Melinda Downing Design

wolfe manor....the haunted hotel...

I have a friend who owns a haunted house. How cool is that? For many years this old mansion in Clovis CA was known as "Scream if You Can" Haunted House. Every October - for about 4 weeks people would line up by the hundreds to get into what had become one of the best haunted attractions in California. In fact it was not unusual to have people drive from 4 or 5 hours away just to visit this creepy old house and hospital. Some cranky neighbors did not like the noise so a few years ago the city shut it down. But you know the saying... when one door closes.... another opens. So.... the hospital has been torn down to make way for a new hotel and the mansion stays. Meanwhile you can book a private tour or (and here is the exciting part.... drum roll..... ) you can have your portrait done in the mansion- while it's still good and creepy. I'm thinking high school seniors, but hey why limit the fun to the kids. I went over last week, with the owner, Todd and he was my subject as I went from room to room checking out the light as it fell across all the spookiness. Talk about a unique photo opportunity. I will be offering a limited amount of sessions at Wolfe Manor starting in mid June and running through September. Thank you Todd for being such a gorgeous model and just in case anyone is wondering.... NO! we will not be going into the basement. That part of the house really gives me the creeps. If you are interested in photos or booking a tour- send me an email.

meet zach

I have had the good fortune to be Zach's yoga teacher for the last year and a few weeks ago we spent two hours together taking his senior photos. Zach has been one of those kids who is a light in the room, enthusiastic and eager to learn and always working towards the next level in his yoga practice. Yoga is just one piece of work that he has been doing, in the year I have known Zach he has lost 158 pounds. YES! 158 lbs. He told me on the day of the shoot this was the most fun he has had having his picture taken. I am so proud of him and I find this image (his favorite) so telling. He is emerging from a door in an old shed on campus. It feels so symbolic ...stepping through that door, leaving high school and all that excess weight behind. Zach... you have accomplished so much! You are an inspiration and a role model that I will miss.

laura

Last month at my Mom's 70th birthday party, I photographed my cousin's daughter Laura. I was captivated with her beauty and she was captivated with my camera so I let her loose with my Canon. The shot of the cookies is hers and this is just one of about 200 images she took that day. When I was her age I was just as excited about photography but did not have the luxury of the instant gratification that digital photography allows. Still I'm glad that I was there to catch the old school way of shooting and serve my time in the darkroom. Laura will be a senior in 2 years and I made a promise to drive 3 hrs to Sacramento to do her senior portraits.

tofu good, sugar bad

So here I am on day 9 of my detox from sugar. Although I have been a vegetarian for three years, I have been a sugar junkie my whole life. I realize now that I have used it like a drug to keep me buzzed enough to accomplish all the things in my busy life, that seem so important. Oh but now.... I realize just how stupid I have been, not only have I begun to drop the belly fat I have accumulated, my energy is steady and I am sleeping all night and falling asleep at a much more reasonable hour, like 10 or 11 instead of 2 or 3. Has it been easy?  NO! remember no sugar also means no white flour, bread, pasta, white rice, potatoes, all those tricky things that morph INTO sugar right after you pop them into your mouth. Just last night I dreamed of cupcakes, with lots of frosting and yes I do dream in color, because they were pink. So here is a recipe I made up yesterday for something healthy, quick and easy and as it turned out, yummy.

ingredients:
1 block firm tofu
frozen chopped spinach
yellow onion and 1 clove garlic
organic Tamari (wheat free soy sauce)
grape tomatoes
ghee (or olive oil)
parmesan cheese

Slice the tofu into 1/4 inch slices and pat dry. Heat a teaspoon or two of ghee or olive oil and saute on med to low heat until lightly crisped on both sides. Meanwhile in another skillet saute 1/2 of a chopped yellow onion, when caramelized, add chopped clove of garlic and toss in a couple big handfuls of frozen spinach with 2 tablespoons of water. When the Spinach is heated through toss in a big handful of the grape tomatoes. Add your favorite seasoning if you'd like, but no salt. Now just before removing the tofu from the pan, lightly drizzle with the Tamari. Serve the Spinach mixture over the tofu, sprinkle on some freshly grated parmesan cheese and serve.

