ryan macdonald | PHOTOGRAPHY

2009-04-19T21:42:00.003-07:00

MOVING DAY!!!!

My blog is moving to a whole new location! Please update your bookmarks and head over to check out my new space!

http://blog.ryanmacdonaldphotography.com

2009-04-14T23:02:00.005-07:00

Travis Mersola...

I had a great session and was treated to the beautiful music of Travis Mersola while in Boston. Travis is the roommate of my lovely friend Ben (more of my photos there) and is about to graduate from Berklee College of Music. The final image was also posted over on the Photographer Network Blog a few weeks ago...don't forget to check us out over there!

2009-04-14T16:44:00.004-07:00

A'lisa Miles...

I met with the beautiful and talented actor A'lisa Miles on a sunny day in Boston. This girl loves to laugh and her face lights up every time!

2009-04-12T15:05:00.002-07:00

Sarita Uranovsky

While in Boston, I took photographs of Sarita Uranovsky, a wonderfully talented violinist. I met her at her home/ teaching studio and was treated to some pretty amazing music for the afternoon during our shoot. Head over to her website to read her super-impressive bio and accomplishments!

2009-04-04T01:06:00.005-07:00

NYC...

2009-04-01T23:12:00.003-07:00

Sara + Tymon...

Sara and Tymon were married on February 28th. We went to Butchart Gardens following the ceremony and had the entire grounds to ourselves to enjoy! What a treat! The day was cold, but these two were troopers! Congratulations!

2009-03-17T12:31:00.004-07:00

An afternoon with Jori Chisholm...

We spent the past weekend in Seattle attending a few concerts of my all-time favourite band Lúnasa. We sat with our piping friend Jori Chisholm during the first concert and arranged to meet for some photos the next afternoon at Gas Works Park. Not being familiar with Seattle I asked Jori to recommend a good place for photos, and what a location it was! Wow! I'm considering hiring him to be my full-time location scout!

Jori is one of the world's top professional pipers, a member of the World Champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, and he's just released his first album, Bagpipe Revolution.

2009-03-16T11:57:00.002-07:00

Head over to the Photographer Network blog to see the latest additions to our Photos of the Week collection!

2009-03-08T20:44:00.005-07:00

Spring is in the air...

Jamie and I spent some time at the beach today enjoying the sunshine. The light was beautiful. Farewell winter!

2009-02-27T17:45:00.003-08:00

More of Margaret MacLean...

I was revisiting a few of the files from the spring of 2008 and came across these images I took of Margaret in Port Hood, Cape Breton.

2009-02-24T11:07:00.002-08:00

Central Saanich tree...

We went for a Sunday drive and stumbled across this huge tree in a beautiful field.

2009-02-22T21:55:00.007-08:00

A morning in Beacon Hill Park with Laura, Rudy and Eva...

I met with Laura, her husband Rudy, and their beautiful daughter Eva on Saturday morning. We bypassed the greenery of the park and made our way up to the top of Beacon Hill for some family portraits amongst the gnarled trees. The moment I saw Eva's beautiful chocolate brown eyes I melted, and she made sure to entertain us all with her wonderful 'conversation' during the rest of the shoot! She was like a tiny tornado, always on the go! I absolutely enjoyed this session...these three were such a wonderful and loving family!

2009-02-16T12:56:00.004-08:00

Photographer Network....

Recently I was asked to become a part of the weekly blog Photographer Network. Each Monday we post our photos so stop on by to see images by Ben Benvie, Tristan Shouldice, Jenna Tye, Chris Webber and myself!

2009-02-11T08:55:00.002-08:00

Ben Powell's jazz violin album 'Light' is now in stores!

Ben Powell is an amazing jazz violinist from England. While he was visiting Victoria last summer, I took some photos for his album. Available in the iTunes store or CD Baby now! He's amazing!

2009-02-08T11:18:00.002-08:00

Happy birthday Jamie!

Today is Jamie's birthday and for 19 days, he's older than me. Believe me...I remind him of that fact each of those 19 days! I took this photo of him on our way to the second round of the BC Piper's knockout contest held in Vancouver on Friday evening. We'll be returning in a month for him to play in the final round!

2009-02-03T20:01:00.006-08:00

Ashley Spires...Penguin and the Cupcake

On Saturday we made a trip to Vancouver to attend the book launch of Penguin and the Cupcake. Ashley Spires wrote and illustrated this wonderful book for kids and had a full house in attendance at Once Upon a Huckleberry Bush. Talk about talented!! Her illustrations are absolutely amazing and her writing is full of humour. Ashley also makes the most beautiful felt finger puppets...all of which will be the inspiration for her upcoming books.

The cover of Penguin and the Cupcake.

Cupcakes starring the main character.

Ashley reading her book for all in attendance.

Signing copies for her tiny adoring fans.

Her beautiful finger puppets and stars of Penguin and the Cupcake (polar bear, penguin, and walrus).

The beautiful artist herself, at home after she stuffed us with hot-from-the-oven homemade muffins.

2009-02-02T07:18:00.003-08:00

The new website is finished!! Thank you Tristan!!

I honestly can't say enough good things about Tristan. He's the man responsible for my new website...really I mean it. I saw him on the street at the end of last summer and he said, 'You need a new website'. From then on he's been working like mad. If you need a website, he's your guy. I've known him since we started photography school together and he's not only a talented and creative web designer, but he's an amazing photographer. Plus he's the smartest person I know. He's always the first person I think of when I don't know an answer. I really think he needs information like most of us need air.

So if you're interested in a new website check out Tristan over at Introvenus Design. It doesn't matter if you're in Victoria or in the middle of nowhere...he can do a site for you. You will thank yourself for it!! I'll just thank Tristan...

2009-01-30T08:33:00.004-08:00

Again, one more....
Call it procrastination, call it a touch of homesickness...but here's another photo I dug up from my Spring trip home. My Da has an annual tradition of torching the field (as do most folks at home) to burn off all the old grass and hay that was under the snow all winter. Done early in the spring, it makes for a lush green field. Da loves this activity. Absolutely loves it! I came home to find him surrounded by fire, eating the leftover snow to quench his thirst, and using his sweater to put out the flames.

2009-01-28T21:14:00.002-08:00

Cape Breton...
Just doing some last minute tweaks on the images for my new website which (thanks to the amazing Tristan) will have it's grand debut on Sunday! Sorting through my files, I took a quick trip down memory lane via the photos I took while I was home in the fall. This day we made our way over to Dundee to check up on the boat and stopped in Whycocomagh on the way through so I could take some photos of these beautifully rusty gas tanks.

