Fall into Hats

I haven't forgotten how to knit.

I had to put it on hold for a bit while I went to college, took up quilting, participated in weddings, pretended to be a photographer, and spent some (however small) time with DRL and Elena.

It's been a busy summer.

But fall is in the air, friends. That means a whole host of knitting projects. I started on a scarf - my first attempt at cable-ing, and it's turning out marvelously. The yarn is just scrumptious. And it's yellow. Mustard, to be precise. I can't wait for it to be done!

I'm nearly done with a 3-hat order for a friend's little girl, Karley. I've tried my hand at some new patterns and I'm quite impressed with how the hats are turning out.

The photos are coming.

I'm happy that it's fall. The weather is turning cooler, and strangely enough, the gray, blustery, rainy morning was a welcome sight today.

This really is my favorite time of year.

At least until the first snow fall.
And then Christmas.
And then spring when everything is budding again.

But I digress.

Cheers,
A

Nadia & Jeff: The Details

I may have mentioned that I took photos at Nadia and Jeff's wedding this past weekend. Not the photos, just my photos -- and these few photos are the result of (a borrowed) 50mm 1.4 lens.

Or my talent. And skill.

I blame the lens...

Nadia's Shoes:

The Rings:

More Bling:

Chuck Taylors, Meet Lace:

Centerpieces:

The Cake:

Orchid:

Curves:

Sultry:

A Kiss:

Did I mention my love for the 50mm?

Or my love for this couple?

Best wishes on your life together, Nadia and Jeff. Thank you for sharing your day with me and my (borrowed) lens.

Cheers,

A

Mr & Mrs

Congratulations, Jeff and Nadia. Thank you for allowing me to play a part in your amazing day.  Thank you for letting my camera enjoy it, too.  

Many blessings for your life together.  

Remember to laugh. Especially when you least expect it.

Take time together.

No. MAKE time together.

Have babies.

Enjoy each other. Even the "bad" stuff about each other.

And most importantly...

Remember this moment.

Look at the way you're looking at one another.

Never lose this look.

This love.

Cheers,

A

Giddy

How I love thee. Let me count the ways...



This is the lens I have on loan for the weekend.

I can't even explain how excited I am about getting to use it.

I have the privelege of shooting Nadia's rehearsal dinner and getting ready festivities. For her WEDDING!

I'm going to take Elena's two year photos. And, along with their mother, some photos of the Little Reyes Sisters.

And I am extremely worried that I am going to desperately need to run out and buy one for myself when the weekend is over. But I can't. I haven't the funds.

Maybe I need to clean out my house and see what I have that'll fetch a price...

Anyone wanna buy a LemonADE hat? Or twenty?

Cheers!
A

You Spin Me Right Round Baby

Once upon a time, I went shopping at the Gap.  The Maplewood Mall Gap, to be precise.  I brought Elena along (you know how two year olds love to clothes shop), and my brother Noel came along, too.  For good measure. Or moral support.  Or whatever.

Editor's Note: Maplewood Mall touts its very own carousel.  Yes, right inside the mall. And although Elena loves to shop, the Gap wasn't holding her interest, so Uncle Noel took her to ride the ponies (which is different than playing the ponies. But only slightly).  She rode them twice. And loved it.  

Or so I'm told.

I missed it.

Shocking, I know.

So it's no wonder that when we brought Elena to the Great Minnesota Get Together (Read: CrowdedSweatyFoodfilledTerrorFun Day State Fair) we put her right on the Carousel. 

She giggled.  I did, too.  

We've ridden every Merry-go-round we've seen since. 

Which has only been one...but still...

With Gramma at Wheels and Wings in Osceola, WI.

I feel I must pause here to clarify: She IS having fun. She was busy concentrating on the "look at mommy" instructions Gramma was giving her.  Which is why I didn't catch a photo of her smiling.  And hey, concentration is a much more fun emotion to capture, anyway.  Right?

Did I mention she rode an elephant on Sunday at the Renaissance Festival?  This here diecast acrylic Lion ain't got nuthin' on that ginormous beast.

Oh, and in other news: Me - unluckiest person you know - managed to call into a morning radio show, get on the air and just miss winning Vikings v. Niners tickets.  But wait, it gets better.  And not the sarcastic version of better, but the actually, truly, really better...

I called to claim my prize and managed to upgrade my runner up concert tickets into full blown Vikings tickets.  SCORE! 

And thank you, KQRS. I heart you.

Fall Crops

I really enjoy taking photos of Elena.  Duh.

I also really enjoy eating apple pie. 

I did that tonight, by the way. It was delicious.  I think I need to go have another piece right now.

Hang on a sec...

*nom nom nom*

Okay, sorry about that.  

What was I saying? Oh yeah, pictures. I like to take photos, and then I like to download them onto my Mac and crop the heck outta 'em.  

But not the way you'd expect. I like to arrange the photos on the other side of ordinary.  Afterall, this is me we're talking about here.

(again, duh.)

So here's the original:

See how sweet she is? Dangling her feet from the swing?  Who here never once did that as a kid? 

*crickets*

Right! See..I was onto something.  So I cropped it to really show the sweetness of her feet hanging midair.  

And this one here? One of my favorite recent photos of Elena. (I feel obligated to note that I really like backside photos...you know, ones not involving the face.  Again, I'm operating on the other side of normal.)

Her feet haven't quite made take-off yet, but there's something so sweet about her cuffed jeans, the loose ankle cross, and saggy pants.  Something that just screams childhood.

So I cropped all the rest out.  
And now I need more pie.

Best,

A