On the Chisum Trail

Shelbie--The Senior!

2009-12-03T07:58:00.008-06:00

Meet the beautiful Shelbie.

She is a senior in my hometown. This session was especially great because we took a lot of shots on my parents' property and downtown. It's amazing how you can spend so many years looking at the same landscape and then through the lens of your camera, it looks so completely different.

Thank you for letting me capture this exciting time in your life and for such a crazy fun session!

Meet the Peeples

2009-12-03T07:21:00.013-06:00

This is what you get when you combine a rock star family, a cool, red velvet chaise lounge, and a very fun dog on a beautiful November day:

I had a blast! Thank you for giving Chisum Trail Photography the opportunity to capture some great moments with your fantastic family!

More Big Family Fun!

2009-12-01T18:04:00.009-06:00

What a great session this was!

Thank you for all the fun and so many laughs. It was a one-of-a-kind session, that's for sure!

Big Family Fun!

2009-11-22T08:53:00.012-06:00

Check out some of my favorite shots from this big, fun, family session!

Thank you for choosing Chisum Trail Photography and for such a great session!

A Whole Bunch of Cute!

2009-11-11T20:07:00.012-06:00

Check out these two sweeties:

You guys were fantastic--thanks for such a great session!

The Reinhards!

2009-11-11T18:22:00.009-06:00

This super sweet family made ME smile so much in the hour we spent together.

Thank you for such an amazing session!

Meet the Forresters!

2009-10-30T07:55:00.000-05:00

What a big bunch of fun this family was to photograph!

I enjoyed capturing every shot--Thank you for choosing Chisum Trail Photography and for spending an hour with me and my camera!

Meet Baby Aneesh!

2009-10-29T14:30:00.011-05:00

What an honor to be in this family's home to photograph their sweet, new baby boy.

He's a beautiful boy--Congratulations! Thank you for the time we spent together. I will never forget it!

The Gayser Twins--October Edition

2009-10-29T14:20:00.007-05:00

Can you believe how much these girls have grown?!

So much cuteness under one roof--I don't know HOW their parents stand it!

Fun Fall Shoot

2009-10-21T06:37:00.013-05:00

These two families were so much fun! We met at a park near downtown on a beautiful day.

Thanks for such a fun session!

Sneak Peek - Baby Adam

2009-10-05T21:00:00.010-05:00

Here he is! Precious Baby Adam:

I'm not sure who is more excited that he is here: his parents, or his big sister, Wynne!
Welcome to the world, little guy!

Erin's Maternity Session

2009-09-12T08:52:00.010-05:00

You've met this sweet family before: Steve, Erin and Wynne.

Erin decided she wanted a few more shots before their new baby arrives, so we met at a park near downtown Houston and had some fun.

Just a few more days and that little guy will be here! I can't wait to meet him!

Meet Jonathan!

2009-09-07T21:37:00.008-05:00

This little guy is just too much.

Too much fun.

Too much cuteness.

What a great session! Thanks, Jonathan!

Back Porch View

2009-09-04T21:37:00.001-05:00

I just wanted to share the view tonight from my parent's back porch in Dalhart, Texas.

The Legendary Joel Chisum

2009-09-03T21:13:00.019-05:00

I had a rare opportunity to visit my oldest brother and his family (most of them) in Colorado last week. You met his oldest daughter, Katy, in my previous post. He has two others that are just as beautiful and talented and amazing. But this post isn't about them, it's about him. My oldest brother, Joel.

People have told him his entire life that he was just a younger version of our dad,

but I've always seen my mom in him, too. He has her blue eyes, for sure. Really fantastic.

Well, legend has it that Joel and I got off to a rough start. He was 13 when I was born and really wanted/needed a new saddle that summer. Instead, he got a baby sister. We've come a long way since then. Here we are at our Grandmother's 90th birthday last year (before I cut my hair off.)As is tradition when I visit Joel's house, we did chores. He must have been tired, because this was the easiest chore we've tackled in a while. Last time we (along with our brother, Jeff aka Skip) loaded many bales of hay into his truck. The time before that, we tried out his new chainsaw on Thanksgiving Day and cut firewood for a few hours. This time, we all loaded up in his non-Toyota SUV and checked the water levels in the ponds. My job was to take pictures of cattle.

Not really, but I did it any way.

After that exhausting task, Joel cooked dinner. We picked anaheim peppers, squash and green tomotoes from the garden (one of the few things I miss about living in the country).

May I introduce you to Joel Chisum's Famous Beef Stirfry:

Where's the beef, you ask? (Sorry, couldn't resist.) It's getting all tender and yummy on the bottom in a sweet balsamic vinegar marinade. The man's got real talent.

This random photo is brought to you by Fiesta Dinnerware (because I LOVE my sister-in-law's dish collection.)

The next day I joined Joel at work. We drove around in his non-Toyota SUV listening to Celtic music (because his current obsession in Tim O'Brien's bouzouki) and 'looking for fat cows.' Other guys got around the old-fashioned way. Too bad for this cowboy because he didn't get to listen to bouzouki music.

It was lunchtime for these guys. They are from Mexico. They have cool hides.Joel calls this bunch The Golden Girls. Hee hee. They are from Canada, though, not Florida.

We named this guy Buddah.

And, one of my favorite shots of the day:

Thanks for a great 24 hours, Chisum-style. I'll never forget it.

One More Beautiful Niece

2009-09-02T09:24:00.004-05:00

This is Katy. She is one of my nieces that didn't make it to the reunion this summer, but I got to see her this week on a short visit to her town.

She lives in Colorado (but would LOVE to live in Texas, which makes me smile.)

She sat next to a window in her parents house and the light was amazing. I love how it dances around her eyes.

Katy is a beautiful blend of my brother and sister-in-law and so are her sisters.

I still need to photograph them--Mattie and Callie--and if they don't let me, I'm just going to post some pictures I have of them as little girls. That would almost be as much fun, but they would never talk to me again.

Anyway, thank you, Katy--For being you and for letting me snap this fantastic photo.

Crazy beautiful, indeed.

Fried Pies

2009-09-01T08:46:00.006-05:00

I would like to introduce you to the fried deliciousness that gave my favorite cherry long johns a serious run for their money.

On a drive from Dallas to Oklahoma City, I passed several billboards advertising "The Original Fried Pie." Some of you know that my rule on the road is: If you see more than 3 billboards for the same place, it's worth a stop. Well, I missed the exit, so I made sure I didn't miss it the next day, on the way back to Dallas.

It is everything you hope a stop on a roadtrip will be: yummy. Oh, and clean restrooms.

