Over the Christmas holiday, my daughter Ashley and her boyfriend Dominick Fittipaldi became engaged! I didn't want to post the announcement until we had pictures to go along with it.  A destination wedding is planned for the fall of this year. Looks like the destination crowd is growing daily!  So excited for Ashley and Dominick!   Two weeks ago, when the weather was right, we headed to Doylestown for a fun engagement session.  Here are just a few of that fun evening:

Maggie, the wonder dog always is a part of everything!

Dominick takes time to read a gardening book at a local bookstore.  In real life, he is a landscaper!

Destination theme here we come!

Its been over twenty years now, but I clearly remember walking my children to elementary school each and every morning.  On our route there, we would bump into a set of twin boys always dressed immaculately and hair combed perfectly.  Daniel and Stephen McCarthy always had a huge smile on their faces as they turned the last corner on their way to their eventful elementary school day.  Over the years, I lost touch of their journey in life but was honored when their mother Leslie called me up and asked me to document Stephen's first official mass at our local parish, St. Joseph The Worker.  I had heard through the grapevine that Stephen had choose to become a priest and frankly, I wasn't surprised.  His heart was bigger than life itself.  So, to see him walk down the aisle at St. Joseph surrounded by family, friends, neighbors and a supporting congregation was a mixture of emotions for everyone... including me.  Seeing his smile could make any parent proud.  So, Bob and Leslie.... good job.

Here are a few photos from the day. When I look at this man's face, I will always see that happy little boy bouncing to school next to his other best friend, his brother Dan.

Upon opening up the morning newspaper this morning, I read that Pablo Picasso's "Nude, Green Leaves and Bust" was auctioned off at Christie's for 106.5 million dollars.  Thats right, I choked on my coffee at 5:30 this morning.  Eight bidders started out and when it was up to 88 million it was down to two.

Now I know the obvious that art is in the eye of the beholder...... blah.. blah.. blah..   But $106.5 million dollars for a painting?  Yikes...  Somebody out there is sitting pretty.  I can't even fathom having a million to spend!  (Think of all the Macs I could buy!)  How does one acquire that kind of money?  I don't think even the Trumpster has that kind of bucks.

But they say that fine art is priceless.  I have seen beautiful art in my day.  Picasso is not my guy however.  The portrait apparently was of Picasso's lover.  Nice tribute. 

I guess when you have everything in life, a few million for a painting by one of the masters is a fine addition to any mansion. It gives the wealthy joy.   Me, on the other hand, am happy to photograph the more simpler things in life..... babies, kids, and in general all people who are loved by somebody.  But once in a while, I break out the camera and take a walk in my garden.    This photo isn't worth much right now, but perhaps 50 years from now it may be worth trillions!

So Christie's Auction House, I say this to you:  Look out!  You better build on because I know that someday my daylily photo collection is gonna rock your world!
donna

It's not uncommon for me to swoon over a baby.  Who doesn't love mini versions of anything?  This was one of those days when I sighed inside and said to myself..... "This is why I love my job."  I had the wonderful opportunity to re-connect with Pamela Berkowitz-Strenger.  That's right, Eli Berkowitz is now a proud grandad.   Her new one month baby Steven is just one month old and by far, the most alert baby I have ever seen.  On the cuteness scale, I would definitely rate him a ten. 
I spent an afternoon with Pam and her new addition.  Frankly, I could have photographed this child until the cows came home and never got tired!  More photos of this session will be available soon.  I just had to get this cutie online asap.  So to Pam and her husband Nachie....... one word stands out.... "wow"! 

 

