Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens : Akron, Ohio : Bridge Over Lagoons

Back behind the main part of the grounds there is a wooded area. When the Siberling family orginally built the house on the property they found massive stone quarries back in these woods. (Which coincedently is where the name Stan Hywett came from...It means Stone Quarry in Old English and is actually pronounced "He-witt".) The family had the quarries mined so they could use the stone in the buildings. Then they backfilled the empty quarries with water which made a series of lagoons on the back of the property. You wouldn't want to by the way it looks in this shot, but the Siberlings actually swam here in the summer.

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens : Akron, Ohio : Stone Trail

Here you can see some of the stones that were mined from the aforementioned quarries. These little stone foot paths are everywhere. While working with the kids on observation of light we walked a trail around the back of the property called Pleasure Lane. This foot path leads from a beautiful Japenese style garden (with huge ornamental bonsai) down to meet up with Pleasure Lane.

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens : Akron, Ohio : Persistance

I know this one won't be what most think of as pretty. And yes, I saw all of those dead flowers before I framed my shot. But keep in mind that it was close to 105 degrees on the grounds that day. All the flowers were baking in the heat. They sounded like rustling fall leaves when you brushed against them. I was telling the kids that as photographers they had to keep their eyes open for a shot, no matter what the conditions. But they whinned that the flowers in the garden were all wilted and there was nothing to photograph. Then I saw this persistant little bee and I started following it. It went from one flower bed to the next, buzzing around until it found the lone flower in each that still held pollen. Then it would land. And there is beauty in persistance.

Leaving for Children's: All dressed and ready to leave for the hospital. Our journey begins. :-)

Snuggles: Big hugs from dad after a blood draw and vitals check.

If You Knew What Was Comming...: TJ playing in the waiting area in cap and scrubs. He was next for surgery.

Oh So Sad: Our sweet little Beatle in recovery after the surgery.

Movie Magic: TJ enjoying some "Nemo Therapy." Wathcing Finding Nemo on Momma's laptop turned movie theater.

Morphine High: This is the dazed and confused look TJ sported most of the night yesterday. The morphine was super strong for him, but he developed a mild allergic reaction to it, giving him the "itchies."

Backer Board: This little hand was the source of much distress. TJ was alright with the IV, but he sure wanted them to let him out of the backer board they had taped to his hand.

Ice Cream Headache: As if TJ wasn't in enough pain, they brought him some orange sherbet and he took a big bite, earning an ice cream headache for his efforts.

Get Me Out of Here!: They wheeled TJ to the car in a wagon. Though he looked more than ready to leave he actually was crying because we had to turn off Finding Nemo and pack up the laptop to go. Around 7:00 pm Tues. 7/11/06

"Buddy" to Surgery: One just for fun, this is TJ's "Buddy" in his OR cap, all set for surgery.

Photo Study (Avery)

Our project for photography back at the beginning of April was people. I set out originally to do family relationship photography of Avery and Tristan. TJ wasn't having it. He didn't like having the "big eye" pointing at him and refused to stay on the backdrop. Giving up on the drop completely I took them to the park and tried to get some snapshot asthetics of them interacting. I just couldn't bring myself to hand in 6 photos of the back of Tristan's head, lol. So the first shot here is one of the best ones from the trip to the duck pond, Avery teaching Tristan how to tear up the bread and throw it to the "quack-quacks."

The ones following are the project how it ultimately appeared. Avery's 4th birthday was looming in my mind and I decided to try my hand at a photo study to capture all his little bits and pieces. Notice the dirt under his fingernails in the one of his hands, ROFL.

AJ and TJ : Waterworks Park : April 2006

Avery : Study of Avery : April 2006

Feet : Study of Avery : April 2006

Face : Study of Avery : April 2006

Eyes : Study of Avery : April 2006

Ear and Birthmark : Study of Avery : April 2006