It was obviously a tough decision when it came to selecting a filling, but I chose coconut (oh my mercy) and apricot (terrific). They also fill their 'pies' with breakfast items, pizza fillings, spinach and cheese, etc. You can read more about them at http://www.denosfriedpies.com/dinnerpies.html

I read a quote from Reba (the country singer/actress) recently. She said a friend once told her, "No food tastes as good as thin feels."

I bet that friend hasn't had one of these fried pies.

Amazing Memorial

2009-09-01T08:32:00.007-05:00

I was recently in Oklahoma City doing some training for Toyota and I stopped by to see the memorial from the bombing that occurred in 1995.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but it is beautiful.

Stunning.

Heart-breaking and peaceful.

A storm was blowing in, and the clouds were so majestic.

In my opinion, it is a must-see location in our country.

Twins!!

2009-08-18T07:42:00.013-05:00

Meet Denise and Jeremy and their new bundles of red-headed joy!

We captured smiles.

And yawns.

A nap.

And, lots of beauty.

Thank you for the opportunity to meet your sweet family.

You two do ridiculously beautiful work!

Cute Cousins

2009-08-16T11:31:00.008-05:00

When I recently did Erin's family shoot, we also took photos of her sister's kids.

They were in town visiting and thought it would be fun to get some shots of all the cousins.

It was huge fun!

Here is their newest little edition.
The kids were so good and easy to work with. I just loved it.

Something tells me that family reunions are going to be a rip-roaring good time for this crew!

Thanks for letting me meet your adorable kiddos and for the fun, fun photo shoot!

Thank You, Sam's

2009-08-06T20:58:00.009-05:00

Sam's gave me a gift of yum this week: Individually frozen portions of sliced meat for Philly steak sandwiches.

However, I'm reminded of what I heard Elmo say on the Food Network this week when talking about cake: it's a Sometimes Food.

These sandwiches should also be a Sometimes Food. We've had them twice this week.

That's sometimes, right?

Here's what's been going on in my kitchen.

A little bit of olive oil and salt/pepper.

These can be thrown in with the onions if no one in your house objects. Not the case around here, but no big deal.

You stick them in the heated skillet for 30 seconds (we added low sodium soy sauce and garlic salt) then turn the pieces of meat over. Now the magic begins to happen.

After about two minutes, you just stir the meat apart. Add the onions back in and some of this, if you like a kick.

I don't care what the judges of Chopped say, sometimes you gotta have it.

These are Pepperidge Farm and highly recommended, toasted in the skillet, of course.

A food stylist I am not, but had I known that was an option at Texas Tech in 1991, I might be.

So here's to Sometimes Food that you have every day until you are sick of it.
Go get your yum on.

Erin's Cute Family

2009-08-06T20:31:00.011-05:00

I wanted to share a few shots from a recent family shoot.

Meet Erin and her cute family!

It was a very hot, sunny day in Houston, but we got an early start and hit a few fun spots in the Heights.

They have a new addition coming soon and I can't wait to meet that little bundle of joy.

(And introduce him or her to my camera!) Thanks for the session!

THE Salad of Summer

2009-07-15T19:09:00.001-05:00

I'm obsessed.

Baby Spinach
Goat Cheese
Sliced Almonds
Red Onion
Fruit (Mango or Strawberries are great)

And this. Ken's Steakhouse Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette.
Mmmmm.
(Thank you, Helen.)

A Great Weekend

2009-07-13T13:24:00.010-05:00

In celebration of Mom's chemotherapy for colon cancer coming to an end, two fantastic things happened.

One: a very talented, beautiful, dear friend (Helen) came to visit her and

Two: we had home-made ice cream.

Helen was on her way here and made a stop at my parent's house to catch up and visit with Mom. Several wonderful things happened as a result of that visit. Helen made my mom laugh so much and so hard and so deeply and I am so grateful. I haven't heard that kind of joy explode from mom in many months. I've learned that chemo takes a lot out of a person, including laughter. So, thank you, Helen, for bringing laughter with you, along with the delicious food. (I'll be going to the grocery any minute to pick up the ingredients for that yummy salad.)

Helen also brought out her flute and some pieces that she wanted Mom to try.

This was a common scene in our house in the 70s. Helen would come over and she and Mom would practice for upcoming events. Incredible music (and laughter) would be the backdrop for my afternoons of coloring and playing with my Strawberry Shortcake collection--waiting for all my brothers to get home.

Helen has gone on to accomplish amazing things as a professional flutist (you can read more about her here) and we are all so proud of her. I'm most impressed, however, with the level of respect and admiration she has always shown for my mother. And, my mom can't say Helen's name without a smile on her face and a funny story to tell. Thank you both, for such a shining example of what friendship means.

While they were playing this amazing music the other day, this was also going on:

Mom made vanilla ice cream and Helen brought these:

It was the most delicious thing I've had since that chocolate cream pie--even though Mom says she wants to try again to get the recipe just right. Sounds like a good excuse to make more ice cream to me.

I'm grateful that her treatment is over. I'm thankful for all of her wonderful friends that showed support during this battle. I hope your weekend was as perfect as ours.

Crazy Beautiful

2009-07-09T20:56:00.009-05:00

It's official.

I have THE most beautiful nieces ever made.

And, this is only HALF of them. To the other half: I MISS YOU and hope you are all having a fabulous summer.

Bonus shot: (Just because I love it.)

Ok. One more. (Or three.)

The Ford Kids

2009-07-07T21:07:00.010-05:00

I just love these guys. They are WAY up there on the cute scale, wouldn't you say?It might not be fair for me to say so, because I am related to them. I know what you are thinking: Julie = Lucky

You are correct, but their parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles are super lucky. They get to see them more often than I do!

Here are a few of my favorites from an impromptu photo session at our family reunion.

(This guy is such an awesome big brother, by the way.)

And this shot is one of my all-time faves:

Thank you, Ford family! You are some of the most beautiful people I know--inside and out. I can't wait til next time!

The Many Faces of Carter Part 2

2009-07-07T20:29:00.005-05:00

This is my great-nephew, Carter. He is my niece's son, and for those of you that knew him, my brother Jay's grandson.
That's pretty obvious from the photo, huh?

I've blogged about him before because he is so stinkin' fun to photograph.

Our family spent some time together over 4th of July weekend and Carter didn't let me down. We had snowcones and his caused a very blue tongue.

And apparently, he feels the same way I do about The Donut Stop. Y-U-M.

He played 'wrastlin' with Uncle Skip-Jeff. I know you don't 'play' wrestling, but I wanted to say it that way. The masks are pretty hilarious. Skip-Jeff would disagree. He would say they are cool and fierce and not to be taken lightly. Whatever.

Check out those guns!

That is a cool trick, because Carter also makes his neck disappear. He's a talented kid, what can I say?
I think it was right about here....