2009-01-27T18:08:00.002-08:00

A trip to the beach on Friday night...

Jamie and I made our way to Willows Beach on Friday evening to hang out, sip coffee, and have some fun. We took some photos for the JWT Reedmakers blog and played with the new mini flashlights his Uncle Colin gave us for Xmas.

2009-01-18T11:54:00.002-08:00

The second installment of 'Photographing the Art' is now online at pipes|drums! Subscription required to view.

2009-01-13T17:31:00.003-08:00

January cleaning...

As I'm going through all my files for the new site, I'm coming across some photos that are making me smile. When I was in the pipe band last year, I stayed in Milton with Gail Brown during one of the practice weekends. Her dad Norm picked me up at the airport and kept me well entertained...even asking for driving directions back to Gail's! He is seriously one of the funniest people I've ever come across in my life. He's known for having his front shirt pocket absolutely stuffed - wallet, pens, notes, coupons, you name it - so his grandsons had him take some things out to show me, one being a list (by year) of his collection of Ford Model A keys. He's full of stories and beyond entertaining!

2009-01-12T19:56:00.003-08:00

Bruce Gandy...

In a few days, the second installment of the pipes|drums feature will be online. Bruce Gandy was one of the participants in this series and I took some photos of him in Halifax in the fall ...yes, he's Alex's dad. Together they're a major force on the competitive piping scene!

2009-01-12T17:18:00.002-08:00

Bonnie Jean and the girls...

My best pal Bonnie Jean is patiently awaiting the arrival of her twin girls. These photos were taken in October while I was visiting her in Dartmouth and our timing couldn't have been better because she's now in the hospital on strict bed rest. Can't wait to meet these two wee girls. Hang in there...wishing you all the best BJ and Michael!

2009-01-12T14:37:00.003-08:00

More of Alex...

Jamie's heading to Kansas City this weekend for the Midwest Highland Arts Fund - Winter Storm competition. He's going to meet up with our pal Alex Gandy to deliver his images from our August session in Glasgow so I thought I'd share a few. Good luck!

2009-01-11T11:28:00.005-08:00

Bigger photos for Ma!

I can picture my Ma at home with her face pressed up against her screen trying to see what's in the photos I post here. I've figured out how to post larger photos, with her in mind...enjoy.

Just two photos from when I was home in the fall, making crab apple jelly from Stoogie's hill with her.

2009-01-10T19:33:00.007-08:00

Part Two...

After I finished shooting the session with Paul and Kalissa, Ivonne stepped in for some photos with her little sister. In three short weeks these two gals recorded two full-length fiddle albums - Kalissa's first solo album, and a twin fiddle album of traditional tunes. It was Ivonne's last day in town before heading back to Boston for her final term at Berklee, so it was a good chance to take some photos for their album and hang out at the same time. Keep your eyes peeled for their soon-to-be-released albums!

2009-01-08T15:04:00.005-08:00

Tunes...

This morning I had the pleasure to take some photos of Paul O'Brien and Kalissa Hernandez. Paul is a great singer and all-round musician from the UK, now living in Victoria. Many of you will recognize Kalissa the fabulous fiddler from a few posts back. She's just finished recording her new album and Paul and herself are touring England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland in February. Some new promo shots of the two of them together was a 'to do' they can now cross off their list. I'm just editing my way through the images this afternoon but thought I'd post some on my 'break'. Head down to the Irish Times Pub tomorrow evening to hear them play...no better excuse to grab a pint of Guinness on your Friday night!

2009-01-06T20:40:00.009-08:00

Just a few more images of pipers and drummers from the previous installment of the pipes|drums feature...all new faces to come in the second installment!

Matt MacIsaac, Glasgow, Scotland

Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band, Glasgow, Scotland

Matt MacIsaac, Glasgow, Scotland

Tyler Fry, Glasgow, Scotland

James P. Troy, Glasgow, Scotland

Graham Brown, Glasgow, Scotland

Alex Gandy, Glasgow, Scotland

Alex Gandy's Hands, Glasgow, Scotland

Fin Moore, Richmond, Vermont

Tyler Fry, Glasgow, Scotland

Matt MacIsaac, Glasgow, Scotland

Thomas Munroe, Ajax, Ontario

Premier Drum Fanfare, World Pipe Band Championships, Glasgow, Scotland

Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band, Glasgow, Scotland

Tyler Fry, Glasgow, Scotland

Matt MacIsaac's Hands, Glasgow, Scotland

2009-01-06T17:44:00.006-08:00

Coming soon...

Just gearing up now to send away my second installment of piping and drumming portraits for pipes|drums online magazine. The first installment included images of Michael Grey (shown here) that were taken in Glasgow, Scotland this past summer while we were both over to compete at the World Pipe Band Championships.

Back when I was a kid growing up in Cape Breton, Michael was one of the instructors that came to teach us at the Gaelic College and he's remained a good friend ever since. At 15, I had a summer job as a outdoor ceilidh performer for bus loads of tourists at the College and Michael had dared me to speak 'Newfinese' for an entire day (my mother is a Newfoundlander, so it wasn't a problem). $5 was on the line and I'm stubborn enough to tough it out for a day. That day however, turned out to be my rotation on announcing the ceilidh lineup and informing the tourists about the pipes and the dances performed, etc., through a microphone that amplified my voice across the entire campus. Michael was howling on the sidelines and the tourists were clueless. I made my $5 that day.

For those of you who subscribe to pipes|drums, stay tuned for the next feature!

2009-01-02T15:08:00.003-08:00

STAY TUNED FOR THE LAUNCH OF MY BRAND SPANKIN' SPARKLY NEW OVERHAULED SITE!!

Content is currently being collected and organized while my wonderful and talented pal Tristan Shouldice over at Introvenus Design is doing all the design work. It's going to be fabulous! I'll keep you posted as things progress...

2009-01-02T10:09:00.010-08:00

Thank you 2008!
2008 was a great year and it treated me very well. I seemed to be on the road quite a bit between shooting and piping...Mexico, Cape Breton, Vermont, Toronto, Glasgow, Cape Breton again, and Jolly Old London. I accomplished three goals I made:

1. Participate in a project to document the Gaelic speakers in Cape Breton.
2. Start to document all the great pipers and drummers in the Pipe Band world (and beyond!).
3. Showing my first solo exhibit in Cape Breton.

