Camp James
This is a personal project we recently shot with our amazing painter friend Cydney See and her companion James.
"Don't ride him. A lot of people try to ride him." - Jo Bennett
Cydney See
We shot the day in the life of an amazing painter Cydney SEE. Check out her work, buy an original painting, and send some love to this firecracker of creativity. https://www.cydneysee.com
Paris
Day 10 - Emily’s Entry - October 4 - 11:09pm - Hotel du Quai Voltaire, Paris, France
It’s a little room with a slightly peeling blue wallpaper. The door man is distracted, the furniture old, there’s an old smell, the bathroom’s small, but I’ve never been in such a magical, foreign place that feels so much like home. In the car here, after passing the Notre Dame, I started crying. Every detail up to the room made me cry more. I started physically sobbing in the room. It’s the feeling of reuniting after long distance. I can’t shake the feeling that I know and love this city. I usually dislike cities. The thought of leaving Paris makes me homesick yet I've been here 2 hours.
When we were driving here in an Uber, I was talking (poorly) to the driver in French. The driver clapped when we were confused. These people are my people. At dinner, a group of rude, loud English-speaking tourists came in. I subtly shook my head at the waiters and they caught on. These are the weird personality things I do.
I’ve never connected with a place so much in my entire life. I feel like I’m coming home to a previous life. I love the weird, classic art on the walls. I love this small, magnificent room. Everything is perfect.
I don’t understand why I’m so emotional. It’s one of the strangest things I’ve ever felt, like when I thought there was a ghost of a child in my Savannah dorm. I don’t know. Life is weird, but one thing is for sure. I’m super happy.
Day 12 - Corey’s Entry - October 6 - 1:21 pm - Train from Paris to Lyon, France
40 hours in Paris. We made it count. What an incredible city full of inspiration, beauty, and love. We stayed in the in Hotel du Quai Voltaire, Room 22.
Yesterday was our four-year wedding anniversary and a hard anniversary to top. We started the day at the Smith’s Bakery. As we ate, we watched the street lined with bakeries and sidewalks packed with small tables and artisan chairs. Busy Parisians bustled around and lounged in cafes alone smoking.
In the Notre Dame we lit candles. The arches in the halls were larger than I thought. I’ve read about the exact height and length of these structures in textbooks, but standing there in the center of it all changed my perspective entirely. There is so much extravagance, symbolism, and master work in every detail of these buildings.
We found a great way to get around the city. Big. Red. Bus Tour. It’s touristy but swiftly we navigated Paris.
We strolled down the Champs-Élysées while constantly humming the song “Champs-Élysées.” We stopped in Ladurêe Paris for the world’s best macaroons. I’m not fan of the macaroon, but to see Emily so delighted was a treat.
We went to see an exhibit of Irving Penn, one of my favorite American photographers. I love his “lived in” style of still life. Not simply a nice plate with beautiful food. It’s scattered bits, lipstick on the glass, half eaten, and in the moment. Second, it’s inspired Emily and me to do more personal projects. Penn shot for Vogue who sent him on assignments just for inspiration. We should always be creating, sketching, and shooting. Hell, Penn photographed commercially till he was 91! Photographers and artists never really retire. We create until we die.
It started raining as we dined in a nearby cafe eating our croque monsieurs. Another espresso and we were off to the boat. Slowly, we cruised down the Seine, the clouds parted, and sun began to set. Golden hour on a boat tour through magical Paris.
Our night in Paris started off with a bottle of champagne at Le Caveau du Palais. It’s located on the same island as Sainte-Chapelle. Our waiter Youn and Emily decided that night he would speak English and she would speak French. It made for amusing dinner scenes. After the best risotto I’ve ever had, we downed some Irish coffee and stumbled to the Louvre courtyard. We danced, wandered around, and peered in the glass windows. The night became quiet. As we walked through a stone arched hallway holding hands, a lone cellist began to play a romantic tune. We slowly danced. I gave him several quid.
As we headed home, the Eiffel Tower lit up and sparkled like a firework. It does this every night for only five minutes. Perfect timing.
We wound down the night with two glasses of fine Cognac at the hotel. We discussed life, art, and ourselves. I absolutely love good conversation over fine liquor.
Day 12 - Emily’s Entry - October 6 - 1:28 pm - Train from Paris to Lyon, France
Paris was one of the best times ever. Yesterday was one of the best days of my life. After a restless sleep, we got ready and headed for a petit-dejeuner (breakfast). We went to the Smith Bakery. I savored my tarte de pomme with cappuccino, Corey his salmon quiche with espresso at the small sidewalk table.
