by Amy | Jun 11, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Adventure
After leaving Boothbay we made our way toward Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. En Route we stopped at…you guessed it–another historic fort. This was my initial reaction upon realizing we were pulling into yet another fort parking lot.
This time we were at Fort Knox. {photo below from Trip Advisor.} According to the visitor’s center, it is supposed to be super haunted. I don’t understand where that idea comes from, because after reading the information I learned that this fort never saw action and only once had people stationed in it.
At Halloween time they hold “Fright at the Fort.” A big haunted house inside the fort after dark. Can you say awesome? Follow the link for info about 2014 dates.
It actually ended up being pretty cool. My favorite of all the forts we stopped at along the road. If you go to Maine and are into this kind of thing, I put my stamp of approval on Fort Knox. It really was cool.
Since I was injured on this trip I was a bit nervous about our time at Acadia National Park. I’ve never done the park thing without being fit to hike at least 10 miles at a time. I wasn’t even sure what people did at parks if they weren’t taking a physically exhausting trek through the wilderness.
Once we arrived, Acadia put my mind instantly at ease. I’ve never been to a more accessible park. There are loads of things that you can do, even if you aren’t fit {or allowed} to trek. We started by driving the Park Loop Road. It’s a beautiful scenic drive with plenty of overlooks and pull offs along the way at some of the parks highlights. Once pulled off the road, the park’s most famous destinations are just a short walk away. Ideal for a gal like me.
The following day we rented bikes in Bar Harbor {for the worry warts out there, biking is still an approved activity.} The cost was reasonable and the route to the park was only two miles. Acadia has an awesome trail system for biking. Once upon a time J.R. Rockefeller Jr. owned a big chunk of the land that is now the park. He installed an intricate system of “carriage roads” to use to tour through the scenic wilderness.
Because the roads were originally designed for horses to climb while pulling loads behind them, the grade is very consistent, with only slight gradual hills. It’s totally doable, even if you don’t consider yourself a biker. They are also perfect for families toting little ones along. We saw lots of kiddos strapped on booster seats, riding in pull-along buggies, or on a carrier. The roads are clearly marked and travel along some amazing parts of the park. Without the carriage roads there is no way I could have seen this much of Acadia, simply because my back won’t let me do much hiking these days.
After looping through the park, we headed back to Bar Harbor in time for low tide. Since the water was out, it was the perfect time to travel across to Bar Island, via a large, rocky sand bar that becomes exposed when the tide goes out. Most people walk. We rode. I don’t recommend biking across. Yes, it saved us some time, but the sand is deep and the rocks make it a tricky jaunt. Just walk.
Cars are allowed to try to cross over at their own risk. Definitely don’t do that. On our way back we saw a car stuck in the sand up to its front bumper.
After returning our bikes we decided I needed a good, long sit down. So we got in the car and drove around Mount Desert Island. We made our way down to Bass Harbor to see the iconic lighthouse. And boy was it worth the drive. Just seeing the “cottages” that rival Grayson manor along the shore was enough to make it worth the trip. But sitting on the rocks while waves crashed at our feet, one of Maine’s most iconic lighthouses at stage right–it really was magical.
I’ll leave you with some Bar Harbor-ish tips. Things we did {and might do differently} if we were to try again:
1. Don’t stay in Bar Harbor. We stayed in Trenton and saved a bundle. Even if you have your heart set on lodging on Mount Desert Island, there are plenty of places to stay at that aren’t in Bar Harbor. Save your money and spend it on lobster.
2. Stay up late and see ImprovAcadia. The setting is intimate and the talent is wonderful. Just don’t get a milkshake beforehand and think you can take it in. You’ll be asked to finish it on the patio…
3. Go to the Rock and Art Shop in Bar Harbor. Out of all the cute shops in all the cute towns we went to, this was my absolute favorite.
4. Eat at the Side Street Cafe and the Thirsty Whale. It’s where the locals dish and there is a good reason for it. Both are amazing.
5. Going early in the season was great for beating crowds, but bad for taking advantage of all the park had to offer. Some major features–like the free shuttle service and Jordan Pond House were closed and didn’t start up until June.
6. I mentioned this before, but walk–don’t bike or drive–to Bar Island.
7. Get some coffee from Coffee Hound.
8. Plan your day from Agamont Park and take advantage of their free Wi-Fi while you watch boats in the harbor.
9. Take a little down time to walk the shore path. It’s an easy stroll and there are some amazing historic homes to gawk at–oh yeah, and coastal views too. Just make sure you find a bathroom first, especially if you chugged down a Coffee Hound drink before embarking on the journey. There is no where to go and you are always in sight of homes…so it might {hypothetically, obviously} be a very uncomfortable last quarter mile.
10. Figure out the tide schedule and get to Thunder Hole at the right moment. We tried twice, but missed out. I hear if you get there at the right tide stage it is awesome. {Image below is from AcadiaMagic.com–since we were never there when the waves were doing this…}
by Amy | Jun 9, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Adventure, The Art of Living
The response my sister sent me in a text took me by surprise. I’d done something on a bit of a whim. It was a shot in the dark, but I thought I’d text her to ask if she’d like to join in. Now, joining would require a 6 hour drive that would need to commence in about 8 hours from the time of the text. But I thought I’d ask.