The year was jam-packed with fabulous clients who have passed my name on to their friends and families (thank you...you all know who you are!). I am so fortunate to have open-minded and trusting clients who give me creative freedom during our shoots. Together we've created some pretty amazing images this year.

A major thank you must go out to my Jamie who patiently sits each evening and waits until I'm finished editing to savour just a few moments of 'hang-out time'. 2009 marks 11 years together and I wouldn't trade a single second of it.

Thank you! Looking forward to 2009!
Ryan

Just a few of my favourite images from the past year (in no particular order):

My Bonnie Jean, Bridgewater, NS, October 2008. One of my best friends from back in the Gaelic College days, Bonnie Jean and her husband Michael are in the hospital as I write this waiting for the arrival of their twin girls. I'm rooting for you guys!

Dawn and Family, Victoria, BC, August 2008. I wish there was a photo of me like this from when I was little!

Hahn Girls, Victoria BC, November 2008. The colours, the light...these girls were awesome!

Bridget Claire and Pat, North Sydney, Cape Breton Island, October 2008. Bridget Claire was the most beautiful crying baby I've ever seen. Apparently the day of our shoot marked the beginning of the 'terrible twos'. She is a stunner!

Ben Powell, Victoria BC, June 2008. We borrowed a pub for some of Ben's album and promo shots. From England, the backdrop seemed just about right. A jazz-violinist attending Berklee, his album should be hitting the charts soon!

Angela and Matthew, St. Ann's, Cape Breton Island, October 2008. Great tunes and lots of laughs. Nothing beats a Cape Breton wedding!

Alana, Little River, Cape Breton Island, October 2008. We had a lot of fun on Alana's shoot. It was absolutely freezing...if you could have seen me during the shoot, I was wearing two jackets, hat and mitts, and my hood pulled tightly around my face. I took off my sweater for Alana to wear and to look at her here, you'd think it was summer. What a gal!

Clara, Florence, Cape Breton Island, October 2008. Clara's mom Crystal was my university roommate, so I extended my stay on the Island to see her for a few hours and take some photos of her new baby. Clara looks identical to her grandfather Buzzy (who makes the best deep-fried turkey on the Northside).

Melissa and Carlton, Victoria BC, June 2008. This wedding had it all! Great light, great locations and the entertainment of Rock Band.

Tasha and Ben, Victoria BC, November 2008. These two are so in love. Pure magic.

Andrea, Victoria BC, July 2008. I was second shooting at one of Eunice's
weddings in the summer and had a short second alone with the bride to grab this shot. This has become one of my favourite buildings in Victoria, even though it isn't in the best area of town.

Monica and Tom, Sooke BC, June 2008. I really love this image...I think Monica's rubber boots really make the shot!

Julie and Ty, Whitty's Lagoon BC, June 2008. Julie and I went to photo school together and I was pretty chuffed she asked me to be her wedding photographer. They brought along a great vintage megaphone and I couldn't resist photographing this one.

Eilidh MacDonald, Victoria BC, July 2008. I love this portrait. Everything about it!

Angela and Matthew, Glace Bay, Cape Breton Island, October 2008. I'd have to vote this my favourite wedding jump of the year. Angela is a highland dancer and brought along her slippers for the shoot. Don't know many people who can do this in a wedding dress and still look beautiful.

Julie and Ryan, Victoria, BC, June 2008. We had so much fun during this shoot. Little did we know at the time that baby Isley would arrive prematurely a few days later.

Emmy, Victoria BC, August 2008. Emmy and Aaron had some great locations lined up and gave me the creative contol for the day.

Matt MacIsaac, Glasgow, Scotland, August 2008. Another Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band member and long-time friend, Matt and I met up one afternoon to take some photos for his upcoming album. You may also recognize him as the piper extraordinaire (and multi-instrumentalist) for
Natalie MacMaster.

Joe Peter MacLean, Sydney, Cape Breton Island, April 2008. Joe Peter is Cape Breton's musical jewel. Known by many and a friend to all he's one of the finest characters on the Island.

Sadie Mae MacInnis, Skir Dhu, Cape Breton Island, April 2008. There hasn't been a moment in my life that I haven't known Sadie Mae. From my community, she's the Queen of the Shore and makes the best oat cakes and tea that will ever touch your lips.

James P. Troy (my Jamie), Glasgow, Scotland, August 2008. Shortly after finishing playing with the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band at the
World Pipe Band Championships.

Jill's Grampie, Truro NS, October 2008. My best friend's grandfather who now lives in a retirement home and builds boats in bottles.

Peter Jack MacLean, Christmas Island, Cape Breton Island, April 2008. He knew my pipes were in the car and made me go get them and play for him in his kitchen.

Martha Ramey, Coxheath, Cape Breton Island, April 2008. Perhaps the world's biggest Habs fan.

Margaret MacLean, Port Hood, Cape Breton Island, April 2008. Sadly Margaret passed away on Dec 9th at the age of 97. I was so happy to have taken this photograph when I did.

2008-12-28T14:42:00.003-08:00

Family during the holidays...

Just a few shots of some of the family here in Victoria during December. Prints were a big hit under the tree so I couldn't post any images until the gifts were opened so the family would still be surprised.

2008-12-05T10:51:00.002-08:00

My Fin...

This summer I was lucky to spend a whole week with one of my best, best, best friends Fin...not an easy thing to coordinate with both of our schedules. I've been friends with Fin for 16 years...wow...the stories and shenanigans those years could tell. Fin is a great piper and plays a dance reel like no one else. He also makes the best smallpipes on the earth with his dad Hamish. It was the highlight of my summer just being able to hang out for a week playing tunes until late in the night and dancing to Angus playing his polkas.

2008-12-05T10:38:00.003-08:00

Isley and her folks...

Ryan is one of Jamie's oldest and best friends. They bonded early on when they played in a band together and still share a common love of Rush. When I took Julie's maternity photos back in June, she strapped on her fancy new red Fluvog pumps and a few days later Isley arrived...we're convinced it was the shoes. Isley was premature and at 3lbs 7oz, she was in the hospital for a while but now she getting stronger and cuter by the day. These guys make one cool family and we're just waiting until Isley is big enough to wear the Rush hoodie we gave her (hey, babies rock too!)

2008-12-05T10:16:00.004-08:00

Kalissa Hernandez...

Before I was back east I had a session with Kalissa, an amazing fiddler from Victoria. I'm finally catching up a bit and finished her edits in time for her upcoming CD and new website (stay tuned for a link). You can catch Kalissa playing at the Irish Times Pub throughout December...not to be missed!

