Vickie Cunningham Photography

Favorite Things

2012-02-11T14:59:00.000-06:00

It's been quiet around here lately. My next trip isn't until March 29, when I'm taking off to Abu Dhabi. But, until then, it's just Rose and me, hanging out. Today, I started taking photographs of some of my favorite things in my house. Walking from room to room, it didn't take long for me to remind myself how lucky I am.

My family is amazing, and these photographs are some of my favorites.

Of course Rose is included!

My daughter gave me this little crown and card for Christmas several years ago.

This twirling ballerina belonged to my great-aunt. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen, and when she gave it to me, I was over the moon. Even after an accidental hand amputation, it was still a thing of wonder, and something I'd never part with.

My daughter's rocking horse was a Christmas gift from Santa in 1981. It kept her occupied for hours, and I can't help but hope that one day, maybe another little girl will hop on and be as fascinated.

I have a favorite room, the Paris Room, where guests can pretend they're visiting the City of Lights. Everything about it makes me happy.

How can anyone not like Carnival glass? It's so festive! I pick up a piece every now and then, even though I don't need any more.

I've always had a thing for dishes, and can feed the entire neighborhood off the various sets of Franciscanware and Fiestaware that I own. Here's a bit of Ivy. My great-grandmother and great-aunt lived together in a sweet little country house in Alabama. They had this particular Franciscan pattern, and I remember many summer meals served on it.

My grandmother had Franciscan Apple. It was actually the first pattern I started collecting.

Somewhere along the way, I started picking up pieces of vintage silver, particularly iced teas in different patterns.

I have a globe that lights up, and shows me all the new places I need to visit!

I bought this pencil holder in Paris. I love all the different types of wood. It's a little work of art, in my mind. I use it to hold words that were given to me by Krista, when she graduated from college years ago. As you can see, today's word is "communicate."

What do you think about this tiny porcelain figurine? I found it in Chatou, France, at the ham and antiques market last year. I know it must have a fascinating history, but now it's retired and holds earrings for me.

The purse was my great-grandmother's, the Christmas card was my first press-printed card. I took the photograph in Santa Fe at twilight...one of my favorite cities.

What are your favorite things?

Beauty in Age

2012-01-24T19:39:00.001-06:00

I'm drawn to old buildings, abandoned homes, broken windows, pieces of life from long ago. I wish I could read their history, like a book.

Mama's Side of the Family

2012-01-22T18:38:00.000-06:00

My family comes from Winfield, a small town in northwestern Alabama. Everytime I visit, I'm always amazed at all the photo opportunities I encounter...like this one. Me: "Mom, what is this??" Mom: Well, it's winter, and she was cold!" I might add that mama knitted these things.

This is her cat, Moses. He can usually be found sleeping on the front porch. Every now and then, he poses for me.

Photographs of me as a child used to be on this shelf, until my mama met Alabama author, Rick Bragg. I've now been replaced by the photos I took at this monumental event. What a fickle mother!

This is land which has been in our family for many years. My uncle now owns it.

My grandparents lived in this old house. The homeplace has been boarded up for many years. I'm not sure why this seems to happen so often in the South....lots of abandoned old homes, that used to be full of life.

Here's the house, looking at it from behind the pond across the road. It's hard to believe that my grandparents raised ten children in so little space. They were poor farmers, who scratched a living out of the dirt. Their oldest son, Glen, was killed in a school bus accident when he was in first grade. Times were hard...I've heard stories all my life of hard work, death, sadness, but I know there must have been happy times, as well.

Here's mama with her brother. They both still walk the land almost every evening.

Please let me have a complexion like this when I'm eighty years old!

Here's mom, along with three of my aunts. I have two more aunts, one who lives in Livingston and one in Birmingham. I still think of them all as high school girls, running around with crinolines making swishing sounds under their full skirts, wearing bobbie socks and saddle oxfords. They painted their lips with bright red lipstick that came in tiny white Avon tubes, and sprayed their hair until it wouldn't move. A splash of "Tabu" or "Ambush," and they were out the door on a Saturday night date. It's funny, the things one remembers. I couldn't have been more than six or seven years old when I observed that ritual.

The road back to mom's house is always well lit, if only by a beautiful sunset or a full moon. It's good to know I'll always be guided back home.

Columbus, Mississippi

2012-01-21T20:07:00.001-06:00

While visiting my family in Alabama recently, I took a day trip to Columbus, Mississippi. Only an hour away, the countryside was beautiful and peaceful, even in the wintertime.

Not knowing very much about Columbus, I did a little research and found that it has the second largest collection of Antebellum homes (after Natchez) in the state. The town sits above the Tombigbee River, and many of these homes have cupolas with views of both the town and the river. The homes also have names, and they are displayed on front yard signs. I fell in love with Riverview (conveniently for sale).I could hardly stand it when I found out that it's being sold fully furnished, with the original furnishings!

Two greyhound statues grace the front sidewalk.

Front porches and rocking chairs are the norm in this town. Iced tea, anyone?

Columbus is also the birthplace of playwright Tennessee Williams. The original house was moved downtown, and now serves as the town's Welcome Center. I wonder what Tennessee would've thought of that!

Downtown is very clean and brightly painted.

Even the industrial areas were nice and neat!

Columbus is also the home of the Mississippi University of Women.

I'm ready to go back and spend more time in Columbus...maybe in the spring or early summer. I'm sure it'll be gorgeous when it's in full bloom.

Bridal Portraits - Day Two

2012-01-09T22:13:00.001-06:00

After shooting out at the ranch, we came back to the city for day two. The weather continued to cooperate, and Krista worked a whole new style for this session. What do you think?

Those are vintage hat pins in the bouquet.

Bridal Portraits - Day One

2012-01-07T11:32:00.001-06:00

I love photographing weddings...especially the bridal portraits. Here are some of my favorites from Day One of shooting out in Greenville, Texas. Thanks, Krista, for being such a beautiful western bride, and thanks, Betsy, for letting us use your ranch!

The little leather purse that Krista is holding belonged to her great-great-grandmother, Lucy Spann. Lucy Spann's father gave it to her for her fifth birthday, which we believe makes it circa 1894. It's a beautiful piece, complete with blue glass beading and a silk drawstring cord.

An Afternoon at Betsy's

2012-01-05T18:03:00.000-06:00

My friend Betsy lives on an enchanted ranch. She has a house that makes you feel like you do when you curl up with an old, soft quilt and read your favorite book. Today was an unseasonably warm winter day, perfect for visiting. Just look at this front porch!

Once you step inside, you just want to stay forever. Everywhere you look, there's something unique to see.

If you don't feel like reading, there's a game room that'll knock your socks off!

Betsy and her husband, Tim, have two gorgeous Rhodesian Ridgebacks. I'm convinced these dogs have the best life ever (after my Rose, of course)!

Being a big fan of the breed, it makes sense to have this tres cool piece of art glass in the master bathroom.

Back outdoors, there's beauty everywhere you turn.

Of course I had Krista, the lovely bride, with me. Betsy graciously showed us the best places to photograph, but I'll get to those later. Needless to say, it was one fun shoot! Here's a sneak peek.

They say home is where you hang your hat. I know Betsy and Tim are proud to hang theirs at the enchanted ranch. Thanks, Betsy!

Christmas with the Messners

2011-12-25T18:54:00.001-06:00

My friend and neighbor, Melissa, invited me over to join her for Christmas lunch today. She was hosting her family, all of whom I've met and love. I'm not around children very often on Christmas, so it was fun to watch the reactions and actions of Lukas and Lily (the wonder twins) and their older brother, Lj, to all the festivities. Here's Melissa and her sister, Michele. Love the hat, Neighbor!

Lots of beautiful decorations here!

It's such a pleasure to watch Claudia (also known as Oma) with her grandchildren.

Lily with Uncle Matthew and Aunt Liz

Look like little Giblet has a crush on Aunt Liz!

Michelle's husband, Les, was working on a labor of love: an afghan for an aunt in Germany who is fighting breast cancer.

Gib-a-lit, as the twins call him, will be enjoying this ham bone tomorrow!

And even though sweet Bossy Boy is no longer with us, his stocking was put out in remembrance.

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Neighbor! By the way, I could almost feel Wayne smiling as I closed the door behind me, and headed across the street.

The Year in Pictures

2011-12-24T01:24:00.000-06:00

It's the start of Christmas Eve, normally my favorite day of the year. This year's a little different. My daughter is just returning from her honeymoon, so we won't be together for the first time in ages. I chose not to visit my parents in Alabama. They're divorced, and don't speak, even in their 80's. It's a no-win situation for me. No matter how much time I spent with one, it would be too much for the other. So, I'm staying home, and I have to say I'm feeling a little sorry for myself.

In an attempt to ward off the Christmas Eve blues, I'm going through photographs that make up my 2011. Let's see...January and February brought a couple of Texas snowstorms.

Toward the end of February, I fell in love with Asheville, North Carolina. It's everything I've ever dreamed of, and I hope to move there one of these days. It's so beautiful, I just know they need a good photographer!

In March, Krista and I went to Paris for a week. It wasn't long enough, but we made the most of it. I'll pack up and buy an apartment there, if I ever win the lottery. Note to self: remember to buy tickets.

In April, I got really sick with the flu. The final indignity was my first case of pink-eye. I stayed home for a week and whined. I also had to cancel a trip to Alabama to visit the family. I got well eventually, and was able to get down to Houston to attend my cousin Diana's son's very cool Western wedding. Can you say, "Ah do!"?

In May, I helped my friend, Kristi, celebrate a milestone birthday in Wimberly, Texas. Although she was entranced with this duck, she never caught him.

My friend, Dianne, flew out from Alabama later that month for a visit, and we spent time catching up and making up for lost time!