Okay friends, I know it has been quite some time since I posted.  I get in these crazy moods where I post all the time and then take a huge break.   I post on Facebook and invite you to be a "fan" of my page.  Just do a search for Donna Lere Photographer and you will find me! 
So, the reason I am posting today is because again another chapter in my life has sort of closed.  My father in law Charles Lere, passed two days ago at the age of 81 from cancer.  Knowing him for 34 years, I felt he and I had a sort of friendship that was hard to explain.  Of course to his own children, he had his ups and downs, but to me, he was my garden buddy.  We shared tips and secret sales on bulbs, annuals and general anything that goes in the garden.   Being the daughter in law, I was never subject to the things that most parents put their kids through in life.  I got the cream so to speak!  On any given visit, his feet made it first to my back yard to see how my garden was doing before he acknowledged anyone's existence.  Okay by me of course, because I knew he cared. 
So, two weeks ago, I grabbed my camera to his house because I knew his garden was in full bloom.  When I entered his home, he was sleeping on his hospital bed.  Upon seeing me, he popped up and I told him that I was there to take pictures of his garden.   Grabbing his cane, he promptly led me out to the yard and beamed with delight over the spring bulbs.  Frail as he was, I could see that this task was painful to do.  However, he had joy in his eyes as I proceed to take photos.  What he really didn't know is that I knew that would be the last time I would share the garden experience with him.  Bending down to pick me a bunch of tulips, I could see his once masculine body swimming in sweatpants.  "Take all you want!", he said.  Honestly, I didn't want the flowers, I just wanted him to be in his garden talking about one of his loves.  Then, he proceeded to tell me how to take care of the garden when he  "goes".  He knew.  Who didn't?
So, Chuck, here are some of the photos I took.  Your garden looks awesome!  Your funeral is this Saturday and I plan to put some of your finest fancy red tulips next to you.   I will surely miss our green conversations that has endured over three decades.
This, I know for sure....
 

When I graduated high school I had no clue as to what I was supposed to do.  I am the first to say I was basically clueless.  From what I gather, I am not the only one who has felt that way.  Of course, the easy route for a young lady with no direction at that time was to become the all time favorite:  A Secretary!  "Take typing!" my mother said.... "You can always get a job if you can type!"

So, as graduation neared, the party was planned and the standby job was put into place.  My dad asked me what I would like as a graduation gift.  Since he laughed when I suggested a car, I threw out the idea of a 35mm camera.   The party came and I got the usual money gifts from the grandfolks, but no camera.  Don't get me wrong, cash is sweet.   But I did sort of want a camera.  It seemed kinda a neat thing to have.  I think my dad noticed my disappointment and appeared the next day with box in hand. 

What a surprise that was!  I was clueless about exposure, lenses, film, and just about anything that had to do with taking photos.  But, I knew that I wanted to do something with this camera.  So, off to the local library I went and checked out all the book.  Thats right, enter the library, go up the stairs, turn left immediately and the photo books are on the second shelf from the top.  After that I went to all the libraries in the county and took out their books.  In my mind, I had a dream.  Years later, I would go back to college after some futile attempts at taking education courses to get my degree in photography. 

So, here I am, 34 years later. (You do the math!)  I have tried the secretary thing for awhile until it made me sick to my stomach.  Working in a cubicle, hard at work at 8:30 until 4:45 every day.  Finally, working my way up the ladder and hoping that my annual review was worthy of a decent raise.  The only thing I looked forward to was lunch!  I had to make a change or just die!

I dug in and worked my butt off.  Working for a weekly paper and then a daily and then my own studio.  Do I love what I do.....?  I love photography.  The being in the business of photography is tough at times.  I won't kid you there.  But in general, all is good.  I think if I had to review the past, I would say that I am what I dreamed I would be. 

While cleaning out an old closet, I found the camera my father gave to me all those years ago.  My daughter who was helping me, asked me if I wanted to keep it.  (You know, the old hoarding thing!)
She said it's beat up and dusty why don't I just get rid of it?
She is right.  It is scratched, beat up and dusty.  But it represents a dream.  I'm keeping it.  Everyone needs a dream.  Without it, we just go to our cubicle every day and die a slow death! 
We all need a dream....
Here was mine:

 
A GAF 35 mm single lens reflex camera from 1975.  Of course it uses film!

If there were a Trivia Pursuit game about my life, the easiest question would be.... "What kind of weather makes Donna Lere nuts?"  Simple answer:  Snow!  Okay, okay, winter in general!  Don't get me wrong, I love the first snow fall when it is all quiet out.  The snow muffles any noise, except for the local kids zooming around on their ATV's.  But, in general, it is peaceful.  I dig out my snow boots, put on an unmatched pair of gloves (hey, who cares?), slip into the ugliest pair of sweat pants I have, and head outside for some fresh air. 

My Chihuahuas of course see no reason to go out, so I have to drag them outside.  That is another story at a later date! 

This year, we are into our third storm and perhaps another small one tonight.  Yesterday (Sunday) I spent the entire day inside working on my laptop and watching with my husband the Daytona 500.  Oh, how nice I thought to watch people wearing light jackets!  Of course, they think it is cold down there.  Perched on my comfy worn sofa, I watched spent most of the day catching up on computer stuff while keeping an eye on what seemed like a car race from hell.  If you didn't get a chance to watch the race, the track itself had a pot hole and they had to stop the race twice to patch it.  So, the race lasted 5 hours!