2008-11-30T13:02:00.002-08:00

Just sorting through my files...

Just doing a bit of housecleaning with my files and came across this one I took of Jamie while we were back in Cape Breton. After a few gloomy days of rain in Victoria, this burst of sunshine was just what I needed!

2008-11-25T09:30:00.004-08:00

Believe it...this is November in Victoria!

Laura set up a family portrait session and chose her location, which is always exciting for me as I get to discover new and wonderful nooks and crannies around the city. I had so much fun with her girls GG and Lola - balls of energy with wonderful imaginations - 'free spirits' as they were described to me before meeting them.

2008-11-24T22:42:00.002-08:00

Just for fun...

I had a last-minute cancellation on Sunday and luckily had some time to spend with Jamie, Jacquie and Travis. I figured it'd be a good time to take some new photos of Jacquie and Travis while he was in town so we went exploring and looking for some fun. Jamie kept turning up in my shots, so we decided to include him in a few.

2008-11-20T22:21:00.004-08:00

A few more...

Just posting of a few more photos from Tasha and Ben's wedding out in Sooke, BC. Combine an amazingly surreal location and a beautiful couple willing to do absolutely anything (even getting in the water in November) to make the perfect combination for great photos!

2008-11-20T18:02:00.005-08:00

Update:

The Cainnt mo Mhàthar website has finally been launched! Visit it to view photographs I took of the Gaelic elders on Cape Breton Island as well as resources for the Gaelic language renewal on the island.

2008-11-19T14:37:00.003-08:00

The Hanna Trilogy...

This past weekend I finshed up with my Hanna Trilogy. Photographing three brother and their families over a span of possibly three years. The final shoot was with Mark, his wife Julie and their adorable kids Emily and Gabriel. Grandma Cheryl hired me to photograph all three families so I'm sure she'll be relieved to fill in the missing spots on her wall of fame.

2008-11-18T21:09:00.004-08:00

I've finally met Arwen!

Jenny and Cory have been my longest running clients. I've been lucky to photograph their family, their wedding, their pregnancy, and now their beautiful daughter Arwen. At 6 1/2 months, she is as solid as a rock and in the 98th percentile for height and weight for her age. She's happy, entertaining, and super snuggleable.

I don't know how she did it, but she won me over and became cuter by the second...I'm not exaggerating. I'm really excited to see her grow as I'm sure there will be many more photo sessions in our future!

2008-11-16T16:50:00.002-08:00

Claire...

Claire contacted me for a 'just because' session. We hit the streets of Victoria for an afternoon, covering a lot of area and getting some great shots.

2008-11-15T17:35:00.002-08:00

Buzzy's Clara...

Crystal was another university roommate and fellow band member in the Gaelic College Pipe Band. During school, her mom Rita kept our pantry and freezer well-stocked with her 'care-packages'...cookies, muffins, bread, biscuits...if it could be baked, it was in our freezer. Crystal now lives in Ottawa but we luckily managed to cross paths while we were both home in Cape Breton for a photo shoot of her new daughter Clara. Clara looks almost identical to her proud papa Buzzy so we had to make sure to get him in one of the photos. Underneath her hat (which makes her resemble Relic from The Beachcombers according to Crystal...and I'd have to agree!) she has a beautiful head of red-hair just like her mom. As we said farewell, Rita stuffed two giant bags of muffins and cookies into my arms, along with a kebab of sour candy. Old habits die hard I guess...

2008-11-15T16:51:00.002-08:00

A wee peek for Tasha + Ben...

Behind my camera, I was fortunate to witness Tasha and Ben's marriage this past Tuesday. I can honestly say their love is a powerful and beautiful thing...I can't even attempt to describe it in words but you can feel it just being around them. This is just a small sneak peek for them.

2008-11-13T12:23:00.002-08:00

Jill's Grampy

Jill and I were university roommates. Not by our own choice....well partially by my choice. For some reason, I was placed in a French-only residence. No English spoken whatsoever and penalties for speaking English. Did I mention I can't speak French - not a drop of it. So I had to make an appeal to get a transfer to a different residence and was put on a wait list. The day I was notified there were two openings in Bermuda residence I ran over to check out the rooms and potential new roommates. Option one: an upstairs spacious room with lots of windows and a smiling roommate. Option two: a dark musty basement room as big as a closet with a roommate glaring at me. Naturally I like a challenge and chose the glaring roommate. From then on, Jill and I were inseparable and although she's traveled practically everywhere, she is always in contact and always comes back to me. When I was home I stayed at her place for a few days and we went to visit her Grampy who builds boats in bottles.

2008-11-13T12:00:00.005-08:00

London...

We just returned home from London and have fallen madly in love with the city. Jamie was over to compete at the Royal Piping Society London contest and ended up winning the overall award for the B grade. Head over to JWT Reedmakers blog for some more information and a few more photos from our trip. After the competition was over, we played the role of tourists and had an amazing time. Now home, we're counting the days until we can return.

Jamie in the elegant final tuning room (aka the Ladie's Loo).

JP and our lovely pal Andrea Boyd, a fabulous piper from home and fellow prize winner.

2008-11-12T16:04:00.003-08:00

Alana at the Shore...

For most of my early childhood, Alana lived across the road. Her brother Eric was my partner in crime for a long while building snow forts, making camps in the woods, skating at Alligator Pond with Jody, and tormenting the partridges with crab apples. Alana was my sister's age and they were more busy with boys than mud pies! She contacted me through Facebook and wanted to book a session with no reason other than 'just because'. Seemed like a great plan so I left the decision of location up to her. Her father Ian is a lobster fisherman so naturally we went to the shore for photos around the beach and fishing sheds. A quick drive up to Baddeck where her folks now live found us taking photos on Ian's boat which was in the yard for the winter.

2008-11-12T12:31:00.004-08:00

Drea the beauty in the cornfield...

It's turning into a bit of a tradition. Each time I'm lucky enough to make it home to Cape Breton, longtime friend Kelly MacArthur books me to take photos of her cutie-pie Drea. On this day, the weather was quite unsettled (actually a tail end of a hurricane to be more specific). We chose to go ahead with the session since it was the only free day between the two of us. We met in Point Aconi and had great intentions to take photos at the beach only when we arrived the wind was blowing so hard we could hardly hear each other and the Atlantic was so angry it was scary. With a plan B in mind, we made our way up the road to a dried-up cornfield and decided to make the best of it there. Drea was freezing, Kelly fell in the ditch and I was there documenting it all!