...that Carter had had enough of Aunt Julie's camera. Well, it was fun while it lasted.

An Old Bicycle, Vinyl Seats and Good Pie

2009-07-01T20:34:00.006-05:00

I photographed this old bicycle outside a pie shop in Fredericksburg, Texas. I love everything about it: the crooked basket wired on the back, the busted lights, the old metal parts...

...and the cracked, torn vinyl seat. It reminds me of the seats in my first car--my grandmother's 1976 bright blue Monte Carlo with white vinyl seats. By the time I was given the car to drive, those seats were cracked pretty good. When I looked at this bicycle seat, I could still feel the pinch those white vinyl seats would give my legs in the summertime.

I know you are wondering if I took a picture of the pie.

How could I not take a picture of the best-tasting pie I've ever, EVER had? The crust was as close to my grandmother's as I've found. (Same grandmother that passed down the Monte Carlo, by the way.) This chocolate cream pie made me moan with every bite. So much so, that I'm pretty sure I made my fellow travelers a teeny bit uncomfortable. I didn't even care. That pie was amazing.

Here are a few of my favorite shots from the weekend:

And, if I ever open any kind of shoppe, I want this sign hanging in it:

So, take a road trip to Fredericksburg and have some pie. You'll be glad you did.

Jon and Kalee

2009-06-22T09:04:00.011-05:00

I just love referrals! Meet Jon and Kalee, friends of recent clients, the Jacksons.

They were so fun and easy-going--they really made my job easy!

Jon and Kalee also grew up in the panhandle of Texas and now live in Houston. It was almost like having a session with family!

Thanks for giving Chisum Trail Photography a try!

And thank you to the Jacksons: Keep spreading the word!

The Sanders Family

2009-06-13T18:02:00.014-05:00

Meet the Sanders!They are such a beautiful family and I really enjoyed our session.

Their little guy made me work pretty hard at first.

But, we worked it out and I snagged a smile or two.

Here are two of my favorites:

Thanks for choosing Chisum Trail Photography, Sanders Family!

The Hasche Family

2009-05-26T10:21:00.006-05:00

What a great day this was! I had such a fun time photographing this beautiful family.

It was my first tiny baby shoot and little Sam was awake and happy the whole time.

Her handsome big brother, Jack, was wonderful to photograph, too!

I'm looking forward to watching these kiddos grow *through my lens* as the years go by.

The Schwartz Family

2009-05-19T19:24:00.008-05:00

I have to give giant kudos to these 'kids' for getting the family together for pictures as a gift to their Mom for Mother's Day.

They were so much fun to photograph.

They had some very creative ideas.

And, they made me belly laugh on more than one occasion.

Thanks for such a great session. I think from now on, I will call all of my grown-up family sessions 'The Schwartz.' I like it.

I hope Mom (and Dad) love them.

Chris - The Senior

2009-04-27T21:48:00.003-05:00

Meet Chris! This guy was fantastic and we ended up with so many cool shots. Good luck with graduation and all the great things headed your way!

The Jacksons

2009-04-27T21:43:00.002-05:00

This couple was so much fun! They made my job super easy and we had such a good time with this urban session. Thanks for choosing Chisum Trail Photography!

Ariel - The Senior

2009-04-07T08:17:00.006-05:00

I really just want to show you every picture from this session, and not bore you with my words.

Ariel was so fantastic. You should know that it was 50 degrees with 30 mph winds, making it feel like, I don't know, 2o below! She was such a trooper and really made this session a blast.

Here are a few of the highlights.

Good Luck, Ariel as you take the next step in your journey.

Trey--The Senior

2009-03-19T16:03:00.010-05:00

Meet the handsome Trey.

He is another cousin's oldest son and he's super cool.

We had a great session near the old cotton gin in their Texas town.

He even let his younger brother, Noah, tag along.

Noah has great freckles that I just couldn't pass up.

You two guys are just fantastic. Thanks for such a great session.

Johnathan the Senior

2009-03-09T21:03:00.002-05:00

This is Johnathan. He's my cousin's oldest son.

He's got a great smile and amazing blue eyes.

And a very high cool factor.

You've got a bright future, Johnathan. Go make it happen.

The Super-fun Cantorna Family

2009-03-03T21:18:00.001-06:00

This family was such a blast!

We met at the neighborhood park on a beautifully, perfect day.

The kids were fabulous.

And oh, so CUTE!

Dylan

2009-02-28T13:40:00.001-06:00

This is my nephew Dylan.

He's growing faster than a weed.

I think we'll put a brick on his head.

He sure is cute, though. Huh?

Jeremy--The Senior

2009-02-09T19:38:00.006-06:00

Meet the super handsome Jeremy. What a fun session! He brought along his truck, his hunting dogs, his gun and even his smile. Many thanks to his great family for tagging along and being so helpful. I can't wait to take his sister's senior pictures in the fall!

Hard to choose, but here are some of my favorites.

The Goodwins

2009-01-31T08:18:00.006-06:00

I received an email last week asking if I could do a maternity session--and that time was of the essence! We made it happen and despite my slight nervousness, got some wonderful shots.

Thank you, Goodwin family, for an unforgettable day. I hope to meet your new addition very soon!

Bonus:

Here are two of my favorites:

Some New Favorites

2009-01-24T16:42:00.001-06:00

I just wanted to share a few of my latest favorites in the "quick eats" category.

If you can't see too well, it's a bag of corn, a bag of potatoes and a roast.
The corn is sweet and in a butter sauce. The potatoes take 10 minutes to steam in the microwave
and then you can add butter, milk and spices of your choice. (Mine are always three from
the Lawry's line up: Season Salt, Seasoned Pepper and Course Garlic with Parsley.)
The meat is from Hormel and can be found in the refrigerated section with the bacon and cold cuts.

Here they are on my favorite Robin's Egg Blue Francoma (thanks Mom):

Now, if you are lucky enough to have a Maui Wowi in your town,
STOP EVERYTHING and go get a Mocha Coco Loco.
Seriously.

The Taylor Family

2009-01-18T16:59:00.007-06:00

What a great way to start the new year! This sweet family was so much fun and, as you can see, is full of love. There were so many great shots, I had a very hard time choosing which ones to put on the blog---so here are some of my favorites!

Thank you Taylor Family!

A Percolator

2008-12-29T22:02:00.002-06:00

I want one of these. Why? Well, I just spent a week with my dad and this is what he used to make coffee every morning.

Delicous, hot coffee. Mmmmm.

Christmas and Turkey

2008-12-29T21:18:00.001-06:00

Stacey and I spent Christmas at my mom and dad's this year. It was everything you hope for: beautifully decorated trees, lots of lights, Christmas music playing, your pesky brothers and their great families, stockings, friends coming over, and in the Chisum house: tons of delicious food.

