Cozy nights and delicious smells

Mmmmm, don't you just love this time of year?

It's chilly and rainy outside.

I'm dry inside in my pj's.

The cinnamon pumpkin wall plug-in makes the house smell like the holidays.

The dog is curled up in a little ball on the rug.

Love it.

So I'm cooking away in the kitchen, and my sweet husband comes to give me a hug.

I rub my face in his sweatshirt and say, "Yummm, you smell like a bonfire. I love that smell."

He says, "Oh I know, doesn't that smell great? But I don't think that's me. Maybe it's the chicken?"

I say, "No, chicken doesn't smell like that. It must be coming from outside somewhere. Oh well, I don't care. It just smells so GOOD."

La, la, la, back to cooking I go.

Hey, where are those bamboo tongs I was using a few minutes ago? Didn't I prop them precariously on the edge of this pot? Wait, what is that?

Oh, it's nothing. Just my tongs, crackling away in the flames of the gas burner underneath the pot.

: (

Here we go

Drumroll please...

After my sessions in South Carolina a few weeks ago, I've been editing and sorting just as fast as my little computer can go. I knew what I was signing up for, but I've seriously never had this many shoots piled up at once! It's been a bit overwhelming, but I must say it felt really good to be shooting again, and just as great to be prepping images and creating Christmas cards.

So here we go. I'll blog as much as I can this week, but my priority is to get galleries up and card proofs to my clients (because Christmas is ridiculously close already.) Thanks for your patience!

*****

I drove up to Anderson, SC for my first session. It was early in the morning, and I was pretty tired from driving south the day before, but I had some coffee and I am not stupid. Still, I could not for the life of me figure out why every weather web site and radar I looked up on my iPhone told me it was cloudy with no rain expected for hours, because it was most certainly pouring rain on my car.

I pulled up at Anderson University and racked my brain for options since I knew we really could not reschedule. By the time Stephanie, Hud, and their daughter Ashlynn pulled up the rain had miraculously slowed to a light mist and we got to business. How precious are they?





The fourth little member of their family will be making his arrival in January





I had never been to Anderson University before, but I had been told about the beautiful buildings and the amazing trees on the front lawn. The columns provided great places for hide and seek, especially when the drizzle started back up. (P.S. How much do you love this little dress??)





But really, can we expect a five-year-old to keep her tights clean in these conditions? I think not.





We climbed on Dad, snuggled on Dad...




... did flips on Dad...





... and then headed down to the front lawn of the university to get some shots in the trees. I don't know what it is about this picture, but I love it.





Time out to give baby brother a kiss...





and then back to the trees to search for wood fairies











Stephanie, I had such a great time meeting your family. Even in such icky weather you guys were wonderful. Thanks for everything, can't wait for the little guy to arrive!

The end of the middle?

It's been a great weekend with friends in town celebrating Dylan's birthday- the big 26! I love our dear friends Ryan, Mary, and Mary for making the trek up to Maryland to hang out with us and spend the weekend eating spaghetti, roaming IKEA, exploring the city, and demolishing funfetti cupcakes, chocolate chip cookie pie and pumpkin bread. We enjoyed some gorgeous fall weather and made the obligatory trip to the Inner Harbor. Here's Dylan (check out Week One of No-Shave-November!) and his best buddy Ryan:





We had an interesting discussion this morning over coffee, scrambled eggs and chocolate chip muffins. Where do the mid-twenties end and the late-twenties begin? Obviously 26 is still the middle, but what will next year be? Surely 27 isn't late... but it's not middle any more either. The group consensus is that this is the end of the middle, so enjoy it!

In all seriousness, of course it makes no difference. Either 26 or 62, I think he's pretty super. Hands down the best husband I've ever had. : )

Love you Dylan- happy birthday!

Home!

In six days I drove over 1,400 miles, drank nine cups of coffee (a lot for me in six days), shot 4,515 images, visited old work friends, enjoyed daily treats at Rita's, missed my husband like crazy, had three photo sessions rained on and two in the sun, got countless hugs from friends, ate my weight in Halloween candy, and spent a few short but wonderful hours with family.

I'm back in Baltimore and ready to edit like crazy. We've got friends coming to visit this weekend, a big birthday coming up, and Thanksgiving right around the corner. Should be a busy few weeks with lots to share. Stay tuned!

Shoulda packed more shoes

Hahahahaha. Really, there's nothing else to say. I clearly picked the wrong week to promise to blog more!

The short story is that my days leading up to my trip to South Carolina were incredibly busy. And now that I'm here, I'm still really busy- photo shoots, friends, family, and Halloween candy!

I checked the weather forecast before I left and packed accordingly, with my main goal being efficiency. I tend to bring twice the clothes I need and I was determined not to overpack and to keep everything low-key.

It turns out that weather predictions aren't a sure thing- who knew? The Sunny South delivered the bright, warm day promised as I drove in on Friday, but after that all bets were off. It's been a little chilly and a lovely mix of foggy/misty/torrential-downpour-y ever since. I've had three shoots so far and my wonderful clients have been such troopers as we've dodged raindrops and sat on wet logs.

The lone lightweight jacket I brought has been sufficient, but I am certainly rethinking my only choice in footwear.





One pair of leather Rainbows + hours of traipsing through rain puddles and soggy leaves = brown-stained cold feet and flip-flops that won't dry out.

Hoping tomorrow isn't more of the same!