...a pair of green wedding shoes.

It may seem a little peculiar and it might have something to do with the fact that I lost my wedding shoes the day after my wedding, but I fell in love with the bride's shoes. I don't think I even realized it until I got home from the wedding and uploaded my pictures.  I had a dozen or more shots of just the shoes. Maybe some sort of Cinderella complex? 

I sigh every time I look at this picture.  I think I have to go shopping.

I had such a great experience at this wedding.  The photographer (Missie McGovern @ http://www.facebook.com/MissiesPhotos) handled everything and I was just there to capture the extras.  I got to have all of the fun and none of the pressure! Missie has been a mentor to me on my artistic journey and it was a huge pleasure to work with her.  Check out her Facebook page to view more pictures from this event and a few more of mine.

...family time.

The week of the 4th of July I not only spent time with friends, I spent time with my family as well.  My sister lives on a tall ship and travels the seas as a tall ship cook.  The week of the 4th her ship was docked in a Great Lakes port near where I grew up.  My parents, some old family friends and the kids and I had the chance to go see her and take a tour of her sailboat.  I love following her adventures on her blog www.seacookery.blogspot.com, but actually seeing the conditions in which she has to create her amazing meals was an experience unto itself.  

Here is my sister in her "galley" where she cooks.

Here was one of many creative ways they utilize to store the food.

A shot of a common room book shelf. Not one among them, that I noticed was on a topic other than ships and the sea.

Not the best artistic photo, but loved this shot of my two children in my sisters bunk.

The rest of the weekend was spent in fun and relaxation on the lake.  My father bought Eli a kite and he became enamored with flight.

Another of our favorite lake activities is feeding the local wild catfish and carp.

The rippling in the water is caused by the 20-30 fish that come every night to eat my mothers cat food.  Funny she doesn't even own a cat.

 

 

...a four dog night.

 This is Charlie.

 

My friendship with Charlie goes back many years.  The first time I met him he growled at me and I growled back.  Needless to say we had a rough start, but I won him over in the end and now we're the best of friends.  Over the 4th of July weekend I had the chance to take a night off from my kids and spend it with Charlie and his family.  While I was there I did a small session with them.  Jen and Jeff are great friends of mine, but don't tell Charlie. He thinks I come to visit him.