2008-11-10T10:35:00.008-08:00

Angela + Matthew...a Cape Breton Wedding!

Angela and I once worked together at the Gaelic College in St. Ann's, Cape Breton. She is a highland dancer and when we worked together she could always be counted on to blurt out the most comical things. One late-night jam session turned into a full-out improvised rap with Angela's catch-phrases. When she contacted me back in the spring to shoot her October wedding in Glace Bay, I knew it would be a fantastic day. She met Matthew while they were students at Université Sainte-Anne, and the rest is history. The wedding day was high-energy and full of laughs....it was the first time for most of the guys to wear their kilts so Angela put me on highland regalia duty, making sure all the kilts were on properly. After the ceremony when we went to the beach for photos and we couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather - golden light and unbelievable clouds. We made our way to our old stomping grounds at the Gaelic College for the reception and square dance to follow. Great tunes, great laughs, and great friends. Congratulations Angela and Matthew and thanks for including me in your day!

2008-10-23T19:14:00.003-07:00

Another Facebook connection...

Monique contacted me back in the spring about getting some photos taken of her family the next time I came to Cape Breton. Since I've been here for a month already, we were able to meet for a session in North Sydney. Monique was part of a highland dancing troupe during my years in the Gaelic College Pipe Band, so we would have frequent gigs together. The years have found her married and with a beautiful two year old girl named Bridget Claire.

2008-10-22T15:51:00.008-07:00

Look who found me...

Through the wonders of Facebook I was contacted by Marsha, a childhood ski pal. I hadn't heard from her since the Nancy Greene days on Ski Cape Smokey where a whole crew of us would be bombing around the hills blissfully ignoring the rules of the Ski Patrol. Marsha just recently moved her family of boys back to her old stomping ground of Ingonish and we met for some fun photos a few weeks back. For an October day, the weather was amazingly warm, which confused her kids who had spent many days at the beach over the summer. One beelined for the ocean, quickly caught by dad Joey just before getting entirely soaked, and the other yanked his pants off and ran freely up and down the beach...happily proceeding to repeat this scenario each time he was redressed. Quite amusing I must say! After all these years, it's really great to see her with such a happy family.

2008-10-19T15:29:00.006-07:00

Cari and Caden
A few weeks back, before the chaos of Celtic Colours began, I had a session in Baddeck with Cari and Caden. We met at Cari's friend's house to borrow their yard and wharf for our shoot, and what a location it was! Caden was as clever as can be, full of questions, and curious about absolutely everything. Here are just a few images from our session.

2008-10-19T12:32:00.007-07:00

Cainnt mo Mhàthar (My Mother's Language) - Exhibit

The past few weeks have been busy...jam-packed actually. With thanks to the accommodating folks at Highland Village in Iona, and with lots of help from family and Yvette Rogers from Celtic Colours the prints made it on the wall of the Centre Chimney House. The frames were made by my father from old fishing crates donated from the people along the North Shore, and everything was assembled with help from my mother, Steve, and Jamie.
At the opening, Jamie piped outside the house up on the hill and after a brief welcome indoors, the project participants in attendance started singing Gaelic songs, and the fiddles and pipes played while the hot tea and snacks were served. A wonderful afternoon indeed!

One of the crates before it was pulled apart to make a frame.

The wood donated by project participant Sadie Mae MacInnis. The wood was taken from the barn built by her late husband 47 years ago.

My father Brian sitting with one of the 25 frames he made.

The wonderful Yvette Rogers working her magic on hanging the prints on crooked walls!

The opening!

Aonghas Grant from Scotland playing some tunes.

Joanne MacIntyre dancing a few steps.

Calum Alex MacMillan from Scotland playing some tunes on the smallpipes, seated by his father Seonaidh Beag MacMillan who sang a beautiful Gaelic song.

Sadie Mae MacInnes taking it all in...

2008-09-18T10:58:00.014-07:00

Cainnt mo Mhàthar (My Mother's Language)

For those of you in Cape Breton, or those planning on being in Cape Breton during the Celtic Colours International Festival it would be great to see you in attendance for the opening of my photo exhibit on October 14 at the Highland Village Museum in Iona from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM.

From the Celtic Colours event listing for the exhibit:

"The Cainnt mo Mhàthar (My Mother's Language) project involved filming Nova Scotia's native Gaelic speakers in their own home environments. The hospitality and vitality of these elders was captured by photographer Ryan MacDonald, and is presented in this special exhibit in a historic farmhouse in the antiquated setting of Highland Village. The Opening of the Exhibit is followed by a Tea and Ceilidh, where you can ask about the photographs, the Cainnt Mo Mhàthar Project, and the many dialects of Gaelic still alive in Nova Scotia."

I'll be in attendance and will obviously have my pipes with me for some tunes afterward. I'll also be playing during the festival at the Piper's Ceilidh and The Waters of Iona as well as in the opening concert with a slew of other great pipers to accompany Carlos Núñez.

Hope to see you all there!
Ryan

2008-09-18T10:58:00.008-07:00

Christina + Jim...married at last!

August 30th was a beautiful Saturday when Eunice and I drove up to Providence Farm in Duncan for Christina and Jim's wedding. Jim and his groomsmen were dapper, Christina a beauty, and their son Will was as sweet as pie in his suit. It had been a long time coming for this wedding with both sides of the family crying and celebrating the whole day! Christina's grandmother was amazing and kept me well entertained, and most of the ladies that had been at the bachelorette party earlier in the week, were unable to remove their 'WIld' temporary tattoos, including Jim's mom. On of my favorite moments of the day (other than indulging myself at their decadent candy bar!) was watching Christina and Jim's first dance...upbeat and bringing out all the moves! Congratulations!

2008-09-06T19:21:00.004-07:00

Kristy + Jeff

Kristy and Jeff were married on August 23 on the beach in Parksville. They had a fun and lively bridal party which kept me well entertained all day and it was such a casual and relaxed day leading up to the ceremony. Jeff and Kristy were just hanging out with their friends, eating and having drinks while they were getting ready. The sky was perfect for photos and like real troopers, the newlyweds waded in the water, which I'm sure was freezing.

2008-09-06T18:23:00.004-07:00

Emmy + Aaron...married!

