Ice Cream, Good Friends, & Golden Light

Fuji Wrap-Up Part II | The Matchbook | 8.21.26

The first third of July was like a brace for impact. The second third was the actual impact itself. It was the chaos, and it had officially arrived.

That’s the thing about chaos, it just happens and it really doesn’t care if you’re prepared for it or not. Part II of July was this, my goodness was it ever. Brace yourselves, cause it’s happening.

Also, a quick note:

If you love this place and you’re able to support it, every single one of you helps keep this fire lit. Thank you. Truly.

Ok. Part II of July, let’s do this:

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As I said, chaos just shows up. It arrived first in the form our one of my favorite people on the planet, a face that will be familiar to you now that you wandered through the April Fuji Journals a few months ago. Anna “B Nana” and her amazing fiancee, Danuel Dan The Man Danny. They were in town because her dear friend (and our client!) Taya Lynn McCarthy™ was getting married and they got to stay with us as we were photographing it! We got to spend a string of days together, including the wedding day, and it was so amazing to be reunited so soon after our wander through Ireland together. Her entire family was in town too for the wedding, and it’s a family I truly adore.

We got to take them all to visit Addie at work at the Big Dipper Ice Cream, where she’s a pro-level scooper, and it was rad seeing everyone together. Then, Birthday #2 happened, and Sarah made her amazing famous dessert for a 2nd time so that this time the “Family Birthday Party” could also enjoy the fruits of her labor. It was a strawberry dessert, fruits, see what I did there?!

Some of the very best sunsets in recent memory decorated the 2nd part of July, and we sat on the deck for all of them. It’s amazing looking back from here, saturated in so much forest fire smoke, and thinking that so recently we had clear air and could actually breathe. I know it will return, but it makes you long for the days you can enjoy the outside, and not just be sequestered away for your own lung’s sake.

Addie had her THIRD birthday, with the same dessert as she requested, this time with a separate set of friends. The cake, once again, was stunning.

Danuel tried out our e-bikes, we wandered a bit more downtown and took Fuji photos all along the journey, I also found a water pipe that had my name on it, so clearly had to straddle it in my Vans for a photograph. It’s funny how many opportunities for beauty just sit and wait for us to actually come looking. Problem is, we’re all so damn busy to actually DO the looking. Problem is, we think we have time to change this.

We have now. Nothing more is promised.

Just now. Go look.

More time with Danuel and B Nana, Henry got to go in and finally get his birthday present from Addie (his birthday is in February haha) and she got him new hoop earrings. Our good buddy Lowell did his masterful work of installing them, Henry looks rad as usual. Gilly also ate his first official ice cream cone from Big Dipper. To say he loved it is an understatement, as the little devil ate it all in 2 bites. I think he got a brain freeze. It was cute.

A few random spots to show Danny the Montana State Capitol, the Cathedral (even if you ain’t religious, which we ain’t, this building is STUNNING) and a bit of our famous downtown walking mall. All the while, Sarah did her dough and baked and filled her lovely bread sheds for people to come and gobble it all up. Still the golden light poured in. Still we loved it.

We also did as my hat told us to do, we Love More, and we all felt very tired, as we’d photographed 4 weddings at this point, in only the first 2 weeks of the month. Sheesh.

More soon, one more installment with some of my most favorite photographs I’ve taken in months.

I’ll see you soon.

I love you all.

Be good.

Also…join this family!!! It’s time.