Fall: I Welcome You With Open Arms!

The image below makes my sweat glands quiver...

Popsicle anyone?? After suffering through the horribly oppressive summer heat that feels the need to bring a side-dish of humidity, I can't adequately convey in written word my enthusiasm for the fact that Fall weather has officially arrived in the Ohio Valley. Haul out the pumpkins, get the mums in the ground, open up the windows, build up the bonfire and crank-up the tractor for the hay rides because Fall is upon us! Yay!

Summer, I turn up my nose to you and your ridiculous heat. My sweat glands are personally thankful that your time on center stage is through. It's been real, but take a hike until 2011!


Okay, okay, enough with the drama, but seriously, it was one of the hottest summer's in recent history. But now that cooler temperatures are here, I have hit the outdoors to ready the flowerbeds for fall (which translates as pull the weeds that have taken over in my neglect due to medical microbiology over the summer and second semester nursing two weeks later.) Seriously at one point there was a weed by my front door that was nearly taller than me. And I'm 6-feet tall...it wasn't a skimpy weed!

So normally, I just skip decorating for fall because I'm too excited and ready to just decorate for Christmas, but I am taking a different approach this year. As I get older, time does indeed seem to be racing by even faster. I've thought a lot about this lately. My dad told me once, "Don't wish your life away." It was in the context of me whining about not being able to go out with friends or do the things my older brothers could do. I am quite certain it followed me saying something like, "I wish I was older so I could do that." I'm sure we've all been there. But my dad's wisdom was more than I understood at the time. I get it now. I don't want to wake up when I'm 50, 60, 70 or even Lord willing 80 years old and think to myself, "Why didn't I live more in the moment instead of always pining for the tomorrows?" Sure, it is wise to set goals and make plans (as long as one's heart stays open to God's plan even if it alters our own.) But I want every day to count. This summer was a stretch for me. I love to be outside, but I dread to be hot. And it was melt your face off hot, but I made the best of it. I think the most fun this summer was "Camp Amby." Every now and then I have the privilege of entertaining the various kiddos of my friends and family. And in addition to games indoors, I added to my kid-entertaining-arsenal a slip-n-slide, a sprinkler and some water guns. It was hot, but we stayed cool and had a watery blast in the meantime!

And so with summer behind us, fall upon us and winter ahead (insert childish squeal here!) I am planning to continue to make the most of each day. I'm working on new fall decorations and will post pics soon (I hope) of my creations. Until then, I'm posting some inspirational and "cooler" photos from the days past of my favorite seasons.

The picture below was a little gem I rediscovered when going through my photos from Alaska. I took so many pictures while I was there, I honestly forgot taking some of them! This one was on a tour of a native village set up for tourists taking the riverboat cruise on the Chena river. It has the feel of "ready for winter." Which speaks of my mood three seasons out of the year! Ha!


And I don't have high hopes for a good snowy winter like we had this past winter, but I'll keep my snowy pictures close by to remember the days of hiking in the snow with a frozen nose and joyful heart. : )

The New Toothless Grin

Oh the sweetness of the six-year old grin!

And the sweetness of the six-year-old face in general : )

I walked into my mom's house where Little Lauren Bug scurried into my arms. We talked for a second and then I saw it. The square hole in her mouth where a front tooth once resided. With an award-winning dramatic flair, I dropped her to her feet, raised my hands in the air and asked, "What happened to your tooth?!?" "Where did it go!?" She giggled and then immediately realized she forgot to show her Nana her new toothless grin! As fast as lightning she was off to the other room calling for Nana.


Aunt Amby had to celebrate the occasion with an impromptu photo shoot of her precious smile. Because before too long she'll be sportin' braces and running with her middle school friends and no longer scurrying to jump into our arms.

I told my sister-in-law I wasn't sure where they got her, but she sure is fun! She is a character for sure.

Friday Night Photo Assignment

Gotta love these Summer Concerts in the park!

I was commissioned to photograph Skip Bond and the Fugitives as they took to the stage this evening. To my delight, these fellas are from Bowling Green, KY., a town dear to my heart as I lived there for five years some years ago. Great to talk about a town I adore with actual locals! : )



The concert was on an hour rain delay, but that gave rise to some fun umbrella shots. These ladies were fabulous and willing to wait how ever long it took to see the band. They are big fans.

And these are some of my favorite images! While standing in front of the crowd taking shots of the band, a nosey little bug made it's way down my shirt! I thought I kept feeling something on me but could never feel or find it so I didn't pay any attention and kept shooting pictures. Finally I cornered the little bugger between my hand and shirt and then it bit me! I quickly made an escape behind the stage to try to get it out and hopefully not be seen wriggling and squirming and looking down my shirt by all of Henderson! After I gathered myself I looked up to see this....


What is neat about these pictures is that you can see the rain falling when the picture is enlarged. I like back-lit silhouettes anyway.

So aside from the pesky wardrobe invader, it was a fun night! Now, off to piddle with the sewing machine and a dress that is in the works before hitting the hay and then another photo session tomorrow with one of my favorite clients!

Christmas Portraits

Baby Victoria born Dec. 17th

Amid the many joys of this season, one thing I love about Christmas time is shooting Christmas portraits. Twinkling white lights in the background just seem so pretty and festive and can add a soft touch to the portraits.

Here are just a few of the portraits I've shot over the past few weeks! Enjoy! : )

Sidda Claire :: 16 Months

Baby Ellie :: 6 Months

The Engelbrecht Family

The End Of A Day...Uhm..Well Week For That Matter

Today has been a very long but wonderful day!

After yet another four hour nursing class, Not only am I now officially "skilled" in changing the bed linens of an occupied hospital bed, I am also educated now on how to give appropriate oral/denture care without causing the patient to aspirate. Yep, that's right mom, when you're feeble and frail and can no longer pack away your dentures for the night (providing you end up with dentures) I'm the one for the job!! : ) So rest your gums and know you'll still keep those pearly whites, pearly whilst I'm on the watch.

Aside from losing circulation in my lower extremities during the long class, I also enjoyed a fantastic morning with a favorite client of mine! Why is she my favorite you ask?? Because she is just such a joy to spend time with!! Plus, I get to photograph all the beautiful homes that she has worked on as she is one PHENOMENAL interior designer!!

Here's the link to her website Working-Bergen Interiors (and to some of my interior photography!)

So go ahead...go check out her beautiful work and then call her up and let her know you've got a house for her to come and work her magic on!

I hope you all (however few of you actually frequent and read my ramblings) have a wonderful long and enjoyable holiday weekend!!

Just Because...

I've posted a lot of words lately, and no pictures, so I thought, while I was waiting for the photos for the business magazine to upload that I would post this little guy real quick.

Some time in the last few days (it's all been a blur honestly) I was out on assignment for the magazine and upon returning to my car, my eye caught this little fella.

Despite being very grumpy the past few days (my thoughts/actions have been borderline Ouiser Boudreaux'ish lately) I did have compassion upon the seemingly suicidal mantis.

I'm not quite sure why the little guy chose to make my tire his perch of peril. Perhaps an unkind exchange of words within the mantis household, or a layoff at the mantis factory, but after a few encouraging words (and the prodding from a stick) I was able to talk him down from ending it all and get him back on his way to praying in the parking lot island filled with clover.

Yeah, so all this to say, I thought being a photographer and all, I should maybe post a picture.

: )

Perhaps soon I'll be able to make time to shoot for pleasure and not just for the Benjamins.