It's always fun watching my mom smile when she gets to use her snowman dishes and matching silverware.
When we got up Christmas morning, the table was already set. I think she said it was done by 5. That's 5 in the a.m.
As in, *before* the sun rises. But, her enthusiasm for this time of year can rarely be matched. It's fantastic.

My dad, however, has had a reputation of being the Bah-hum-bug of the family. Not this year. He picked out specific gifts for people and made the most delicious turkey I've ever sunk my teeth into. Seriously. I took the job of cleaning off the meat, thinking I was taking the hard job. I was wrong. It all just fell off the bone. So tender. So juicy. So perfect. I wonder if he would roast another one and ship it to me? Tonight.

Action!

2008-12-11T21:36:00.002-06:00

I've recently discovered the fun of Photoshop Action Sets and maybe you can see why.
The picture on the top is SOOC or Straight Out Of Camera and the one on the bottom has
some cool stuff added to it. My addiction, http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/, (also the addiction of many of my friends now) is responsible for this new chapter in my quest as a photographer.
Giant dose of fun. Thanks, Ree.

The Butlers

2008-12-10T21:42:00.005-06:00

I had the priveledge of taking pictures of an old friend and her new, beautiful family! Desha and I grew up together and have recently been back in touch. We had such a fun time trying to snap pictures of little Addison. I'm still editing, but here are a few of my favorites so far. I hope this becomes a tradition!

A Session With Summer

2008-12-10T21:31:00.004-06:00

This post really doesn't need very many words. Thank you, Summer, for such a great session!

Fun Photo Session

2008-12-10T21:12:00.006-06:00

These two brothers were so much fun! We had a great time hunting for cool places to take pictures on main street of my hometown. These boys are both so expressive and never got grouchy! Here are few of my favorites from their session.

Out-of-This-World Strawberry Cake

2008-11-28T07:14:00.012-06:00

My Grandma Lucy made the most amazing strawberry cake when I was a kid and I've never asked her for the recipe. I've always wanted to make it, though and I stumbled on a recipe that I thought sounded pretty close Two things that make it so yummy: strawberry jello mix and mushed up frozen strawberries.

So, I figured Thanksgiving combined with a family member's birthday was a perfect time to give this recipe a try. Here are the rest of the ingredients:

One white cake mix, one small box of strawberry jello, two tablespoons of flour, one cup of milk, half a cup of oil and four eggs, added one at a time as you are mixing everything together. Then add half a cup of the frozen strawberries. Don't forget to set them out earlier so they will thaw a little bit. You'll need some of the juice for the frosting.Wouldn't you know it, no one is home so I guess I'll have to lick that spatula myself. (Smiling)

Spray two round cake pans with Crisco that has flour added and bake at 325 for about 30 minutes.

Do the toothpick check to make sure they are done in the middle. They come out very moist and spongey.

Let them cool while you make the frosting which is one box of powered sugar, one stick of butter, and a little more mushed strawberries and juice.

You really have to mix and mix and mix. I got nervous and added a little bit of milk, but if I'd cooled my jets, it probably would have been just fine. It has to "set up" according to my mom.

No one is home yet, so I guess I'll have to take care of this one, too:

Now, stack the two cakes (with a layer of frosting inbetween) on the cake stand your grandmother passed down to you that you haven't used because you rarely bake layered cakes, and slather on the rest of the frosting.

Then, take a picture and send it to your grandmother and tell her how much you love and miss her and that you wish she was at your house to share this yummy, out-of-this-world strawberry cake.

And, when you serve it to your friends and family, maybe you will luck out and get a reaction like this, too:

Easy Baking

2008-11-22T07:08:00.001-06:00

This Cinnamon Streusel mix made a great quick bread.
Watch the baking time, though. I baked it for the minimum
time suggested and it was just a bit too long.
If you are a fan of crumbly, cinnamony topping,
you will love it!

If you are a brownie fan like me, you've GOT to try these brownies.
They are just the right amount of everything.
Chocolatey and moist, with a flakey top.
They are so good you better buy two boxes.

This stuff has been around a while, but I just
recently began using it.
Two big thumbs up!!
Now, go get to it! You've got guests
coming!

Go Tech!

2008-11-19T10:57:00.002-06:00

With the big game coming up this weekend, I just HAD to post a few of the awesome shots of the Murfee family with their guns up!
Thanks for the great ideas, Nan. And WRECK 'EM TEXAS TECH!!!

Holiday Photo Session #3

2008-11-17T21:55:00.002-06:00

These are my friends, Nan and Tim. They are twins and we went to high school together. I had the pleasure of meeting their families and taking pictures of their kids this weekend. It is the neatest sensation looking into tiny faces that feel so familiar.

These two cuties are Tim's kids. They are very expressive and had lots of good ideas when it came to posing! I definitely learned a thing or two.

These two handsome guys are Nan's. They were such good sports and let me wrap them in lights, put Santa hats on their heads and they still managed to flash some great smiles! I had a really tough time deciding on which photos to blog, but these three are definitely some of my favorites! Huge thank you's to these families for adding their magic to this great session!

Holiday Photo Sesison #2

2008-11-15T21:46:00.001-06:00

Big thanks to the Clements for braving the cold wind today! We did manage to have a ton of fun and take some great pictures along the way!

Holiday Photo Session #1

2008-11-15T21:35:00.002-06:00

Holiday Photo Sessions are in full swing!

Here are some of my favorites from a shoot with the Brinkleys today.

Big, huge fun!

The Many Faces of Carter B

2008-10-26T11:45:00.006-05:00

This is my niece's little boy, Carter B. He is my brother's grandson, if you want to look at it that way, too. He is tons of fun to photograph. Here are a few reasons why:

This was at that pizza chain that he loves SO much. The one with the giant mouse that walks around. Kinda icky if you ask me, but the boy LOVES it. Can't you tell?

He has cool shoes shaped like cars that he likes to show you.

And sunglasses that he loves to wear, even if they aren't quite right.

He also has a secret talent that I just learned about: he can make his neck disappear!

And in case you didn't notice, the bluest blue eyes you've ever seen.

What a guy.

Meet Jonah

2008-10-23T19:53:00.003-05:00

This is Jonah.

He has cool hair.

And an awesome bike.

He also has HUGE muscles!

Thanks for such a fun shoot, Jonah!

A Stop in Philadelphia

2008-10-20T07:38:00.005-05:00

After teaching a class outside Philly, mom and I made our way down to The Reading Terminal Market. It was everything I had hoped for: great food, great food, and great food. Oh, and some stuff to photograph (of course).
Here are a few of the highlights.

