Family

Yep, that’s Isaac at a wedding last weekend, fixing a 20" rip in the bride’s chiffon dress.

He sent me the photo and said, "Now, there’s a photo for your blog. You’ve even got me sewing."  I don’t know about that, but I am glad he’s picked up on things enough to save the day for this gal.  The rip was on the very front of the dress, right above one of those pintucks.  It started small and the bride kept her cool, but as the rip grew, so did the tension.  He sent his assistant to find a sewing kit and stitched the dress back together in the limo on the way to the church — he knotted the thread just in time for her to walk down the aisle and tie her own knot. What a guy!

Isaac’s off to WPPI next week and I’m heading to L.A. for a Trash Ties meeting – I know, I still need to tell you all about Trash Ties — soon, soon — mentioned it here, but didn’t really get into it.  Oh, and Isaac launched his new wedding photography site this week – it’s amazing!  There’s music from independent bands, video (turn off your pop-up blockers to access), slideshows, the whole tamale – and that photo on the front is breathtaking – it reminds me of Maxfield Parrish.  Ah, to stand on a cliff at sunset with the wind in your hair, wearing silk…

Remember our recent trip to the snow?  See what Isaac was up to while I
lounged around with the kids.  Follow this link to a gallery of Isaac’s
gorgeous photos of Hidden Meadow Ranch – won’t stay hidden for long!

Isn’t that the best snowman? — I think he looks a bit like Jay Mohr.

I know I just did a post, but I can’t resist shouting on the mountaintops that my favorite Laura has just posted some irresistable Poppies for sale — original paintings by a talented gal with seriously good taste.  One painting’s available at her new Etsy shop and one’s on eBay.  Go show Laura the love… 

Oh, and have you seen the crib get-up she’s put together for her long-awaited baby boy (my long-awaited nephew) due this spring? Love those Scotties.

Laura, you can visit my fort anytime!

Isaac was hired last-minute to photograph Hidden Meadow Ranch and an ASU event being held there this weekend.  In addition to his rate, he was given a couple nights’ stay at nearby Greer Lodge and some giftcards to cover all meals, family included.  So, a two bedroom cabin, New York strip steak and halibut for dinner, omelets for breakfast and a blanket of snow to roll around in?  We’re there! 

Friday was a flurry of get-up-and-pack-as-fast-as-you-can-or-Isaac’s-leaving- anyway, followed by about four hours on the road, which I happily spent paper-piecing a grandmother’s flower garden quilt that I hadn’t touched for three years.  It was the only project that was ready to go at a moment’s notice — and, I had to have a project.

We arrived at the ranch two hours before sundown, layered on random warm-things we’d tossed in the car and sploshed out into the mud and snow.  Charlotte and I visited the horses while Elijah rolled around on the ground, collected icicles and tried out his sled on flat ground.  Isaac went to work.

The next day, Saturday, the kids and I were car-less, so we played in the snow (which Charlotte called "snowman" no matter how many times I corrected her, "It’s snow, sweetie").  We dined at the lodge and enjoyed a many-hours snuggle:  Elijah read Bridge to Terabithia out loud while I stitched away on tiny hexagons.  Charlotte jumped and stirred about before curling up in the closet for a nap.

But, yesterday was the the best.  We loaded up the car, loaded up on breakfast and took a short drive to sledding wonderland.  Sledding Wonderland!  Not just one great sledding hill, but layers and layers of great sledding hills, one on top of the other.  Some crowded, some quiet.  Ramps, bumps, straight, curvy.  Icy-slick or deep & fluffy.  Have your pick.

As the designated baby-escort, I figured my time in the snow would be short.  Isaac set right to work on a Charlotte-sized snowman and Elijah tore off on a maiden voyage with his Christmas sled.  It took Charlotte a few minutes to establish the lay of the land, but it wasn’t long before she was throwing snowballs and sliding down hills on her bum.  After a few turns on Elijah’s sled, there was no holding her back.  She found herself a plastic disk with handles to borrow and took many rides down the big hill on her own — barely two years old!  And, if you’re nervous, like I was, I’ll add that she didn’t go nearly as fast as the others.  She doesn’t weigh that much.

Three hours later, we hugged the snowman goodbye, packed up the snow gear and headed back down the road toward home:  more paper-piecing, a John Grisham book on CD and The Incredibles on portable DVD (with headphones) for the kids.  Ah, vacation — an embarrassingly rare treat.

I’m heading out of town in a couple of hours for a meeting-of-the-minds with some industry folks – Chicago!  First time there.  It’s supposed to be 0˙, with a wind-chill of -35˙ or so.  I can’t even fathom what that feels like.  Where I’m at, it’s tee-shirt weather.  So, I’ve borrowed my sister’s long, thick wool coat and I’m hoping for the best. 

In my flurry to gather-up some cold-weather necessities, I delegated the promised studio photography to my more-than-capable husband, who kindly complied.  But, he won’t let me post the photos just yet as he wants a do-over, with the chandelier switched on this time.  And, I’ve gotta let the man have his say (that’s the least I can do – he’s sure helped me a lot these last couple weeks).   So, I’ll be back on Wednesday with those promised photos and some fun new friends to declare, I’m sure.

Oh, and Isaac insists that I make it clear that I take 98% of all the photos on my blog.  It’s a chivalry-thing.  At least, I think/hope that’s the case.  Did you see his comment on this post, kindly defending my honor?  Made me feel like a medieval maiden (albeit one with state-of-the-art camera equipment).

I’m feeling it tonight… stress.  I’m sure it’s just an aftershock of the Thanksgiving – funeral – Christmas – wedding anniversary – New Year’s – son’s birthday – daughter’s birthday quake we’ve just come through.  We held the
final birthday party of the season last night and now it’s time to face the tidal wave of exciting, but relentless obligations I’ve signed up for this spring.  According to my calendar, I’ll come up for air again in, oh… June?  Isaac’s feeling it too.  He’s taking a late-evening booster nap to prep for the long push.  I’m blogging. 

Last night’s shindig was a family dinner for Charlotte, now 2, who adores all things piggish.  It was also Elijah’s only celebration with extended family, hence the pigs and monsters.  It was a sprint.  The objective was:  put together a tasty meal and just enough decoration-cuteness that there’ll be something to photograph and something to remember, unwrap a few presents, deal out big hugs, clean up, and move on.  Sound lack-luster?  It wasn’t.  It was quite fun, like a birthday-party challenge.  I was able to chill on the pretty-perfect angle and go for crafty-campy.  And with glowing success… see that sloppy frosting?  One of the monsters even lost his teeth. 

So, Happy Birthday to Charlie!

(Or is it Charley?  I’ve never had to spell that nickname before. )

Have you ever seen a two-year-old this excited about a present?  This baby gets it, the whole birthday thing. Happy Birthday to You has even made it onto the bedtime-song playlist.  Giddy-up, horse!

Next post:  green chandelier.