still sorting...

 but here are a few favorites from the wedding this past weekend.

dog days

This weekend the temperature in the valley dropped about 20 degrees with the high at about 68. Cool weather is a sure way to wind up the bounce in Lily. 'Round mid-morning we took a walk with her to let some of the steam out. We paused to take a photo with the timer setting and caught Lily expressing her gratitude for the family jaunt. As we wove through the neighborhood streets we saw a neighbor and stopped to see the landscaping project he was working on. We chatted while Lily and their two big dogs tore back and forth through the yard in a wild rumpus until they wore themselves silly tired.

finding nimo

 

On Wednesday the aquarium had  a special homeschool day. Natale, her mom, and I went together and had a fishtastic time. They had a short class for the students introducing them to underwater camouflage techniques. After the class we were directed to the touching pools and left to explore the remainer of the exhibits on our own.

Natale wanted, but didn't want, to put her hands in the water and hold a starfish. I ended up to my elbow in seawater before her fingertips got wet but eventually she was able to touch the unique little sea stars and even asked to revisit the petting pools before we left.

 

Natale and her mom spot a ray buried in the sand.

We happened to be close by when the keepers took a newly acquired sea turtle out to put medicine on it's shell. The turtle had been injured by a boat (young turtles sleep at the surface of the water). As a result of the accident the turtle is now blind.

We walked through a glass tunnel while sharks and rays and a large sea turtle swam over and under, played "Find the ____" using the  signage next to each tank, giggled at the sea horses swimming tail in tail, and  marveled as the jelly fish dance a graceful ballet.

The one disappointing part of our day occurred when my batteries, and my back up batteries gave out shortly after we started our explorations. 

Once again, Jay's hat collection comes in handy!

blondie

Blondie didn't mind my taking her picture as I was scouting out the wedding grounds...but she did want to freshen up at bit first.

preparation

 Late Saturday afternoon we visited the home where the wedding will take place this weekend. I wanted to be able to take practice pictures during the same time of the day that the ceremony will take place. It had been a while since we had visited this home and I was delighted to realize what wonderful architecture and great shade I'll have to assist me.

 Potential for fun reflective photos!

 This is were the huppah will be located.

t is for texas

Most of the week that I spent in Texas involved grading papers with little time or inspiration for photography.

I did sneak a short walk one afternoon around the historical-district neighborhood where Keith's apartment is located and enjoyed several nicely renovated homes through my viewfinder.

 

 Keith's apartment building, currently under weekend-paced renovations, still lags behind in eye appeal, but did offer this interesting closet door handle.

Each evening we left the school around 9 PM when the custodians finished their work. We were greeted in the parking lot by this colorful nighttime cityscape. 

I sat down in the driveway one evening to photograph the lights but jerked the camera when someone revved their motor and startled me out of my crouched position.

 

P.S. LMae you will be interested to know that the orange swirl near the center is a fancy hotel/billboard that continually changed designs. Several evenings they were advertising Circus De Soleil.

celebration

 

Unedited

After twenty one days of juice, salads, fruit, nuts, veggie soup, a couple of healthy pumpkin muffins and two bites of chicken soup with soppy cornbread I rewarded myself with one Cup 'o Chocolate Joe this morning.

Jay's request at the close of our annual detox was a steak dinner from the grass fed beef we recently purchased. Last night we chewed our way into a London broil that had my already tense (my body exhibiting my pre-wedding photography stress) jaw muscles over the threshold into miserable (but the pain didn't stop me from enjoy the flavor). 

My dreamed about reward didn't involve meat but caffeine and chocolate and sweet agave syrup. 

Yum!

the souped up version

lines

got it

Her hands were being silly but with a little cropping the Hula Dance is gone leaving me with a lovely portrait.