Remembering Art Foss

If you drive down Smith Rock Way, on the way to the internationally famed climbing destination, you will pass a small cemetery on your right. It was there that nearly 200 people gathered yesterday to remember a man who has influenced so many in his 80 years. As the beauty of the cliffs loomed before them, 11 young men dressed in jeans, white shirts, and cowboy hats, flanked their grandfather's casket. Art Foss, a world renowned steer wrestler, rancher, pilot, truck driver, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, was being buried in the same plot of land his parents and siblings were, not even a mile from where he was born and raised. Cars lined the road as far as the eye can see, and people who couldn't make the walk to the grave site gathered in cars to do their own remembering. Just down the street stood the house Art's father built, commuting between Athena and Terrebonne by horseback to do so, installing the wiring himself by book.

"They say every rock pile out there he built by hand," Josh's cousin said to me as he saw me looking out at the property after the service.

As the people moved to the VWF Building in Redmond, the crowd seemed to increase. A slideshow of photos played as people laughed, compared stories, and ate together. The microphone was opened up to any who wished to share, and weathered cowboys approached the stage one by one. Every story started the same way. "I was 12 or 13 when I started going to the ranch." Art had a knack for Cowboy Discipleship. He reached out to troubled youngsters, opening his home, and inviting them to the ranch where he taught them how to work. How to ride bulls. How to get cows.

How to be men.

The first time I met Josh's grandpa was at a branding five years ago. I am, for all intents and purposes, a city girl. It was my first time on a ranch, and I probably had the fancy, pointy-toed boots on to prove it. He was a big man, had become hard of hearing, and his loud, booming voice intimidated me. I was surprised when Josh's mom told me a few years ago that this big, tough cowboy thought I didn't like him because I was too scared to talk to him. We just saw Art at the branding about four weeks ago. When we left, he told me three different times to take care of his boy--something he had never said to me before.

I love that I married into a ranching family that has left such a large wake of influence behind them. Art Foss will be missed. But his legacy won't be forgotten. Josh's brother proudly called his grandpa his best friend. He said yesterday "They just don't breed 'em like that anymore." And the sad part is, he's right.

But we can sure try.

Jeff & Renee

In June of 2007, Jeff and Renee went on vacation. As Renee packed for her trip to Europe, she had no idea she would come back with an extra piece of jewelry on her hand. Together, they toured Austria with Jeff's parents. Then the group separated, and the couple made their way to Italy where they explored Rome, and eventually came to the the Amalfi Coast. As Renee was getting ready for dinner, Jeff waited for her on the balcony of their room. As she emerged, and the Italian sun disappeared into the ocean, Jeff got down on one knee. There he proposed. And just over a year later, Renee walked down the aisle to her groom.

This time the clothes were fancier. And there were a few more people in attendance. But the same sun shone in Sunriver that set that night in Italy. And she had the glowing smile to match.

Jeff and Renee, words cannot describe how I enjoyed spending your day with you. From the candy buffet table to Jeff's dad's amazing tap dance, all your dreaming and planning culminated perfectly. It was tough to narrow down my favorites, so please enjoy an extra long post of your photos!

An Oregon Summer

I'll let you in on a little bit of an unamerican secret.

I don't particularly enjoy camping.

I mean I enjoy it in certain locations. I don't enjoy it at the coast. And that happened to be where we camped this summer. Twice. Our most recent trip was just a few weeks ago, and although it wasn't all bad all the time, it did start raining the moment we arrived at 10:00 that night. Thankfully, our friends went ahead of us, and our tent was already set up and waiting, complete with a blown-up air mattress. We just needed to wrap it in tarps. Had we needed to put up a tent in the rain, I might have very well left and gotten a hotel room at that moment. But because they so graciously helped us out, we were in and out of the rain in no time.

The next morning, I woke up and was surprisingly comfortable. I was in a protected little cocoon, listening to the sound of the rain dropping on the tent. Josh was on his way out to get another EZ-up canopy, and promised to bring me a hot latte and breakfast sandwich from Starbucks. He definitely knows the express-lane straight to my heart. This is a quick photo I took of us inside the shelter the boys had just built for us. He's so cute when he's sopping wet!


The rest of the weekend was full of crabbing, lunching, shopping, and surfing. And the occasional magazine or crossword puzzle to fill in the gaps. ... Ok.. it wasn't occasional. My whole Saturday pretty much consisted of Brick by Brick puzzles which I am now officially obsessed with. On the beach, at the campsite, in the car. All day. By Saturday morning, I was ready to go home. Those darn puzzles kept me sane until we left!

The trip was salvageable. And I have the photos to prove it. Maybe not liking to camp is unmerican. Maybe people can't relate. That's ok. I still have a husband that loves me, and does his very best to make camping for me as comfortable as possible. For that I am thankful. I might be looking back at this trip through rose colored glasses... but I suppose it's better than rain-soaked ones.

The next time I enjoy the beauty of the Oregon coast, it will be through the picture windows of a dry beach house with a hot tub in the backyard, a hot coffee on the table beside me, dinner cooking on the stove, and a rousing game of cards going. Now that's my idea of a vacation! Anyone want to join me? And if you'd rather camp. More power to ya. I won't hate you for it. But know that when it's raining, there's a dry house, and a good friend waiting to welcome you with open arms. Hey.. that's what friends are for.

The Class of 2009: Carly

As I got out of my car in Ontario, a beautiful girl with a funky polka dot sweater, gorgeous curly hair, and fun red glasses met me in the driveway. From that moment, I knew it was going to be a great shoot!

Carly and her family moved to Eastern Oregon a year ago from Lake Havasu, Arizona, and their house is adorable. We began our shoot there, then piled up Mom's SUV with the "road crew" and a couch, and made our way out to discover what Ontario had to offer. I have to say, this was one of the most fun shoots I've done. As we climbed on trains, walked through aspens, found abandoned roadways, and maybe borrowed a corn field (...shh don't tell), Carly told me of her passion for marine biology, and specifically her desire to help with the conservation of sea turtles. She busted a pose like no other, and had fun with every thing I threw at her. She certainly was a very fun and easy model!

Carly, enjoy your senior year. I would throw out a rousing "Go Tigers!" but I think my husband, and my father-in-law (Baker Bulldogs through and through) might disown me.