around us.” Henri Cartier-Bresson

An Evening with the Grands

babysat last night.

kept them busy.

slept well!
(that's us! We sept well!)

.... I want to climb up there like my big sister......

Winnipeg

A whirlwind trip to the Peg on the May long weekend.

The new Bomber Stadium is almost finished out at the U of M campus. David and I took a drive thru the old alma mater - last time I drove thru was in a 67 Dodge Monico..... it's been a while.

Visits with family and friends who kept us well fed all weekend.

Below is a very "cool" item. A chilled "rock" for Scotch on the rocks.... no melting ice. I must find those for David's stocking this year. :) And Marks too......

We stayed at Four Points Shereton South this weekend - great place!! Cool elevators. :)

Walked the banks of the now receding Red River.....

And shopped IKEA - but only bought nicknacks - serviettes and stuff - no furniture.

A grand weekend away even though it was quite busy. Enjoyed taking the new SUV on the highway to break it in. I  am now in love with heads up display and can't be without it. :)

The Girls visited

This past Sunday evening the girls came over for supper.

Eva now smiles for the camera......
I think it is hilarious but I still have to wait for the real natural Eva smile. :)

 ...because that smile is precious to me.

After supper on the deck we moved indoors for a little finger painting. Eva has her own cupoard in our kitchen with paints, play dough, paper and other crafts. She heads right there these days. '

 But Norah is not interested in crafts.
No, she is interested in photography like her grandma!
So Norah and I retreated to my office and discussed which of the Florida photos should go to Grandpa's office and which one I should mail to the cousins.

She was very helpful and had lots of incite for me.

 " I don't know Grandma, this one should probably just go to my house because that is my Daddy in this photo. :

“Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst" – Henri Cartier-Bresson

I need to remember this......
I wonder how many I have taken. 

Counting My Blessings

Sunday morning we had a wonderful time of fellowship with the Saints at church. Great worship and message and great fellowship. We felt truly refreshed.
We came home to pastrami on rye sandwiches out on the deck. The back yard was quiet and smelled like summer. It was utterly wonderful. The birds were singing, the hostas were peeking thru, the tamarack tree was greening up, the fiddleheads were stretching out, the flowers from the store were happy to have found a home and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom.

As we sat there giving thanks for all His provisions in our lives I was overwhelmed with all the blessings surrounding me - not just in my back yard at this moment, but in life. Do we have trials? yes, we all do. But in this moment there was much to give thanks for. Even the seemingly small little things all pointed to a wonderful, incredible Creator who continues to bless us every day.

And then I remembered that at this moment as I feel so blessed, there are people hurting. People like Shawn and Amy whose arms ache to hold their precious one year old one more time. If you have a moment please pray His grace and peace upon them.

I am reminded to have a heart and mindset that is always counting my blessings and continually giving thanks for each and every one of them.

He is Good!!

“The photograph itself doesn't interest me. I want only to capture a minute part of reality.” 
― Henri Cartier-Bresson

Saskatoon Seniors Photography

Brennan's Graduation Day

I love photographing families. I feel truly blessed to be able to share in some of the most important days in their lives. Engagements, weddings, pregnancy and newborn then on to toddlers and the growing up years - sports, family reunions, birthdays, anniversaries and even funerals. What a priviledge  to be invited to even a small part of these important events in every family's life.

And Grade 12 graduation is one of those important events.

I love seeing proud  Moms and Dads. I may only get 2 hours with them, but they are filled with laughter as we capture a few moments in time on this special day.

Last Friday was Brennan's graduation day. Our day happened to be cold, windy and rainy so we retreated to the Bessborough. But with 15 minutes to spare, the rain lifted and we braced the wind for some out door photos behind the Bess and I think we managed to squeeze in some fun shots of Brennan and his family. We even found a tree for Brennan to climb. :)

Brennan is now finished high school and off to the trades at SIAST.

Congratulations Brennan!

More Chubby Sweetness

Missing her little smile....

and sneaking in a little more contraband........

Isn't she just a doll? Oh how I wish we could see them every week 

and I could snap photos of them growing up. :( 

My Mom says this little grand looks like me. 

So I pulled out a scanned photo of me as a baby - the only one taken... that's what happens when you are #6 child. 

Stay tuned. My camera had a work out yesterday with Brennan's graduation photos. And since I got all my gardening done this morning and it is raining this afternoon, I should have them all edited by tomorrow. :) Some fun photos. 

My New Dress

Missing this sweet little one...



Life has been busy. Home from holidays, down with a head cold for a week, nursing grand daughters and daughters back to health after a wicked flu, working the day job and then off to Winnipeg for a visit and to take Mark his summer tires. There were 6 days in a row when I didn't even pick up my camera. That is a first in over 3 years. I guess I am recovering from my 365 obsession. :)

And now I am posting contraband  - "goods that are prohibited by law from being exported" to the web.
But my, she is just too sweet to not show you and I miss her dearly.

So in Love

....with this little one. 

her smile that lights up my day

her chubby legs

her long eyelashes

her sweet disposition

her giggles

Life has been VERY busy and photography and blogging have taken a back seat. I am not sure where the first 20 days of May went. I am trying to keep up with Facebook posts though. So find me and friend me on Facebook if you like.
https://www.facebook.com/juliecortensphotography

At the end of the day...

cousins......
Missing these moments.

Norah's First Year

....sigh......

she has gown up so quickly.

I put some of the photos from Norah's first year into a book for her.
I suppose I should do the same for Eva.....

Moisture

The snow has almost all melted and it looks like the farmers have plenty of moisture this year.
Took this photo last weekend....
at 110 km/hr

I am getting pretty good at that. :)
I wasn't driving.

Miss Norah

Norah is developing a little personality all her own. And I am quite liking it.
She is so joyful! Always laughing (except when she has a cold).
We are just lovin' her to pieces.
Enjoyed a visit last Saturday.... we hadn't seen them for 3 whole days!!