williamclayton.com

The Christmas Smoker

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:09:00 GMT

This German incense smoker has long been a traditional fixture of Christmas for my family, who I was blessed to be with again this past Christmas.

Uruguay Bug

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 06:57:53 GMT

Water Polo

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 03:00:00 GMT

The other Saturday I finally made it out to a Berkeley High School water polo game. One of my second families here in the Bay Area (yes, I have two “second families” out here, how cool is that?) have a daughter who is the captain and lead scorer of Berkeley High’s water polo team. She’s going to make a great addition to any college’s water polo team.

I’d never shot water polo before, and quickly found out that it’s a much faster-paced sport than you’d think. The ball would go from being in the water to being hurled towards the goal in a split second. The last picture of this series shows an awesome back-hand attempt on goal from Caroline.

Apple Hill

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 04:40:00 GMT

Last Saturday I went up to Apple Hill with a group of friends to enjoy the many apple orchards and all the apple products that result. Apparently it’s a big destination because there were lots of other people there visiting the different farms and orchards that day, too.

This is how excited we were to pick apples.

You usually don’t see apples like this in stores.

How girls swing on tire swings.

How guys swing on tire swings.

So many choices… or not.

Monkey Business

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:00:00 GMT

Baby All Stars

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 04:15:00 GMT

A friend’s two-year-old sporting Chuck Taylors.

Iguazu Wildlife

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:14:54 GMT

Iguazu Falls

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 04:26:00 GMT

Iguazu Falls winds for 1.7 miles on the boarder of Argentina and Brazil. It is a spectacular place, so it’s no wonder that it’s one of the 28 finalists for the New 7 Wonders of Nature. One of the highlights of my trip last month.

Devil’s Throat, where about half of the fall’s volume cascades down over 200 feet. Accessed by a long walkway built on pillars set in the river.

A Tribute to a Faithful Companion

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 04:00:00 GMT

As some of you might know my dear Brittany Spaniel, Jenny, passed away last month. I think the hardest part for me was coming home to my parents’ house having seen her in perfect health just a few months prior and finding only a shade of what she was before. She wasn’t waiting in the car for me at the airport, nor did she rush to me and vocalize her joy at my return, which she’d always done even if I left for just an hour. Instead I found her gaunt and dull-eyed. She mustered one bay for me, but that was all. It broke my heart.

My parents had taken her to numerous vets, but no one knew what was wrong with her. She wasn’t eating. They guessed cancer, but to test that would require an operation, which she might not have survived. I was home barely two days before we dropped her off at her second home on the way to the airport for our family vacation. Her second home was a couple who had previously owned Brittanys and loved taking Jenny whenever my family was away. They took her knowing full well her condition. I’m very glad she was able to spend her last few days with them and am thankful for their generosity and love for her.

The couple days I was home the end of our trip were hard, too. Previously when I was home she was my shadow, even sharing my bed at night. If I had a hand available it was used to pet her, and if I didn’t she used her muzzle to try to free one. Jenny loved to be taken to the levee and be let loose to run free, chase birds, and get dirty. She had such a unique personality and was very expressive, especially vocally. She was definitely the most beautiful Brittany I’ve ever seen.

It was a lot of work raising her from 7 weeks, but it was worth it, even though I only had 8 years with her. I got angry after the initial wave of grief, thinking that her life was unfairly cut short, but God in His way made me realize that it was really a gracious gift to have her for as long as I did. I’ve been meditating on Psalm 103:1-5 a lot recently and the beginning of verse 5 says God is the one “who satisfies you with good.” Jenny was certainly a source of joy and satisfaction for me. I definitely miss her. Thanks to everyone who sent me notes, both physical and digital, they meant a lot.

Jenny never wanted to be left behind. :)

View more photos of her I’ve posted over the years here.

Cooper+ Molly

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 19:50:00 GMT

I had a great time in Monterey last Saturday shooting this intimate wedding. I’m so glad I could be a part of their big day!