This burger was so yummy: bacon and the best blue cheese I've had in a while.
We didn't try these but I had to have a picture: chocolate dipped chocolate chip cookies.
There was a wonderful flower stand.
I wanted to take home every single jar of this honey. MMMM.

We also made a stop at the Liberty Bell and walked around that area. So much history.

Fall Color

2008-10-19T22:11:00.004-05:00

Here are a few of my favorite shots of fall from the trip to the Northeast with my mom.

They were all taken in Pennsylvania.

So intense and beautiful for those of us that don't get much of a change in foliage.

A Three Year Old's Perspective

2008-10-11T22:13:00.000-05:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Julie and Nancy's Great Northeast Fall/Autumn Adventure

2008-10-11T21:20:00.004-05:00

Here is the first installment of the Great Adventure. Enjoy. Please leave comments and check back often.

Make a Smilebox photobook

ICKY IKE

2008-09-12T14:53:00.001-05:00

I'll be posting updates as often as I can about the hurricane. So far, in the downtown area of Houston, not much has happened. We've had a little rain on and off and some wind of 20-30 mph. I took the first two pictures last night as we were clearing off the patio and deck.

The third picture was taken this afternoon around 2:30. It looks like the eye of the storm is going to pass over us in the Heights, but that might not be such a bad thing. They are saying that the eye of IKE is 50 miles wide and that those outer bands will really pack a punch.
So, we hunker down and we wait. More later. Oh, and thanks for all the well wishes and text messages. They mean a lot!

Art and Concrete

2008-09-09T21:06:00.001-05:00

One of the cool things about moving to a new area is finding out all the quirky stuff. Well, in my book, this falls under the quirky category. We have a great friend, Michelle, that has lived in this area for quite some time and she knows all the skinny on art galleries, museums, restaurants, garden stores, gift shops. You name it, she knows about it. One of the wonderful things she offered when we moved in to our new neighborhood was Saturday Morning Breakfast. It has become a fantastic ritual, one that she says is cheaper than therapy. Ha! So on one of these ritualistic, cheaper-than-therapy breakfast sessions, she says to me, "Hey! Have you seen the President Heads?" Now, I don't know about you, but I've never been asked such a thing, so I thought she was just joking around. And when I didn't aswer, she said it again. "Have you ever seen the President Heads??" I squeaked out a "i don't think so..." to which she eagerly replied, "They are behind Target. Let's go." Behind Target? Heads of Presidents? I completely didn't follow and had NO idea what I was going to see in the ally behind my beloved find-everything-you-need-and-then-some retail store.
One the drive over, she explained to me that there was an artist in Houston that does concrete artwork and that his warehouse slash studio was in a building behind Target. (I should have known it would be something cool like art and not gross like some csi show.) She went on to tell me that he was the one that sculpted the ginormous Sam Houston on I-45. If you've ever made that drive between Houston and Dallas, you've seen it. If you would like to read more about the artist, you can look here.

And then we drove up to this:

If you look closely, you can see a pick-up truck on the right side of the photo. That will give you a little perspective on just how huge the President Heads are and I've gotta tell ya: they are a little creepy. But cool definitely out-weighs the creepy. The fun part is walking around trying to identify each of the heads. My mom came to visit not long ago and I had to show her. Part of the fun is watching everyone's faces when you ask the question, "Do you want to go see the President Heads???" It's classic... Any way, my mom and I were going around making all the identifications when we came to one that completely stumped her. She made a few guesses under her breath and then said, "Well, my mercy. I'm just not sure." Turns out it was Bill Clinton. A very young Bill Clinton. It made me laugh.
And here's where the quirky part comes in: behind all the President Heads? You'll never guess.

The Beatles.

Random Biscuit Facts

2008-09-08T13:42:00.003-05:00

Biscuit is our 5 pound Yorkie. There is an earlier post on my blog that fills you in, but I haven't figured out how to link to previous posts yet. Maybe next week.
But today, I'd like to share a few random facts about our little pooch.
Here is the back of her head, which you probably have never seen.
I like it because you can see her bangs poofing out.

Here are some very important must-haves to live the life of a Biscuit. The green thing is Bongo. I think he's a vest wearing ape.
There is a Milk Bone "cookie." (We can't call them "biscuits." That would be too weird. "Biscuit---would you like a biscuit?" See. Too weird.) And the other item there is a chewy. Or chew stick. Or rawhide thing-a-ma-jig.

And on certain days, when her eyebrows are super bushy, we call her Andy.

As in Rooney.

Cameras vs. Editing

2008-09-07T10:39:00.003-05:00

I've been asked recently what kind of camera I use to take the pictures that I put up on this blog. I am a serious amateur, so I only have two cameras. One is a point and shoot Nikon that I bought in 2005. It is very small, so I carry it with me just about any place I go. It takes great shots and is extremely easy to use.
I also have a Canon Rebel xti that Stacey bought for me in 2006.
She surprised me at Christmas and it is one of the best gifts I have ever received. She was so proud of herself for the big surprise factor and I have to give her credit---she got me.
Any way, the Rebel is an SLR camera which essentially means that you have more control over the settings. It takes some getting used to (and some reading of the owner's manual-ick) but can really help you take your photography up a notch. I only have two lenses for now: the one that came with the Rebel, and a little non-zoom lens that takes terrific close-up shots.
I won't bog you down with the details. If you want to know more, send in a comment.
The photography tool I just can't live without though, is Picasa by Google.
It is a FREE editing tool and is really easy to use. Some folks don't like it because it doesn't do as much as say, Photoshop; but for my amateur self, it works great.
Here are a few examples of what Picasa can do.
I took this photo at Mission Tejas on a camping trip. I used my Nikon.
It's a decent shot. Nice reflection in the water and some good fall color in the trees.

And here is the same shot edited in Picasa. You can see how the colors are more intense, the highlights are increased and there is an overall "glow."

Now here is a shot I took with my Canon Rebel. This is across the highway from my parents place oustide my hometown. I was trying to get a shot that I could give as a framed gift to one of my best friends that was getting married. The Rebel captured what I needed: the windmill, the sunset and some clouds that give that big, open sky some interest. But, I didn't get the lighting just right and it could use a little "pop."

Depending on the look you need, you can adjust the colors and make them bright and bold or more subdued with a glow. Now that I'm looking at this one, I lost a bit of the drama of the clouds behind the windmill and would probably continue to adjust it.

Picasa just launched a new version this week and it has some great new tools. It has a retouching tool so that you can remove blemishes and such. It also gives you the ability to type over your photos which can really come in handy. Now get off my blog and go try it.

My "Next House" Meal

2008-09-06T21:11:00.005-05:00

These are the items that I want to grow myself in the backyard of our next house.
Right now we live close to downtown and we love it, but I really want to be able to grow some basic produce.
So, I'm stating to all of you, right now...today, that I have a new goal of growing a garden when we move into our next house. But, in the mean time, we cook. And, tonight, we cook steak.

