Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

This year has been, for the most part, a nice one.  Kevin worked for TJader, and was home every night.  That was really nice.  He worked for them in the past.  

This past spring Kathy, a photographer friend of mine and I took a spring trip through the Bad Lands of South Dakota, by Devil’s Tower, in northeastern Wyoming, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and through the Potholes of North Dakota as the last part of our wildlife photo trip.  

We saw so many amazing things…the first thing that amazed me was how stunning the Bad Lands are in the spring!  It bloomed in all directions…seeing baby animals, spring birds on their way back north…wild horses of North Dakota…was really moving…however, the birds we saw around the potholes could not be out done!  I have never seen anything like it!  I can’t remember the number of bird species we saw that day, however it must have been near a hundred…can’t wait to go back!

The photography business has picked up this past year.  I signed up for a lot of art and craft fairs…wow…that is a whole different kind of life style!  Kev and I were gone 1-3 weekends every month…sometimes it was just Saturday and sometimes two days.  Juggling the craft sales and photo sessions/weddings…at times was tricky.  Lol!  We learned a lot and had fun…I will do that again this summer.

This past month we said good bye to my dad’s last living sibling, my Aunt Sis (Gloria Quam).  It is strange to think of our generation as the “elders” now. Guess that means we better start sharing our knowledge with the younger ones…any that will listen.  Lol

We wish you all the very best that life can gift this season and throughout this coming year.  May you all be blessed with a wealth of health, love, peace, joy, many amazing memories and laughter…lots of laughter! 

Kevin & Anna Merritt

Kevin playing around with my new wreath...I think he just likes his picture taken!

Festive fun...

WOW! Did you see that!?! The flowers just bloomed for you for Christmas!

31 Year Reflection

Earl "Marty" Martineau and me...lol

Reflection....

From zero to fifteen I learned a lot from the dad of my dreams…he was tall, handsome, smart, loved me beyond understanding…he taught me to dance, draw by dots, cards, games, my favorite being pool, shoot a rifle, then a hand gun and I was so happy when I won for the first time in our target practicing…he taught me to fish and to be a good person.
My father, Earl “Marty” Martineau, was truly a funny man and loved to play tricks on us kids, he fixed everyone’s stuff when it broke, he would sit on the porch steps with me and explain why something wasn’t a good idea or the concept of “walk a mile in someone else’s moccosins.”  He showed me how to live a more traditional life with some very deep seeded values from our Ojibwe background…In the past 31 years, my mother has helped me to hone in/grow into most of these traits and the ones she couldn’t (didn’t like), my boyfriend, now husband Kevin, took over.
Today, I love him just as much as then and I still miss him terribly!  I know that you are happy for your daughters and very proud of us!   Love you daddy and I am so happy to know that you are still by my side.

 My dad playing around!!!  hehehe

Earl "Marty" (my dad), Paul and Berwyn Martinday

 Marty and Billy Jones (a neighbor)

Marty and Gerry (Dresser) Martineau
Dad and mom
1981, not long before he walked on.

 Jo Ann and Marty (brother and sister)

Earl "Marty" Martineau
spent 8 days from spending 11 years in the Army

Estelle "Stella" (Gouge) Martineau and son Earl "Marty"

Paul and Earl "Marty" Martineau

All Is Well

When I go out to capture images of nature or wildlife, I always ask who wants their picture taken, and then go about the day...today was like that.  I have had a head cold and needed some medication to help me clear it up, so I called a couple friends of mine to see if they wanted to go with me...they did.

We drove to Superior, had lunch and lots of laughs...then headed to Duluth, picked up my prescription and then on to the craft store...we wondered all around the store, gathered our little deal treasures and headed back toward the super-center I needed to stop at.  Found some treasures there too.

Feeling tired and content with our amazing fun day, we headed home.  Driving along by the airport, my friend yelled, "whats that?"  It was a female Northern Hairier Hawk...she was hunting for dinner.  She was not going to give me a chance to get her picture...after several tries, I thanked her for the visit and teased her, "the next time I will shoot you and pose you however I want you!" as I was laughing, I said...I was kidding.

We drove along and as we got to the back side of the airport, there she was...waiting for her picture to be taken.  I turned around and drove back, snapped about 15 shots,  thanked her and she flew away.