Walking through the mysterious, artistic masterpiece of architecture that is the Notre Dame, I felt small but safe under the towering columns. Chapels, relics, masterpieces, tombs, and secrets run a lap around the main worship space.
We hopped on a double decker tour bus. I’m not a fan of seeing them, but in a huge city, tour busses really are a great way to see the city and get to the sites we want. Our ticket included a double decker boat tour too. We saw old buildings, people on bicycles, and street merchants selling things from antique books to antique junk.
We walked the infamous Champs-Élysées cheerfully eating colorful macarons and around L'arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile that Napoleon built as a focal point of huge parades.
We saw the Irving Penn exhibit at the Grand Palais des Champs-Élysées. He was a NYC based fashion, still, and anthropological photographer. He shot for Vogue and himself in New York, Africa, and South America. We were inspired by his techniques and thought of ways to build our own studio better. We came up with a shoot idea about working people we will photograph in an homage reflective of his own style.
We got back on the bus until the Tour de Eiffel. France has a ton of security right now. We had our bags checked before the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the boat ride, Sainte Chapelle, and the Grand Palais. Soldiers walk around with full army tactical gear carrying machine guns. It’s a safe but uneasy feeling that reminds us of pre-World War II.
The Eiffel Tower took us high above Paris. We felt the tower sway a bit! Yesterday was also was our 4-year wedding anniversary. We drank champagne on top of the Eiffel Tower. Is there anything more romantic?
We ate a late dejeuner at a nearby cafe. Two croque madames with wine and the best espresso I’ve ever had. It began to rain as we ate. We really like each other.
We walked to the tour boat. When the rain stopped, we went to the open top deck. Bridge after bridge passed overhead. Paris has 37 bridges over seine. Crazy! The sun came out as we ended the ride back at the Eiffel Tower.
To the hotel, all dressed up, then out to dinner. I let the waiter order for me. A huge, delicious steak with potatoes and bearnaise sauce came out. I’ve adored the French people I’ve interacted with.
We walked back to the hotel slowly, through the courtyard of the Louvre as the full moon lit our path. We peered into rooms with large Roman statues. A cellist began to play in an ancient corridor. We danced and held each other. The Eiffel Tower shimmered, something it does for 5 minutes at full dark. I can’t believe we saw it happen. It made me think of French cinema, which is similar to American films, but there is always one surreal, magic thing.
This morning after breakfast, we fulfilled an art history dream of mine. We visited the mind-blowing Sainte-Chapelle royal chapel. It was the royal family’s secluded chapel walled from regular citizens. The windows are depictions of every book of the Bible in masterwork stained glass.
This was part of a 23 day journey through Iceland, France, and Spain. Didn't catch the rest? Click below to explore with us!
Madrid
Day 22 - Emily’s Entry - October 16 - 1:32 pm - Terraza El Ancla, El Retiro Park, Madrid, Spain
We’re sitting at a park cafe at the largest park in magnificent Madrid overlooking the large central pond. People are paddling row boats. People are walking past. Somalian street vendors ran by with their sacks of goods. Police soon followed. A clarinet player plays middle eastern ballads. A man sells bracelets. A pigeon finally settled on his lightpost. A ram in a gold cloak waits for money to do whatever it is he does for turistas.
Madrid is a wonderful place to end this journey.
Day 22 - Corey’s Entry - October 16 - 8:01 pm - Sports Bar, Madrid Airport, Spain
The journey comes to an end after a few good days in Madrid. An excellent city to finish up the trip. We have spent these last two days wandering around the city and exploring the culture. The energy from Barcelona to Madrid is very different. Though the Spaniards are still pretty serious, they seemed to be in better spirits in Madrid. One of the restaurant owners told us that everyone who comes to Madrid is a local.
It was my first time visiting a royal palace. It had like 2,500 rooms? Most of them were for a single purpose like dressing, waiting, reading, deciding, ruling, picking out dishes, dying, etc. Each one was decorated differently, though most had holy paintings adoring the ceilings. We made our way to the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. Amazing pieces of work. We got to see up close artworks from Thomas Cole, Picasso’s cubism, Degas’ ballet scenes, Monet’s dream like impressionisms, Dali’s twisted sense, and discovered a few new artists.
On our last day, we left our huge bags we’ve named Big Yellow and Lumpy in a coffee shop where they hold bags for travelers. We took our other bags Baby Blue and Lima Bean with us. We wandered around the huge park and reflected on the trip. I wanted to learn and understand different cultures, and I think I definitely have a better understanding than I did before. Things can often be tough, but acts of kindness can be found around the corner if you look. America has her problems, but she is beautiful, wonderful, and wild. Just be nice and treat people with respect and kindness. It’s not that hard. Europe has incredible history, massively ornate cathedrals, grand cities and quaint small towns. I’m lucky to have traveled through these lands and spend some time. There’s so much more to explore.
