Esme: A Celebration of Life

Esme is Home

A photo collection of our little girl

Esme and Rascal (left) crossed the rainbow bridge on October 6th, 2021.

Esme 2010 - 2026

On Friday, May 22nd, we said our final goodbye to our 16-year-old dachshund. Esme; She never fully recovered from her back surgery eight years ago. As she aged, she lost muscle in her back legs, and over the past year, we noticed her losing weight, especially in her face. Her health had been getting worse for a while. Our vet told us it was time, and we agreed. Esme received a sedative at 9:43 am, followed by her last shot a few minutes later. She crossed the rainbow bridge at 9:58 am.

We miss her deeply. Even through our tears, we are finding comfort in memories, photos, and the kind words from friends and family. Thank you for being there for her. Sending much love and light to everyone.

Thursday, May 21, 2026:

The Day Before: The Photoshoot.

My wife asked me to take some photos of Esme before her vet appointment the next day. I wanted to make it special for her, since she has brought us so much happiness. I set up both my backdrops, studio lights, gels, and my Nikon D800 with the 85mm lens for a classic photoshoot.

We set everything up in the living room, grabbed her favorite blanket and lots of treats, and got started. Esme was more willing to sit for this session than ever before. Like with kids, you have to guide them into place and use those brief moments when they pause to snap a photo.

While editing the photos, I noticed that even a small tilt of her head showed how much gray had appeared on her face and legs. I checked my iPhone to compare how the gray patches looked.

After the session, Esme got her own Ribeye steak with homemade fresh-cut French fries. For dessert, she enjoyed a 'we have Starbucks at home' pup cup.

My wife and I were very happy with the final images. They are a last tribute to an amazing little girl who overcame back surgery and kept bringing us joy until the end.

Places: The Great Smoky Mountains: Walden Creek to Cherokee

From our cabin in Walden Creek to Cherokee, North Carolina, we drove 33 miles of scenic road to places like Sugarland's, Chimney Tops, and the highest peak in the Smoky Mountains, Kuwohi, formerly known as Clingmans Dome. The U.S. Board of Geographic Names restored the Cherokee name Kuwohi on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, and voted to change the name of the highest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park from Clingmans Dome to Kuwohi, a Cherokee name for the mountain. The tower at the top of Kuwohi is at 6,643 feet elevation, making it the highest point in the park.

The balcony view from our cabin in Walden Creek is breathtaking. This photograph was taken with a Nikon D800 and a Nikon 20-35mm f/2.8 lens. I combined five carefully selected images out of 20, which varied in exposure, then stacked them in Lightroom with minor edits in Camera Raw. The result highlights the serene landscape around the cabin.

I spotted this curious Coyote in Cade's Cove, and I believe it was actively searching for a handout, as it stuck around for quite some time, showing little hesitation in my presence. Shot this image with a Sony 7RII with a Sony G master 135mm f1.8.

From the top left to the right, the photos were taken in Cades Cove. My wife captured a doe right beside our car with her iPhone 14; it almost reached the passenger window. Meanwhile, I snapped a shot of a Tom by the roadside. The most astonishing encounter was with a Bull Elk near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, close to Cherokee, North Carolina. The mating season in September probably explains why we heard a Bull Elk's calls near our cabin early in the morning. I managed to capture this incredible moment with my iPhone 14 Pro Max.