Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Where Did it Go

wsnowmonkey

Where did it go?

What did I do with it?

Is it yet one more thing I have misplaced?

For the life of me I just can't remember.

Summer,

Where oh where did you go?

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Nine Years

wStephen_Bethany

Nine years.
Three states.
Two beautiful children.
One happy life.

Happy Anniversary S & B.
We couldn't love you more.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Somebody Needs a Hug

wAllie_tree

Somebody needs a hug.  I volunteer.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Risky Business

wkayak_view

Being out on the lake at sunset sitting as close to the water as possible without getting wet is extraordinary.  Usually my camera stays high and dry on shore but one evening last week calm water and the promise of something special nudged me into throwing caution to the wind.

I think it was worth the risk.  How about you?

Monday, August 15, 2011

A Photo Shoot

On Wednesday morning Pappy and Miss A went to town to do a little school supply shopping.  Pappy loves, loves, loves to shop for school supplies.  He always has.  He likes it so much that once our boys were grown he shopped for nieces, nephews, and strangers.  So it comes as no surprise that he would be more than willing to take his first born grandchild on this right of passage.  He's such a good school supply shopper that he even purchased the "change of clothes" listed on the sheet for emergencies.  Miss A was more than happy to pick her sweet self out a new outfit.

The G-man turned 3 years old on the 9th of July and it was determined a photo shoot was needed to document the occasion.  So while Pappy and Allie were otherwise occupied B & I headed for the woods  with G for some camera time.

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This little man is such a ham bone.

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We saw his serious GQ side,

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his charming side,

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and his much sillier side.

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He posed.  He giggled.  He laughed out loud.  He even blew a few kisses my way.

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All of this for the two Dum Dum suckers that were hidden in my pocket.

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Hey, I never said I wouldn't stoop to bribery.

Happy Birthday G-man.  Three is a great age to be.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Deer Park

Pymatuning Deer Park was established in 1953.  I believe the last time I visited the park was in the late 1950s.  Who could have predicted that 50+ years later I would return with my grandchildren to a charming, hands on little zoo.

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Our expectations were low as we buckled the kids into car seats that morning.  We knew there would be deer, after all it was a deer park.

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We weren't disappointed in that department.  There were plenty of deer.  All eagerly sticking their necks through the wire fencing in hopes of a snack.

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What we weren't prepared for were the myriad of other animals.  Critters such as lions, tigers, bears, mountain lions and camels.

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The petting zoo boasted miniature horses, goats, ducklings, calves, pigs and more.  All easily accessible for visitors to feed and pet.

wdeerpark_pig

There was a train ride and peek a boo signs.

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Miss A was particularly enamoured with the kangaroos,

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while the G-man opted for a pony ride.

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If you're in the neighborhood, I highly recommend a stop at Pymatuning Deer Park.

Miss A and the G-man give it two thumbs up.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Do You See What I See?

Do you see what I see?

wgabe_telescope


wAllie_telescope


wGabe_scope

Perhaps we should wait until after dark.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Cottage Visitors

The little red cottage has been hopping this week.  Miss A and the G-man arrived early in the week and we haven't stopped since.

wAllie_bike

What have we been up to you ask?

wGabe

Searching for deer in the Jeep.

wpappyJeep

Cart rides with cousins.

wkidsnliam

Swimming and fishing.

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wfish

wpappy_gabe_fish

wAnG_fish

Visits with more cousins.

wAllie_Logan_fish

wlogan_tent

And even more cousins.

wAllienEmily

wAllienEm2

Daddy arrived tonight which means there is more fun in store for the weekend.

And me...I'm one happy Grammy.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

On the List

wBlue_sail

Sailing.  It's on my bucket list.  One of these days.  Soon.  I'm going to learn to sail.
I'll keep you posted.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Cousins

The weekend following the 4th of July brought The Kid's little sis, her offspring and their offspring for a visit to the Little Red Cottage.  They were spending the week nearby in another cottage and descended upon us loaded down with a week's worth of leftovers and a fun loving spirit.

As a photographer one of my favorite subjects is children.  I can spend hours following quietly behind, observing their play and interaction with others and hopefully capturing a few good photographs along the way.  Photographs that capture their spirit and true sense of who they are as individuals.  Eventually they reach an age where they become much more aware of the camera and even more self conscious.  At this point for me the fun is over.  I think because it requires a lot more effort on my part to get them to relax and I'm just not as adept at that as a good portrait photographer should be.

On this day I was in hog heaven.  Four little subjects who, for the most part, could care less that I was there with a camera pointed in their direction.

First up is L, a strawberry lovin little man a little on the shy side.  L didn't stray too far from Mom while I was near.

Liem_3


Liem_pucker_up


Liem_1

Big sis A was much more of a ham.

Aila_5


Aila_9

It took a long lens and patience to catch this little actress lost in thought.

Aila_4

Cousin A is also a little on the shy side;

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but is filled to near bursting with giggles that bubble over with the tiniest amount of encouragement.

Austin_3

And then there's little K.  The current baby of the group (two more are expected to arrive in early November), K was the easiest mark for me.

Kiera_8

I ended up with the most usable photos of her mainly because she was oblivious to me and my camera.

Kiera_7

She's also an adorable subject (as were they all).

Kiera_5


Kiera_6

Don't you agree?

Aila_Kiera_car

sean_kids

Let's do it again soon, okay guys?

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

How It's Done

Do you remember this?

wbananabread

And this...Banana Bread Surprise?


Well, THIS is how it's done.
wbanannabread

Yum.