When the race was over I had to get out and decided to return some rented movies.  Thinking that it was Valentine's Day, I figured that my town would be buzzing with folks going out to dinner.  Nope!  The neighborhood was dead.  Not a sole walking.  The local supermarket was empty and even the gas stations were empty!

As I headed back up my street, it was sort of surreal to see the huge mounds of snow piled high above cars.  I thought to myself... HOW DO THEY DO IT?  Thats right.... "They"....   You know, the folks who live in say Minnesota or Chicago.  "They" get tons of snow every year starting early in the fall and lasting well through sometimes April.  I have to give credit where credit is due and applaud those folks for keeping crime down in their neighborhood.  Because I am sure that hours upon hours upon days of being with the same person and no other social contact may force a normally sane person to well...............  who knows what!  Frankly, I think that this is where scrapbooking became popular!  (Please, no emails on that, I'm just kidding folks!)

So, as I gather up my snow boots and get ready to warm up the car with the salt covered all over it, I will have to say to my warmer climate friends, "Please don't complain about your colder weather!"  To my midwest friends who think nothing of tons of snow... God bless you.  You are a better person then me!

And to my local friends, I say I'm with ya friend.  Just send me a tweety bird and an afternoon temperature of about 40 instead of 20!  I promise I won't whine if you do that God.

Here is what the side of my house looks like.  Icicles that double as killer poles!
d

What exactly is Valentine's Day?  Okay, okay, I know it is supposed to be a day when you treat your most special loved one with a treat.  Since I can honestly say that I have been around for more than a few Valentine's Days, I can say that it clearly has gotten out of hand.  I saw a card the other day at the store to send to someone else's dog! 
Lets see now, are we supposed to send a card to our mother?  How about our grandmothers?  Our kids?  I have to say that when my daughter was small, her dad would give her a card and something cute.  She of course was tickled pink.  I would give my son a card and something cute, but manly.  My dad would always stop over with a plant from Home Depot.  My ailing father in law stopped over yesterday with roses for me.  A very nice surprise.  Of course my husband always comes through with something nice.  But what I love the most is that he doesn't wait to do something nice on that one day of the year.    I love to bring little things to my friends on a regular basis.  Love, love, love it.  Life is so short that seeing a friend smile makes my whole week.  Try doing this the next time you visit someone. Bring something small.  A flower, a candle, a plant, a pin, cookies... anything!  Of course you would go broke if you did it all the time!  But every once in a while, surprise someone with a little something.  Make someone smile.... you will too!

Take care,
donna

I truly think God gave us a beautiful day yesterday for a reason.  My father, having served in the Marines during the Korean conflict passed two years ago, was finally laid to rest at the brand new Washington Crossing National Cemetery.  Having been one of the first seven veterans to be interred,  I was proud to see my son, Jason, also a Marine, take part in this huge honor.  Stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, Jason flew up to participate in the ceremony that laid his grandfather, Allan Bierman to rest.  The long awaited opening of this local national cemetery was something that we waited two years for.  His final request was to be buried "with his friends". 
So, Dad, if you are reading my blog up in heaven with your coffee and graham crackers, I want you to know I did what you wanted with your remains.  Your pride and joy grandson Jason, has followed in your military footsteps and continues to make me proud for his service to our country.  He passed your flag to me and it was hard not to lose it at that point even two years later.
If you have access to the internet up there in heaven Dad, here is a video from 6ABC about the event.  Also, a photograph from the Bucks County Courier Times.   You would be sooo very proud of your grandson.

Click on this link:
New cemetery opens for veterans

Courier Times Photograph

It is not often that I work on New Year's eve.  This year, I was honored to work with a great couple at the Westin Hotel in Philadelphia.  Judith and Jason choose to celebrate their big day with family on friends on one of the biggest party nights all year.
However, before I pull some great images from their wedding, I just wanted to show Judith's flower's.  There are some parts of every event that I do that I just love, love, love.  The first is seeing the flowers. Having been on the wedding circuit for close to 30 years now, I feel that I have seen beautiful flowers, fake flowers, silk flowers, dead flowers, almost dead flowers and just plain flowers that should really be in the trash can from the get go! 
Judith loved feathers and had them incorporated in her arrangement.  So, since this is a fresh new year, I thought I would post a quick shot of her beautiful flowers.  Enjoy!