Making Use...

The Week Begins

Oops.  I realized earlier this afternoon, while plowing through work on my desktop, that today is Monday and I had not prepared a quick post for your reading pleasures. 

First off, how was your weekend?  Mine was great.  Simple and great.  It involved a couple of good naps, a couple of long walks, and a big cheese burger and fries at Boylan Heights on Sunday afternoon.  I do love my little family.

Racing By Banana Groves, St. Lucia, March 2007

- A week or so ago my dad sent around a link to the New York Times Travel story about the Caribbean Island of Bequia.  Little Seal spent some time there in the mid-2000s and I spent about three days there at the start of my 2007 sailing sojourn.  The photographs conjur up all kinds of memories for me, not just of Bequia, which I hardly got to know, but of the Eastern Caribbean in general where the colors and textures are pretty consistent from island to island.  The accompanying article is interesting, too, though the author describes Bequia as an antidote to the usual Caribbean resort experience, which is not one that I know, having only ever visited the islands by sailboat.  

- Todd and I are big 60 Minutes fans and I found this recent piece about Vincent Van Gogh especially intruiging.  What do you think?  Are you convinced about the new death theory?  I read Irving Stone's Lust for Life the summer I was 14, wrote my college admissions essay about a visit to the Musee d'Orsay in search of Van Gogh, and studied more than a few semester's worth of 19th-Century French painting in college.  So you can see where my interest would be piqued.  Part 2 here.  

- Though not exactly a seasonal recipe, I've been making variations of Giada's Tuscan salad for a couple of weeks now, ever since catching an episode of Everyday Italian where she whipped it up so enticingly.  (Note: for Christmas I would like Giada's chopping knife and manicure).  These days I'm really into red leaf lettuce, which is firm and crisp, and have replaced the cannellini beans with dried cherries (cherries!  not cranberries!), eliminated the green beans and olives, and swapped an herby goat cheese for the parmesan.  So, basically, it's an entirely different salad.  But I'm swearing by the slivery-est slivers of red onion, the fresh-squeezed lemon juice, salt, pepper, and olive oil!  The original version is really good, too. FYI.  

- Last month I sold a 30"x30" mounted fine art print to a local buyer.  Did you know that most of my work is available as fine art in limited editions?  Did you know that art is a wonderful (the best?!) holiday gift?  You still have ONE WEEK to get your holiday order in for an original photographic print by Meredith Montague.   And if Chrismahanukwanzakah is non-issue for you, you can place your order ANY TIME.  Just email me for details.  

- At the debut of this series I said something about wanting to share things I found interesting, yummy, pretty, etc.  And while I am about to describe a pair of Keen boots that are in no way "pretty" (at all), I am so attached to these hard-working shoes that I just have to give them a shout-out.  In 2006 I went to Maine Sport in Camden to buy a pair of Blundstones.  But I tried on the Blunnies and didn't love them.  They were just okay.  Then I saw these Keen boots and decided to give them a whirl.  Like the Blunnies, they also pulled on without laces.  Like the Blunnies, they were also brown.  Unlike the Blunnies, it turned out I loved them.  The fit is a bit strange--they are kind of boxy and loose around my foot--but they have never given me blisters and I have been wearing them devotedly three seasons out of the year for 5 years now.  My boots have white paint splattered on the toe from painting the Union Hall Gallery before a student show.  I've worn them on countless hikes and walks.  They're the easiest outdoorsy shoes ever.  And I think they are pretty much indestructible.  I should point out, however, that my exact pair is no longer available.  Mine are dark brown and don't have an insulating lining.  But if I ever have to replace them, I know what to get.   

Have a great week.  I've got some sweet-love engagement portraits to share.  

Kate & Andy - A Spring Wedding at King Family Vineyards

Kate and Andy were married over Memorial Day weekend at King Family Vineyards.

Their wedding day was hot, hot, hot, and sunny as can be.  I loved the event's dusky green and orange color scheme, which became pleasingly neutral against the natural backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains and green lawns of KFV.  

Kate has a special kind of beauty--captivating and highly photogenic--and I love so many of the images made in the hotel room while she got ready.  

Depending on the wedding day schedule, I don't always have the opportunity to photograph the guys before the ceremony (often my second shooter does that for me).  It's always fun to have the gentlemen to myself, to be the one to tell them to put down the beers, put on their jackets, and walk out of the shade into full sun with me.  I make myself an easy target, I guess.  :)

I love a "first kiss" that is more than a kiss.  A "first hug" always says so much to me about a couple's underlying friendship and deep attachment.  (Don't worry--they kissed too)!  I think hugs at the alter are adorable, and I love how Kate's toes peek out from the bottom of the dress!

