Momma K

Last Friday evening we celebrated my Mother-in-Law, Momma K's birthday.  It was such a great time, and I really enjoyed just being able to relax and goof off with these ladies.

Even though it may not look like it right at this moment, we were having a great time.  People just got shy around my awesome lens.

We even corrupted some youth with scary tales of our early childhood.

There were more incriminating photos later, but I was too busy wrestling my sister-in-law...she had it coming.Have I mentioned that I love red hair on this blog? Once? Twice? Too many times?  But I do.

Remembrance 9/11

I know this is a little late, and everyone else did their 9/11 posts on Friday or Saturday, but it really took me the full weekend to grasp what I wanted to say.  In trying to remember this day, I took a moment of silence, and I tried to remember where I was.  I was in school.  I remember watching as the second plane hit, I remember not really being able to realize what was happening until I realized that there was not a sound in the whole school.  No one was talking, no one was teaching, time had just stopped. Since that day many families in our country have been separated, either by loss or by war or unfortunately both.  For me it is hard to even possibly imagine a war that I cannot physically experience.  I think for those of us not directly involved in the sense that we have loved ones involved, it's hard for us to realize the depth of this war.

There are times I feel helpless with this war.  I don't know how to help, and I seldom know what is going on.  I am ashamed of the increasing anti-Muslim sentiment in our country...and that we cannot seem to grasp that there are radicals in every group who embarrass the rest.  For the past several weeks I have been babysitting for a family who happens to be Muslim.  As 9/11 grew closer, so did the end of Ramadan.  As these two dates arrived I wondered if it would be brought up.  The Grandmother of the family is often there during the day while I babysit and we have discussions about what she thinks of my culture and what I think of hers.  Thursday came, the last day I would be babysitting for the week as they started festivities the next day.  I was reading "The Berenstain Bears" to the little two year old boy I watch and he slowly started to fall asleep in my lap.  His Grandmother approached me with a cup in her hand.  She set it down beside me and explained that this was a special desert that they make for the end of Ramadan, and she would be very pleased if I tried it and liked it.  It was divine, and she smiled at my delight.  As she walked away I thought that this is what really mattered.  No discussion of what happened, no blame, no awkwardness.  Just  desert, Berenstain Bears, hope and a child of two worlds asleep in my lap.

Adam and Christi

As most of you know from Hello, Georgia I was in Georgia last weekend to shoot a wedding with Rebecca Claire Photography.  Adam, the Groom, is actually Claire's brother, so she had bridesmaid requirements to meet, which left me as the primary shooter.  The wedding was tons of fun!  Adam and Christi are really great people, and were super fun to work with. The wedding was at Wolf Mountain Winery, near Dahlonega GA.  Wolf Mountain is a gorgeous setting, and with the wedding at 5:30 we got to enjoy one of the first perfect September days and into the evening.  Claire was nice enough to let me post some of the pictures I took although we haven't finished editing all the photos yet.  Unfortunately some of my favorite pics were on a memory card I gave her to download, but we'll have to make due with the selection I've picked out.  Here's the sneak peak, but keep checking www.rebeccaclaire.com for the full photos, they're going to be breath taking!

Christi was just a positively stunning bride...and I'm kinda partial to red heads.  I wish I was one.

Christi's Dad enjoyed the lipstick smooch.

A lovely picture with the new sister-in-law.

Proud Mother of the Groom.

The ladies were doing some serious rocking out to Madonna before hand, it's a good way to calm the nerves.

The happy couple.

There are more of these gorgeous vineyard shots on the other memory card.  Boo...we'll see them eventually.

Dish-o-the-Week: Greek Pasta Salad

Nothing says simple and delicious to me like a pasta salad.  It's refreshing, filling, and super easy to put together...which is why there are no put together pictures here.  You just mix it, I think you guys can figure that out without pictures.  But by far, this is one of my favorite pasta salad recipes I have made.

You can view the full recipe HERE.  I use Allrecipes.com a lot, especially when I'm in a rush or just stuck on what I want to make for dinner this week.  It's a great site, and easy to use.  I love this pasta salad because it's got so much in it!  We're talkin' pepperoni, olives, peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, and green onions.  My only tip for this recipe is that I would definitely let it sit over night to let all the flavors mix.  And although it won't make your breath smell good, it's well worth it.

The Twin

Two weekends ago, I went home for a busy weekend away.  While I was there I teamed up with my wonderful friend The Twin.  She wanted some lovely portraits done, so we headed to the river and had a grand ole time.  I even stepped in for a couple cameo shots with my best bud.  The Twin and I have been friends for a long time, so it really meant a lot to me to be able to do some portraits for her.  And here is the end result.  Happy viewing!

Hello, Georgia.

So here I am, sitting in my fluffy hotel bed in Dohlonega Georgia.   I conquered hunger, I conquered twisty roads, I didn't get lost.  And now I am ready to enjoy this awesome bed. I'm here in Georgia to help the lovely Mrs. Rebecca Claire shoot her brother's wedding.  We're staying at The Smith House and I have to say, it's pretty snazzy.