My crazy sisters came out for our annual Sisters Weekend. This year, we did it over Memorial Day weekend, and added a day to it. Excuse the blurred photo...it was taken with an iPhone. We had too much fun to get serious about our photography this time around! I love my sisters.

The big news in May was Krista's engagement. I flew to Portland in June for my birthday, but mostly to help her pick out a wedding dress. Mission accomplished.

I got a surprise at my birthday lunch...Krista's best friends, Tracy, Lauren, and Damaris were waiting for us at Nostrana when we arrived from the airport. These girls are like daughters to me.

My cousin, Rose, got married in June, so I took a quick jaunt back to Bama to do her wedding photography.

I'm happy to report that throughout the year, my photography business grew and grew and grew. Almost every weekend I was home, I was at a shoot...weddings, engagements, baby photography, you name it. And I loved every minute of it. In August, my mother turned eighty years old. My sisters and I gave her a big party, and we all had a blast. She fell two days before the party. Luckily, aside from some bruising and a very black eye, the only thing that was hurt was her pride.

Over Labor Day weekend, I made my first trip ever to Wisconsin. Although it was to shoot a wedding, the Steines family made me feel right at home. I was blown away by their hospitality. Thanks, Karen, for that trip to Amish country!

Mom got her Christmas present at the end of September, when I flew in to take her to see the premiere of a documentary on the life of her favorite author, Rick Bragg. The fact that she ran into him in the lobby of the theatre several hours before it was begin (don't ask...we had to get there "in plenty of time") was icing on the cake.

I made a special trip to Portland to do a maternity shoot for Lauren, and also to do Krista and Tony's engagement photographs. Autumn was all over the place, and it was wonderful to spend some time enjoying my favorite season.

My last trip of the year was over Thanksgiving week, when my friend, Nancy, and I traveled to Vienna. It was cold, but festive; Christmas markets were in full swing!

I came back in time to attend my friend, Jeanie's, open house/holiday party. She renovated her entire house this year,and was more than ready to have it finished.

I'm blessed with family, friends, and adventures. Photography is my passion, and I'm lucky to have amazing opportunities. I've met so many new clients this year, and also enjoyed having some become "regulars." I don't think I have time to be blue, after re-reading this post! Merry Christmas Eve, y'all.

A Christmas Wedding

2011-12-18T09:42:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of photographing Beth and Brandon's wedding in Alba, Texas, and their reception in nearby Golden. Alba is about eighty miles east of Dallas, but the difference is night and day. Pastures filled with cattle abound, the leaves on the trees are changing color (we're a little late here in this part of the country!), and ranch gates are decked out with Christmas wreaths. Beth was a beautiful, excited bride, marrying her best friend of many years. Brandon seemed very cool, but I think he might have been just a little nervous. Both of their fathers are ministers, and both participated in the ceremony. The church and the reception hall were decorated for them by friends and family. Actually, I believe many of the friends I met are like family to them, something obviously treasured. Here are some of my favorite snaps. Best wishes to Beth and Brandon!

Christmas is for Sisters!

2011-12-11T22:05:00.000-06:00

This afternoon, I did a Christmas photo shoot for the Erin, Steve, and their girls. Anna and Sloane got all dressed up for the occasion, and looked as cute as can be. Anna is the big sister and Sloane is the newest addition to the family. Sloane, of course, doesn't have the freedom that Anna has; she can't run to the Christmas tree yet!

Anna made this ornament all by herself.

Erin and Anna had fun getting ready for the photo shoot.

Steve fed Sloane so she'd be a happy participant.

With girls as well behaved as these two, it's a cinch that Santa will be stopping by their house on Christmas Eve!

Downtown Dallas

2011-12-11T20:16:00.000-06:00

I was heading home from a photo shoot this evening, and traffic was pretty crappy on 635. So, I took the tollway and cut through downtown. The Christmas lights make everything look just a little better, and it's got a whole different vibe going on during the weekends. No worker bees scurrying to and fro! Here are some of my favorites.

Saturday in East Texas

2011-12-10T16:41:00.000-06:00

I started out this morning by heading due east to the little town of Alba, Texas. I'm doing the photography for the wedding of Beth and Brandon next Saturday, and I wanted to meet with them at their church to check out the lighting and to go over last minute details. Alba, population 430, is a bit further than I thought...out in the woods, and maybe 80 miles away, but it was a beautiful drive. I first went to the wrong Baptist church (who knew there were two in such a small town!), but eventually I found it...a sweet little country church.

Next week, it'll be transformed for Beth and Brandon's wedding, but in the meantime, the happy couple posed for a photograph.

After finishing up my checklist, I said goodbye, and, since I was already "nearby," decided to stop by Greenville on the way home. My friends at the Calico Cat were in the midst of a busy retail day, and the place looked so festive!

Pud Kearns was upstairs in a special gallery, showing off her collection of folk art nativity scenes. Some are for sale, some are for display only.

The prize for the most "unusual" went to the squirrel nativity scene. It originally came to Pud from an attorney who was given it by a grateful client, who was a taxidermist.

Good lord! Just another typical Saturday morning in east Texas...

Lucas

2011-12-04T20:59:00.001-06:00

Lucas will soon be one year old. His parents, Evelyn and Sergio, decided he was old enough for a photo shoot, so off we went! We decided to meet at the Gaylord Resort, since it always has excellent Christmas decorations...lots of color and movement, just what we needed to keep a little boy interested.

And it worked! Lucas was an excellent model! His parents must have the magic touch.

Lucas was one of the most stylish subjects ever; take a look at his matching hat!

He was very impressed with the giant Christmas trees!

Lucas was also happy to have his bear with him.

He was also very happy to have his mother nearby.

There was so much to see and do!

Lucas continued to be a good sport!

Before long, it was time for a change of clothes.

Look at these fancy slacks! Evelyn told me that his grandmother sent them.

Lucas was very impressed with the gingerbread man.

We even managed to get a photograph of Lucas' mom and dad!

Pretty soon, though, it was time for Lucas to put on his hat, and head for home.

It had been a festive afternoon, but on the way out, there was still one more Christmas tree to see.

Happy holidays!

Jeanie

2011-12-04T10:38:00.002-06:00

Earlier this year, my good friend, Jeanie, decided she was going to remodel her house, and make it everything she ever wanted. After all, she was "going to stay in it until they carry me out!" In the springtime, an architect appeared. In April, Paul the contractor took up residence. And, finally, last week it was finished. Yesterday, Jeanie hosted an open house/Christmas party, and, I've got to tell you, her house looks like someone plunked a whole different house down on her lot. Everything, and I mean everything, is different. It poured down rain on the drive over, so I was glad to park the car and scurry up the sidewalk! From the moment the front door closed behind me, it was like being in the coziest, most welcoming part of the holidays ever.

On the left is this beautiful table, just brimming with holiday cheer.

Straight ahead, is this tres cool display.

Walls had been knocked down, new rooms appeared, ceilings had been raised. It was amazing! To the right, a new dining area had been carved out. Who knows how these things are done! I think the ultimate compliment, though, was that it looked like it had always been this way. Of course the spread of food that Jeanie had on her lovely new dining room table was typical Jeanie. She'd hate for anyone to go away from her house hungry!

The living area is so comfortable, you just want to sit down and stay a year or two.

You can see by the smile on Jeanie's face that it's everything she ever wanted.

Here's Allison, Mac's girlfriend, who was in charge of lighting several hundred candles throughout the house!

Back in the kitchen (also newly redone), Jeanie's good friend Bill was wielding the carving knife.

Kitty Lucy was staying far away from all the activity!

Little touches throughout the house were just right!

The nutcracker collection was out front and center!

Down the hallway, two bedrooms had been completely redone. Beyond comfy, don't you think?

One thing I was happy to see not changed was the grouping of family photographs in the hall. Jeanie has an awesome family, and it's nice to see a wall of good memories.

But back to the party!

Did I mention that the yard has been re-landscaped, as well? It has. Look what a cute little spot for the boys to get away!

The far wall in the living area has all sorts of treasures on its shelves.

My favorite part, though, is Jeanie's spot for remembering her daddy. He'd be proud, Jeanie.

It was good to see Jeanie's sister, Clare, and her husband, Archie.

Before I knew it, the house had filled up with people. They spilled over into the garage (set up as a "second party area" for the evening) and stood outside on the porch out of the rain. If you were driving by, you'd hear laughter, the hum of good conversation, and maybe even feel the warmth of the house. I put away my camera and enjoyed the rest of the evening. Thanks, Jeanie, for a wonderful evening. In fact, it's a wonderful life, isn't it?

Home Again

2011-11-27T18:17:00.000-06:00

It's always good to be home again. Vienna was lovely, even better than I'd imagined, but, still, home is where the heart is. Speaking of hearts, my taxi driver in Vienna has a heart of gold. He discovered my wallet in his car and delivered it back to the hotel. It is now in the process of being returned to me. When I landed yesterday, there was an email from the driver's son, as well as a facebook message, letting me know they had found the wallet and returned it. It's heartwarming to know there are such good people out there.

Many thanks to my cab driver and to his son, EvTim Ivanov, who contacted me. They are good people.

Vienna - Day Seven

2011-11-25T15:46:00.000-06:00

The week has flown by, and I'm in the middle of packing my bags to head home. My flight leaves early tomorrow morning, and I fly through London/Heathrow again. Hoping everything goes smoothly as I stupidly dropped my wallet in a taxi late today. It contained all of my money, credit cards, driver's license, business cards, and some jewelry that I'd purchased earlier. Luckily, my passport was in my hotel room.

We spent today walking around the city. It was very cold and drizzling. The Christmas lights are beautiful. Here are a few photographs from today. The first was taken at a very cool shop. Unfortunately, the owner's business card was in my lost wallet, so I do not remember the name of the store.

Here is George, the shop owner. He was very nice, and very creative!

Trixie the pig usually travels with me. Here she is, sitting in her favorite spot at the ATM machine! Unfortunately, it was the last place my debit card was used...

