blog — dpb photography

Happy Thanksgiving!

Who could imagine that I would be here to celebrate another Thanksgiving? Well, here I am, with a little bit of cancer that arrived several weeks ago and two infusions completed.

Dana BoutonNovember 28, 2024 Comments

Independence Day

Happy Independence Day! 1776 to 2024!

We live in an era where people proclaim their gender(s) and political beliefs before they express gratitude for being in a free country.

If I am asked how I identify, my answer is “patriot.” According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary: a patriot is “a person who loves their country and is ready to boldly support and defend it.”

Dana BoutonJuly 1, 2024 Comments

clarity

As we all prepare for Thanksgiving next week, I want to confide a few secrets. Shh, it’s just between us.

holidayDana BoutonNovember 15, 2023Thanksgiving, non-hodgkin's lymphoma, DLBCL, blessings, turkey, pool, clarity, view, mountains, no filter, cancer, lymphoma, founding fathers Comments

reflect

Happy New Year 5784! I find gratitude, seek joy, and tune into my senses.

reflectionsDana BoutonSeptember 23, 2023San Diego, San Diego Bay, non-hodgkin's lymphoma, Coronado, Ferry Landing, incurable, treatment, gratitude, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, beach, Coronado Bay Bridge Comments

oh say can you see (and hear, touch, and taste)

I’m celebrating Independence Day in Coronado, an “island” south of Downtown San Diego. For 74 years, their annual July 4th parade has made its way for down Orange Avenue, the main drag in town. . Military presence is strong here as North island is the birthplace of naval aviation and the city honors its veterans and those who are actively listed.

parade, holidayDana BoutonJuly 4, 2023Coronado, 4th of July, Inde, parade, navy, marching bands, equestrian groups, flags, stars and stripes, vintage cars, motorcylces, shriners Comments

Summertime

Hello everyone on the longest day of the year!

I’ve been busy with a few projects that have kept me from writing this blog, but I managed to shoot some photos along the way, not just in Pasadena, but in Coronado, California, a small “island” south of San Diego.

Dana BoutonJune 21, 2023 Comments

new greeting cards!

I am very excited to launch two new greeting cards! These cards are similar to what I already offer on my website shop, except the message on the back of each card is a quote from a Psalm.

floral designs, greeting cards, fundraiser, recycled paper, reflections, ThanksgivingDana BoutonMarch 21, 2023floral photography, waxflower, bougainvillea, Psalms, religious, greeting card, inspirational, Christian, Jewish, Catholic, foldover cardComment

I get a zero!

happy birthday to me! The big 6-0. I DID IT! When I was told last year I may have one year left to live as the lymphoma was back for the fifth time, I figured 59 years was the best I could do.

Well, I AM STILL HERE, gosh darn it! I am thrilled and want to shout it out wherever I go! I am the Happiest 60-year-old you’ll ever want to meet!!!

events, birthday partyDana BoutonMarch 9, 202360, lymphoma, non-hodgkin's lymphoma, magnolia tree, neighbor, celebrating 60, low white blood cell counts, birthday, 60th birthday Comments

what to say?

During my recovery, I think about life and death. After five years of battling a particularly virulent form of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, my emotions range from fear, anxiety, bone-weariness, exuberance, hope, and disappointment. The physical pain is frustrating: my brain spills over with ideas, while my body hurts and won’t move.

reflectionsDana BoutonFebruary 28, 2023obituary, dana pepper endowment fund, mount sinai, forest lawn, non-hodgkin's lymphoma, chemo infusion, richard belzer, traditional jewish funeral, conflicted, florists, blue anise sage Comments

we did it!

Wow! Our January 14 & 15 gallery show was a huge success and it could not have been accomplished without so much support from friends and family.

Between sales from the show, sales after the show AND direct donations to my Endowment Fund, we raised over $24,000!

events, fundraiser, gallery showDana BoutonFebruary 9, 2023gallery show, pasade, Li Mei, Li Mei Art World, framed art, wood prints, metal, fine art paper, macro photography, floral photography, studio art, guest reception, Dana Pepper Endowment Fund, City of HopeComment

Gallery Show Details!

Lori Poncsak, Li Mei Norton and I are looking forward to seeing you at our show this Saturday and Sunday, January 14&15!!

Dana BoutonJanuary 11, 2023Li Mei Art WorldComment

It's show time!

Here’s the latest news about my upcoming gallery show on Saturday and Sunday, January 14&15!

Happy Merry 2022

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas! This season we get to celebrate both holidays, with the last day of Hanukkah culminating on Christmas Day Eve. It’s truly a celebration of light, whether you’re lighting candles on your menorah for 8 nights or stringing lights on your Christmas tree (or trees!) and adorning the outside of your house.

Dana BoutonDecember 20, 2022 Comments

Let's all Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is unique to our American culture and by law we are mandated to celebrate the third Thursday every November. Whether we cook at home or go out to eat, most of us have an opportunity to enjoy our family and friends around a communal goal: to thank those who came before us who made great sacrifices.

holiday, Thanksgiving, family get togetherDana BoutonNovember 23, 2022Thanksgiving, American Holiday, United States Holiday, Michael J. Fox, Peter C. Mancall, Professor Mancal, Los Angeles Times, American culture, Indigenous People, American Indians, Lymphoma, Parkinson's Comments

persist

I am recovering from Covid after a month of having a head cold, a cough, and lost of taste and smell. I had a slight fever and a few body aches in the beginning, but that subsided quickly. Due to the Graft vs Host Disease from the donor transplant, my airways are a little blocked and Covid exacerbated that condition. Just getting up to shower and eat breakfast was exhausting.

Dana BoutonNovember 11, 2022 Comments

the cancer lens

Today is Rosh Hashanah, and if you’re Jewish, you know that it means we’re celebrating a new year, 5783.

reflectionsDana BoutonSeptember 25, 2022Rosh Hashanah, Simon Jacobson, Meaningful Life Center, Days of Awe, High Holidays, Angel, cancer, lymphoma, cancer lens Comments

My Choice(s)

My wedding season is over and miraculously I am still alive and feeling strong. Remission is treating me well!

family, floralDana BoutonSeptember 8, 2022infusion, concerts, baseball, trip, City of Hope, oncologist, scheduler, Thanksgiving, remission, cancer Comments

from generation to generation

My original title for this week’s blog post was “cultivate hope”. It seemed an appropriate theme as I have watched brides and grooms get married, full of hopes and dreams and ready to commit to a better future together in spite of past and present hardships.

floral, events, Bar Mitzvah, weddingDana BoutonSeptember 4, 2022society garlic, Sananda Maitrea, l'dor v'dor, generation, Chabad, lymphoma, climate change, weddings, immigrants, sacrifice Comments

be authentic

This Saturday my niece is getting married to her long time boyfriend at a local country club.

floral, family, weddingDana BoutonAugust 25, 2022dpb photographyauthentic, crepe myrtle, macro photography, wedding, niece, country club, pancakes, pop tarts, cancer, lymph Comments

precious air

Last Sunday I celebrated my great niece’s 1 year birthday at the beach.

birthday partyDana BoutonAugust 19, 2022dpb photographyfamily, steps, ocean, 1st birthday, scleroderma, bone marrow transplant, air, ocean waves, time share Comments