On Sunday, August 24, Emmy and Aaron were married at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. I woke up early in the morning to a relentless and torrential downpour. As I was driving downtown to meet Emmy at the Empress, I was reciting an improvised charm to stop the rain, and luckily it worked. I should really consider working for Environment Canada... As if the rain wasn't enough, both Emmy and Aaron were final nursed back to health after a bout of recent bad luck. A month before the wedding, Emmy was hit in the face by a softball, breaking her cheek in 3 places, requiring 2 surgeries to get on the mend. The same week, Aaron had an accident on his bike, flying over his handlebars and getting pretty banged up and road rash all over his face. Accidents and rain aside, they looked great on the day and were well deserving of a good time!
Anyways, a few months back, Emmy and Aaron contacted me about shooting their wedding. They are both photographers so they understood my desire for clouds on the day of their wedding. As visual people, their wedding was planned entirely around when the Dalias bloom and like an explosion of colour, they were everywhere on the day. Emmy was calm even when her dress split down the side after the ceremony and luckily, her aunt was a seamstress who quickly sewed her into her dress for her photos. She wore a hot pair of red patent heels that didn't slow her down even while she climbed rock walls by the ocean and into a window casing downtown. As for Aaron, his finest accessory was his Hasselblad that he brought along to get photos of him taking photos of Emmy. A lovely couple and a lovely wedding. Congratulations!

2008-08-21T19:34:00.004-07:00

Some more images from Prashan and Andrea's wedding that I shot with Eunice a few weeks back. Love the attitude in the portraits of the groomsmen.

The groomsmen gladly held Eunice's backdrop setup in the wind.
We stopped quite a lot of traffic for the Dallas Road cruisers.

Some last minute jitters in the elevator at the Grand Pacific.

2008-08-21T17:02:00.011-07:00

I've just returned from Scotland where I was playing at the World Pipe Band Championships, and have been frantically trying to catch up on my snail-speed blogging. Apologies on that, lots of updates in the works!

Julie + Tyler...

Julie and I were classmates during my first year at the Western Academy of Photography. She is an amazing photographer (so is Tyler) and I've always been in awe of her fine art work. When she contacted me in January to shoot her June nuptials at Whitty's Lagoon, I can honestly say I was more than honored. The wedding day was the first time I officially met Tyler, as most times we were passing in the studio hallways when he'd be heading to the school to help out Julie. Together, they are a super-creative couple and gave me the freedom on the day to create whatever came to mind. Talk about easy to work with!
Congratulations!

2008-07-22T19:18:00.002-07:00

Sweet Molly!

I went to Adam and Courtney's a few weekends ago for a backyard photo session. Jamie and Adam have been good friends for at least 14 years and due to the hectic pace of life, this was the first time I was able to meet their latest addition Molly. I think she looks like a Who from Dr. Seuss with the cute curl on top of her head!

2008-07-21T17:50:00.003-07:00

The MacDonald Girls from Regina

A few weeks back I was contacted by Barb MacDonald to take some photos of her daughter Eilidh. They were making the trip out to Victoria from Regina for Eilidh to compete in the Canadian Highland Dancing Competitions. Once I heard her last name and that she was from Regina, I knew we were connected through piping. We had a great session at the beach, full of laughs, and will meet up again in a few weeks at the North American Pipe Band Championships when our bands are competing.

Barb and Eilidh's hands together....both pipers!

2008-07-21T11:56:00.002-07:00

Andrea + Prashant

Last weekend I took a few hours to shoot Andrea and Prashant's wedding with Eunice Montenegro. It was a really hot and sunny day and Eunice entertained me the whole time (as usual). What a gal! Here are just a few of the images I took that day.

2008-07-09T19:12:00.005-07:00

Tom + Monica...married at last!

Tom and Monica were married on June 21 in Sooke and held their reception at the beautiful Sooke Harbour House. They were very warm and welcoming and so excited to tie the knot. The day was gorgeous, warm and windy, and Monica's dress was perfectly catching each breeze! After she made a quick shoe change into her rubber boots, we took a walk out on the spit for some photos (where I soon learned Tom's best man was a fellow Cape Bretoner. We're everywhere!) It was very apparent that they are well loved with friends and family coming from near and far to share in their day. After posting their web gallery late last evening, I received this wonderful email from them this morning and it made my day:

Ryan, Ryan, Ryan....you are incredible! We've been looking at the photos over and over and over! They're fantastic, beautiful, enigmatic, and so full of emotion, capturing each moment - and the entire day so perfectly. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts:) Brilliant work - you captured Monica getting ready so wonderfully - and you brought the church to life (thanks for capturing everything that we missed while we we're busy get married!). You have incredible talent and not only are you super professional (we're scratching our heads how you took so many photos - in the church for instance, without anyone noticing!) - but you have a brilliantly creative eye for using your environment (the wind/sky) to get the most out of each photo. You're a rising star and sure to have an exciting future ahead of you! Warmest Regards with boundless gratitude, Tom & Monica

Congratulations Tom and Monica! Enjoy every moment!
Ryan

2008-07-07T13:35:00.005-07:00

Susan + JR

Susan contacted me after we met while I was shooting Brianna and Trevor's wedding in May. Susan and JR were married in April and wanted to make good use of their dress and suit at a local construction site for some unique wedding photos. We had a blast....Susan and JR were up for any challenge and weren't scared to get a little (actually a lot) dusty...my kind of couple! Considering I was lying face-down on the floor, I can honestly say I was the dirtiest I have ever been leaving a shoot. At one point, I had climbed a ladder and was on the top of the building shooting down to the rooftop...it was great! It was Susan's idea to take our session to the construction site and she was a trooper running up and down the many, many flights of stairs in her dress. Thanks to Susan and JR for taking a chance! It was well worth it, dust and all!

2008-07-05T19:07:00.002-07:00

British Big Ben....

Just posting a few shots from my time spent with Ben. I have a while to edit this session so I'll post a few more a little down the road when the pile of editing eases up a bit...

2008-06-25T15:07:00.004-07:00

Ivonne + Ben....the dream team!

I've known Ivonne for as long as I've lived in Victoria. She's a super-fantastic fiddler and really gets me. We have the exact same sense of humor so our time together is basically spent howling laughing, and occasionally playing tunes. She's so talented that she's currently attending Berklee College of Music in Boston...which brings us to Ben from England. They met at Berklee and Ben's a super-fantastic jazz violinist who laughs as much as Ivonne. They're really great to be with and great together! We all went up to Nanaimo on Sunday to WildPlay and zip-lined through the trees and made plans for promo photos for Ben on Monday. The photos turned out super-fantastic (coming soon), so we met on Tuesday for a few more and then I took some of Ben and Ivonne together on the streets and back alleys of Victoria. Of course it was a good excuse to get ice cream cones because we needed them for 'props'....feel free to use that excuse any time you need!
Loved hanging out with you two. Hurry back!

