it's been a while

i realize i haven't taken the time to update this blog in like ten years. but, i've been busy. no, i haven't had 3 kids, bought a farm, and started beekeeping.

but, i have been doing things i haven't ever dreamed of. well, maybe i dreamed of gardening. but, i thought i had the black thumb. i have killed cactus. in the desert. how do you do that, you may ask? too much water. at least i learn. i signed up eagerly this spring for 2 plots at the community garden. i have visions of tomatoes and lettuce. good things to eat. it would be effortless. it wouldn't be in my yard. i would get to know the community. it is organic.

oh wow. well, i started off strong. i had 2 different varieties of lettuce, snap peas, onions. my plot mate planted carrots, beets, radishes, nasturtiums, and strawberries. we were excited. but growing organically has it's definite challenges. it sounds so good and delicious and green. but, let me tell you. it was a constant battle with bugs.

now, i'm in the second growing season-fall/winter. i'm actually loving this part. not as much upkeep. i don't have to worry constantly about water as it rains more in these months anyway. i'm growing broccoli, cauliflower, baby bok choy, 3 varieties of carrots, spinach, 2 different kinds of beets, and brussels sprouts. much of my seeds came from a dear friend who passed away last month. but every time i eat something from her seeds, i smile.

i'm also growing a new life inside me. I am 15 weeks pregnant with baby number 2. looking forward to this new season in my life. can't imagine our family growing from 3 to 4. it will be an adjustment, for sure.

i am making some changes in my parenting habits, too. i realize that i've gotten lazy and lost sight of what i am suppose to be doing with Adrian. because he is not in school yet, he is still with me all day at home. it's tough at times, but i'm learning new skills. right now, i am implementing less t.v. time. i understand it won't happen overnight. i had to say no several times today. it forced us both to either play with neglected toys, cook together, or craft together. we had fun. plus, we were able to LOOK FORWARD to the movie time or t.v. time at the end of the day. this will now take place after supper and bath. wind down time. treat. it's nice. part of what i'm working off of is The Happy Child Guide i recently downloaded from the internet. Adrian is hitting phases i no longer feel confident managing. i felt it necessary to explore other ways to communicate with him. wish me luck!

my photography business continues to grow. i feel so fortunate to be able to work from home, do what i love, and be a part of other people's lives. a new fine art project i started this year is about loss. i hit the ground running, feeling it fulfilled a deep-seated need i had since art school. but, after two of my friends that i photographed as part of the series passed away, it's been hard to get back on track. i really want to see this project to fruition, to share these people's stories. i feel responsible for that. i just don't know how to get the momentum going.

sounds like so many struggles. but i'm grateful to be a part of all of this.

creepy farm camp out

we went out to my friend's farm the night before Halloween to have a creepy campout. we had not camped since adrian was 9 months old. he truly enjoyed the whole experience,

which makes me want to do it again right away.

hot dogs on sticks, chili on the stove, s'mores made by campfire, white russians, creepy stories read by flashlight, winter hats and pullovers, kids in costume, jack-o-lantern, hayrides by sunset

in the morning, we made a huge breakfast of bacon, sausage, eggs, toast, and coffee and juice. after breakfast, we headed out to the back field on the tractor to seed the field with oat seed from the wagon. the kids got to sow the seed themselves.

autumn at the gulf coast

my mother and i took a long weekend trip to the coast last weekend. it was the first

time i had been back since the oil spill had come ashore in june. my beautiful gulf coast looked exactly the way it did when i left. the waves were intense, but the skies were sparkly and calm. i can breathe so much better at the beach.

my mother and i talked about how women seem drawn to the shores of the sea. i think it's because they see something familiar in the rituals of the tides. it reminds them of themselves.

and we became heroes! we saved a baby sea turtle from a sure death in the clutches of a seagull. because of the recent full moon, i felt sure this turtle was a new hatchling making it's way to the sea and was interrupted by a pecking gull.

we set it back into the water and watched it tumble,

wave after wave. finally, it gained control of it's tiny legs and started to swim out to sea. i'd like to think it made it. but there is the oil to contend with out there...

