The Other Esther

It's not very often that I meet other people with my name.  I never had that problem in kindergarten of having to be called Esther H to differentiate between Esthers.  Sometimes, I've heard of someone's grandmother being called Esther, but never anyone my age.  Until a couple of years ago, when her blonde haired, blue eyed daughter became friends with my blonde haired, blue eyed little girl in first grade.  And there she was, another Esther.  A musical, born in a castle with a Scottish accent and lover of restoring broken things, and broken people, sort of Esther. 

Probably one of my favorite things to photograph is something that tells a story.  Something that lets you glimpse behind what you can easily see and wonder about what comes next.  I was tickled pink to be asked to do the photographs for Esther Sparks & the Whiskey Remedy's new single coming out on January 1st with a vintage vaudeville theme.  We met on a gorgeous fall day for the final filming of the music video.

Esther Sparks & the Whiskey Remedy

Yes, that's my son in a tutu.

The Cast

Esther & Darren-the stars of the show. (Not sure why Chloe looks a little scared in the background)


There was lots of music, and dancing, curious looks from pedestrians and Scottish meat pies.  You gotta be wondering by now, right?  I'll share the link to the video when it's released so that you can see all of the awesomeness for yourself.

A little Bit of Random

Yesterday, the 11 year old and I were in the store.  Look here, Mom.  I glanced up in time to receive a shot of peppermint room spray in the eyes.  A small disclaimer goes here because the lad didn't think that it would spray halfway across the room, and his stricken face was the last thing I saw before my eyes swelled shut.  He led me by an outstretched arm to the bathroom and I spent the next few minutes running water in my eyes.  I was late to pick up Chloe so I had to hurry up and pay, while I was still squinting to see through bloodshot, swollen eyes.  (I felt the need to explain myself to the clerk.)  Chloe wanted to know why the car smelled so strongly of peppermint.

Chloe had her first board breaking session in Tae Kwon Do the other day.  I almost missed it.  There was a miscommunication between me and the husband and he took my car to get a part for his non functioning vehicle. But instead of coming back to get me, he went straight to Chloe's class.  With 5 minutes to get to her class, I left Aidan to watch a pot of soup bubbling on the stove, grabbed the bike out of the garage, pumped up a flat tire and began a Tour de France worthy sprint to the finish line.  The whole time I was...Please God just hold her off until I get there...I promised I'd be there....

Fortunately for our marital harmony, I stepped in the door just as her teacher was asking her if she was ready.  She looked up as I walked through the door and slid into a seat. 

It was a happy ending after all. 

December 6th

I can't believe I haven't updated this little space in so long.  I keep thinking I should sit down and write something, then the thought gets swallowed up in the rest of the day's activity.

I'm homeschooling Chloe for this season.  She goes to her public school for specials-art, music, pe, and science enrichment then spends the rest of the time with me. We are having so much fun being together all day.  I feel like my creative energy comes in bursts and spurts and right now homeschooling is consuming a lot of it. 

I've been taking lots of portraits, and making new friends.  I recently started a facebook page...bluethistlephotography....eek!  That's a little bit scary and a little bit exciting.

We just celebrated a birthday in our house.  Our Thanksgiving baby just turned nine, and not a day goes by that she doesn't make us laugh and give thanks that she's ours.  She's sassy and spunky, and tender and generous.  A bit ago she took her little green purse on a tip to Target because she wanted to look and see if the $9 that she had earned raking leaves for a neighbor was enough to buy her big brother the Lego set that he wanted.  She was about $40 shy, but undeterred, decided to keep saving so maybe she would have enough by Christmas. 

birthday cinnamon rolls

Happy birthday sweet Chloe.