The table names came from locations around Charlottesville that hold significance for the couple, and each table had a written guide to explain the stories and histories to the guests. 

Sparkler send-offs are a pretty popular departure motif in this part of the country, and I've definitely seen my fair share.  But I think Kate and Andy's send-off was my favorite of the year.  They walked out slowly, really enjoying the moment, and then Andy surprised Kate with a display of fireworks before they stepped into the limo!  Genuine excitement and genuine joy.    

Congratulations, Kate and Andy!

Vendors:  Attendants' Dresses: JCrew; Bride's Dress: Mika Inatome; Cake: Hotcakes; Catering: Hotcakes; Officiant: Claire Goodman/Sacred Ground Ceremonies; Harpist: Virginia Schweninger, Custom Printing: Kate Prucnal, DJ: YouTune Entertainment; Flowers: Blue Ridge Floral Design; Groom's Attire: Jos A Bank; Hair & Make-Up: Judy Hayward/On Location Bridal; Rings: Quest Fine Jewelry; Second Shooter: Barrie Humphries 

The Week Begins

Last week the regularly scheduled programming here was interrupted by a quick, 40-hour trip to New York City, which encompassed all of Monday and for which I granted myself a blogging vacation.  Because, obviously, I've been doing so much blogging in recent weeks months.  I needed to rest, people. 

Flat Iron Baby, New York, NY, October 31, 2011.

Last Saturday, which began with morning snow showers, I photographed a fun wedding at UVA and then on Sunday F. and I drove to DC, picked up Rose, and headed on to Manhattan.  On Monday we had breakfast at Eataly, lunch in Bushwick, and--our reason for the trip--a bon voyage dinner with our friend Pri before she moves abroad for the next 2 years (note: look forward to an upcoming family adventure in a tidy little Asian city-state)!  Then it was back to work for the rest of the week.

This weekend I photographed a wedding with Jen at King Family Vineyards and when I returned home afterwards my husband had whipped up some homemade butternut squash soup accompanied by ABC's Apple Cider Bread.  Yum.

Hope your weekends have been full of adventure and deliciousness.

- I once saw this show on the Food Network called "The Best Thing I Ever Ate."  It was the snacks episode and the whole show was chefs describing their favorite snack.  Ever.  One man--I don't know my chefs--talked about pickles.  I can't remember now if it was McClure's or Brooklyn Brine.  But it was pickles, made in Brooklyn, and it was the best snack he ever had and I thought, "YES!"  So last summer, when I was 8-weeks pregnant with my love child and photographing in Manhattan, I asked Yvonne to find me these pickles.  She bought me a jar of each kind and I hauled them home on the train.  This past Monday we were wandering around Brooklyn, the love child now strapped to and sleeping against my chest, and I bought more pickles.  So far I have three spears left in the McClure's jar and then it's onto Brooklyn Brine.  These things are go.oo.ood if you enjoy pickles.  

- In 2002, Ellie, Bean, and I spent a couple of days in a rented apartment in Vernazza, Italy, one of five hillside towns that makes up the scenic Cinque Terre.  This past week my beloved travel agent, Rochelle, posted a link on her Facebook page to Rick Steve's pictures of Vernazza following the recent flash floods.  Looks awful.  Hope they can dig out from the mud by next spring when the American college students will be en route!

- Two weeks ago, when the weather was turning colder and my nose was getting sniffly, I made a big pot of Nell Newman's chicken soup.  My mom used to make this recipe when I was in high school and there is something about this combination of ingredients, plus the exceptional stock, that feels so healthy and nutritious.  It's the freshest tasting chicken soup ever.  Possibly.  Try it this winter and let me know what you think.  (If you click on the link above it takes you to the book's listing on the Barnes & Noble website, but the recipe is listed there as a sample.)

- My friend Meredith McKee, who has a budding photography and design business here in Charlottesville, was quoted in a recent Washington Post article about student entrepreneurs.  My husband and I have three businesses and one non-profit between us so we clearly embrace the entrepreneurial model and  have been known to encourage one or two under-employed young people to start their own business in this economy.  The article is interesting and definitely worth a read, especially if you happen to be an under-employed young person.

- And, finally, speaking of young people making their own way, my cousin Meg's jewelry designs were highlighted last month in the Hook's fall wedding issue.  One of Meg's pearl bracelets dominated the cover photo and then several of her pieces, plus a little write-up, were included in a feature story about bridal accessories.  This special issue will be on newsstands throughout the season and you can also check out and buy Meg Hannan Designs at her etsy shop.  I have the turquoise wrap teardrop earrings in gold and LOVE them.  Simple yet striking and lightweight, too.  She does custom designs, as well.  

More this week.  I can almost promise it.