This little boy was enjoying some of the treats at one of the many Christmas markets.

A happy dog park!

This is beautiful hand-enameled jewelry made by an artist in Budapest. His wife was selling it at my favorite Christmas market. I bought a gorgeous pair of their earrings yesterday. Today, we went back, and I bought a necklace and two more pairs of earrings. Unfortunately, they were in my wallet...

This booth had products made from beeswax and honey for sale.

Kids were making candles from beeswax at a market this afternoon.

For my cat-loving friends, this clock's for you!

Trixie fell for an Austrian pig!

This man had a little bichon frisee who had been out "running in the mud in the forest!"

A beautiful porcelain coffee set in a shop window.

The Christmas lights downtown.

These horses had ear warmers on!

More lights!

At Cafe Central, where we had a good lunch, an even better dessert, and met a very nice woman who lives in Barcelona, but is originally from Seattle!

This is Cafe Central's gingerbread house! Quite a big one!

Thanks for joining me on this trip. It's been grand! I've met many friendly and kind people, and I look forward to visiting again.

Vienna- Day Six

2011-11-24T18:46:00.000-06:00

This morning was devoted to art...first the Kunst Haus Wein, which is the Hundertwasser Museum. Hundertwasser was an Austrian artist who designed like no other. He traveled extensively, and this museum contains a nice cross-section of his work.

Additionally, the Museum hosts a traveling traveling exhibition, and the current one is an exhibit of 214 of the photographs of Henri Cartier-Bresson, one of my favorite photographers. I walked from photograph to photograph, with goose-bumps on my arms. I cannot even begin to explain how I felt when viewing them. It was, by far, the most stunning display I've ever seen, and the best part of my trip.

The Hundertwasser Village is located just blocks away, so we explored it for a bit. Amazing!

From there, we admired some of the local architecture.

This is taken in front of a magic shop!

By midday, we were ready to return to the Ringstrassen, which is the main part of the city. We took the Ubon back, and walked out into the plaza of Saint Stephan's cathedral. It was gorgeous.

We found two more Christmas markets, and collected some more Gluwein mugs before taking a taxi back to our hotel. We attended a classical music performance at 8pm, followed by a late dinner of Thai food. It is now almost 2 am, and I am falling asleep at the keyboard. More later, as we tackle our last full day in Vienna tomorrow!

The Quilters of Vienna

2011-11-24T17:35:00.001-06:00

Last night, Nancy and I were honored with an invitation to join a meeting of local quilters. Our friend, Elisabeth, participates in a quilting group, and asked us if we would like to attend this meeting. What an opportunity! Despite the fact that we do not speak or understand German, many of these women are fluent in English. They also translated for others. Even though I can barely sew on a button, I have always been interested in quilting, and own many quilts that were made by family members. Nancy actually is a quilter, and was very inspired by these women.

As the women gathered for their meeting, introductions were made. We were then given a brief history of quilting in Austria. It has become popular here within the last twenty years. It does not have the deep roots of quilting in America, but we were amazed at the talent, skill, and artistry of these quilters.

These women were very open and willing to share their experiences. It quickly became clear that we were in the company of artists. Here are some of the photographs I took. Unfortunately, it was impossible to capture the beautiful depth of color. You really had to be there to see it with your own eyes. We feel very lucky to have been able to do so. Thank you, quilters. It was such a pleasure to get to know all of you, and we hope to see you again!

Vienna - Day Five

2011-11-23T18:05:00.001-06:00

Is it really day five? How did that happen?? A week's vacation is speeding by, and we have more and more things left to do! After breakfast today, we walked around and enjoyed the scenery.

It was again very cold, but that did not stop us, as there is a lot to see in Vienna.

Somewhere between my neighborhood and the next Christmas market, I lost my beautiful new earmuffs (a necessity in this weather), so I was forced to buy these fake fur ones. They were inexpensive but rather hideous, however they do the trick. There is nothing worse than cold ears, other than perhaps a cold nose!

As you can see, it was another good day! But the ending was, by far, the best. My Vienna friend, Elisabeth, arranged for us to attend a meeting of quilters this evening. Their friendliness and hospitality were overwhelming, and the artistic talent of these women cannot be described. It is late (1 a.m. Vienna time), and it is bedtime for me. Tomorrow, I will put up a separate post with more photographs from the meeting.

I hope my friends and family in the United States have a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow. This is the first time I've spent the holiday out of the country, and it feels a little strange. I'll be thinking of you all.

Salzburg - Day Four

2011-11-22T17:40:00.001-06:00

What a magical day it's been! My sister Pam has always raved about Salzburg, and now I understand why. We left early this morning on a seven-person tour. Nancy refuses to take a "big bus" tour, saying she'll feel like an old lady, and I'm inclined to agree. We are therefore trying to retain our youth for as long as possible! Anyway, this was a day trip, and it could not have gone better. We departed the hotel about 7:30 a.m. Our guide, Josef, was very friendly and knowledgeable. It was cold and foggy out. We first passed the Vienna Woods, which looked like something out of a fairy tale. After driving for a bit, we stopped for a coffee and restroom break at a place that looked just like an Austrian version of Cracker Barrel in the United States! Actually, I think it was a bit better...

We continued on in a westerly direction, and I have to admit that I dozed off for a few miles. The van was quiet, and it looked almost surreal outside. We drove through quaint villages, beautiful countryside, past lakes and parks.

For the first time sinced I arrived, the sun suddenly came out. It only lasted for about fifteen minutes, but every second sure felt great.

We arrived in Salzburg about noon, did a quick guided tour, and were then set free until 4 pm. Off we went! The town is enchanting...quaint little shops, a castle, and cobblestone streets. Mozart was born and raised here, and parts of the Sound of Music were filmed here. Quite a combination. Today, there were also several Christmas markets already in business, with new ones setting up. Christmas trees were propped everywhere, and the streets were roped with lights and decorations.

There were lots of horses out, taking people for carriage rides.

Elaine, here's a "schneeball" for you! Remember those we ate in the car in Rothenburg??

The artist on the right makes these very cool hats!

Sorry, I got carried away with the photos here! Someone asked how many I've taken so far...that would be 900+ in three and a half days. Oh, well! It's what I do! Goodnight, all. See you tomorrow.

Vienna - Day Three

2011-11-21T15:53:00.000-06:00

The weather in Vienna is even colder today! We started out with a hearty breakfast, here at the Hotel Alstadt. In case you think we may be starving, we documented the offerings...

Afterwards, we bundled up and visited Bunter Hund, a dog store that Nancy spotted earlier.

Bunter Hund was a fantastic shop, filled with all kinds of interesting gifts for Rose. With the down-fiilled coats topping out at around $200, I found a few less expensive things for her!

Several of the shops appeared to getting in their fresh holiday greenery, and the streets smelled like Christmas trees.

We soon realized that we needed warmer clothes, and since we were still close to the hotel, we walked back to take a minute to warm up and add layers. Fortified, we then set out for the Adventmarkt vor der Karlskirche, which is a Christmas market specializing in a lot of handmade items. Unfortunately, even in Vienna, we've seen a lot of merchandise that is not locally made, so it was nice to visit this market. It was a beautiful walk, with all kinds of things to see one the way.

Chins down, scarves flapping in the breeze, we were almost to our destination when we realized that it was 1:30 pm, and we hadn't eaten lunch. Shocking, I know, but true! Luckily, we were near the Imperial Hotel, home of the Imperial Torte, so we immediately honed in on it. We had potato soup and shared a sausage plate, before ordering the Imperial Torte.

The temperature hovered around 27 degrees most of the day. By the time we reached the market, a slight breeze had picked up, making it even chillier. That said, we continued on, and it was well worth it! Small booths circled the area, with a playground in the middle for the children.

It gets dark very early here...by 4:30pm, even the Gluwein didn't keep us warm, so we called it a day.

We were forced to take shelter from the cold for a few minutes...the hot chocolate helped!

It's been a busy day here. We had a bit of downtime at the hotel this evening, before going out for pasta. On the way back, I could feel just the tiniest of snowflakes on my face. Tomorrow morning, we leave bright and early for a day trip to Salzburg. Until then!

Vienna - Day Two

2011-11-20T16:35:00.001-06:00

It was such a pleasure to sleep in a bed last night instead of on an airplane in a too-small seat. I woke up feeling completely rejuvenated and ready to roll! The hotel here includes breakfast, so Nancy and I went down to the dining area about 9 a.m., and enjoyed their excellent food. Afterwards, we took a walk around the neighborhood, strolled through two Christmas markets, and then returned to the hotel. It was cold enough for coats, gloves, scarves, and hats or earmuffs.

This pretty Husky girl was helping our her owners at their Christmas booth.

This man had one of our favorite booths, selling handmade calendars, address books, and the like.

Of course there were lots and lots of booths selling ornaments.

And plenty of gluwein (warm spiced wine), with different mugs for each market. Don't worry, Krista! I have started collecting them for us!

At noon, we met our first friend from Vienna! Elisabeth is a talented quilter whom I know from flickr, a website for photographers. She speaks English very well, and it was a pleasure to finally meet her!

We first went to lunch. The restaurant was chosen by Elisabeth, and it was very good. Thankfully, she was able to help us with the menu, because there no English translations! Here's Nancy's plate of goulash, complete with sausage shaped into decorative flower designs.

Elisabeth had fish with broccoli and potatoes.

And I had a chicken and vegetables dish. Underneath it was a nice surprise...a baked potato!

The neighboring table was hosting a baby shower. The cutest baby, though, was under the table...

After lunch, we walked to see the district heating plant designed by Freidensreich Hundertwasser. Nancy and I are both big Hundertwasser fans. We've enjoyed seeing his apartments houses in Germany, and while Nancy saw the heating plant when she visited several years ago, today we have a Vienna native to show us around! The design of the plant is incredible.