I was truly blessed and humbled that she would pose in this spot for her picture to be taken.  In very close proximity, I captured the first image of a Snowy Owl that was not tagged and painted.  A month or so later, a Red-tailed Hawk landed in the same area and waited for his picture to be taken.  What a blessing this was for me.

All is well today...that is what I felt...that was the message that she gifted me.  In return, I am gifting you with the pleasure of viewing her amazing spirit.
Miigwich

Image SALE

I have these images on sale...check them out and if you are interested, email me!
mistypinephotography@yahoo.com
Taxes are included.  Shipping and Handling extra...if you are close enough, you can pick up or I can deliver!

Giclee Gallery Wrap
$125.00 ($199.00)














Bald Eagle Canvas Wrap
$75.00 (150.00)

 Sunrise at Gooseberry Falls State Park, MN
Custom framework by Black Iris Gallery
$150.00 (300.00)

Blue Flag Iris
Custom Framed at Black Iris Gallery
$75.00 (150.00)
SOLD

 Wisconsin Point road
$25.00 ($40.00)
SOLD

 Walk With Me
Trail through Copper Falls State Park, WI
Custom framing, Black Iris Gallery
$75.00 (135.00)
SOLD

 Lichen
Lichen growing on rocks in Rainy Lake
Print on foam board (NOT framed)
$45.00 (90.00)

Barns of Wisconsin
$35.00 (45.00)
SOLD

 Split Rock Lighthouse
$30.00 (45.00)
SOLD

 White-Tailed Deer and Red Squirrel
$30.00 (45.00)
SOLD

 Sunrise at Gooseberry Falls State Park, MN
$30.00 (45.00)
SOLD

Blue Ice near Brighton Beach, Duluth, MN
$30.00 (45.00)

New Year

New Year 2012

The year has ended and it is a time when winter snows and long days allow call us to look back.  Remember those who have walked on, were born, tragedies that have touched us or our family, the gatherings that brought us great joy, the high and low points that we will keep and hold close to us forever.

In the long nights of darkness, we also ponder the new year to come.  365(or 6) new days, what will we choose to do with them?  Ah yes, the resolution…what will I promise myself this year?  To lose weight, get healthy, go on a trip, visit a best friend I have not seen in years, get a new car, buy my first house, move out of my parents home, or maybe it is something more personal, not allowing others to treat me bad, ignore those who don’t make me feel good, be nicer to others, and so on and on…

Whatever this day means to you, embrace it!  My desire for me in the new year is the same desire for each of you, 365(or 6) new beginnings!  Each day wake up and know that ‘today’ is the first day of the next 365(or6) and today I will try to live in the now, this very moment, enjoy it, love it, learn in it, share with it, be honest, to love, give, laugh, forgive others but most of all forgive self, to pass on loving sentiments from your true heart, to walk with respect in each step.  Most of all, know that you ARE loved and that love can conquer all!  This is my wish/prayer for each of my dear friends and to those of the world…366 days of 2012 and that same wish/prayer for every minute of those days and to ripple through the rest of your life! 

Happy New Year, New You!!!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!!

WOW!  This year has been very eventful!  Kev came home from Nevada, in March.   He spent a couple months on unemployment and then went back to work for TJader, who he worked for a couple years ago.  November of this year he became a Certified Pipeline Welding Inspector.  Applications are sent out all over the place…now the waiting game.

March of this year I got a message in my Facebook messages, from someone I never met…she said she was searching for family for her friend, Theresa Hiler.  My father was married before my mom, to Elsie.  She had a daughter, Bonnie and they had Paula.  Bonnie had two children, Bobby and Theresa.  I met them all once back in 1976 (or something like that) and then again when our dad was really sick.  I called Theresa right away.  She got me in touch with Bonnie and told me where I could find Paula.  I looked Paula up on line and found her and her two sons and granddaughter!  I called, and within the week, Kev and I were picking Paula up at the Humphrey Airport in the cities.

Right off the plane we noticed likenesses…we had the same shoes on...then at our house, we have similar kitchen items, furniture, bedding, decorating ideas and we would finish each other’s sentences.

Anna Martineau Merritt and Paula Martineau Kolonich

…Was not long and my cousin John, found his brother’s kids and they were living in the Grand Rapids, MI area…so, we were off to Michigan to meet them and to reacquaint myself with Bonnie, Theresa and Elsie, the mother to my sisters.  I also met one of Theresa’s two boys…was over the top! I am sad that I was not able to meet Robert.  He was killed by a hit and run, drunk driver a month ago.