Harmony

It really felt like Spring two days ago in Napa, CA where I spent the day with Harmony and her son. Son #2 will be making his appearance in just a few short weeks. This is just a sneak peek. More images will be added to the web-site soon. After the shoot we had lunch at The Bounty Hunter in downtown Napa. It was a splurge of wonderful food and wine.

 

Yoga helps you shine

I snapped this one of Tessa as she was leaving yoga class today. Tessa is one of those women that I aspire to be when I grow up. Wise, witty, stylish, fun, spiritual, active.... the list goes on and on. After class, she slips into her clothes to head to Preen, the hair salon where she does her magic 3 days a week. She is better dressed on a daily basis than I am when I go to the theatre in New York, or to a wedding. She is an artist, an actress of the stage, and she sings beautifully. One of my all time favorite quotes came from Tessa during yoga class recently. She said " normal is a setting on your dryer, or....someone you don't know very well"  Thanks Tessa for pausing for this shot as you were heading out the door.

Home From the Nest

An hour outside of Salt Lake City, Elevation 8000 feet and it snowed almost constantly. The landscape was stunning and the retreat totally exceeded my expectations. Two lovely hostesses, three wonderful instructors and 17 students from all over the country, all different and all fun. The food was yummy and plentiful. The whole experience was something I wish every woman could do once in her life. Making art all day, staying up late, talking with interesting women, and all the while... the fire burns in the fireplace and the snow keeps falling outside with a full moon at night, illuminating the magic. On the last night I went onto the balcony with Ananda and we just marveled at the beauty. Being a California girl, I was pretty impressed with the snow, don't get me wrong, I don't want to live in it, but experiencing it this way was really magical.

Candice and Julie, the wonderful ladies who put this whole thing together

Hanging out in the cabin

Anahata demonstrates her collage/painting technique in the first day's class

showing her finished example

Kecia and Amy enjoying a break. Amy taught the jewelry class on day two.

One of the necklaces I made in Amy's class.

Here's Pam Garrison who taught the journal making class on the last day.

and finally..... the amazing aspen trees.

I'm heading to the Art Nest

When my packet arrived last month, I didn't know if I should jump for joy or run for the hills.

Reasons to jump for joy:

• It's an Art Nest! doesn't that title just conjure up images of a magical retreat? 3 great teachers and 20 students in a cabin in the woods for 4 days, making art.

• No cell phone reception.

• Things like.... chocolate, hot beverages, night sledding. Hot tubbing in the snow.

• A day of art with one of my favorite artists, Anahata Katkin and two other instructors I'm sure to love as well, Pam Garrison and Amy Hanna.

• No cell phone reception.

• A chance to get my hands dirty and make art without using photoshop.

• Being able to not read or send email or check messages for 4 days.

Reasons to run for the hills:

• In my packet, along with my list of supplies to bring, I am asked to make a "winter nest" to bring and place upon the mantle when I arrive. My creation will sit alongside 22 other little pieces of art. This may not sound like a big deal, but I actually tossed and turned a few nights over this one. Remember...most of my art the last few years has been created electronically. How in the heck am I going to make a winter nest? Anybody know a bird that can walk me through it?

• First night, after being humiliated by my nest, were having a tiny trade..... I think this means I bring 22 small works of art to trade? Yikes, what pressure!

Actually I'm having fun gathering all my stuff and feeling a little guilty sneaking away all by myself. I am really excited and know that this will be the kick in the butt I need right about now to dive back into painting, collage and jewelry making. Stay tuned as I may be posting a photo of my winter nest creation tomorrow.

Chloe comes home

This would be my last hospital visit with Chloe. After one month, she's going home.

This is two weeks and two pounds later. Isn't she just adorable?

the whole family

Yikes! two on the bottle.

Mom and the girls

siblings

As we were starting the session, I half-kiddingly asked these kids if they liked each other. Older sister said "yeah, most of the time". Well...it was pretty clear to me they LOVE each other. I think it's really fun when siblings volunteer to hug in close and do it without annoying each other. It doesn't always happen. These kids were great fun to photograph. In case you were wondering, YES these boys are twins! so different yet so connected.