Here's Nancy, enjoying the day!

Next, we took the underground to see these striking examples of Art Nouveau architecture.

As it got later in the day, the temperatures starting dropping. We stopped for warm drinks in a coffee shop, which looked like something out of a movie. I kept looking up at the ceiling!

After we finished our drinks, it was time to Elisabeth to head home. We will be meeting her and some of her friends on Wednesday night, as we've been invited to a gathering of her quilting group. We are very excited to attend!

After saying goodbye, Nancy and I buttoned up our coats, and started walking in the direction of our hotel. The wind blew, and it got colder and colder. Even the mannequins in the shop windows seemed to be affected by the cold weather!

We eventually made it "home" in time for hot tea and cake. After resting up for a short while, we headed out again. We are getting on close terms with the neighborhood Christmas market, where we ate dinner and had more gluwein. It was quiet and cold...a very lovely evening.

More tomorrow, as we continue to explore Vienna.

Vienna - Day One

2011-11-19T16:24:00.001-06:00

Getting to Vienna is no piece of cake! I left Dallas at 8 pm on Friday, arriving nine and a half hours later at London's Heathrow Airport. The plane was freezing cold, and I kept dozing off and on, maybe sleeping about three or four hours at most. I sat by a nice Irish guy, who was flying home after working in Fort Worth for the last few weeks. London is six hours later than Dallas, so we arrived around noon. The jetway had no power; they brought stairs out for us do use in deplaning. We then caught a bus to the terminal. From there, it was on to my connecting flight, but first I had a three-hour layover before departing for Vienna. I used the time wisely: shopping and watching people. My Vienna flight was short (two hours) and only about half full. We landed just as the sun started going down. It's amazing the photographs you can take from a plane's window!

I trudged to baggage and picked up my luggage, before locating the driver from the hotel. He was right on time, and we sped off to the city. Traffic was heavy, and it it took over half an hour to reach the Hotel Alstadt, arriving a little after 7 pm on Saturday. What a journey! The hotel is very cool. Here's a self-portrait...

This is a small hotel, only fifty rooms, and an unusual mix of traditional and modern decor. I like it.

The hallways are gorgeous! Everytime you turn a corner, the decor changes.

I was really happy to finally get to my room.

Not too sure about the painting on the wall!

The hotel offers a wide variety of newspapers.

There are several rooms where breakfast is served each morning

Nancy's room is right down the hall from mine, so I was able to knock on her door almost immediately. We walked down the street to a Christmas market area, and had dinner in a small restaurant. It was very good: pork and sauerkraut and bacon, as well as a bit of gravy and some sort of large dumpling. Good thing I'm only here for a week! The Christmas market was closing down for the evening, but we'll check it out tomorrow, when I have more energy.

In the meantime, I'm jet-lagged to the nth degree, and am off to bed. See you tomorrow!

Vienna

2011-11-17T21:18:00.000-06:00

I've wanted to go to Vienna for a long time...even before I heard Broadway songstress Linda Eder crooning that beautiful song of the same name. Nancy (my good friend and traveling buddy) and I had a discussion at the beginning of the year, which went, "Where should we go this year?" "How about Vienna?" "Okay." We're so easy to please!

Nancy left this afternoon from her home in Seattle, flying across the pond to Amsterdam and connecting there to Vienna. I leave tomorrow evening, going through London and arriving in Vienna late Saturday afternoon. There's apparently no short way to get there; at least we couldn't find one.

So, I've thought about packing for a few weeks now, but those of y'all who know me know the suitcases haven't even been pulled down from the shelves yet. I did get out my Christmas market boots, my Vienna folder, and the indispensible "Streetwise" laminated map.

I had to tell Rose that I was going on another trip. She wasn't very happy. I believe she thinks my lens protector is a crown, and, as you can see, she's ignoring the whole situation.

Let me get over there and set up, and I'll blog every night before I go to sleep. We're anticipating Christmas markets galore, as there are apparently eight within walking distance of our hotel. Also a palace or two, some museums, some Hundertwasser architecture, and a bit of classical music. I might even see those fancy ponies, Betsy! I'm also thinking gluwein, pastries, and some stick-to-your-ribs (I know I have some, somewhere!) food. It's cold in Vienna. The upcoming week has temps in the low 30's and 40's, maybe even a sprinkling of snow. Bring it on!

See you soon!

Sisters

2011-11-13T20:17:00.000-06:00

This is the second year I've taken photographs of sisters, Kennedy and Kendall. Today, we went to Deep Ellum in downtown Dallas for a little fall color. It was a beautiful day, and we found all kinds of interesting backgrounds. The girls have grown up so much since last year...they were good sports about the whole "picture thing!" We first found a friendly scooter shop owner who let the girls try out the merchandise.

The colors of Deep Ellum are always vibrant!

We walked around several blocks, exploring the neighborhood.

The girls even found an area to practice their gymnastics.

Lots of color here, and even a leftover Halloween pumpkin!

Four hundred photographs later, and it was time to call it an afternoon! Thanks for joining us!

First Monday - Canton

2011-11-06T18:52:00.000-06:00

Another First Monday trade days, and it was a beaut! My friend, Jeanie, and I like to go on Sunday mornings, when everyone else is in church. We were told that yesterday surpassed all records, with an estimated 200,000 people in attendance. Holy moly, that's too many for me! We arrived bright and early today. It was a tad humid and a bit warm, but we did have space to walk around!

First of all, this is one of my favorite sayings! Isn't it cute??

As usual, lots of pups were out and about at First Monday. This little chihuahua was traveling in style!

Hanna sells my favorite potpourri!

Of course there's always plenty of food, something for everyone!

I always make it a point to stop by Girls Gone Junkin,' as it's one of my favorite places to shop.

Here's Cathy, the owner of this tres chic place. I'm going to go out junkin' with her when things slow down, and document the day with my trusty Nikon!

The Gypsy Pearl always has a nice selection of things, too...all very nicely displayed.

Here's my new friend, Pierre, another cute little chi.

After leaving First Monday, we stopped at LaurieAnna's, the most beautiful store ever. As usual, she and her crew outdid themselves.

We finished up at Willows at Home, where I dropped by a special treat for Moe, the shop dog (and Rose's pal).

On the way out of there, Jeanie saw this painted pallet and decided it would go perfectly on the fence in her backyard. Luckily, these guys helped us get it into her vehicle! It was a little heavy.

Next month's First Monday will be the last one before Christmas...always a good time to stock up on holiday treasures!

The Cat

2011-11-05T22:17:00.000-05:00

Why would I drive over fifty miles to go clothes shopping at a store with "cat" in its name? Y'all know I'm a dog person! Well, the Calico Cat in Greenville, Texas is my "go-to" place. They've got clothes, they've got shoes and accessories, they've even got gifts and kid stuff.

But I'll tell you what they've got that's special. They've got Betsy Kingsbury, a saleswoman extraordinaire, who'll help you find just what you need. Then, she'll pin up your new pants if they're too long, and send them off to alterations, where they'll alter and mail 'em back to you. Betsy's become a friend of mine. Today, I ate lunch with her in the Cat's back room. She a cattle roper, too, and she's always inviting me out to her ranch.

They have Janeen Cunningham (no relation, unfortunately!), the owner, who runs this place like a general with a heart of gold. I can't count the number of nice things her employees have told me about her.

They've also got Ana, who started out as their high school intern. Ana's in college now, but still working at the Cat. She told me that it's like having five mothers working there, but that she loves every minute of it.

They've got a lot of pride in their shop...Betsy asked that I take a photo of their upstairs gift wrapping room, which she'd just finished organizing. Apparently, things at the Cat move quickly during the holidays, and they're anticipating an onslaught of shoppers.

Yep, custom gift wrapping. I was also MORE than impressed with boxes of gifts already sold and wrapped, and being held for their lucky recipients. I wonder...who'll get this lovely gift and what IS it?

Because of the upcoming holidays, I'm guessing that boxes of inventory are delivered daily. Here's a bird's eye view of their back room. Yep, that's all new merchandise!

They've also got a lot of heart. Mary Lauderdale, the Queen of Cats, passed away recently, at age 85. The former owner of Mary of Puddin' Hill, Mary "flunked" retirement, and took over the Cat's back room five years ago, where she was in charge of unpacking and pricing, as well as managing the inventory and special orders. Every year, the Cat sponsors an event called "Bras for the Cause." One-of-a-kind bras are designed, decorated, and put on display. They then host an evening with friends for the cause, who are encouraged to bid on their favorite bra. All donations go to the Cancer Center at Hunt Regional Healthcare Foundation. The Cat ladies are shameless! They won't take no for an answer, and they raise A LOT of money. This year's special bra was designed in honor of Mary.

I also managed to snap a photo of their neighbor's entry. Yes, it's a train store for hobbyists, and, yes, it was a training bra...

So, why do I drive all that way? Good friends, good people, heart (lots of it), not to mention the best customer service I've ever found. Call me if you need directions to the Cat.

The Johnson Family

2011-10-26T00:07:00.000-05:00

Put two fun-loving brothers together with some Halloween decorations, cowboy boots, and hats, and what do you get? A good time! Thanks, Johnson family, for letting me be a part of it all!

Boedecker Cellars

2011-10-24T22:12:00.000-05:00

Husband and wife winemakers, Stewart Boedecker and Athena Pappas, founded Boedecker Cellars in 2003. According to them, "our focus is quality, our love is the elegant, food friendly Oregon Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc, grown by the finest vineyards in the Willamette Valley." With unusually impeccable timing, I stopped by their Portland winery this past weekend on the first day of harvest. What fun!

Happy harvest! For more information, check out http://www.boedeckercellars.com/.

