Photographic Expressions

I’ve been really sinking my teeth into albums designs this week and have been slacking on my blogging. Please accept my apology with a shot of Cheryl and Rod’s wedding album.

~C

So my computer is taking a vacation, one that involves a visit from Apple but we won’t go there, and since that computer houses my photography software, I in turn am forced a mini vacation from working. I am still reachable by email and phone, I just can’t work on album designs this week like I had scheduled. I apologize for the inconvenience.

So until I can get back up and running please enjoy the following quote that is so fitting for this moment.

“A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in.” ~Robert Orben

~C

I’m a collector of things. Nothing crazy like pig figurines, or magnolia pictures, silver spoons or those thumb protector things. What are those called? We all know I have a blanket collection which is why I wanted my guest book to be a wedding quilt, click here to see how that turned out.

But not only do I collect blankets, I also collect…quotes. Yep, quotes. Somewhere along the way someone made a profound statement. They had that ‘Aha!’ moment. Call me crazy, strange or off my rocker, I love a good quote. So much so that I even sign up on Real Simple.com to get my daily dosage of quotes.

I’ll leave you with a quote perfect for summer time. 

“To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment” -Jane Austen

~C

Yesterday I drove up to visit mom as she put the finishing touches on her classroom. Thirty years of teaching behind her and she still loves to show off her room. I can’t count how many times I have seen the bulletin board featuring the reading tree with animals balancing on branches with books in their hand, paw, hoof. Every year it’s the same but I can’t miss the excitement in her eye and how proud she is to have physically changed classrooms (again) and how she miraculously got it all set back up in the nick of time. I won’t interject here and say that she pesters the janitors into letting her into the school several weeks prior to school starting, we’ll just forgot that ever happened, right?

After saying for the umpteenth time that the room looked fabulous, your students are going to love it, No I don’t think it’s cluttered; we made our way to the office to turn back in the keys and to scram. Oh but it wasn’t going to be that easy, of course not! So after mom introduced her ‘oldest’ (I’m not ancient!) daughter to the new principal, the head janitor (poor soul that she pestered) and the other secretary; mom informs me that the secretary’s son was also married around the same time that I was. And before I knew it, it happened. The next statement fell out of her mouth like anvils, making potted marks on the floor as they made contact. She turned to look at me and asked, “And guess what she has?”
Without hesitation and with a sigh escaping my lips because I failed as a daughter; I responded, “A grandchild.”
“Yes!,” exclaimed my mom proud that I, her oldest but not ancient daughter, got the answer right.
Feeling down but not out I retorted, ” But you have two grandchildren.” (a word that she uses and not something I call her)
That’s when she gave up, threw her hands in the air and admitted in defeat that Yes, she has two grandchildren but they have tails and 4 legs, so evidently those don’t count.

Though Josh and I don’t have it marked on the calendar as to when babies will be on the brain, we have nothing but furbabies on the brain right now. And how can you resist these cute faces? We certainly have our hands full at the moment.

~C

Our first furbaby, Levi

Our spunky furbaby, Lucy

Lucy is always following Levi, taking cues from him and of course to steal what latest treasure he found. Just like brother and sister.

Such a funny collage of out of focus Lucy. She loves to get superclose to the camera. Love how I managed to capture the ‘Lucy pose’ with her head cocked to the side and one paw bent.

Levi at his finest, going where ever his nose takes him and Lucy not far behind.

He opened her car door every time we stopped for a location or left for the next destination. He helped her climb that next hay bale and jump up on bleachers. Despite the distance that comes from living in two different states in opposite sides of the country and interning for the summer five states apart, Ashley and Chris couldn’t have been closer. In one month Chris and Ashley will say I do in the state that houses their future alma mater, the state in which brought them together from across the country to meet and fall in love. State lines and thousands of miles doesn’t have anything on these two.