It's been a long day and tomorrow is going to be even longer, so it's off to bed with me.  I wish I was at home with Speed Racer but this lovely down comforter will have to keep my cozy instead.  Happy Labor day weekend everybody!  Stay safe!

Dish-o-the-Week: Steak Shish Kabobs and PW Twiced Baked Potatoes

Since it's fair well to summer, I thought we'd do a little grillin' tonight.  It's still hot as Hades here in the South, so we went with some nice marinated steak shish kabobs and some delicious Pioneer Woman twice baked potatoes.  I went a little over board though, so Speed Racer and I are pretty stuffed. There's nothing like some fresh veggies roasted over a fire to make your mouth water.  I used onion, green pepper, steak, cherry tomatoes, and mushrooms on our shish kabobs.  First I marinated the steak, green pepper, and mushrooms in some red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and lemon pepper.

I decided to go with PW's twice baked potatoes for our side.  They are fantastic, although I should have cooked them longer.

Then I got the bacon and fixin's ready for the twice baked potatoes.

Next cut up all your veggies and layer them in order on your skewers.  Note!!  Make sure you soak your skewers for at least 20 minutes before you grill...or they will catch on fire...and that's no good.

Next be sure to take a bite of your extra twice baked potatoes fixin's while you think no one is looking, but really your husband is taking embarrassing photos of you really looking your worst.  But then go ahead and post them on the internet...because we like to keep it real here.

Once your shish kabobs are done, and your twice baked potatoes are all cheesy and gooey...go spend an evening watching the movie Star Trek with the hubby, because you know that's how you roll.

I love September

It's hard to believe that today is the first day of September.  Fall is upon us and I don't feel quite ready.  I love September.  It's my favorite month...also because it's my birthday month, and well, quite frankly I LOVE birthdays.  Especially mine.  But this year it has snuck up on me, and I'm not quite sure what to do with September. I woke up Saturday morning at my parents house, to a foggy field view.  (Thus all the pictures.)  To me, it's a magical time when the seasons begin to transition.  Everything changes, and seems full of mystery...and there is fog.  I love fog, it reminds me of fairy tale books for some reason.

But I woke up, eyes still blood shot and exhausted from the day before to this beautiful view.  I stumbled out of bed...found my shoes...mumbled something about photos as I passed my Mom and went out the back door.  While I shot, I began to wake up.  The cool crisp air made me realize that summer is gone...and somehow I feel like I missed it.

I am determined not to do the same with September.  Don't get me wrong, it's going to be a busy month.  I have two, possibly three, weddings to do with Rebecca Claire Photography.  I have to get my tonsils removed.  And I have several senior portraits lined up.  Not to mention just the day to day working.  Speed Racer also has a ton of travel ahead of him this month, so that just makes us busy.  So I already feel like I'm letting it slip by.

Usually by now I already have my birthday list sent out (at times I have sent it out in July...yeah, I'm that kid).  But I haven't done it yet, and each time I try to I just seem to get discouraged.  Speed Racer wistfully asked what I wanted for my birthday this year, and for once I said, "I just don't know."

Unlike most people who say that who are modest and not greedy people, I did not say it because I don't want presents, I think I said it out of exhaustion.  There are MANY things that I want, but none of them seem to come in gift form...or affordable gifts at that.  I want time away.  Just for me and Speed Racer.  I want to buy practical things that make dumb presents.  I want to figure out things.  I want to be surprised.  Stuff like that.

But the great thing about fall is that it always seems full of new prospects to me.  Unlike Spring, fall to me is a time to hunker down with a good book outside, and spend some quality time.  Even if this fall is busy, I know it's going to be a good one.  I'm taking fall back.

Friday. Friday!

Happy Friday everyone!  I'm headed back to the land that I love, the land of my youth, the land where everyone knows my name!  Well, maybe not that last one, at least I hope not, that would mean I'm in trouble. I'm headed back North to Virginia for the weekend.  It's going to be a fun time of get together, and actually lots of photography as well!  My friend The Twin and Preacher are in need of some photography skills, and I am happy to oblige them.  Lots more to post when I get back of the photo sessions.  Have a great, safe, weekend everyone!

ABCs

E is for Elephant.  I don't know how many times I said that this morning.  Learning the alphabet is an important part of children growing up, but it can also be a helpful exercise for photographers.  Not just because, "Me photographer, me need to know how to speak and write," but for many reason.

The other day I went out and about Knoxville and tried to find letters.  I had a specific word in mind because that helped me focus a little bit more.

But you would be surprised how hard it is to find letters, "in nature."

I love this exercise because it makes you look at the world differently.  It's a lot harder than I thought it would be.

I encourage you to try this, even without a camera!  It really helps you "see" objects not just how they are but as how you would like them to be. (Deep, right?)  So in the end I ended up with the word I wanted.

I'm still going to play around with the letters more, and also try to find some more letters.  Feel free to share what you find!