slice of life: newport, oregon.

just a photo-dump few snapshots of our Labor Day weekend

in Newport, Oregon with some really great friends.

the weather was amazing...

our friends who did most of the cooking are amazing cooks!...

the kids had a blast...

Sammy was just plain worn-out...

it was a good end to the summer.

* * *

newport: a preview

more to come once I figure out this beach/shooting into the sun/hazy skies editing thing...

the happy day.

The wedding was held at the Planet Bluegrass Ranch in Lyons, Colorado. It was just gorgeous. I took some photos, but they don't do that scenery justice. But here are a few of my favorites from the lovely evening...



My Uncle Gene and Uncle Ozzie just chatting away...


Empty seats after the wedding.


My second cousin, Logan and her new husband, Peter. They are just as wonderfully cute in real life as they are in this photo!






Delicious cold beer. Need I say more?


I shot photos of their first dance with this image in mind...


It was a wonderful evening spent with family. More photos to come...

one shot.

After downloading all of the photos from my trip, and making that first pass and deleting, I found one photo that I simply love SOOC.



Every once in awhile you get that one shot that erases all those doubts you might have had about your photography skills. That one shot that whispers in your ear, "Yes, you do know what you're doing." This is my one shot.

More wedding photos to come.

(And don't mind the header change...I'm working on a few changes.)

it's like you never left.

(Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams in the background) 

It's amazing what some time away from life-as-you-know-it can do for you. I had ten days away from cleaning and cooking and laundry and arguing and entertaining and nagging. And I had ten days with wonderful friends and family and good conversations and time to read and shop and think and feel some peace in my life. Much needed time to think and feel peace and quiet. Much needed time away. 'Cause while it may look like this momma/wife has it all together, I so don't.



I have a ton of photos to go through and delete a bunch and edit a few and post a few.
I have a ton of words and blog posts running circles in my head.
I have a house that needs a thorough cleaning after being gone for ten days.
And laundry and ironing.
And a grocery list to write.
And meals to plan.
Funny how all you leave behind on vacation waits patiently for our return.

And just like that, it's like you never left.

vacation.

As I sat down to write this I thought of the days when I worked and went on vacation and would set-up my OOO - Out of the Office reply. So this, my friends, is my blog OOO message. Max and I are heading to Seattle today, and then I'm off to Denver tomorrow for a wedding and lots of time with extended family. So looking forward to it. And after much indecisiveness, I have finally decided to take my Nikon with me. I'm a little nervous about it since it is my baby, and if it gets lost/stolen/broken I will be heart-broken and unable to afford a new camera. But I really want to try to get some great shots of my family. I'm bringing my 50mm, an extra battery (and charger) and two extra flash cards since I'm not bringing my laptop to download photos every day.
So, perhaps I'll post when I get back to Seattle. But maybe not if I'm having too much fun!
(And wish me luck at my 20 year high school reunion. I'm a tad nervous...) 
Hugs, 
A

tgif!

No pictures today. (I took a bunch on our drive, but haven't downloaded them.)
We are in Sunriver, near Bend, Oregon, for hubby's Pole, Pedal, Paddle race tomorrow.
A little randomness:
1. We are staying in a big, wonderfully furnished house with a lap pool (though I don't swim) and hot tub.
Poor Maggie walked right out onto the covered pool and fell in. Luckily her lab, webbed paws kicked-in and she started swimming. It was kind of hilarious though. Max's room has a bunk bed and while he really wanted to sleep on top we eventually convinced him to sleep below so he wouldn't fall out of bed. (I don't need to take anyone to the ER this trip. Heck, I don't even know where it is.)
2. The king sized bed is wonderful! I love my husband, but I am not sure I will ever get used to sleeping in a bed with someone. (Sorry, dear. It's not you. It's me.)
3. Guess where I ended up sleeping part of the night?...(You're smart readers. I'm sure you can guess.)
4. I really, really want a latte. But I can't. Went to urgent care Wednesday night after three days of upper stomach pain. Not a stomachache, but just pain. Pain to the touch. Worse pain after eating. They said it was gastritis or dyspepsia. While there they gave me this great cocktail of a Mylanta-like liquid with a little lidocaine thrown in for the pain. It worked great but only last about an hour. So I'm on a couple of prescription meds now. One I take in the morning and the other I take three times a day before meals and at night. Yay.
5. I really want a latte. (Oh wait, I already told you that.)
6. And what fun is vacation when you are supposed to stick to the bland foods. Blah.
7. I'd really like a beer too. (Not right now. It's only 10am. Later.)
8. This post would be much more fun if it had a photo or two and I was drinking my latte.
Happy Friday, friends!
A.

i'm back.

I think I just committed one of the cardinal sins of blogging.
I was out of town for a week and didn't tell you all I'd be gone. For a whole week.
(Not that I think you were waiting by your computer to get an update from little old me.But I felt bad nonetheless. There's that guilt again.)
I almost brought my laptop with me, but I knew if I did I'd be tempted to spend too much time staring at the screen, instead of staring at my lovely family. And yes, my parents and inlaws are lovely people.

We headed to Seattle for the wedding of one of my husband's high school buddies. It was a second, mini 20 year high school reunion of sorts, as the bride and groom met-up at their 20 year reunion back in 2009. Quite cute really. We partied it up into the wee hours of the morning and spent the next day recovering. Well, my husband had a bit more recovering to do than I. We'll just leave it at that.

Husband and dog headed home Tuesday, and Max and I headed to my parents. YAY!

Wednesday night I met-up with a dear girlfriend from college for a quick bite to eat and some chit chat. The forecast called for snow and cold temps, but we waited it out and by the time dinner rolled around we decided we were in the clear. No snow. Just COLD!
But by the time we left the restaurant the flakes were falling. Nothing big. No blizzard. Just teeny tiny flakes.
We hugged, parted ways, and headed home.
Mine was a short, five minute trip.
My friend's was not. And not long after I got home, she called.
A much different brand of flakes were falling where she was headed, and it didn't look good.
Long story short - she stayed at our house that night.
And can I just say it was such a fun impromptu night! We just stayed up late talking. (What else do best friends do??)
I guess the snow gods had a different plan for us that evening. A good plan!
And imagine my son's suprise when he awoke and was told that someone else was in the room I usually slept in...(No, I wasn't up to witness what happened. But I guess he wanted to peek-in on the guest. So cute.)

I could go on and on with little stories...
We got snow.
We got brrr freezing temps.
I saw a few more girlies from college.
I had some scrumptious cupcakes!
And even better - some home cooked meals (That's right! I didn't have to cook for EIGHT days!!)
I got to chat with my dad about photography (He's got more gear than I could ever dream of having. AND the Scott Kelby books I was looking for!)
I put in a handful of pieces of the puzzle my mom is working on.
I managed to drive into downtown Seattle in our manual transmission car and make it up those steeeeep hills. (Ok, so I used the e-brake and did burn the clutch just a wee bit... But I did not roll into any cars behind me! I must add here that the hills in Seattle were never a problem when I lived there. No sir! But I've been away almost seven years now. Rambling....I know...)
I had coffee with a friend from high school who I've reconnected with thanks to FaceBook. (So fun Kim!)
I took some pictures - though not enough. (Why am I so scared to carry my camera around with me wherever I go?...)
And I captured a few pics of snowflakes falling.

So, I will stop talking now. Like I said - I could go on and on and on.
I need to download and edit my photos tomorrow.
But don't you worry - you'll see photos tomorrow.
And a lot less of me blabbering.

Anyway - I'm back.
And I know you missed me.
(I missed you too.)

A