Consider this a fair warning: these two simple ingredients will make you the designated steak cooker with all of your friends, family and neighbors. It's dy-no-mite. Wash your steak with water, pat dry with a paper towel, and rub in the lemon pepper. Put them in a plastic bag and pour in the Allegro marinade. Tonight we're using the spicy creole, but the original is great, too. Let them soak in the goodness for about 30 minutes. It tenderizes the meat unlike anything else I've tried. You will barely have to chew. Seriously.

This is garlic in some EVOO (that's Extra Virgin Olive Oil for those of you that have never watched Rachel Ray).

I added these onions and my trusty Lawry's Season Salt to the garlic. Yum.

I usually cut my steaks in half to help them cook faster. Still trying to perfect that fancy criss-cross business.

And, finally...the corn on the cob. I sprayed the foil with that fancy canola oil in a can and added some salt and pepper. I put them on the grill ahead of the steaks ( a bit too far ahead, but they were still good.)

Okay, this concludes my Pioneer Woman Wannabe section of my blog. Now, go cook something delicious.

The Pioneer Woman and Her Lasagna

2008-09-04T20:34:00.013-05:00

So my addiction of the week is a fantastic website called www.thepioneerwoman.com

I have a feeling that it started out as a blog, but the author, Ree, was so terrific, that it grew into a full-blown site. She is everything I dream to be as a blogger: consistent, funny, articulate, interesting. We have a lot in common like cooking and taking pictures and in many cases, taking pictures of what we are cooking. Which leads me to this post.
If you have some time, you should go to Ree's site and look at her post on The Best Lasagna Ever. Then come back.
She motivated me so much, that I had to try it tonight. In doing so, I discovered two things: the lasagna IS delicious and I REALLY need to get better at Photoshop!
If you did go see The Pioneer Woman's amazing post, you are going to think mine is a parody of hers. Just know that I gave it my best shot.
So here we go.

Before:

During:

That's my Mario Batali pot. Thanks, Paul! It's the best.

After:

So, I would encourage you to make this big pan of cheesy deliciousness (you can print the recipe off of Ree's site) and go read about how Ree and her hunky cowboy husband fell in love. But make sure you have plenty of time--you won't want to put your computer down.

Rusty Ferris Wheel

2008-09-02T09:28:00.004-05:00

Stacey and I, with our friends Kevin and Rebecca, have instituted good old fashioned game night. You know, the kind of Saturday night fun our parents used to have in the 70's: Good Food, Fun Games, Lots of Laughter. I'm pretty proud of how consistant we have been because with most friends, the intention is there (Let's get together soon! It would be so much fun!) but the follow-through isn't.
Well, we typically alternate houses and sometimes we cook and sometimes we go out, but we ALWAYS play games and we ALWAYS laugh. It's become one of my favorite things and sometimes THE thing that gets me through the week.
So this week, it was our house and we chose to go out. We live very close to The Aquarium downtown and we thought it would be fun for their five year old. I had no idea there would be so much to do! You can see the ferris wheel from the interstate, and I've been to an Aquarium restaurant before, but I didn't know there would be other rides, games, face painting, cartoon sketches. You get the idea.
After dinner, the five year old wanted to ride the ferris wheel, of course, and Kevin and I had already made it quite clear that we don't do heights. We would be in charge of holding down benches, taking pictures and have purse duty. So Stacey, Rebecca and the five year old get in line and I get out my camera. After a few minutes, I popped down to the line to see how they were doing and to snap a photo or two. Stacey leans over and says, "I don't think I can do this. I see some rust on that ferris wheel." To which Rebecca leans over and says, "The five year old is okay with it. You're going to do just fine." And, she did. They all did. I didn't even see any rust fall off while they were riding. And believe me, I was watching.
Did we play games? Of course! Scattergories and Mahjong. Two of my faves. If you don't already have a game night of your own, I highly recommend it. But I'm not sure you'll have as much fun as our crew. But you should try.

Wedgies

2008-08-19T10:12:00.004-05:00

Lots of you know that I was an elementary teacher right after college.
Every once in a while, funny stories from that 5 year stint creep up on me and make me laugh. Yesterday this happened and I decided to share it with the 7 or so of you that read my blog. (:

First of all, the word 'wedgy' (is that the singular for 'wedgies'?)has always made me laugh, thanks to my big brother Skip. Just hearing him say it cracks me up.

So fast forward to me being an adult, teaching small children in an elementary school. The principal of that school would read the menu every morning over the loud speaker. I always found this interesting because what kid shows up not knowing what's for lunch that day? Kids may not plan ahead for much, but they certainly do when it comes to this topic. They have to know--do I bring my lunch today or eat in?
So the fact that she read the menu for the day of always perplexed me.
Anyway, on the days the cafeteria would be serving potato WEDGES...you guessed it.
She would very confidently announce: potato WEDGIES.

The humor of the wedgy lives on.

My Hometown

2008-08-11T21:04:00.004-05:00

So I made a visit to my hometown over the weekend. It was the annual XIT Rodeo and Reunion. The 72nd annual, to be exact. For those of you that don't know, XIT was a cattle brand for Ten In Texas and was the name of a ranch in the Texas Panhandle that was eventually traded to help rebuild the state capitol building after the first one burned down.
Anyway, it's always a fun-filled weekend and a good reminder of small-town tradition. Lots of classes have reunions and so do families, so it's always a sure bet you'll see many old friends.
I captured some photos and put them in the slideshow below, but there were some events I missed: the watermelon feed, the porkchop dinner, all the crazy barbeque workers and the tractor pull. Not so sorry I missed that last one.
I've never thought of my hometown as "charming" but that word came up in a conversation I was having with the wife of one of my mom's classmates. I think I might have to agree. You be the judge.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Heart/Journey/Cheap Trick

2008-07-28T16:17:00.001-05:00

What a concert...if you are a lover of 80's music, that is.
Heart rocked and was my favorite, of course.
They won me over even more (if that's possible) by playing a few tunes acoustic style.
Nancy broke out the mandolin...Ann sang like only she can. Wow.
Plus, the new guy with Journey was fantastic. Sounded even better than Steve P. I know...surprising.
And to top it all off, someone showed up in full 80's attire:
Big Hair
Big, Hot Pink Hoop Earrings
Blue Jean Mini Skirt
and...(wait for it)
Striped LEG WARMERS

...and, no. It wasn't me. Although the thought did cross my mind.