2008-06-17T22:37:00.007-07:00

Meet the Newlyweds!

Carlton and Melissa are a laid-back couple overflowing with love for each other....it was an absolute treat to photograph their Naden nuptials at CFB Esquimalt on June 7th. It was a small and intimate wedding held out on the sunny balcony overlooking the Pacific. The wind was blowing (like it usually does in Esquimalt), but on this day the guests had to hold onto their seats for fear they'd take off to sea....and Carlton sweetly held Melissa's veil in place the whole ceremony. They had great food, great music and dancing, warm welcoming family and friends, cigar smoking, and even a bit of 'Rock Band' thrown in for good measure to end the night. Congratulations!

2008-06-09T11:19:00.003-07:00

How much do I love these kids!?!

Gord and Lil should just have as many kids as possible...I'm sure they're perfectly happy with the two amazing wee ones they have, but they do make the most beautiful and clever kids in the world. Gord is Jamie's first cousin and during the celebrations at a family dinner yesterday, I snagged some photos of the kids. Kendyl was trying out her best pretzel wrestling moves on Callum and he was happily slobbering big soggy kisses over her whole face. These kids make me howl with laughter and I feel like the crazy relative that just wants to pinch their cheeks all the time. The cutest kids in the world. Period.

2008-06-06T11:14:00.002-07:00

Leah + Mike...Engagement Session

On Monday I hit the beaches of Sidney to photograph Leah, Mike, and their pug Jackson. I wished for clouds the entire drive out there, and the blazing sun seemed to be taunting me....relentlessly shining strongly! Just as Leah and Mike arrived, my wishes came true and the clouds came out to cover the sun and really gave us some drama for our session. Leah and Mike also play tennis every day, rain or shine, so we decided to hit up the court for some love (pardon the pun). I'm so excited to shoot their wedding next April as they're up for anything I suggest. How about bungee jumping on the wedding day? Kidding, but the ol' wheels are turning....
Congrats!

2008-06-01T11:40:00.002-07:00

Brianna + Trevor....sneak peek!

Congratulations to Brianna + Trevor who tied the knot yesterday! We headed to the beach for some pre-ceremony photos and it was a great treat to be able to take the photos of the super-fun couple beforehand....the hair and make-up were fresh, they were relaxed yet excited for their ceremony and party to follow. I'd highly recommend it to anyone out there planning your day....we had plenty of time to get really great shots and they could focus on spending time with their guest for the rest of the day, without having to leave them after the ceremony! They're away on their honeymoon tomorrow...enjoy the beach and congratulations again!

2008-05-25T14:22:00.006-07:00

The Carvell Family Ties the Knot!

Bobbie and Bryce kicked off my wedding season with a small backyard morning wedding with just a few of their closest friends present. It was a hot and sunny day (finally!) and they celebrated with champagne and pancakes afterwards. Congratulations Carvells! Hope the delivery goes smoothly!

2008-05-21T12:43:00.003-07:00

Sisters....Sahar and Sarah!

Sahar booked a session to celebrate her graduation from university saying she wanted something a bit more exciting than the ol' cap and gown poses. She brought along her little sister to kick off our session with some photos of the two of them together. The weather was perfect, the wind blowing their hair better than 10 assistants could, and these two beauties did the rest!

2008-05-11T23:12:00.004-07:00

Bobbie, Bryce, Devonia + Baby makes 4!

Just before leaving for Cape Breton, Bobbie contacted me to take some maternity photos. We had a great time documenting that beautifully tattooed belly. I'll be taking some wedding photos of the Carvells this coming weekend....exactly a week before Bobbie's due date...but she's promised to have this wedding on Saturday whether she's in labour or not! A wonderful family....all the best with the new addition!

2008-05-07T15:12:00.007-07:00

Portrait Sessions during Autumn in Cape Breton....a good time to jump-start your Xmas Shopping!

I will be spending September 23 - October 29 in Cape Breton and have been getting quite a few bookings for portrait sessions. Weekends are booking up quickly! If you are one of the folks wondering about booking a session during my stay in Cape Breton, booked dates are as follows:

Sept 23-25
October 4
October 5
October 12
October 18
October 19
Any mainlanders wanting sessions (Dartmouth/Halifax), I'll be in that area toward the end of my stay (tentatively around October 23/24 onwards.)

All portrait sessions receive a disk with the edited high-res jpeg images from our session....great to take to a reputable + quality photo lab in time for Xmas!
Email and we'll set a date!

2008-04-30T11:42:00.003-07:00

Booking up!

Lots of inquiries rolling in here, so I figured I'd post an updated list of my booked dates for 2008:
May 17, 24, 31
June 7, 12, 21
July 12, 13-20, 27-31
August 1-4, 9-17, 23, 24, 30
September 23- October 29 (currently taking bookings for Cape Breton)

2009 booked dates:
April 4
August 1

2008-04-20T17:33:00.003-07:00

On the island....

While back in Cape Breton, I've been busy visiting, drinking tea, and getting some fabulous portraits. Today was a day off from shooting as it was my big sister's birthday, so we took off with our dad to the beach below our house. Of course a day off isn't really a day off when you see the scenery here....talk about a million dollar view! The things you don't appreciate until you realize what was right in front of your eyes for your whole life. The clampers (ice flows) made a return today with some strong winds yesterday so we spent the afternoon hopping the melting clampers, trying not to get our feet wet and enjoying the warm sunshine. Did I mention how much I love this place?? Heaven on Earth....

Happy Birthday Shannon (thanks for taking the photo of me above!).

2008-04-02T15:48:00.006-07:00

Counting down the days....

On April 8, I'm heading back to Cape Breton to partake in a project for the Nova Scotia Gaelic Council - Cainnt mo Mhàthar (My Mother’s Language) . Through audio + video, (and now still photography), the Council is in the final stages of documenting Gaelic speakers/singers across the island as a resource for those learning gaelic, as well as preserving the language and culture. See Cape Breton Post article.

This project is extremely important and exciting for me. My grandfather, Tommy Peigi MacDonald, was a great Gaelic singer, and I'm sure he'd be proud to see the fight in those involved in keeping the language alive. (Hear my grandfather singing in May of 1978, courtesy of the St. Francis Xavier University Gaelstream Archives.) I'm posting a few photos of Sadie MacInnis I took back in 2006. She's one of the participants being documented, and I'm looking forward to another visit with her for some more photos.

