Dreams do come true!

There were many cold winter nights in Toronto when Martha dreamed of this day: the day she'd be with both of her grand-brats around the pool, (in the winter) in the California sun. See...dreams do come true!

Smile! For the family photo!

Photo Opportunity It had been a few years since we'd all been under the same roof. So, it made sense that we should take a family photo. The resulting image says a lot about this crowd!

PHOTO: Our friend and neighbour Norm Blietz captured the group doing what comes naturally!

A few metres from certain death!

It seems like only a few years ago -- because it WAS only a few years ago -- that Cole and Jack could barely scramble up a rock the size of a refrigerator. Not any more! We went climbing last week and the boys and I made it to the top of The Intruder, a scary rock formation in Joshua Tree National Park. We made it by working as a team: at some places in the climb the only thing the guys had to hold onto was my leg, while I laid flat on my stomach! I was so proud of them.

Sometimes getting to the top is scary. And that's the best part! (comments welcome)

PHOTO: It's difficult taking a photo that conveys a true sense of height, a photo that shows we are a few metres from certain death!

"How's the weather."

During the winter, when we're on the phone with friends and family in Canada, we always ask, "How's the weather?" It's funny. People used to ask us what the weather is like here in California. They don't any more! They've learned not to...it's too painful.

Photo: Early morning in February. An uncommon occurence: a winter rainbow in the desert. A stunning reminder that we're very lucky to be here, having discovered this treasure of a place.

Do it, Girl!

A friend put it rather succinctly: "Merrill, that's so you. You're going to take pictures of women in their underwear and get paid for it. You son-of-a-bitch!" - comments welcome

PHOTO: This classified ad ran in the "Observation Post" official newspaper of the United States Marine Corps at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms. Martha and I ran the ad hoping that a lot of Marine wives want their man to have a hot photo in their wallet when they ship out to Iraq and Afghanistan. We'll keep you posted on how it goes.