Ashley and Chris, I wish you the absolute best for your wedding next month. I am so blessed to have met you and I had so much fun with you two! Thank you for being so awesome and open to climb that hay bale and barn : )

~C

I had a fabulous lunch with baby Hudson, little man Causey and their momma Amanda the other day. I met them at their house where Amanda showed up just moments later. Helping Hudson out of the car seat I then hoisted him on my hip when he turned, seemed to recognize me or realize that I was definitely a friend, and he gave me the biggest hug. Ohmygoodness it just warms my heart.

Here is blue eyed, baby Hudson just the other week for his impromptu session. Isn’t he gorgeous? Here he is at 3 months and here is his brother, can you see a family resemble?

~C

Time for another Love list! 

A few weeks ago my friends Jen and Cody called up asking me to join them at the local state park to take a break for the day, and of course an impromptu photo lesson. Unvelcroing myself from my computer chair, I embraced the change of scenery. Though High Falls State Park is full of natural and manmade waterfalls, I focused my attention on the small details, oft overlooked. 

Thank you J&C for a mid day break, I enjoyed seeing you again and I’m excited about the new changes in your lives. 

~C

The chances of them running into each other in the hallway, out on campus, the local dive or in class were immeasurable. Four years spent on a campus of less than 2500 would normally have brought these two together, their lives would have surely intersected somewhere. However, life at Shorter had Heather busy with Homer and Shakespeare while Andy was strumming along in music and theatre. Fate would have to wait.

Meanwhile threatre beckoned Andy to show off his mad singing/acting skills on stage. One such adventure was The Last Five Years which followed the lives of two characters, Jamie and Cathy, as they experienced life in opposite forces; one backward and the other forward until they meet. In a Benjamin Button sort of way their lives intersected on the fateful day when Jamie proposed to Cathy and they serenaded each other singing “The Next Ten Minutes.”

Years later, after fate introduced Andy and Heather at a party, life brought these two together for a morning stroll on the beach. With the help of the future Maid of Honor, a proposal lay in wait on the beach. Beating the sun up that morning Andy and Heather strolled along the beach and happened upon a blanket laid out perfectly, complete with a guitar. Not one to let an opportunity pass, Andy picked up the guitar and proposed to Heather through singing “The Next Ten Minutes.”  

Will you share your life with me
For the next ten minutes?
For the next ten minutes
We can handle that
We could watch the waves
We could watch the sky
Or just sit and wait
As the time ticks by
And if we make it till then
Can I ask you again
For another ten?
And if you in turn agree
To the next ten minutes
And the next ten minutes
Till the morning comes
Then just holding you
Might compel me to
Ask you for more
There are so many lives I want to share with you
I will never be complete until I do

Just as the song was a key point in the lives of Jamie and Cathy as it finally brought them together in the play, it did the same for Andy and Heather. Though fate kept them apart and brought them together at the most random points in their life, their lives are now intersected forever. 

H&A, thanks for all the fun laughs! You guys are so awesome!! I had a fabulous day in Athens documenting your funny faces as you enticed each other to laugh. I can not wait for October. See you soon!

~C

I typically post one or two sneak peek pictures but I couldn’t narrow it down this time around. Heather and Andy are such a fun couple that the day was filled with laughter, goofy faces and just all around fun. Here are some images to give you a taste of the day.
More to come!

~C

Too often am I reminded that it’s a small world. Just after ringing the doorbell at the Groom’s parents house, I was reintroduced to the groom who just happened to be an old classmate from elementary school! 

It was so great to spend the morning capturing the day as William and Brandy exchanged vows and celebrated with their family and school friends.Heat and the very present sun did not stop the celebration as laughter and drinks flowed, little ones ran around chasing dogs, and Congratulations rang out from all over. 

Brandy and William, thank you for allowing me to capture your day and your constant laughter. It was great to see you after all these years. 

~C

Catering: Dream Affairs Catering 

Location: First United Methodist Church in Barnesville, GA and reception at Groom’s parent’s home.