Lauren

2011-10-24T21:27:00.000-05:00

This past weekend, I did a pregnancy shoot for Lauren and Chris. Lauren is expecting their first child in January, and they're both excited about the upcoming special delivery. Boy or girl? It's going to be a surprise, just like back in the day! They don't want to know ahead of time. This session was extra fun because Lauren is like a daughter to me. She's my daughter's best friend, and I've known her since she was just a kid!

So, Chris is English, and soccer's his game. This baby had better be ready to play...boy OR girl!

In case it's a girl, Lauren's got the prequsite tutu!

Best of luck to Lauren, Chris and the wee little one!

Krista and Tony

2011-10-23T23:56:00.000-05:00

I was so proud to recently do the engagement photographs for my daughter and her fiance. We started out at Reed College in Portland, and finished the next day in the old produce market area of town. I've thought for two days about what to write here. Now that I'm back home, and looking through the photographs, I still can't find the words to say how much my daughter means to me. So, here's a photographer/mom's version of what I hope captures the glow these days that's all around Krista and Tony. Much love and happiness to the two of you, always.

Portland - Day Two

2011-10-23T10:06:00.000-05:00

Whew! What a whirlwind of a day yesterday! It started with a pregnancy shoot for Lauren and Chris. Chris is English, and a huge soccer fan. They don't want to know if it's a boy or a girl, but can you tell what sport Chris knows their firstborn will favor?

The morning slipped away, and before I knew it, I was at Boedecker Cellars, photographing the first day of harvest. These hands belong to the owners of this fantastic winery, Athena and Stewart.

And, finally, I ended up on the campus of Reed College, shooting engagement photographs for my daughter, Krista, and her beloved Tony. It's hard to shoot and shed a tear at the same time, but I managed.

Yes, it was quite a day. I'll share more photographs of each of these special events very soon.

Portland, Day One

2011-10-21T20:22:00.000-05:00

I'm in Portland visiting my daughter, Krista, and getting my "fall fix." Krista's in nursing school, so today I had the entire day to myself. My friend, Rene', drove up from Lebanon, Oregon, and we spent the day together. Rene' is also a photographer, and we met on facebook, discussing Kelly Moore's photography bags (or lack thereof, at the time). This was our first face-to-face meeting, and we had an absolute blast. Despite what my mother says, I have yet to meet an ax murderer on facebook...

Krista and her fiance, Tony, live in Sellwood, a cute little neighborhood with a vintage feel in southeast Portland. Rene' and I spent more time walking than we did driving, since everything is so close. There were lots of dogs out and about.

There was even a cat in a window.

After breakfast at Grand Central Bakery, we walked down to an antique store in search of photography props. Rene' found a cute bench, and we both enjoyed talking with Pat, the owner. My favorite Sellwood store is Fuchsia, which is owned by extraordinarily talented Anne Reis. Anne's mother dropped by, and I was able to convince them to pose!

Next, we drove to Oaks Bottom, and did a little trail walking. It was very fall-like!

All that walking made us hungry, so we drove back into town in search for lunch. The Sellwood houses are so cute! Lots of Halloween decorations were up, too, making the entire town look very festive.

We ended up at Papa Haydens, one of my favorite Sellwood restaurants.

Lunch was great, and they have exceptionally delicious desserts!

We next were charged with walking off all those calories, so we hit the streets again, enjoying the rest of the day. This women had on her Halloween sweater!

Here are the two photographers, hard at work!

All in all, a great day! More to come tomorrow.

Janet Waldrop

2011-10-19T20:55:00.000-05:00

Several years ago, I was in the little town of Edom, Texas, for their annual fall art festival. One booth in particular stood out, and it belonged to an artist named Janet Waldrop. Janet fascinated me, first because of her talent, and second, because she was not "on the computer." You couldn't find her if you wanted to! She, did, however, have a mailing list and after putting myself on it, I started to receive cards several times a year announcing places where she would be. I always seemed to be out of town, so I was beyond happy to make it to the Market in the Meadow in Dallas this past weekend.

Janet was such a good sport to answer my numerous questions, and I thought I'd share the "interview" with you.

Janet is a certified jeweler. She specializes in incorporating vintage found objects into her work, many of which come from England and France. Janet's company is called Skip 2 My Lou (her mother's name).

I have a feeling Janet has been talented from the get-go. She says she started out making primitive bird houses...not cutesy ones, but crazy houses! Sure wish I could've seen them! Because Janet lived within forty-five minutes of two schools that offered jeweler certification, she decided to go that route. A year and a half later, they had to practically kick her out, and I believe at that point she knew jewelry was her calling.

Janet initially discovered fused glass jewelry, and became hooked on it. Someone saw her work at the Dallas market, and that person became her rep. She sold for Janet for the next six years. Eventually, though, Janet became disenchanted with making 100 copies of one thing, and she turned to working with beautiful "found" items, saying, "Those pieces inspire you. Shopping is as much fun as making it!" Janet lives south of Tyler, Texas, and her studio is on Lake Palestine. She admits to having been courted by the visual queen of magazines, "Where Women Create," but says she'd have to clean up a bit first before she could be featured!

Janet's work is creatively displayed on old photographs. On the back of each one, she handwrites a little saying that goes with the photograph, plus a description of the the objects used in that piece. I bought a necklace (not shown here), which is made up of a "Victorian etched clasp, wreath lapel pin, watch chain links, and a watch fob found in Paris." My kind of thing!

The work Janet showed on Sunday consisted of bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and pins. Everything was, of course, one-of-a-kind. The only bad part for me was deciding upon just one thing. My friend and co-shopper, Susan, had the same problem!

We talked about computers, and Janet said she doesn't have time for a website or a blog. She sells at certain choice art festivals around the south/southeast each year, and she does a little mail order work. She has broken down and gotten herself an email address, and says if anyone wants to find her, they can reach her at skiptml@aol.com.

Or, you can find her at the Handworks art festival in Jackson, Mississippi the weekend before Thanksgiving. Before I left her booth, I asked Janet if she had any words of wisdom, to which she replied, "Do what you love. It always works out."

The Das Family

2011-10-09T22:01:00.000-05:00

I did a photo shoot for the Das family yesterday. I first met Sheffy at yoga class years ago, and we became
friends. Then, I dropped out for almost two years. In August, I was standing rather forlornly in the changing room on my first day back, when, all of a sudden, a shrill squeal pierced the air, and I was enveloped into a giant hug, courtesy of Sheffy! Friends for life, that's what we are.

The Das family has lived in Las Colinas for many years...in fact, since before their son, Miki, was born. Miki is a senior in high school this year, and I'll be doing his senior session next week. Sheffy asked for a photo shoot of her family, since Miki will be going away to college soon, and she wanted the photographs to be taken in their neighborhood. Sheffy told me that when she was pregnant with Miki, she used to walk around the museum exhibit of the mustangs of Los Colinas. So, off we went! http://www.mustangsoflascolinas.com/index.htm.

Her husband, Milu, and Miki were very good sports, because, let's face it, most men aren't big on having their pictures taken! A very handsome family, don't you think?

Did I mention Sheffy's hair? Oh, Sheffy's hair! My short little scruffy hair is SO jealous!

I like capturing a little slice of time for my clients. These photographs represent where this family was in their lives on October 8, 2011...Miki, about to embark upon the great adventure of life, with Sheffy and Milu becoming "empty nesters." Much has changed since Sheffy walked around the horses, a pregnant young mother, many years ago.

We moved to the other side of the building, and took a few more snaps.

We finished up nearby, visiting some more sculptures.

Thanks, Sheffy and family, for a wonderful afternoon!

Mule Day!

2011-10-09T15:37:00.000-05:00

Some of my friends are not on facebook (shocking, I know!), and they've been asking to see photographs from Mule Day. My family is fromWinfield, Alabama, and once a year the town hosts "Mule Day." It consists of a parade of mules, horses, vintage cars and tractors, as well as arts and craft booths and county fair-type food. I made it back there this year, and it was a photographer's dream. Lots of fun! I think my favorite part was getting early up early that day, and going with my father to the registration area for mules and horses. We walked round in the wet grass, and talked to the people who had come from several states to join in the festivities.

The weather was perfect, and about 20,000 people came to town to enjoy the day.

There sure wasn't a lack of food here!

Lots of things for sale, too!

But of course the mules were the stars of the show!

It's nice to see a bit of small town America, on a pretty autumn day in the deep South. As Alan Jackson would say, it's "where I come from."

First Monday - Canton, Texas

2011-10-01T16:26:00.000-05:00

Every Thursday through Sunday before the first Monday of each month, Canton, Texas hosts one of the largest flea markets in the country. With space for over 6,000 vendors, it is a junking girl's delight! I took a hiatus from First Monday during the summer months, because I, personally, don't find it much fun to browse around in 108 degree temperatures. However, this weekend's weather was too good to stay home! My friend, Jeanie, and I headed out at 7:15 a.m. Interstate 20 was packed with vehicles driven by women whose noses were pointing due east. Cars and trucks were crammed with shopping carts and bags, ready to filled.

Arriving at 8:30, the parking lots were already starting to fill up!

The air was crisp and cool, perfect for a good junkin' day.

Many of the vendors had record-breaking sales on Thursday and Friday, but they came back for more this morning!

There was a huge selection of seasonal decorations today.

We thought this was a Halloween costume, but we were informed in no uncertain terms that it was "lingerie in all sizes from 0 to 3X!!"

As is always the case, there were lots of sweet pups.

"Girls Gone Junkin'" is one of my favorite first Monday stores. The owners have that certain flair that makes the entire shop a delight. Take a look at these photos, and tell me if you don't agree!

Whew! Doesn't that just take your breath away???

Another good shop is the Gypsy Pearl. These witchy women were working the cash register today!

As always, they had lots of pretties on display!

We continued meandering around, pushing my shopping cart on wheels (which rapidly filled up). The variety of things for sale was amazing.

After four hours of nonstop junking, we called it quits. We aren't as young as we used to be, and Jeanie had also spent the entire day there yesterday! All in all, it was a fine way to spend a Saturday! Y'all need to join us next time!

