Dirt Rich

Don't know 'bout you, but I'd hire'em

 I had the opportunity early summer to do some promotional photos and the album cover shoot for The Dirt Rich Band. This talented group of guys are loosely based out of Lloyd AB. and surrounding area.. but made the trek to Saskatoon for shoot day.  I'm telling ya' It was a kick ass afternoon with this crew! They're fun, easy going, and didn't hesitate to 'bring it' for the camera ;) 

Its crazy to imagine but these guys juggle full time day jobs, families, and gigs most weekends. Its an endless circuit of bars, weddings and outdated halls. Late night/early morning tear downs ’till 3am,  broken down trucks and vans;  All nighters travelling down dark and anonymous backroad grids, just to get home - get up - and do it all over again the next night. Its a strong testament to their tenacious dedication, to the group, and where they want to be.  

Their commitment and skill has led The Dirt Rich band to a recording studio with any spare time, and cash they can come by. Your daily FYI: When you pay to download music from independent artists, you are feeding a starving musician and their family.

Check out their second release Your Song available on Apple Music, Google play, Spotify, and most other music streaming sites. It’s a definite fav!

Big thanks to O’Shea's Irish Pub for letting us invade their space! Lunch, and bar shots, pictures that is.. (Ok ok, we might have had one or two)

These back alleys in downtown saskatoon are the best for kicking in some gritty character! 

And their off 

Later guys- Looking forward to the next venture

The 50'ith

Well Ma & Pa’s 50th wedding anniversary has just passed. There was a small gathering with some close family and friends. Some last minute rushing and planning. Some lack of organization, communication, and at times assistance; Marinated in a good dose of anxiety, all neatly wrapped up in a large loaded soft tortilla of love, appreciation, and nostalgia.  I’m hungry can you tell? 
All in all I escaped unscathed with most of my sanity and pride in tact.

Ah, this funny guy can still make her laugh

Adorable 

 
My parents are pretty great. First of all I thank the lord, my lucky stars, and a few angels every day for still having the both of them around. They are fun and full of life and I can’t imagine not being able to share all the good stuff with them. 

Vacation selfies out on the ocean low tide, Parksvillle British Columbia 

Dennis and Val were high school sweethearts. Cool hey? (Is it still cool to say cool?)  And the fact that they are still together probably makes them eligible for some kind of “defying all the odds” certificate of merit. 

Grad 1964/65

what a good lookin' pair 

They are fantastic role models and I admire their commitment to family, and each other.  

The stories these hands could tell..

 
This celebration of defying all odds A.K.A 50th wedding anniversary, was held here in Saskatchewan. Both of my parents were born and raised right here, but in recent years have migrated to a little community in B.C.  With the distance they needed to travel, and their presence somewhat required.. this party could not, and was not, a surprise.  

Campers at heart, I arranged the weekend at a small regional park/campground in a little hall on the golf course out there. We gathered, we camped, we ate, and we drank… Its the way we roll here with summer in the Sask.  
Some very close friends of ma & pa's travelled all the way from Iowa and surprised the hell out of them. Of course I knew they were going to be making the cross country trek, but the utter shock and joy of this little surprise for them was one of my favourite parts. The smiles and laughter lasted the whole night, I'd have to say, it was worth every minute of fuss.

So here is a kick ass moment alert! My dad is a musician, and he doesn't go far without his guitar. - Hey, that rhymed - So no surprise, he took stage and started jamming with old band buddy Gerald. Old referring to the band.. and not those two crazy coconuts ;) It would not have been the same with out them busting out their talents. 

Both my boys and Holly (my daughter in law to be;) were there - As most parents with grown kids can attest too it’s not very often the whole clan is together in one place. Big heart sigh! 
Aunts, Uncles, cherished old friends, and even some of the original bridal party, all came to help party the day away.

On a side note, that end of the night shit got real as nephew Jayce broke out the clothes pins. Despite what you see here, I assure you - No children were harmed in the clean up of this hall... 

Saluti
TD 

Dennis + Val, sittin' in a tree, K-i-s-s-i-n-g

Farm House

Some of the coolest little adventures come from exploring the mundane and everyday. So when my husband suggested taking a little detour on our way home to Saskatoon, for my own selfish reasons, I was all for it- its the photographer in me.

Front door was open

We were straying off the beaten path to visit the house he lived in as a small boy; An old abandoned farm house in the middle of the prairies? Hell ya.  

Green grassy prairies in July 

Sask. born and raised, I’m no stranger to old farm yards and the abandoned dwellings that scatter our countryside. The prairies are full of them. But this would have some sentimental value and memories. For Brad, because this is where he spent part of his childhood. And for me, reminiscing about the adventures in exploring old abandoned farmhouses as a young girl with my dad. 
This dreary rainy day complimented perfectly the lonely emptiness of this deserted house quietly awaiting our intrusion.  Pulling into the abandoned yard Brad maneuvered the truck through the bumpy overgrown field, grass as tall as my waist. 