Day 23 - Emily’s Entry - October 17 - 9:48 pm - Shuttle from Atlanta, Georgia to Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States of America
I can travel the world or stay in my living room until the end of days. As long as Corey is by my side, I am Home. He is my walls, my comfortable white noise at night. I can go anywhere, do anything or nothing with my constant. I’m glad to always be Home.
He’s dozing off in the seat next to me as the streetlights go by.
We’ve baaed at sheep, lived in a van, walked the Champs-Élysées, seen the Eiffel Tower at night, drank great, cheap wine, danced with French drag queens, were stressed in a train station, walked the streets of gladiators, kings, and artists, talked endlessly about culture, art, and why people are the way they are, sketched, and loved each other. Pretty great trip.
This was part of a 23-day journey through Iceland, France, and Spain. Didn't catch the rest? Click below to explore with us!
Lobsters at the Lake House
For Corey's sister's birthday, we took a trip to the lake house. It seems in Tennessee, you can talk to any group of people and mention "the lake house" as a common place. Everyone seems to know someone with a lake house. Ours originally belonged to Corey's grandparents. It's a 3-bedroom, A-frame brown cabin with blue trim on Lake Barkley in Kuttawa, Kentucky. The cabin is next to a large dock and has a long back porch fit for late night board game marathons, grilling competitions, and low country boils.
The boys put on an incredible low country lobster boil with lobster, shrimp, potatoes, mushrooms, and corn on the cob. It was all cooked in an old Anheuser-Busch keg somebody got from their neighbor. Dogs ran around. A breeze blew in from off of the lake. We ate with our hands as the sun slowly sank below the horizon.
Man, I love a good weekend at the lake house.
Kissing Colorado
On our first day in Colorado, we went to Mission: Wolf overlooking the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. The village of Mission: Wolf is made of huge runs for the wolves, teepees, greenhouses, and ongoing log cabins. Legally, the wolves own the land, and it seems like they know it.
We saw many of the 35+ wolves. They paced due to the upcoming feed. We were allowed in with 3 ambassador wolves, which are domestic enough to be around humans as long as we keep the correct manners and body language.
The rules include:
If a wolf licks in your mouth, you let him. Otherwise, you'll offend the social creature and he may fall into a depression.
Don't turn your back to a wolf or sit alone. Do I need to explain that?
Keep your body language confident: head high, sit up straight, and make direct eye contact. We are all Apex predators, so act like it.
We stayed in the cutest cottage in town of Hillside, Colorado. Population: 91. We made award winning Korean short ribs we bought from the small town of Westcliffe, on our way back from Mission: Wolf.
I loved the long drives along the still mountains and exploring off-road to strange places. After a few days of incredible escape, we headed for Colorado Springs.
We spent a day getting lost in the Red Rock Canyon Open Space. Getting caught in the rain isn't always a bad thing. The ducks and geese didn't seem to mind. I love the colors nature reveals immediately after rainfall. Mint greens turn into emeralds and saffrons becomes the color of a low fire.
From siphoned coffee brews to lager brews and all the nature in between, we fell more in love, explored the world, and kissed wolves (tongue not excluded).
Until next time, Colorado.
Study of Dankind
Dan is an archeologist living in a place he'd rather not tell everyone about. It makes sense when you find your sanctuary to want to keep it sacred. In a place remote and untouched, we find it easy to forget about the world.
We started our adventure with Dan walking the grounds and canoeing along.
A place of importance does not need flags and banners. The things we love and memories we share give a place meaning. When we walk in a place of true importance, we feel a sense of history and purpose as if stepping back in time to someone else's memories.
Adventures of Scout
If you like cute puppy pictures, this blog is for you!
Three weeks ago a 12 week old puppy showed up as a surprise at our door. He quickly opened the door into our hearts. We named him Scout Yosemite Critser. His ancestry includes King Charles Cavaliers Spaniel and Bichon Frise. This little thing loves playing, singing, meeting new friends, the ladies, and updating his Instagram @ScoutTheCavachon
Sequoias Take 2
This was our second time visiting the magical Sequoias. We stayed at the Azalea Campground near Grant Grove in the Sequoia National Park. We saw the General Grant tree, the third largest tree in the world.
We came across several, ancient fallen Sequoias you could walk though. Sequoias have very thick, fire-resistant bark to protect from forest fires. The fallen giants we came across must have fallen long ago and fire burned the inner wood core, but the thick bark skeleton remains.
Fun fact: The most common way a large Sequoia dies is when it becomes too gigantic and falls over.