I'll be away until April 24, but will have access to my email. All inquiries are still welcome, and (between the visiting and cups of tea), I'll reply to your messages! Come October, I'll be returning back to Cape Breton to exhibit the images I photograph for this project...so if any of you are planning to take the best vacation of your life (I don't exaggerate!), to the best island on this earth, stop by for a hot cup of strong tea, and have a look! I'll keep you posted on dates!

Ryan

2008-03-31T00:19:00.004-07:00

My Jamie Wins Big!!

Just a proud update from a girlfriend....my Jamie won huge this past weekend at the BC Piper's Indoor Games. In a rare feat, he won all professional events (with a clean sweep), hauling back to the island a whole pile of hardware, plus a trip to Scotland to compete in one of their major events! 33 years ago, his dad won the huge shield in the photos, so it's a fine treat to have it arrive back on the island. Check out the new blog of JWT Reedmakers (Jamie Troy x 2 + Jacquie): http://jwtreedmakers.blogspot.com if you'd like to keep informed on all the latest reedmaking news, plus more!

2008-03-28T16:58:00.005-07:00

Jenny + Cory ... waiting for Arwen!

This weekend brought my third photoshoot with Jenny and Cory...within the span of a year, we did a family portrait session, their wedding, and now some maternity photos. They were in Victoria from Vernon on the Easter weekend visiting family, and took the opportunity to spend the morning with me to get some shots of their upcoming addition! Jenny and Cory braved pouring rain for their wedding photos, and a frosty day on the weekend for their maternity photos...they're starting to think we're cursed weather-wise! Cory had a great idea to head down to the beach where they had their first date, and also where they got engaged. It seemed suiting to head back to the beach that held that much history for them, especially heading into this new chapter of their lives.
Looking forward to meeting their new addition, a little girl named Arwen due in May! As always, I had a blast with you guys...congratulations!

2008-02-26T23:40:00.006-08:00

Aaaahhhhh.....Mexico!

Jamie and I just returned from a week away to Mexico. Loads of sun and relaxing...who could ask for anything more on a vacation? We also had the lucky privilege to meet a Mayan family of 16 one day on our travels....I'm posting some photos from their home, as well as some photos taken from my chair on the beach.

2008-02-12T19:57:00.005-08:00

Tyler Carson

Tyler and I hit the town on Saturday to get some new promo photos for his upcoming move to Long Beach/Hollywood.He's just finished a short album to take along on his move, and with a fresh start, needed some fresh photos! Tyler and myself go way back...we first met shortly after I moved to Victoria when we played together with the Symphony for one of their celtic performances. We've jammed, my Jamie's been his drummer for a good 5 years, and we wish him all kinds of luck in his new venture! Check out his myspace page.

2008-02-07T21:48:00.000-08:00

Engagement Photos + Brianna & Trevor = Awesomeness

Brianna and Trevor contacted me a while back to do their wedding photography this May. We met up on Sunday to get some super action-packed engagement photos so they can include them in their invitations. They expressed how they love to make each other laugh, and wanted to have that come across for their photos.

A month ago, when Trevor proposed, he was unaware that the ring had fallen out of the box and presented Brianna with an empty ring-less box...their reaction?? They both laughed hysterically, saying, 'That's just the way were are!' I was well entertained and laughing throughout our entire session on the beach below her parent's house on Sunday.

I am so excited to be able to work with them again on their wedding day...they're up for anything, and who doesn't want to be around people who just want to laugh and have fun?!

2008-01-26T00:26:00.000-08:00

Just a wee splash of colour since I've been posting a lot of black and white...I guess it's my weakness!

2008-01-26T00:23:00.000-08:00

Veils will be veils...

2008-01-26T00:09:00.001-08:00

Kids will be kids...

I was going through some files, 'spring cleaning/wishful thinking', in hopes to bring on some warm weather. I came across a few photos of some kids from weddings this past summer and had a good laugh at their facial expressions which were mostly due to some relative saying: 'Put your arm around her'; 'Stand closer to your cousin'; 'Hold hands now'; 'Give her a kiss.' Remembering back on those days as a kid, the last thing I wanted was any boy getting closer, let alone hold their hand, or let them give me a kiss on the cheek. Tough, but necessary.

2008-01-08T21:16:00.000-08:00

Just as we're taking down the Christmas decorations and packing things away for another year, I thought I'd share the image that I took for the Hotel Grand Pacific's 2007 Christmas Card. Inside read, "A Grand Soak before the Big Day". Thanks to Jacquie Troy for being my stylist on-set, and to Reid James and all the folks at the Hotel Grand Pacific for allowing the shoot to run so smoothly.

2007-12-31T12:19:00.000-08:00

Out with the old, in with the new....

2007 turned out to be a pretty great year...with lots of super clients making everything worthwhile! Thank you, you know who you are!

2007 Revelations:

-I am addicted to coffee, and I'm ok with that.

-The best kind of friend is one that even if you haven't seen them in ages, everything picks up where you left off...even though you change, nothing changes. Thank you Jill, BJ, Thea, Fin, and all the folks in pipe bands.

-It is still annoying to get mail labeled 'Mr. Ryan MacDonald'. When telemarketers phone and ask for Mr. MacDonald, I tell them he's not home. Technically, I'm telling the truth.

-My family likes to take on challenges. At 60, my dad has become a solo world traveler, my sister has fulfilled her dream of becoming fluent in our grandfather's dialect of Gaelic, and my ma and Steve will take on anything requiring power tools!

-Even though my body is in Victoria, my heart will always be in Cape Breton.

-I just don't work right without my Jamie (plus if it weren't for his great cooking, I'd probably exist on red licorice and skittles).

-New Year's Resolutions are not for me. Life isn't a dress rehearsal, and we only get one shot at it, so just do what makes you happy. Last year I tried to give up coffee, and look where that got me (see top).

-Buying hand lotion that smells like coconuts is not the same as going on a tropical vacation. No matter how hard you close your eyes and visualize.

-Every day is a day to be thankful.

Thanks and love to all my family in Cape Breton (Ma, Steve, Shannon), my traveling dad (Thailand), and family here in Victoria (Troys, Watlings, Magees, Skaarups). To my friends, thanks for keeping me laughing!

Wishing a big happy 2008 to all!