The old farm house

Getting inside was somewhat treacherous! I'm going to admit the flip flops and camera dangling from my neck were not conducive to the task.  If ever there was a Kodak moment this was it. God bless a patient husband..  There was a slanted plank propped from ground to the door threshold, that was slippery as hell from all the rain, front entry steps long gone.We strategically assisted one another, (insert husband rolling eyes here) in scaling the slippery slope up into the dilapidated front entrance.

The stairs

Some Old technology left behind. 

Cracked, peeling, and in need of love. If these walls could talk.

Ceilings caving in, and bird droppings piled high throughout. Broken windows and peeling wall paper. This place couldn't be more perfect, in all its dilapidated splendour.

The pink room- I'm no interior decorator but that curtain might be a little small..

Remnants of a growing family, an old growth chart still penciled on the inside wall of the upstairs bedroom closet. 

Brad - He's so proud

Growth chart penciled inside the upstairs closet

 I’m having a bit of a small love affair with the windows in this place. 

Room with a view - One of the upstairs bedrooms 

Another room with a view of the surrounding Canola fields

My partner in crime decided our time was up and so we hit the road.  I really do love Saskatchewan in the summer time!   

Backroads & rain drops 

Happy trails to  you... until, we meet, again-

life of lib

For those of you whom have never had the pleasure of a pet that became a special part of your life and family, your missing out. Not that a person can’t live a fulfilling and glorious life without one. .   Just sayin'

Lib chillaxin on the beach 

And If you are not one of those "pet people" you may be momentarily annoyed with my sappy recount of this most gentle an adorable furry soul. The thought might even cross your mind that I am certified cray cray, with a splash of neurotic, I’m no where near rich enough to be eccentric. 

But oh, this loss is real.  The unconditional love we received and years of great memories are something our family wouldn’t have given up for one second.  Seriously just look at that face!

Lib waiting for popcorn to fall out of my mouth , she never has to wait long.

Let me help you get to know our furry family member of 11 years. Her name was Libby, and she was a true lady. Lib always laid with her front paws crossed, And although medium sized and oddly shaped; She was a gentle, pretty little thing, and despite her too short for her body sized legs, she was a lethal hunter of rodents.  Truly a women of her time. Gentle, sweet, quiet, slightly tenacious and dead lethal when she chose to be-  If you know what I mean.

Gopher hunter - No rodent stood a chance 

This common dainty pose she was so famous for 

Lib loved to rest or sleep with her head propped up against the wall or baseboard; Weird.. I know. You see when Liberty first came into our home as a foster, the kennel she arrived with was too small. When kennelled, she would lay with her head propped up against the grated Kennel door, and I wondered if maybe this position became comforting in a strange familiar way? Comfy maybe, but it sure looked awkward as hell.

The armpit depth wade in 

Libby was very modest, and disliked having her picture taken. She would promptly look away from cellphone or cameras. She loved the water but would only venture in up to her underarms. Past that would cause her to float and therefore lose her footing, causing extreme panic, and for her to exit the water immediately. Better safe than sorry I always say. 

She always kept her younger sister Ayva in line. And if the younger newer addition to the fur family ever wandered out of site, or became to rambunctious with another dog at the park, Lib would surely give her a good talking too, with her burly bark, and a stern nipping at the heels. Which could be a challenge because she could ever really catch “like lighting” Ayva. This may have pissed the old girl off more than anything,  but on occasion Ayva would graciously let her catch up and take the discipline.

Lib & Ayva on the river trail

Libby never wandered off and would stay by your side. A rare thing to have a pooch you don’t have to leash.

And that girl, loved her fresh veg!  She would devour lettuce, and left no potato plant unturned.  This year I decided no potato plants, for obvious reasons.  Without missing a beat she moved onto my cucumbers. Needless to say the pickle supply took a big hit this year.

In the summer after every feeding Lib would head straight out to the crab apple tree in our backyard. No apple hitting the ground was spared her crab apple hunting prowess. And because the wasps like them too, she learned quickly how to nudge and listen, ear to the ground for those nasty little things hiding inside her favourite treat.  If safe to do so she would pick that apple up, trot back to the house and chow down. It was like her very own self serve dessert bar. 

She loved popcorn and hated loud noises, yelling, and thunder. There were many sleepless nights consoling her gentle sole during years of our prairie summer thunder storms.

Have a feeling I'm being watched..

Hiding under my desk during a thunderstorm

Our home will not be the same without her. I miss her. And if there is a doggy heaven she is surely there. Head propped up against the front pearly gates, keeping an eye on things. 
Sleep well baby girl until we meet again - xo 

Libby Stewart  RIP Sept. 2003 - Oct. 28th 2015