Amish Country

2011-09-01T22:02:00.000-05:00

I'm in Eau Claire, Wisconsin to photograph a wedding tomorrow. This morning, Karen, the mother of the bride-to-be, took me on a beautiful drive to a little town called Augusta. She'd actually arranged for a tour of the nearby Amish country for us. I've always been fascinated with the Amish...and not just from reading those Amish romance novels! It seems to me that it must be hard to lead such a simple life. Amish people don't use electricity, nor do they drive anything but a horse and buggy. They dress simply, and their education stops at the eighth grade.

In Augusta, there is a store called The Wood Shed that sells furniture made by the Amish. They also offer the occasional tour. Our guide, Mike, met us inside.

The three of us departed for the nearby countryside, Karen and Mike safely strapped into the front seats, and me scooting back and forth from window to window in the back seat, camera glued to my face. Mike is not Amish, but is very knowledgeable about them. A local tax preparer, many are his clients. He started the tour by explaining that there are fifty Old Order (also known as Old School) Amish families in the area. They have six districts and one bishop. Each district has two pastors and two elders, who are elected by the bishop. I should add, at this point, that I was politely cautioned that photographing an Amish person is not done, and that I would have to be careful with my camera during the tour. Heavy sigh.

We headed out of town, and almost immediately a panorama of farms spread out before us. The Amish buildings were identified by their tin roofs and siding, and often the lack of power lines. They also tended to have several homes extending outward from their original one, where family members (such as grandparents) lived. Although the homes were mostly painted white and very simple, their gardens were a riot of bright colors.

Our first stop was at an outbuilding where furniture is crafted by hand. I had to leave my camera in the car here, so just imagine the smell of sawdust...it's cool inside the building in spite of the humidity and heat outside. There are children's chairs hanging from hooks on the ceilings (presumably for their finishes to dry). We walk past tables, dressers, chairs, everything simple yet beautiful. In the very back, one Amish man works on a piece of furniture. He's wearing a white shirt and dark pants, a straw hat on his head. He looks up at us, nods, and returns to his work. It reminds me of being inside of a church. We're very quiet, and leave after just a few minutes. Continuing on down the road, we spot a horse-drawn buggy. It's drive by a woman wearing a bonnet.

At almost every farm, laundry flaps in the breeze on clothes lines. No washers and dryers here!

We pass an Amish church, but Mike quickly explains that it's only a symbol, and is not actually used. Amish church services are held in the homes. Every eleven weeks, an Amish family will host the three-hour long service, which consists of preaching, hymns, and discussions of the Amish lifestyle. Afterwards, a meal is served. The men eat first, followed by the boys, and finally the women. I loved Mike's story about when he questioned some Amish women about this custom, saying how sad it must be for them to eat last. "Oh, no," they replied, "we save the best for us!"

I didn't realize until I uploaded my photographs that I'd caught this little Amish girl playing outside.

In addition to homes and barns, small school buildings dotted the fields. Each was built to hold 24 chldren, from first through eighth grade. According to Mike, the first and eighth graders sit on one side so that the older students can help the younger ones. Grades second through seventh sit on the opposite side.

We also passed a small Amish cemetery. The markers are all identical, with no information on them. Everyone is considered the same, no one better or worse than anyone else.

We continued on down some more winding roads before stopping at an Amish house, which also contained a small store for Amish shoppers. Because Mike was known there, we were able to get out and look around. A young Amish woman, Martha, greeted us. When I asked if I could take photographs, she graciously said, "yes." Martha was 24 years old, unmarried, and worked several days a week at the little store. She wore a white cap and a blue dress, and was barefoot. Instead of buttons, straight pins held the front of her dress together. There was a little chihuahua sitting outside under a big tree. When I mentioned how much I loved dogs, Martha told me to come with her. There were puppies in the barn, sleeping in the hay! She brought a few outside for me to see. I later told Mike that I'd read a lot about the Amish in Pennsylvania, who are involved with puppy mills. I wondered if that was happening in this area, and was relieved when he told me that was not the case. The few puppies we saw would become farm dogs on neighboring farms.

This bicycle tire is used to "wheel" in the laundry...simple, yet functional!

We wandered back into the small store, to check out their merchandise. Straw hats and boots were popular.

Throughout our drive, we noticed horses tethered to fences on the outside, instead of inside. Mike explained that this was done on purpose, so that the horses would get used to car and trucks. That way, when they started to pull a buggy, they'd be used to the noise and not be skittish.

Before returning to town, we stopped at a little empty house that is owned by the owner of the Wood Shed. No one has lived it in for quite some time, but Mike had been given a key, so were able to look inside. The home was very small and basic, yet very peaceful.

Here's our guide, Mike, trying out the buggy!

We took a small detour, so that we could see Dells Mill and the nearby schoolhouse.

With lunchtime around the corner, we dropped Mike off at The Wood Shed, and drove back to Eau Claire. It was time to start thinking about the wedding! Thanks, Karen, for a wonderful morning!

A Cuff Above the Others

2011-08-27T18:19:00.000-05:00

This morning, I went to a "cuff workshop." My friend, Susan, invited me some time ago, and I set out this morning still not really sure what I was embarking upon. Well. It turns out that Martha Stewart doesn't live back East; she resides in Rowlett, Texas, and her name is Chantal Johnson!

Chantal was the instructor of this workshop, which was held in her home. I knew most of my fellow students, which helped, since I quickly ascertained that sewing was involved. As I walked into her picture perfect house, I realized that I had forgotten my camera. This is akin to a traveller forgetting her passport. Of course there were a million photographs to be taken, and there I was. With my iPhone. In a house that could be featured in the magazine Where Women Create (porn for crafters). Oh well...I decided to make the best of it. Freshly baked scones with strawberries were on the kitchen counter. Life was good. I decided you really wouldn't mind a blog post with cell phone photographs, just this once, because, really, it was too good not to capture.

I put on my adorable handmade name tag, and wandered around. Take a look!

Here's my personalized bag of goodies, like embroidery thread, needles (now I have needles!), trimmings, and embellishments.

Chantal showed us some cuffs she had put together, probably in a minute or two. Here's a sampling.

Here's a whole bunch of them. They're like fancy bracelets!

Here's Chantal talking about some of the things we'll be learning.

Everyone soon gathered around the dining room table. This is where the needle and thread part came in. By the time I threaded my needle, others had made their cuffs. Not to be deterred, however, I continued snapping away with my iPhone camera.

We also got to visit Chantal's studio out back. It was a dream of a cottage, with everything you could imagine inside...hundred of stamps, miles of ribbons...whatever you needed, it was there. If it had a name, this little piece of heaven would be called Finishing Touches.

Before I knew it, I had a bad case of sensory overload. Good thing it was time for lunch! We all wandered through the patio and yard, and back into the house.

Chantal went out of way to serve us a lunch fit for crafting champions! There were caesar salad wraps, tiny pimento and cheese puffs, fresh fruit, pasta salad, chips and dips...what a treat!

We had mason jars with our initials on them for drinking glasses!

For dessert, we had Dr. Pepper cake and also a Nutella birthday cake (Susan's had a birthday recently, but was out of town, so we'd had no celebration). Both were scrumptious!

While we were there, the mail was delivered, and in it was the much anticipated college acceptance letter for Chantal's daughter, Savannah!

Chantal's mother, Maryse, was a tres delightful Frenchwoman, who took pity upon me, and helped me with my cuff! We bonded right away with our love for all things French!

Chantal's youngest daughter, Presleigh, is obviously loved by their sweet little pup, Paci (pronounced Passy)!

Before I knew it, the day had slipped away. I hated to leave my new-found friends, but I left with the anticipation that one day, I'd be back. If anyone is interested in a workshop of this sort, I'd say that Chantal has cornered the market for creativity in the Dallas area. She can be reached via her blog at www.chantaljohnson.blogspot.com.

Felicity and Dakota

2011-07-29T22:34:00.000-05:00

My extra-wonderful neighbors, Mike and Sabrina, live right next door to me. It's just the two of them, and they're so quiet, I hardly ever know they're nearby! Things changed this week, when they brought home their niece and nephew for a visit. Felicity and Dakota live in Arkansas, and it looks like they've been having a grand time down in Dallas! They immediately fell in love with Rose the Rat Terrier, and requested that she come over last night (in her pajamas) to tell them good night. I was able to get together a small photo shoot, although it was really too hot to do anything outside. Here are some of my favorites, including a quick session this evening, complete with bubbles...

Neighbors, I have a feeling your house is going to be mighty quiet when the kids go home!

Life in America

2011-07-04T08:55:00.000-05:00

Happy Fourth of July! I'm blessed to be able to travel to other countries, but I'm doubly blessed to call America my home.

Yes

2011-06-27T18:57:00.000-05:00

In the spring of 1980, I walked around with my hands gently resting on my belly. Yes, I thought, it's going to be a girl. And it was. I had no clue how to raise a child. It was trial and error all the way, but I must have erred in the right direction because Krista was one heck of a kid. We made it through high school and college before she moved to Portland. A yoga instructor, both graceful and strong, I am beyond proud of her.

When Krista first starting dating Tony, I asked her if he might be "the one." She replied "yes" so quickly that I wasn't even sure she'd heard the question. It was the correct answer though, because he proposed to her on her birthday this year. I flew to Portland last week on my birthday to help her find a wedding dress. It was the best birthday I've ever had. We spent several days searching, but, yes sir, we got the job done. I can't express how I felt watching Krista slip into gown after gown, pirouetting around the dressing rooms with a smile on her face. Of course I had to capture the days in pictures, and while I'm sharing some of them, the dress she selected is not shown, and won't be until she's married. She eventually said yes to the dress at an enchanting boutique called called The English Dept.

Yes, Krista, I love you with all my heart.