Grand Lux Cafe

2008-07-28T16:08:00.001-05:00

If you are a fan of pot roast, might I recommend the Braised Short Ribs at Grand Lux Cafe.
I had the pleasure if eating them in Houston and Denver last week, Houston winning with more of the delicious red wine reduction.
Also, if you like chocolate cake...order their chocolate molten cake when you order your entree. They prepare each one individually and it takes 20-30 minutes. It's just the best.

Toyota Highlander

2008-07-21T10:58:00.004-05:00

So I got to do a cool photo shoot last week--
One of the designers in our office created a wrap to go on a Highlander Hybrid.
They asked me to take some photos.

FYI. I'm currently driving a non-hybrid version. Great car.
It's got a smooth ride, good turning radius, very roomy (especially the second row) and you sit up high enough to see what's going on around you. Go check one out---if you're in the market.

Thirty-Five

2008-07-07T15:53:00.004-05:00

So, I'm another year older...even though I said I stopped counting at 32.
We had a big party this year. A good ol' fashioned themed party complete with an ice cream cake and party favors for the kids.

Those were the big hits of the party---lollipops that light up and blink. The little guy in the picture has been rationing his out, his parents tell me.
If any of you are having parties soon, you must have these lollipops. Let me know and I'll ship you a pack....

A St. Louis Surprise

2008-06-13T10:46:00.001-05:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Those Donuts...

2008-04-30T16:25:00.004-05:00

Okay, so I promised some pictures of my favorite donut shop and its donuts.

I walked in with my camera, taking shots of the racks and racks of donuts and the manager on duty (working the register) said, "There are no pictures allowed....." I really felt bad for a minute...thinking she was serious...and then she finished with, "...unless I am in them!" And she gave me a great big smile.

I'm sure her smile was no match for mine after I rushed to my car and sunk my teeth into that rectangular piece of cherry delight. Double yum. I wish I had another one right now....

Special Edition Oreos

2008-04-13T21:03:00.004-05:00

Just an FYI. These are yummy. Taste just like a strawberry shake. Go try some.

I Feel Behind

2008-04-10T14:48:00.004-05:00

Not only do I feel behind...

I also feel like a behind...too long since my last post, but here's a summary of my goings-on:

Mom had back surgery.

I stayed at my brother's cool new pad.
Stacey and I stayed up WAY too late a few nights with our awesome sister-in-law.

My dad and I had a break-through conversation.

We watched our beautiful, talented niece--Abby--rip it up on the tennis court.

Stacey schooled our nephew Dylan in Guitar Hero. You know it's true, Dylan.

I ate two very delicious cherry red long johns from The Donut Stop. (Pictures later)

Mom went home from the hospital---well, to my grandmother's house.

Here's what I'd like to say about that:

My grandparents bought a house in Dalhart, TX in 1948. Here is a picture of them (Al and Lucy) standing on their front porch:

They were married 60 years...it was quite a love story...they eloped their senior year of high school...very juicy stuff. My grandmother still lives in that house...the house my mother and her younger brother grew up in, essentially. Here is a picture of them:

Adorable, I know. Any way, that is where my mom has been recovering from her back surgery. In the house she grew up in, with the wonderful woman that raised her. She would be with my dad, in the house they raised us in, if he hadn't had the flu...The amazing part of all of this is that my grandmother is turning 90 in a few weeks. I really, really hope that when my mom is 90, she can still take care of me...

Simplicity

2008-03-24T21:07:00.005-05:00

Spring is in full swing in Houston, Texas.

It's amazing how one simple flower...

...can say so much.

(With a little help from Picasa by Google.)

How About a Biscuit?

2008-03-20T10:39:00.008-05:00

I noticed I didn't have anything on my blog about our amazing dog, Biscuit...so this post is all about her. She is a Tiny Yorkie. We bought her in Houston at Trader's Village. It's a flea market... and no, she didn't have fleas. She was born on April 16Th, which was Easter that year. She's an Easter Biscuit. Not an Easter Basket. That would have been a pretty cool name, too--Basket. On second thought, it's too much like the nutty pop singer of days gone by that calls his kid Blanket. Biscuit is way cooler. She likes to eat pupperoni sticks for breakfast (I call them Slim Jims) and will occasionally chase them down with her favorite peanut butter cookie treats. She also loves apples (minus the peel) but it gives her acid reflux. That's what the new vet diagnosed, anyway. So, no more apples. She loves carrots and the girl is CraZy about eggs. When she was younger, she absolutely couldn't get enough of them. It was unnatural, really. She also likes these yogurt drops that we find at PetsMart. She is the most fun you've ever had playing fetch, but she makes up her own rules that can get confusing if you're not paying attention. She also rocks at playing hide and seek which as been kicked up a notch since we moved to the new house with 4 levels. I know you think I'm kidding about this, but it's the truth. What else?....

She either loves to take a bath, or is great at pretending...which leads me to the biggest quirk she possesses. Her fascination with the hair dryer. She loves to jump up and try to get it with her teeth. But that's only half the fun. She also does flips. Not back flips. Side flips. From feet standing--over side ways--to feet standing. Her own version of a cart wheel I suppose. She's some dog. And there's more. Let's talk about sweaters. Little dog sweaters. I never thought I would have a dog that I would buy clothes for, but after watching her shiver in the winter I decided it might be worth a shot. Lo and behold. She loved it. Here's a picture of her very first sweater. Yes, she has more than one. I know. Shut up.

Let's continue. Things I love about this dog: She doesn't stink or have a dog smell. She doesn't have bad breath or slobber. She doesn't shed. She plays with the toys we buy her. ALL of them. She escorts me downstairs without having to ask. She doesn't bite or even get grouchy. She wags her tail and dances around every time I come home. She doesn't dig holes in the yard or mess with my flowers. She chases spiders so I don't have to. She never has to think about it when I ask her, "Do you want to go on a walk?" No hesitation. Ever. She just spins around and makes that squeaky-I'm So Happy-noise and waits by the drawer where we keep her leash.

She's just the best. All 5.5 pounds of her. Here's to you little Biscuit.

Countdown to Deliciousness

2008-03-19T20:28:00.006-05:00

Two very exciting things are going to happen next week: I will get to visit a great diner in Kansas City and I will get to have my favorite cherry donuts in Amarillo. Lets talk about the diner first. It's 39th Street Mama's and I saw it featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (on Food Network, Mondays at 9pm Central) with host Guy Fieri. Love that show---it's perfect for me, because I travel for my job so much and I LOVE DINERS! I'll be in Kansas City next week to teach some classes...I can't believe my luck, really. I'll have to go to the diner for dinner to eat breakfast, but I can handle it. For sure. I'll take pictures and report back.
My next exciting event will take place in Amarillo, Texas at The Donut Stop. There is a link to their website under my "For Travelers" section where you can watch a video the owners of this fine establishment of tastiness have put together. They have 7 locations in a town of 200,000 people, so you know they are killer donuts. My top pick is the bright red cherry long john. If you can catch them when they come right out of the fryer...mmm...even better. You barely have to chew. They are so yummy. If you are ever in Amarillo, visit the location right off of I-40 and Bell. You'll be glad you did. I'll take some pictures of this place, too. Don't be surprised if you find yourself booking a flight...

