Almost forgot!!!

I can't believe I forgot to mention: my best friend, Sarah, is engaged! She told me during the reception at Connie & Bryan's wedding while I was quickly stuffing fruit salad into my maw...I nearly choked. I took a picture of her beaming face (flashing her hand, of course.) Sarah's not a solitaire kinda girl...and Darius knows it. I took one look and said the same thing he did: "now that is a Sarah ring!" She likes sparklies. He gave her five sparklies. And I just know he's going to give her a lifetime of happiness; he's an amazing rare specimen of a man....kind, considerate, and God, does he love her. I approve whole-heartedly! :)

This is going to be fun. We're going to the Dayton/Cincinnati bridal show this Sunday on my way back from shooting in Louisville. I'm going to make her try on dresses until she hits me and we'll probably sample wedding cake until we're sick with sugar induced hallucinations.

But the best is this: we're going to Chicago in November for her bachelorette party. Yup, a two girl party. Friday night we'll go to the Placebo show...then fly into Cleveland the next day...for another Placebo show. I haven't even heard their latest album...but I'm sure I'll have a ton of fun.

Bonfires & pie!

I just got back from Rachel & Ryan's wedding in Story, Indiana....which is in the middle of wonderful nowhere. Driving there was like a video game...hairpin turns flanked by steep drop offs, dips that make your stomach drop (I love that), and trucks with horse trailers coming at you from the opposite direction at twice the speed. The first shot there, I white knuckled the steering wheel the whole way....the second time, I was like "weeeeeeeeeee!!!!"

I got to stay in the Blue Haze Lodge. ( http://www.bluehazelodge.com ) Named so for the lake of fog that rolls in around midnight and fills the valleys until sunrise. Quite a sight. The hostess is a lovely Brit named Ali and her company was very welcome. It seems like I've been going 24/7 for the last two years and the night before the wedding, I had about three hours of downtime, I'd forgotten my book, and there was no tv. I didn't know what to do with myself...and then I relearned the joy of just lying on a bed staring at the ceiling and listening to the various sounds outside my window. It's been ages since I've been able to just loaf as an activity...I quite enjoyed it...and will try to work this rediscovery into my hectic schedule. My sanity demands it. Now if I could only find a way to have breakfast with friendly chatty Brits and strangers every morning....

Other things I adore: autumn, the smell of campfires, pumpkins (especially in pies), leaves turning colour. So yeah, I loved this wedding. You see, Story is this teensy little "village" made up of an inn and a few surrounding tiny cottages. It's really quaint and meant to be nostalgic ol' Americana...except with indoor plumbing, for which I was very grateful.

Rachel & Ryan had a nice big bonfire going, bales of hay wrapped in burlap with pinecones, acorns, and all other manner of fall decor. The scene was beautiful and rustic and a great contrast to Rachel's couture dress and elegant styling. Their doggie was the ring bearer and although she didn't exactly adhere to the script, her antics were really amusing. Oh yeah, and pie and persimmon pudding instead of cake! It was awesome....I know, 'coz I had a little of both. :D

Another thoroughly enjoyable wedding where everyone really had fun, including the bride and groom....that's important, you know?!?! Here are some shots from the day:

Busy Bee....

Just finished editing Connie & Bryan's wedding. Gorgeous afternoon wedding with the most perfect weather: aqua sky, fluffy clouds, light breeze...kinda hard to take a bad picture! Especially since these two are so cute together. I think 90% of the photos are of them laughing. Nice tea party reception, then off to the river to get some relaxed (and shoeless) portraits away from the excitement of the party. Well, sort of, given all the screams of "Congratulations!!!" from boaters!

This weekend I'm off to Indiana for Rachel & Ryan's wedding. No wedding party...just their dog as the ring bearer...this is going to be hilarious! Sounds like it's going to be a very laid back and fun party.

For some reason, I look forward to long drives since going back and forth to Kentucky the last few months. Maybe it's because I don't really get to go on real trips very often, so anything past two hours seems like a "weekend away" even if I'm working. And this weekend I'll be staying at this fabulous inn run by a lovely British couple. I guess I sort of look at it like I'm going away for the weekend and going to a party where I'll meet new people...and happy people at that! It's really refreshing to have a job I get excited about every time. :)