Some Enchanted Evening...

2011-06-22T19:34:00.000-05:00

My cousin Rose recently married her sweetheart, Davis. There's nothing like a family wedding, where everyone can get together, and be in one place where two people are, at that moment, the happiest people on earth. My father, aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, and friends were there. Even though it was almost 100 degrees, and the wedding was held outside, we all survived. In fact, we had a divine time! Doesn't Rose look downright radiant?

Here's Rose with her kids. As you can see, it was a wonderful evening for some family photos, and I was honored to take them.

Rose and Davis made it look easy. At least they didn't appear nervous!

Pardon me if I brag on my family. Rose's sister, Sherry, makes the most delicious wedding cakes and grooms cakes I've ever seen. Here she is with the wedding cake she baked for her sister. And, yes, it was as good as it looked!

The South is known for its groom's cakes. The grooms get a whole separate table with their own cake on it. Maybe some of you remember the movie "Steel Magnolias," with the gray armadillo groom's cake, complete with red velvet cake inside? Well, Davis chose a table of cheesecakes, with fresh blueberries and strawberries. Sherry baked those, too.

Did I mention that she also catered the wedding dinner? Yep, she's got buckets full of talent. My cousins Kathy and Diana Gayle made the bride's bouquet. When the roses were delivered without any greenery two hours before the ceremony, they were unfazed. Slipping on some stylish hats to protect their sweet faces from the harsh June sun, they rummaged around in my Dad's garden, until they found what they needed.

They came back with some green leaves, a few gardenias, and some other unknown greenery, and, as I watched, they transformed it all into a perfect bridal bouquet in minutes. They even made up the buttonaires for the men!

The bride's mother, my Aunt Flo, has a cousin, Gloria, who offered up her house and yard for the ceremony. It had a front porch that was perfect for the wedding, and a huge back yard that was good for entertaining a couple hundred of the bride and groom's closest friends and family.

Of course, there needed to be a lot of room just to accommodate all those Cunninghams!

Here's Uncle Olan and Aunt Flo, the parents of the bride. Aren't they cute as can be?

The ceremony was short and sweet.

It was, however, just long enough for some of the cups to start to melt...

The bride and groom made it a point to stop by every single guest table.

While they did that, I had time to take advantage of the wooded background for more family photographs. My cousin Debbie's girls are so beautiful!

My cousin, Sabrina, is the official cake cutter at these affairs.

The bride and groom did a pretty good job of getting it started, though.

This is Jess, the groom's daughter, in her extra pretty fancy dress.

I guess if you're a Great Pyrenees, and you live in Alabama, you look forward to your summer hair cut! This little guest fell in love with the pups, who enjoyed all the attention.

The groom's best friend got ordained on the internet, so that he could marry Davis and Rose.

As some of the older people started to leave, Uncle Olan volunteered to drive them back to their cars in the golf cart.

The family, though, stayed on 'til the end.

Before I knew it, the evening was gone. I packed up my camera equipment, and slipped away. The moon was shining, and the countryside was quiet. Best of luck to Rose and Davis. I love you both.

I'm Not Mary Chapin Carpenter, But I Feel Lucky...

2011-06-14T19:34:00.000-05:00

Several days ago, I drove through Hackleburg and Phil Campbell, two very small communities that were destroyed by one of over 100 tornadoes that swept through Alabama on the afternoon of April 27, 2011. This tornado was particularly deadly, cutting a swath through the countryside, stripping bark from the hardwood trees that are so prevalent here, with winds of over 200 mph. The tornado first touched down in Hackleburg (population approx. 1,500), where 29 people were killed. It then continued on to Phil Campbell (population approx. 1,000), killing 18 more. I had never been to either town, but it was shocking to see the devastation almost two months later. This is what's left of one of the residential streets in Hackleburg.

I went inside this house, but there was so much glass on the ground, I didn't stay long. It was totally destroyed, and the owners must have moved on, leaving what remained behind. A cat ran through what was the back door, when I walked in.

There was a stuffed bear under some debris on a couch.

Here's a piece of someone's lace curtain.

When I stepped out of my car, the first thing I noticed was the sound of heavy equipment and saws. The air was heavy with humidity, and the smell of wood. There is so much work left to do, it's mind-boggling, but that's what people were doing, in the 98 degree sun. Where this house once stood, the only things recognizable were an artificial Christmas tree and a broken piece of costume jewelry. A man walked slowly around the debris. I said, "Isn't this just the worst thing ever?" He gruffly replied, "No ma'am. The worst thing is my Mama dying here."

Many trees in this area were old and stately. The tornado uprooted them with ease, this one larger than my car.

The little town of Phil Campbell is only a few miles up a beautifully winding country road. If possible, it looked worse than Hackleburg. Upside down vehicles dotted the landscape. Trailers never stood a chance. Trees were bare. On one lot, the house was completely gone, but there was a dog house left standing.

The press wasn't in either town. I was the only one with a camera. Everyone was busy rebuilding schools, churches and homes. I guess it was considered old news...that is, to everyone except those who lived there, and those who still do. It started to rain as I headed away from the damage. I felt guilty. I felt blessed. But most of all, I felt incredibly lucky.

The Tiniest Princess

2011-06-07T21:02:00.000-05:00

Last August, I did a photo shot for Beka and Matt. It was nice summer morning, and we shot outside at Beka's parents' house. They look really happy, don't they?

Well. It turns out that, although they didn't know it at the time, Beka was was expecting their first child. She had a great pregnancy, carrying if off with style. I mean, really, the woman glowed!

Today, I had the honor of doing baby Abby Ann's first photo shoot. Abby is still teeee-niney, as my grandmother used to say! As in little bitty. But, I was very impressed with her posing ability, especially since she's not even two months old yet. Abby lives in a room befitting a baby princess. She also has the wardrobe to match...

Princess Abby was very gracious, even though it was her nap time.

Her Mama dressed her up, and she was agreeable to a pose or two.

We also did a few photographs with hands and feet. Here's Daddy's hands, forming a heart around her feet.

Princess Abby cannot wait until she can get a pedicure like Mom's!

Here are Beka and Matt' wedding rings. I'm sure they've never been showcased so beautifully.

We did a few photographs with a small gift box, two pink hair ribbons, and a note from Mamaw B. Apparently, Matt's father was supposed to have been a girl!

Abby also has her very own tiny pink Bible.

Abby' definitely got her Daddy wrapped around her little finger!

The entire time I photographed Princess Abby, I was watched over by her Lady-in-Waiting, Molly. I believe that Molly also acts as Abby's personal security guard, so I was extra careful not to make any wrong moves.

I'm already looking forward to stopping by for another photo shoot...after all, Princess Abby has a lot of clothes to model!

Quilting, Anyone?

2011-05-31T18:59:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned last week, a friend of mine recently spent a Girls Weekend at my place. She's an excellent quilter, so while she was here, we paid a visit to the Thomas Sewing Center in Mesquite, Texas. It's been around since 1955, and has quite the loyal following. Howard Thomas used to work for Singer, which explains the collection of old sewing machines lined up on shelves around the store.

We were greeted by Kim, who filled us in on the history of the shop, and introduced us to Dona Thomas.

Back in the day, my grandmothers and many of my aunts quilted by hand. As a child, I remember visiting family in Alabama one summer. My grandmother hosted a quilting bee at her house out in the country, and carloads full of ladies showed up with casserole dishes and pies in hand. A quilting frame was set up in the living room, and everyone pulled up a chair and quilted. I was dispatched outside...their gossip was probably too grown up for a kid like me! These days, so much is done on the computer. There was a class going on while we were at Thomas,' and it was interesting to see everyone following along on their laptops. I have no doubt that my great-grandmother would've been floored!

The store had so many beautiful fabrics, everything from pastels to Texas football team patterns.

For so early on a Saturday morning, the store was really hoppin'! Women examined fabrics and threads, the phone rang off the hook, and my friend enjoyed looking at everything she could take in. Since I can barely sew on a button, I had to be content to appreciate what could be done with such beautiful material. You could tell many of the customers were die-hard quilters. I even met the mayor of Combine, Texas!

It was easy to find lots to photograph, that's for sure!

If only I had time to learn one more thing...

Treasures

2011-05-22T20:12:00.000-05:00

I have a friend visiting me from Alabama. She knows that I always have my camera slung around my neck, so she was more than dismayed to find out that I had not documented the handmade quilts that I treasure. Many were made by family members, but some were found in antique stores around the South. One I actually "commissioned," almost thirty years ago. No one back then had a lot of money, so the quilts were made from scraps left over from homemade school dresses, feed sacks, or material purchased at tiny local fabric shops. This afternoon, we got them all out of the linen closet, and I photographed complete versions, as well as close-ups. They're too pretty not to share some with you.

My Great-grandmother, Lucy Spann, made this quilt for me in 1968. It's been called both a Dutch Doll and a Sunbonnet Sue pattern.

The baby quilts were mine, so they're quite old!

This soft blue and off-white quilt was made for me in the early 1980's in Winfield, Alabama by Mrs. Byers, an elderly woman whose quilts were some of the best in the county. The pattern is called Cathedral Window. Each circle was sewn separately and then pieced together. It is for a king-size bed, and it took Mrs. Byers over a year to make. When she finished, she said it was her last one, that she'd never make another one again. A few months later, my Aunt Elaine harrassed her into making a matching pillow for me for Christmas!

Wimberley, Texas

2011-05-15T22:10:00.000-05:00

Wimberley is a small town in Hayes County, Texas, just a bit southwest of Austin. In 1848, it started out as a trading post settlement on Cypress Creek. These days, it's a destination location for anyone interested in checking out the beautiful Texas Hill Country. The area consists of rolling hills, lots of live oak trees, cacti, and beautiful blue endless sky.

Limestone ranch houses dot the land, cattle and horses graze peacefully. If you look close enough, you'll even spot deer.

