Senior Portrait: Alex 2010

A few months ago while attending a friend's graduation, I ran into another friend whose son used to be my daughter's classmate in elementary school. We discussed doing a photo session for his senior pictures. I asked about his hobbies and interests, and we decided to use a sword in his photos.  We did his photo session about two weeks ago just before the sun set.  He was so easy to work with. Thank you, Alex!

Isn't the setting gorgeous?  It's so difficult to choose a favorite. Which one do you like best?

Sneak Preview

I haven't posted anything for a couple of weeks now, because I've been so busy with a wedding and several photo shoots. And there's more to come! I'm so grateful for the opportunities, the confidence others have shown in me, and for the Lord's provision.  Thank you!  So, here's a sneak preview.  :)

What's On Your List?

Have you ever talked about doing something either over the summer or within the next year, but realized you had allowed time to pass and wished you’d done it? My daughter and I have mentioned a few things to do over the summer: We went blueberry picking at a pick-your-own farm for the first time... check... and we went to a few yard sales this past Saturday even though I am nursing a bad summer cold... *sniff cough cough* Summer is quickly coming to an end, and since most yard sales are only on the weekends, I didn’t want to put it off any longer.

I thought the silver spoons, as well as the unique forks, would make a nice addition to our culinary supplies and photo props, since my daughter loves to cook and bake and practice food designing. Not bad for a dollar, huh? I also paid a dollar for the pretty dragonfly pin, and I couldn’t pass up the coffee mug. After all, not only was it free, but it has my new granddaughter’s name on it.

So, what else is on our list for this summer? We’d like to go kayaking, and I’d like to go to the ocean, walk on the beach, feel the sand between my toes, hear the waves crash and the seagulls call, and eat junk food from the boardwalk. What’s on your list?

Little Miss Gracie

These were taken two weeks ago just a few days after my first session with Gracie. I had especially wanted to get a shot of her in one of my husband's wooden bowls.  I found the flower headband at a local health food store that also houses a craft section.  So pretty in pink, and don'tcha just love her smile?

A Lesson in Chinese

James arrived Monday for a week long visit to spend time with his sweetie.  We picked him up at the airport in Manchester, NH then looked for a place to eat.



James wanted Chinese, but the restaurant Tiffany had googled looked a bit 'sketchy', so James pulled out his iPhone to look for another and we ended up at the Beijing Tokyo Restaurant in Concord.



Tiffany ordered a Pad Thai dish, and James ordered Sweet and Sour Chicken. The food was not only beautifully presented, but it tasted scrumptious, too!



I ordered the Seaweed Salad for myself as well as a Pu Pu Platter to share. Our waitress was a very polite, attentive young woman who seemed somewhat unsure of her English. At one point when she brought something, I said, "Xie Xie," pronounced (sheh sheh) which means "Thank you" in Mandarin Chinese. Her face lit up! I'm glad she didn't try to speak to me in Chinese, because I know only a few words and phrases. Wanna know how to say the food is good? It's really easy to remember. My brother-in-law taught me. Just think of a hen house and say, "Hen hao" (hen how). See? Wasn't that easy? (^_~)

A Secret Place

My daughter and I visited a little known gem of a place a few days ago; it was beautiful with its well-tended gardens, wildflowers, large pond, little marina, quaint lodge, old saw mill, small dam, and nature trail.  We brought her puppy, Sally, along to further socialize and introduce her to different environments.

As we made our way to the nature trail by way of the dam, we noticed a few men fishing in rowboats.  The only kind of fishing allowed is fly fishing, and the only boats are the rowboats available to rent.  It keeps the waters healthy and pristine.

Before reaching the dam, we noticed an old building tucked in a little nook, and we walked down the slope to check it out.  Peering inside a window with cupped hands to block the sun’s glare, we noticed it had once been a saw mill.  Around the corner and above was an elevated walkway that led to an upper room, but it didn’t appear to be easily accessible as its entrance seemed blocked by rocks and trees.  We decided to investigate and went back up and around to see if there was a path.  Finding none, we went back around and down and then scrambled up the bank with Sally in tow.  We reached the locked door, but a pane in its window was broken out, so we were able to easily look inside.  It was apparent that someone had recently spent some time there.  As photographers, both my daughter and I remarked what a wonderful place it would be to do photo shoots.  On the way out, I noticed a path leading from the elevated walkway.  It was overgrown and almost invisible, but it was a path nonetheless, so we took it instead of trying to gingerly make our way back down the bank.

We continued our trek to the dam, stopping along the way to take some pictures. We crossed the dam and ventured on to the nature trail. The forest was so enchanting with moss covered rocks and stumps and lush green ferns. There was even a huge boulder that resembled a sheep’s or lion’s head, depending on one’s perspective. Sally thoroughly enjoyed running back and forth along the path, as well as off the path and down to the water’s edge. We had recently purchased a retractable leash, and it perfectly suited the situation.

On the way back to the car as we were passing the little marina, we stopped and chatted with an older gentleman who was enjoying a thermos of tea.  He was the second person to curiously ask how we had found the place, because it’s the best kept secret in the state.  I told him our pastor and his wife had recently discovered it and mentioned its beauty.  So, it’s not a secret anymore... at least not to us.  (^_~)

A part of the old sluice gate still in operation

Gracie: 3 Weeks Old

Gracie and I had our first official photo shoot yesterday.  It was also my first baby photo shoot.  My daughter, Tiffany, helped with lighting and setting up.  Gracie was asleep at first, and we were hoping to get some good sleeping shots, but she woke up, was fed and burped by her mommy, and decided to stay wide awake and active.  Besides the shot of her little 'piggies', my favorite shot is of Gracie wrapped in a scarf, looking straight into the camera.  I also love the last one, because she looks so much like her daddy when he was a baby.  So while we may not have gotten some of the posed sleeping shots we were hoping to get, I'm so glad she was awake and alert.  Be warned though, when you see her looking back at you, you might need to grab a mop after finding your heart melted on the floor.  (^_~)