What's Apple-ing?

Last fall one of my favourite clients invited me tag along for her younger son's birthday party held at Chudleigh's apple farm in Halton region (Ontario, Canada). Not only is it great fun when I get to photograph C.'s family, it gave me a chance to take some photos to show potential clients a possible location for an outdoor photo session.

Here are some photos from Hudson's birthday party, more to come later this week!

If you'd like to book your photo session at Chudleigh's they open for the 2009 season on July 1st. Not only do they deliver you to the orchards to pick your own apples, they have a straw maze, a petting zoo and a bakery that you have to visit before you leave (for those of you not in the Toronto area, Chudleigh's pies are beyond delicious!)

I'm baaaaaaack!

This walking thing is going very well, in fact I even drove for the first time in two months yesterday. I never thought a little freedom would taste so sweet!

Although I still need to go to physio for awhile yet, I'm on track to toss aside the cane within a few weeks and START WORKING again! Only someone who loves his/her job with passion would be so excited (these photos of a lovely young lady that I photographed last fall will give you an idea of how much I'm looking forward to picking up my camera again).

Although I'm sure that I'll be ready sooner, I'm opening up my booking calendar starting May 16th to be sure that I'm in top form. A great month for outdoor sessions with the beautiful spring flowers, cherry and lilac blossoms - what a gorgeous time of year!

Website (with calendar) at http://www.theintrepidlens.com/

Email me at theintrepidlens@cogeco.ca for info/to book.

Feeling like my old self again......!

Walking Again (well, kind of!)

After a very long 8 weeks, 2 days and 6 hours I'm finally walking without crutches following my leg surgery! I've replaced the crutches with a cane which makes it much easier to get around (plus I now have one hand free to carry things, that's been the biggest frustration).

I'm on target to be walking without assistance in a couple of weeks, and should be back to work within 4-6 weeks. Looks like I might not miss the spring flowers at the Royal Botanical Gardens after all this year.

My husband is wondering when this huge silly grin might fade from my face....it might just be there for awhile!

New Storyboards

New storyboards, more examples on my website at http://www.theintrepidlens.com/.

These are fun to assemble, lots of possible configurations!

"Legless" for not too much longer!

I finally have the go-ahead from my surgeon to start "walking" physiotherapy. In about six weeks I should be able to get around without crutches or a cane, and I'm thrilled!

And what's high on my list to do first?

Hug my family without those annoying crutches in the way!
Start portrait sessions up again for my very patient clients.
Photograph spring flowers at the Royal Botanical Gardens.
Spend a few hours with my camera at a client's gorgeous property (see previous post below).
Grocery shop at Longo's and Burlington's outdoor market, and cook up a storm!
Take my daughter out for driving lessons. Hmmm, am I ready for a teenager on the road?

So far physio has gone very well. Not much pain at all, the hardest part is that when I put my "bad" leg to the floor my foot tickles so much I can hardly contain the giggles! I'm told that this is normal - not a bad symptom to have in the grand scheme of things. Always better to be laughing than crying....

When a Photographer Can't Photograph

Or, as my husband asked "what are you thinking about all day while you're laying there?"

It's been almost 6 weeks of bedrest following my surgery. Next week I'll find out how many more months of this I have ahead, and whether the 2nd surgery is required. This is far from over - so I'd better continue to keep my mind occupied!

What have I been thinking about?

• I'll admit to a few bouts of self pity, but generally my spirits are high - and mostly I'm so grateful that the tumour was found when it was (before my leg snapped) and that it was benign. And grateful that my husband and daughter look after me with selfless love and great patience, I'm truly blessed and I remember that every day!


• I wonder about the lesson I'm to learn from this experience. When came through my last major health issue about seven years ago I left a well-paying, steady income to leap into the career I had always desired. It hasn't been easy establishing a new business, but that experience seemed to me to have a very clear lesson - that life is short, and I had to follow my heart to be happy (which is ironic to me given that it was a cardiac issue!)


• I'm still working on what lesson I'm to learn this time. Patience perhaps? I think I've done really well on this one, but I suppose next week's news will tell me about just how patient I might need to be! :-)


• Photography, and more photography. I just cannot get enough. I'm looking at other photographers' work, listening to audio blogs about the creative and technical, thinking about all the locations I'd like photograph when I'm able to again, imagining all the beautiful faces that my wonderful clients give me the privilege to photograph. There's never a moment that I regret leaving the corporate life behind (well, I do miss a regular paycheque and the benefits plan from time to time if I'm being honest). I know that I made the right decision seven years ago. Maybe my lesson is to fully appreciate what a gift the last seven years have been. I may have been given a rather challenging body to live inside of, but overall I'm one very lucky woman.

Using my time constructively

There's not too much I'm able to do from here in bed as I recuperate - but I was able to design my new website! Check it out at http://www.theintrepidlens.com.

Happy "Almost Spring"!