The area is also home to some top-notch wineries.

The occasion for the Wimberley visit was a friend's 50th birthday. She rented a ranch house in the country, but not too from town, and I was lucky enough to be invited!

It was dinner time when we arrived on Friday evening, so after checking into our home away from home, we swung by the local pizza place, Brewsters. The food was great, and we ate outside on their patio. A nice breeze joined us, and it really couldn't have been further away from the hustle bustle that has become our everyday lives. The girls were thrilled to find former SF 49er and Super Bowl champ, Bruce Collie, behind the bar. He and his family own and run the restaurant.

This cutie patootie is one of the owner's sons.

Not sure what Drop the Rabbitt is...

We left with happy stomachs, catching just the tail end of what looked to be a fine sunset. It was really quiet out in the country. The Birthday Girl was the hostess with the mostest! Upon our return, we toasted the occasion with her homemade limoncello, which reminded me of those old-fashioned lemon drop candies, except with a hint of vodka. Needless to say, the hot tub called, and the day ended with more toasts and stories. Everyone had their own bedroom and bath, so we comfortably called it a night, and slept soundly. Saturday morning arrived with more blue skies and breezes, another perfect vacation day! We drove into Wimberley, which was less than ten miles away, and before we knew it, we were seated at Ino'z for a lunch beside the creek. More good food, and a view that couldn't be beat.

Birthday Girl wanted this duck for her present, but the duck was not interested!

Once fortified, we were ready for shopping. Wimberley did not let us down. From vintage shops to galleries to kitchenware. You name it, we found it.

There's something about trying on hats that makes women bond with complete strangers. I think the lady who joined us for this photograph was visiting from Kansas City.

Of course there were several places to enjoy wine tastings, and some of our group certainly did!

Did you know you can dress up a longhorn? Apparently, only after he's dead...

There seemed to be quite a lot going on, and we quickly realized that, once again, a weekend probably wouldn't be enough time to take it all in.

We had reservations in Dripping Springs at the Creek Road Cafe for The Birthday Dinner. We all decided that "cafe" was the wrong name for this gourmet restaurant, where we enjoyed everything from a fresh melon salad to Lady Bird chicken that almost melted in your mouth. And that's not to mention the stellar filet mignon with a jalapeno bacon cheese sauce and fresh vegetables. Desserts and wine were two thumbs up. The restaurant has been in business for four years. It seriously would give many places in Dallas (and other large cities) a run for their money. Chef Chae Donahue is simply amazing. A sincere thanks from the Birthday Group to you and your staff! We'll tell everyone we know to stop by soon!

It was hard to believe the day was almost gone. We managed, with a bit of difficulty, to find our way back home, which was down several dark and winding country roads, ending with a tiny little turn-off that was oh-so-easy to miss. I was tired and went to bed, but I did hear of more hot-tubbing and an unfortunate incident where one Party Girl tried to take a group photo with her cell phone. I can't believe they didn't text me to wake up and take a professional shot! Anyway, this morning was spent tidying up, and walking around outside before checking out.

Breakfast was waiting for us back in town at the Wimberley Cafe. We had homestyle pancakes, biscuits and gravy, grits, eggs, and French toast. Well worth the short wait!

Somebody had a nice ride to breakfast!

Before we knew it, noon was approaching and we wanted to visit the Bella Vista Ranch, home to First Texas Olive Oil Company and Bella Vista Cellars. We were a little geographically challenged, but once again logic prevailed, and we arrived only slightly off schedule! This is the first commercially producing olive orchard in Texas, featuring a frantoio (olive mill) and a tasting room, as well as the home of Bella Vista Cellars, a boutique winery that produces limited quantities of Italian-varietal wines.

After purchasing a few samples of their olive products, we walked around the property, before finally ending our weekend getaway. Dallas seemed years away, but the drive went quickly, fueled by good friends with good conversation, and a quick stop in West (a small town an hour south of Dallas) for kolaches. These little treats are homemade rolls with assorted fillings, everything from fruit to sausage. They were just what we needed to cover those last miles. Thanks, Birthday Girl, for inviting me! I had a blast, and am ready to go again, whenever you are!

Swiss Avenue

2011-05-07T17:52:00.000-05:00

Every Mother's Day weekend, the Swiss Avenue Historic District of Dallas hosts a home tour. This year is the its 38th, and the first time I've visited. The entire area is a step back in time. You can imagine what it was like to sit on a front porch, sipping iced tea or lemonade, while idly fanning oneself. Swiss Avenue was actually the first paved street in Dallas! Part of the first deed-restricted neighborhood in Texas, the homes on Swiss Avenue stand as the finest examples in the Southwest of an early 20th century neighborhood.

The original deed restriction stated that Swiss Avenue homes had to be at least two stories tall, and constructed or brick or masonry. Each home had to cost at least $10,000 (a fortune back then!), and no homes could be sold on spec...they had to be built and occupied by the intended residents.

A trolly line was built to provide homeowners with a quick way to the downtown Dallas business and shopping areas. The first Neiman-Marcus store was built downtown; I envision women riding the trolley back to their homes, with Neiman-Marcus shopping bags draped over their arms. Originally, a railroad spur was laid in the alleyway between Swiss and Gaston, giving the rich residents who owned private rail cars the option to board at the rear of their homes, and then go anywhere the rails could take them. Such a different way of life back then!

The magnolia trees had large blossoms in bloom.

This little powder room was done in black and white, with a mirrored ceiling and Clark Gable photographs on the window panes!

The potting shed of this home is probably larger than many New York City apartments.

As the day got hotter, my friend Jeanie and I wandered back to her vehicle and headed west. In only seconds, the skyscrapers of downtown Dallas appeared on the horizon...I blinked, and Swiss Avenue was gone.

Family Blessings

2011-04-17T20:17:00.000-05:00

There's nothing like a wedding, especially when it's your own family. My cousin's son got married in Houston last night. Even though the couple had their own wedding photographer, asking me not to snap a picture or two is pretty much like asking the impossible. It was a Western-themed wedding. The groom gave all of the men who stood up for him ostrich-skin cowboy boots to wear with their white Western shirts with pearl buttons and black pants. The bride was tall, slim and gorgeous, and her attendants wore pretty purple dresses. They all carried colorful tulips. My cousin, Sherry, who is the Wedding Cake Baker Extraordinaire, came out from Alabama to make the cakes, and they were (as always) works of art. Here's how the evening unfolded.

Starting with a perfect springtime day, with lots of blue sky, green grass, and a right purdy venue.

Only in Texas would you find personalized cup holders like these!

Here's Sherry putting the finishing touches on the bride's cake.

Not to be outdone, the groom's cake was a chocolate masterpiece, adorned with Texas-shaped sugar cookies.

Here's Ryan, the handsome groom, with his grandmother, Mary Belle, who is my aunt and the spryest ninety-year-old you'll ever meet.

Ryan and his mother, my cousin, Diana.

Jason, the best man, with his mother, Diana.

The boys showing off their new boots...

Purple and white decor in the reception room.

Lots of cutie patooties at this wedding!

The flower girl gets ready for her special evening.

Here comes the bride, escorted by her brother.

It was a short, easy-going ceremony. The couple wasn't the least bit nervous, and they looked pretty darned giddy with happiness.

This young buckaroo sported a hand-tooled belt.

And the moon came up over the reception house, illuminating a beautiful evening. Best of luck, Ryan and Kasey!

For You

2011-04-14T22:24:00.000-05:00

Springtime in Texas means bluebonnets, Indian paint brush, and primroses. Here are some of my favorite flower photographs, taken here, there, and everywhere. Happy Springtime, y'all.

People

2011-04-12T20:41:00.000-05:00

I've captured some impromptu shots lately of beautiful people. Here are some of my favorites, which I want to share with you. This cute cowgirl posed for me at the Dallas Arboretum.

Also at the Arboretum: a wonderful group of women: all sisters (with the exception of a granddaughter). They were celebrating what would've been the 100th birthday of their Mother. Since she loved flowers, they came down from Oklahoma to spend the day in her honor.

This sweet boy was in Greenville, getting ready to get his first haircut. No more curls!

This woman looked SO happy! She was in the audience at the Altrusa Club's fashion show, but I think she should've been on the runway.

These two women, who I understand are good friends, were on the runway, modeling some tres chic resort wear from The Calico Cat, my favorite boutique!

The sweetest little bebe in all of Paris!

More aspiring models!

And, last but not least, a beautiful woman with her grandchild. What's cooler than taking your granddaughter to Laurie Anna's in Canton on her first shopping expedition!

Best Of Shops

2011-04-06T22:35:00.000-05:00

Laurie Anna's and the Willows at Home are my two favorite Canton, Texas shops. Both are only open during First Monday weekends (the Thursday-Sunday PRIOR to the first Monday each month, and both are well worth the trip. Here are a few of my favorite things at the Willows, including Moe, the shop dog!

Laurie Anna's is sensory overload for me. There are so many beautiful things, large and small; I'd like to buy them all! I can't even begin to imagine all the hard work that goes into making everything look like it does...there are apparently lots of decorating wizards in residence. This time, there were also some cute rescue pups, as well as a little baby out on the town for her first shopping trip.

Best of Paris

2011-03-27T12:10:00.000-05:00

Now that I'm back in Dallas, I've been busy going through the 1,328 photographs I took in Paris last week. I'll be the first to admit that I still like a good photo album to hold and look at, so I selected my top 300 favorites, had prints made locally, and put that together yesterday. I'll order enlargements and perhaps a canvas or two from my professional printer later, and also make up some note cards.

I wanted to share my some of my favorites with you all....I highly recommend Paris in the springtime. There's no place else like it.

Thanks again for joining me. I have more trips planned throughout the year, including one to Nova Scotia in October and one to Vienna for the week of Thanksgiving. There's nothing like having new places to photograph!