Anna, Elsie Martineau, Paula Martineau-Kolonich, Bonnie Graskey-Saunders and Theresa Saunders-Hiler

July came my brother Bobby’s wedding to Vicki…a union our mother would have rejoiced in!  Kev could not go with, so our friend Louanne and I hit the road…we stopped off in Bay City Michigan to see my cousin Sharon Dresser-Brendt and her son Mark.  

Sharon Dresser-Brendt, Mark Brendt and Anna

We then drove through Canada, and stopped to visit with our dear friends, Jack and Lonnie…Louanne made instant friends!  Was a great time!!!

Lonni and Jack Jamieson, Anna and Louanne Wald

The four of us visited the home of my very favorite Native Poet, E. Pauline Johnson.  Her home is in the same community where Jack and Lonni live.  Then we drove to Niagra Falls, Ontario to see the Canadian Horseshoe Falls...we ended up right smack in the middle of a short lived thunder storm!

Louanne Wald and Anna...soaking wet! 

Then off to the wedding and LOTS of country to see…the wedding was so beautiful!!!  Our brother Donny, Amy and the twins also made the long trip.  We got to take part in a real seafood lobster boil…then it was off toward home…through Niagara Falls, Canada and lots of lighthouses…

Anna Martineau-Merritt, brothers, Bob and Don Cline

Brothers Bob and Don Cline...hehehe

Took a trip up the north shore with a couple photographer friends and found ourselves in Pass Lake, Ontario…visited with good friends Linda, Heather and Leo…missed seeing Gunnar this time…just means I need to get back up there again, soon!

Then my brother Farmer came home to visit and to attend his daughters wedding...we had an amazing week bonding with him.  The wedding was beautiful...Jessica and Joe had a very nice wedding!  Farmer got to spend some time with his grand-kids too and that made his whole trip...he talked about them till he walked out the door...was sure a great week...

Jessica, Samauria, Farmer, Little Joe and Joe

 Joe and Jessica (Pettit) Perkins and Farmer 

Anna and Farmer

 Arthur "Farmer" Cline

There have been many photo opportunities near and far, people, animal and nature...my husband has taken me to really neat local areas for nature shots...there have been so much more than what I have listed here...enJOY our journey...

What an amazing year to be alive!  We are so very blessed!  Have a wonder filled holiday season…may only love and goodness encircle you all year long!!!

Much love, Kevin and Anna

How do you know...?

Here is one of my most recent images that makes me feel all giddy inside...enJOY!

“How do you know that you are doing what God wants you to?” was the question asked of me a few days ago…

Do I know for sure that I am doing what the Creator wants me to do?  Yes I do!  How do I know…well, that is a bit different.  I feel completely directed, whether it be physically or just emotional feelings…when I get there, and take part in whatever it may be, I feel so exhilarated that I feel as though I could just explode into a gazillion little pieces.  Even hours later, I still feel very happy and humble that I was allowed to take part in that experience. 

Example:  Jane comes to me for pictures of her 6 year old daughter.  After the photo shoot and we are looking at the images Jane sees one that makes her so excited and she starts to cry.  The fact that I was able to capture that image for her, makes me feel so exhilarated for her and for me, that the feeling will last for a long time…sometimes weeks, months, years can go by and when I least expect it, the vision of Jane and her love for that image will well up and I feel all the same feelings, as if we just completed the shoot.

Example:  I captured an image of an American Bittern bird, which stood tall and pretended to be a reed to hide from me.  Now, this was early spring and there were NO reeds.  I, to this day can still see the Bittern, so sure that I could not see him/her, that I got some amazing captures.  Within a short few miles down the road, I had already completed a Haiku (poetry form) about this little beauty!  I steel see the Bittern in my mind’s eye and I get all giddy all over again.  When someone sees the image for the first time and they get so excited at the ‘beauty’ of it, I am transposed right back to the very moment that I snapped the shot…and yes, I truly share the beauty that the Creator has gifted me to see and capture so that you may enJOY experiencing the stunning creation.

So, that my dear friends, is how I know when I am doing what I am supposed to be doing…I really and truly LOVE capturing images of most of the creations the Creator has gifted the world…I feel truly honored to be able to capture and share these with the world.

Have a great day and smile, because you deserve it!!!