Aug 31 - packing up to leave Missoula. Heading out tomorrow morning early. Will meet my better half in Billings. My heart is full of emotions today -- wanna leave, don't wanna leave.

So many good, kind people have been a part of my Missoula experience. Wish I could take them all home with me.

I pick up my life again in Kansas on Sept. 7. Looking forward to what God has planned for me next.

I'm in a documentary photography workshop this week. Met a great guy - Jerry - today and shot some photos of him.

Summer's almost over -- way too soon.

I met Amy, a really nice lady selling bouquets at the local Farmers Market. She offered to let me shoot her flower garden, so I took her up on it. She grows the most gorgeous dahlias and lillies, sells bouquets at the Farmers Market and will be competing at the Western Montana Fair this week with her flowers.





Here is an example of her amazing flowers.



Thanks, Amy, for opening your garden to me.

This photo is of Caleb, an amazing 15 year old banjo player with the Black Mountain Boys bluegrass band. He's one to keep an eye on. I predict in a few short years he'll be a major force in the music business.

Last week of photo school...bummed about leaving friends who love photography as much as I do. But, I do miss my family and home and town...

Went to Garnet ghost town yesterday and to the free symphony concert last night. It was great for people watching.

Finishing up class work, spending time with friends and planning a trip to the Pulitzer Prize winnng photograph exibit at the University this week.

It's Monday. Day 1 of Week 10. 9 more days of Summer Intensive left. Graduation is on Friday, Aug. 14th. The summer has just flown by!

My final project is at the printers. I will spend the weekend getting it ready for its debut on Wed., Aug 12.

Can't wait to see my classmates' work. Everyone here is so talented. And, so willing to lend a hand or ear if you have a problem.

I'm already starting to think about the things I will miss when I leave Missoula -- Doc's cookies (made fresh everyday by John), Eric's famous hot chocolate, the quarry, hanging out on the bank steps before class, Forest and Forest helping out in lab and studio, my classmates, the instructors - especially Neil!, the time to be totally immersed in something I love without many other real-life responsibilities like cleaning house, grocery shopping, etc., the beautiful mountain scenery that's 360 degrees all around me here in Missoula.

It's time to start thinking about what comes next for me. I'm thinking of an assistant's job or maybe a job in a frame shop. I need to have a little income while I ramp up my photo business. I'm excited and at the same time hesitant to take that first step off on my own without my built-in support network here in Missoula. I know I'll be fine and successful, it's just getting that first step/job under my belt.

Here's a photo taken at last weekend's Farmer's Market.

Week 10 begins on Monday here at RMSP...summer intensive has been just that, intense! I'm working on my final project - 5 images 11x14 of working hands. I'm stressing...I've only gotten 2 printed so far and have one more print class. 4 hours to print 4 images while sharing the printer with another student. I took a CD of images to the University print shop and let out a sigh of relief...until they called yesterday and said there was a problem. Ughhh....I have to go over there first thing Monday and find out what can be done.

In the meantime, I put together my slideshow images for graduation. I edited a few images and I'm listening to an Eric Clapton CD. I love Clapton...I sing along (badly) so it's a good thing I'm home alone right now...my singing would make dogs howl...

A friend and I are going to Phillipsburg tomorrow...the Sweet Shoppe is sweet and we're going to check out the Montana sapphires..hope I can afford one! We may take the long way home and go by Skalkoho falls...it's a long way on a single lane dirt road but the wild flowers, bear grass and water fall is well worth it.

Here's an image from yesterday's trip to Flathead Lake.