The Day that Jack Built

Do you recall a very old nursery rhyme called "The House that Jack Built"? By the end, the verse goes something like this:

This is the rooster that crowed in the morn,

That waked the priest all shaven and shorn,

That married the man all tattered and torn,

That kissed the maiden all forlorn,

That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,

That scared the dog,

That worried the cat,

That chased the rat,

That ate the malt

That lay in the house that Jack built.

That was a bit like our Saturday. Hold tight while I try to string this together...

This is the storm that caused the wind and rain...

That blew over the tree on the power line down the road that led to a 10:20 a.m.-1:30 p.m. power outage...

That postponed showers (personal, not rain) and the shotgun start from noon to 2 p.m. ...

That led to pools of water on the course...

That gave us hope despite the darkening skies and eventual lightning that let us all finish or partially finish ONE hole...

That meant an early dinner and raffle basket win for Jim – but since the coach mentioned "a moisturizer basket" I had to run up and claim it.

That led to an early evening at home in the house that Jim and Robyn own.

(I hope that sums it up! Sorry it doesn't rhyme!)

TGIFF (Thank God It's Foto Friday)

It was a very productive Friday. Jim managed to golf 18 holes with his business partner somewhere in southeast Wisconsin and I managed to work AND get some photo previews done from my 5 shoots this week.

Winning!

That was all fine and good. But my real accomplishment was finally getting through the full New Heights podcast with Taylor Swift. It's been 30 minutes at a time and now I've seen it all. 

Granted, I would never call myself a Swiftie because I can only name a handful of songs, but I adore her take-charge attitude in a business world and her relationship with a professional football player (yes, I'm always a football fan!) and seeing how that's evolved.

I don't like to get sucked into celebrities because they mostly end up to be a little "fake." But the podcast with her boyfriend and his brother seemed legit. And another reason I'll continue to like that little teenager singing "Teardrops on My Guitar."

But speaking of a Foto Friday....

Our pompous ass pampas grass is looking like it might turn into real pampas grass our first year of planting it!

However, everyone else in the Bluejay Drive yard is suffering.

It's supposed to be raining any minute now so I hope the helps. But a side note or two: I am glad my photo sessions are done for this week. 

And I hope Mother Nature grants us some grace when we tee off tomorrow. 🏌

Well, Doggone!

I've taken senior portraits with family pets on many occasions. Sometimes they are as big as a horse (and actually are a horse) and many times all sizes of dogs. And doggone, but dogs are cute. And just like the "stock photo" above, get them to open their mouths and it's like they're smiling! 

As part of tonight's photo mission, the mom wanted me to replicate this picture or at least something similar for comparison's sake after many years.

I think Dude (love that name) cooperated pretty well, don't you! 

It was a fun evening and it was cloudy so I never had to address any sun squinting or extra shadows! 

What I learned the other night with hoops pictures of J is that she can't hold a serious, non-smiling look to save her life. She breaks into a giggle and even more smiles. Oh to be young and filled with joy.

Or just be more like a dog and think "You said my name! I must smile! Yes, I'm panting and I have terrible breath, but you're looking at me! Saying my name again! Yay! Joy!"

🐶🐕🐶🐕

Photo Side Effects

As I was walking to and from meetings at work today I notice my thighs, my quads, whatever you call them, were a bit tender. I'm like "What the heck? I haven't been doing squats or anything, but it feels like it!"

Guess what? I HAVE been!

Three nights in a row of photo shoots. And three nights of literally SQUAT-ting down to be eye level with my subjects!

I finally put 2 and 2 together... and also realized, holy hell, I am so out of shape!

Tonight I was hoping a few more reps (well, many more) would make my body think this was normal and not to react with pain or discomfort. Did it work? I guess we'll see tomorrow. In the meantime, I took a preventative (??) magnesium pill and am willing to go through the pain. 

I only viewed a random 3 photos (out of hundreds) from my photo card of tonight's shoot and they're all fabulous.

I love having a girl who just wants to be super model from the get-go and is super cooperative. We had so much fun and I can't wait to sift through them all! Since I have one more shoot tomorrow night, I might just take Friday off to soak it all in, sift it all out, and give the moms (and some dads – and some seniors) their previews. 

It might physically hurt me to do this sometimes, but I love it!

Facing My Fears

Who knew that this year's senior portrait sessions would make me face some of my fears? But I have netted good results as a result of this bravery.

Last evening I bravely climbed a 12-foot step ladder to shoot from above the basketball rim. And it was gold!

Lot's of deep breathing exercises with that one and perhaps some old-fashioned Lamaze breathing for good measure.

This evening, emboldened by my realization that heights don't automatically kill you, I walked on this old elevated railroad bridge and caught a great silhouette of one of our best hoops players at Assumption. After that, I literally did some rock climbing by the river for another set of shots. I'm either brave or stupid. But I survived. And the customer will be happy in the end.

I cannot wait to go through all the frames of these kiddos (OK, close to adults) but I've got two more nights of sessions before I'll have time. 

I love this time of year. I love putting these young people in their best light. Even if they didn't know it existed. 

And heck, look at me all brave and stuff! Personal growth for the win!

Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut

Humor me and my age that your remember the commercial jingle: "Sometimes you feel like a nut. Sometimes you don't. Almond Joy's got nuts. Mounds don't."

I mean it played a pivotal role in my "Coconut Dreams" trifle layers tonight. I decided that maybe some people don't like the nuts, so I bought a king-size Mounds to decorate the top. Cannot wait to dig in tomorrow!

The other layers are chocolate cake, coconut cream pudding, chopped Samoa coconut and caramel cookies, with a thin layer of my new game changer...

How fitting, right? Side note: I could just eat this whole container as is. I love coconut that much!

I'll let you know the feedback from the birthday girl and work crew, but I actually hope there's a lot left. Yes, I do love coconut that much!

For additional "work fun" today, I actually went into the office for a bit (normally Monday is all about working from home). While it officially is Melissa's birthday tomorrow, I also "created" a fake birthday for one of our interns. The other one had a legit birthday during our time this summer so I felt bad for the one who didn't get a special day. And this is their last week! So I decorated her desk too and we'll celebrate tomorrow with a two-for-one trifle! 

Sometimes you feel like a nut. Sometimes you a just super jealous you don't work with me, right?

Check Out The View

 

As our city's main paper mill continues to be dismantled, there are fewer and fewer "towers" in "Grandpa's castle." I thought most of the big ones were down until I caught sight of this tonight after senior portrait session from down river.

For my hubby's family anyway, it will continue to be a part of their history until it's completely gone.

So crazy when we think that 20 years ago there would ever be a day people didn't need paper versions of everything. Or for our livelihood, that people would ever need an alternative news source than their newspaper on their doorstep every morning.

Unreal.

As for today, I was happy to catch this view after a rushed "beat the thunderstorm" senior portrait session. And earlier today, a nice church worship in the park that also timed out perfectly to rain happening when we were in the shelter. 

Mother Nature is fickle, but some days she allows me to do what I need to do. Thanks, lady!