Houston Rodeo and Cousin Crysta

2008-03-17T10:12:00.006-05:00

So, my cousin--Crysta S.--was in the calf scramble at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo over the weekend. For those of you that may not know---that's a BIG deal. Serious business. It works like this: 28 high school kids are selected to participate. They are given strict instructions and white shirts and are told to go catch one of the 14 calves running around the arena-- in front of thousands of people. They have to tackle the calf, attach a rope to its head and lead it to the square in the center of the stadium. Sounds easy, right? Well, Crysta certainly made it look like a piece of cake...like she had done it a hundred times. I was completely impressed. She took complete control over that animal. Showed it who was boss. Amazing. As she crossed the white chalk line, the announcer said her name and the town she is from and then then interviewed her on the big screen. It was fantastic. The best part is, she buys a steer back home and raises it for a year...has to keep a detailed log of everything she does to care for it and even has to make a scrapbook. Next year, she will come back and compete against the other 13 kids that also wrangled a calf. What's the motivation, you ask? The winner this year brought $300,00 at the auction. And the 16 year old that raised it gets $85,000. No wonder my dad wanted me to get involved in 4-H when I was a kid....
Way to go Crysta. You can bet I will be there next year cheering you on...

Betty Crocker and Kraft Foods

2008-03-16T11:34:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to give a shout out to my favorite cookie--the easy to bake Oatmeal Cookie from Betty Crocker. These make for some serious delish-ous-ness. I add coconut and mini chocolate chips. Super easy and they taste great. Look for the red envelope in the baking isle at your local grocery.

And, while we're on the subject...
Kraft Foods has a fantastic website.
www.kraftfoods.com
You can create an account, which allows you to have a recipe box. So, as you browse around and find what you like, you simply click "add to my recipe box." Genious.
Another favorite feature is the shopping list. Not sure what to fix for the week? Browse around, select some yummy recipes (based on the ratings from people that have actually tried them) and click on "add to shopping list." More genious. The best part---it organizes your list by isle in the grocery store! It adds every item you need for the recipe and then if you already have some of them at home, you click on the box to remove it from your list. Print it and off you go. Fantastic.
Way to go Kraft.

The Commissary

2008-02-02T14:42:00.002-06:00

I'd like to introduce you to the third best barbeque place in the country. For those of you that are curious, my dad's bbq is number one (homeade coca-cola sauce with his brisket), Rudy's bbq in Texas is number two...and much to my surprise, a little place called The Commissary in Memphis, Tennessee made it into my top three.
It's in old town Memphis and was actually the town general store (commissary) starting in the 1920's. A guy came along in the 80's and wanted to turn it into a bbq joint...he liked the name, so he kept it.
You know it's going to be a great meal when the waitress starts by saying, "Do you know what you want, sweetheart, or would you like some help?" I asked for help, to which she responded, "Well then, honey...you gots to have th' ribs. With slaw and then banana puddin." So, that's what I had of course...and I would recommend them all...highly. Fantastic. And the sauce...it gives my dad's a run for it's money.
In fact, I've got to go....I need to order some more of The Commissary's sauce...I'm almost out. I wonder if they ship?

Caribbean Cruise

2008-01-05T11:27:00.003-06:00

Stacey and I took a Christmas cruise with her parents---what a blast!
I would highly recommend St. Thomas...specifically Magens Bay. Rent the kayaks and paddle out to the private island. Two of the best hours of my life! Seriously...

The Brinkleys

2007-12-01T11:22:00.003-06:00

I definitely want you to meet our new God daughters--Syann and Jayna! Their sweet parents, Jay and Gina, surprised Stacey and I with the most precious gift and asked us to be the girl's God parents. What an honor!

Jessica + Aaron

2007-11-17T11:19:00.002-06:00

Meet the very brave Jessica and Aaron...they volunteered to be my first wedding shoot! They made it seem so easy and were so much fun to photograph. I wish them all the love and laughter their new life together can handle!

The Cashman Kids

2007-11-05T11:09:00.002-06:00

I had to go to Ohio for business in the fall, so I was able to stop and see my niece and her family---one of my very favorite things to do! It was such a great visit--we enjoyed terrific coffee every morning, the weather was crisp and all the neighbors had their fall decorations out. The kids were so good and let me practice with my new Canon Rebel xTi!

Skip + Amanda

2007-10-01T11:04:00.004-05:00

Here are some shots from my brother's wedding in September. It was HUGE fun...they surprised everybody (almost) and had a ceremony instead of just an engagement party like the invitation had said. We're so glad to have Amanda and Dylan join the Chisum brigade...

The Way to San Jose

2007-08-02T09:26:00.002-05:00

Some people think that having a job that requires travel is somehow glamorous. At times I suppose it is, but there is a lot of junk you deal with, too. Lines and crowds of sunshiny happy people in the airports, smelly rental cars, dirty hotel rooms, eating too many sandwiches because that is all the woman in charge of catering likes to take the time to order...
On the other hand, there are some fantastic places you get to see. One of them for me was on the drive from San Jose to Fresno. I didn't have very high expectations, because every time I mentioned to someone in the office where I was training next, they would reply, "Have you ever been to Fresno?" It was the look on their faces that disturbed me...the "I just smelled something bad" look that always accompanied that question. Anyway, I get into my rental car at the San Jose airport and start my trek to Fresno. Now, something that I have learned on the road is that 9 times out of 10, the places that advertise on billboards---especially every 5 miles or so---are usually worth checking out. So, when I kept seeing signs for Casa de Fruta, I thought maybe I should stop. Well on the way, I passed by a flower farm. Is that the right term---flower farm? I have no idea...but it was stunning. Rows and rows of bright yellow marigolds backed by rows of hot pink somethings. I had to take a picture and it was right about that time that I started wishing someone was with me on this road trip. Not long after, I found the amazing fruit stand and REALLY wished someone was with me. It was a road warrior's dream, I'm telling you. Rows and rows of fresh fruit, flavored nuts, sliced cheeses...and for someone that lives in Houston, the 72 degree weather in July was fantastic. Almost unbelievable. The peaches were the best, though. Juice dripping down your chin the moment you sink your teeth in. July in Northern California is peach season and I'm not sure it gets any better. I hope I get to go back next year...It will be their 100 year anniversary...keep your fingers crossed.