chicken tacos for supper one night in the tradition of El Agave, one of my favorite restaurants. lots of cilantro, onion, and fresh

lime make these out of this world!

update!

holy cow! it's been a long time since i've been on here. a friend of mine recently looked at my blog and commented on the day of scattering my grandparent's ashes. i was appalled that this was my last post. my commitment of doing this every day has simply fallen short. i feel like i have missed almost a whole year of recording adrian's growth. also, a lot has happened in my personal life during the months i have been absent. here goes:

adrian vega is almost 3! he spent a few months in daycare at a baptist church this summer, getting used to the routine. he really enjoyed making new friends and absolutely adored his teacher "tessa". it was a great experience, but came to an end as i unexpectedly lost my job in june.

the economy has forced me to take a hard look at my career and make some big changes. going from a 1 1/2 hour commute and working full time to staying at home with adrian, running our new shop STRANDED art cooperative, and pursuing my photography full time has been a huge change for me. i love it, though. i never could have imagined that my life would be exactly what i had always dreamed. so grateful.

one of my biggest projects has been the building of my own photography studio in our sweet backyard paradise. i love the modern look of the structure, based loosely on a design in ready made magazine. it is complete with studio lighting, ceiling fan, and heat pump/air conditioning. it is such a lovely space to work and just relax.

my new website is : www.toniaedenphotography.com this website was an interesting undertaking, as i have never built one before. i think it properly represents me and all my funky ideas floating around in my head.

a ginormous blessing also came to me with the addition of my photo assistant, aimee elizabeth simonton. she has helped me every step of the way in my photo editing and even shoots. she is truly a loving and generous person who seeks to support me in any way she can. she even cooks me amazing meals! what a gem!

our shop, STRANDED art cooperative, has also kept me busy. working with artists that i know and deeply respect has been such a joy. i am honored to sell their beautiful things in our funky space right here on main street in montevallo. supporting my local community and raising the bar for all montevallo businesses to create a lovely downtown we can be proud of, has always been on my mind since we have moved back in 2005. now, we are getting that chance to shimmer and shine! we are located at:

STRANDED art cooperative

620-A Main Street

Montevallo, Al. 35115

ashes to sea

So a few weeks ago, we decided to finally lay to rest my grandparents in the beautiful Gulf Coast. My mother just decided one morning she needed to do this. I really enjoyed the small informal ceremony on the inlet. Funny thing, the water was flowing back into the lagoon, not out into the Gulf. But, I think they will eventually find their way.

my boy is 2!

we have been excited to celebrate the littlest one in the house. Adrian turned 2 yesterday and he got a photo shoot. we are gonna party hard this weekend with a monkey themed party. Patrick made some killer felt banana invites and envelopes. i can't wait for the festivities to begin!

hallow's eve

adrian went trick or treating for the first time this year!  he went as an ever appropriate monkey-as he is most definitely a curious george and also happens to love bananas.  took pics with iphone.  my husband, patrick, carved the skull.  i carved the penguin in an eric carle style for adrian.  we only went to a few houses before we dropped our little monkey off at noni's and papa's for the night.  patrick and i went on a much needed date to the movies to see "where the wild things are".  sorry, could not figure out the iphone pics yet.  post later.

after my grandmother died, my mother, aunt, adrian and i headed down to the beach house for some time of rest and reflection.  it was so nice to spend the time together and remember my beautiful grandma billie.  my mom and her sister had such a great time with adrian.  it's amazing what only a couple of days can do...

library visit

i took adrian to the library for the first time the other day.  he was so excited to see so many books.  he absolutely loves books.  they had paper on the tables so he could draw on them and tiny chairs for him to sit and read in.  lots of cute ikea furniture to play on.  i rented the velveteen rabbit dvd for home.  it is not a movie, rather stills from the book and someone reading it.  oh, how my mother loved to read me that book when we were kids.  there were so many books i look forward to reading to him... james and the giant peach and the narnia books.  but some new ones that are so colorful and intelligently written, like a poetry book about harriet tubman that was just so beautifully illustrated by jacob lawrence.  oh, it is so exciting the world of books just waiting for him to discover!