I Moved!

Things are getting more grown up around here. It was time to create an online portfolio. You can check it out at www.roseannbathphoto.com. Please let me know what you think! Be sure to bookmark my new blog url www.roseannbathphoto.com/blog or follow me on bloglovin' so you don't miss any adventures. :)

I'm really excited about the possibilities this new website opens up, and I'm hoping to book some family shoots for this summer and fall. If you know anyone in the Bay Area who might be interested in portraits, please pass my website along. Thank you!

Cuatro de Mayo

My parents are visiting! We spent last weekend together at our friend Lee's lovely home up in Sonoma County. We had a Russian Easter celebration on Sunday (photos coming soon!) and decided to celebrate with Mexican food on Saturday, the fourth. When we arrived Marina was making piroshki.



Jeffery took this one of me.



And I took this one of him, while swinging in the hammock. I really love the reflection of the garden in the glass. And I really love him.



Taking turns in the hammock. Happy Mother's Day, mom! I know a lot of people think this, but I really do have the best mom in the world. I love you, and I only wish I saw more of you.



Cerveza, tamales, carnitas, tilapia tacos, guacamole, margaritas. We know how to do it right. Beautiful home, amazing yard, perfect weather, delicious food, cold drinks, no agenda, just being together and having a meal.

Berkeley Rose Garden

The Berkeley Rose Garden is in full bloom. If you have never been, go. Any time between now and September. Go play a game of tennis, there are four courts and always at least one open. Take some kids to explore and splash in the creek (there's an enormous cement slide across the street at Codornices Park). Go to read a book, meditate, exercise. Or go to smell the roses.

My grandmother introduced me to the garden last August when I took her portrait for my photography class. It was the first time I had ever taken anyone's portrait. Taking that class was one of the best things I've ever done. It pretty much blew my world open. So much good has come.

P.S. She also modeled for my photography class final project. You can see those images here.

Visiting Mount Tam

A couple weekends ago, Jeffery and I decided to drive to the top of Mount Tamalpais. It is somewhere neither of us has been, which is crazy because it really is so close to the city. I can't stress enough how incredible it is that we finally have time off together and are able to have adventures on a whim. It's fun checking things off the list, which is getting shorter and shorter. Time to come up with new ideas. Any suggestions?



We counted over a dozen varieties of wildflowers. Even though there was fog below us, it was surprisingly hot at the top, and there was no wind.



I love those fog fingers creeping in.



We drove around the mountain to the west and were rewarded with views of Bolinas and Stinson Beach, then down through the redwoods to Alpine Lake, eventually regrouping with civilization in Fairfax. California, you are so beautiful.



We ended up in Petaluma and had dinner with Marina. Shrimp and chicken paella, salad picked from her garden, and a strawberry and homegrown rhubarb tart. She really is a class act. And I have never seen happier orchids (except maybe in Hawaii).

Taking Steps Towards Happiness

In the last year Jeffery and I have made some changes that have directly influenced our overall happiness.

We moved from San Francisco to Oakland. We traded a tiny, expensive apartment in a crappy neighborhood for a larger, less expensive, brighter apartment (with a washing machine!) in a less crappy neighborhood.

We both changed jobs, and no longer serve the public. Before, we both worked retail, had to work late hours, never got weekends off together, and had to deal with disgruntled adults. Why are there so many unhappy adults out there treating other people poorly?

Less crack heads. I went from dozens of daily crack head interactions to zero.

I started nannying. I get to spend my days in sun drenched living rooms and lovely neighborhoods. I take my girls on walks and to the park and the zoo and the rose garden and I get to point out the beautiful things in the world as they remind me of the beautiful things in the world. And I get to have a big impact on a few lives rather than a small impact on many.

We adopted a kitten. Our intention was to give Batman a friend. And it worked. The little guy is a constant source of entertainment and affection. I have always wanted a kitty that comes to me for lovin, and this one never quits. The boys roughhouse constantly, and as a result Batman is skinnier, less languid, and more frisky. It was watching Batman roll around on the ground last night that made me realize how much happier we all are.

We are making more money. So we can afford to take vacations and stay in nice places. We can eat out with our friends. And buy expensive cheese. We can purchase cool grown up toys. We can save towards our future.

I am working less hours with no commute and I have more time for photography and more time for me. I am making my dream a reality.

This blog just turned two, and I am really glad I have it for a place of reflection. A place to share our adventures. It really is amazing how much can happen in a year. Thank you for your readership.

(The photos above were taken on walks around Oakland and Berkeley. That pretty Siamese isn't ours. The red gingham dress belongs to my beautiful friend, Nicole.)

Temescal Farmer's Market

Open Sundays year 'round, from 9 to 1. Live music, hot food. Affordable local and organic produce, beautiful flowers, and I can walk there.

I can't get enough of those little carrots. They are really nice roasted whole with parsnips and a protein of choice. Also, right now cauliflower is amazing. I made cauliflower mac 'n [three] cheese[s] tonight, which was a hit.

Jeff is pretty excited about basketball playoffs, the Warriors are putting on a show. We went into the city Friday night and caught the game at Yancy's Saloon, the sports bar where I celebrated my 21st birthday, and it was packed. Pizza, beer and donuts for dinner. It was really nice spending the evening in the city, I think we're going to have to do it more often.

This weekend was really beautiful. Feeling blessed.

Turning One

Miss C turned one last week, and her momma asked if I would bring my camera over to get some shots of them together on her birthday. I feel so lucky to see them every week. She is such a good baby, and I have loved watching her grow these past few months. When that little face lights up when you walk in the room, it doesn't get much better. Happy birthday sweet potato!