So, as I said, I was surprised by the response.
YES.
I sent the text from a booth in the Twin City Grill {eating the best mac ‘n’ cheese you’ll ever taste} inside the Mall of America.
Katie and I were on our way to one of my all time favorite places in the whole-wide-world: Noah’s Ark Water Park. You may remember that we went there last year too. Photo via Noah’s Ark’s FB page.
After much debate on when we should go, if the weather would be warm enough and how we should split the drive, we decided at the last moment, just to go ahead and make the drive. Over dinner, it occurred to me that maybe, just maybe Erin could join us. After all, school is out and kindergarten is over for the summer. So I asked.
YES.
Let me tell you. We had the best time. The weather threatened rain, but held off until three. The cloudy weather and being so early in the season, meant the crowds were slim. In our four hours at the park together we did all the slides. And our favorites more than once. Noah’s Ark really rocks in a major way. Let’s just say it is well worth the 12 hour drive from Practically Canada.
When I told Erin I was really shocked she decided to come so last minute she informed me that this is her “Summer of Yes.”
I like that idea.
Saying “yes” this summer. To fun, and new and exciting, and spontaneous. Saying it as much as you can. I like it and I’m going to try it.
That night we stayed in an adorable motor lodge near the Wisconsin Dells called the WilloWood Inn. It’s decked to the nines in 60’s nostalgia and home to a couple of adorable cats. {One just happens to be a bit…big boned.}
The next morning Katie and I took a walk while Erin slept a bit. We grabbed some coffee and split company. Twelve hours and a Culver’s stop later I was back in Minot. One “yes” of summer down. It was a long drive, a short trip and an amazing time.
So worth it.
Amy
by Amy | Jun 7, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Adventure
We split our Maine vacation into three big chunks. After our day in Portsmouth we drove to Boothbay Harbor, where we would spend the first phase of our trip.
Boothbay is an active fishing community. Like a lot of coastal Maine villages, Boothbay stays pretty quiet in the months and days before Memorial Day. Then, suddenly it blows up into a bustling “summer town,” filled with tourists, as well as folks coming up to spend the warm months in their quaint summer cottages.
Derek and I were in Boothbay in the days just before the holiday, and happened to be there during unseasonalbly chilly weather. This meant we pretty much had the run of the place. We stayed three nights at Captain Sawyer’s Place, an sea captain’s home built in the 1800’s. Now it functions as a bed and breakfast…and it looks pretty darn sweet.
The room was comfortable, and we were the only occupants two of our three nights. Staying at Captain Sawyer’s felt like staying over with an older relative that you don’t know very well. Kim, the owner, was eager to help us decide on fun things to do, since the town was not officially “open for the season.” She also made the most amazing breakfasts. We were so full every morning we usually didn’t eat lunch until around 2pm.
Our first day in Boothbay was well spent. We started by heading to the Coastal Main Botanical Gardens. I was a little skeptical at first, since I felt like it might be boring, or {heaven forbid} an old person’s activity. But Kim insisted that it was amazing. So we went.
It was a great choice. Our visit to the garden stands out as one of my absolute favorite activities of our whole ten day trip. It’s that great.
The gardens are wonderfully laid out and accessible to everyone. Even people with a bad back. The day we visited, there was a huge field trip going on. Kids were spilling out of the specially designed “Children’s Garden” into whimsical tree houses, fairy woods, and other pathways. We overheard more than one kid turn to a friend and say, “This place is awesome!” I couldn’t agree more.
The Coastal Botanical Gardens own 250 acres. That’s a lot of space. You are free to walk to the more distant parts of the exhibits…or {if your back has issues and you have a husband who insists you “take it easy”} you can hitch a ride on one of their shuttles.
After the gardens, we took a drive down the coast to Pemaquid Point to see what the Internet told me was one of Maine’s most idyllic lighthouses.
On the way, we stopped so Derek could eat Maine’s #1 lobster roll from Red’s Eats. I had chicken fingers. I don’t like sea food. Don’t judge me.
The lighthouse at Pemaquid Point was idyllic, as promised. And again, on a cold, rainy May afternoon we were pretty much the only visitors. The older men working at the site as museum docents and guides were helpful and glad to tell us all about lobster traps, the specially cut glass that helps a small bulb power a huge lighthouse beacon, and life as a light keeper.
I love talking to locals. And these men were definitely local. They told us the best places to eat, complimented our trip plan when we told them that we were heading to Acadia then up to Moosehead Lake. “That’s the way to do Maine. If you’ve only got 10 days, that’s the way to do it.”
On our way back to Boothbay, Derek spotted a sign for another historic fort—so obviously, we had to stop. It’s Fort William Henry…in case any of you are interested. Click the photo for more on that.
The next day, we decided to get a look at Boothbay Harbor, from the harbor. During the high tourist season all kinds of water cruises leave the bay. You can ride a wind jammer, go on a puffin cruise, or take chartered fishing trips. But before Memorial Day, your options are limited. The only boat running was a ferry going from Boothbay Harbor to Squirrel Island. Not easily downed, we bought passage and rode along.
The captain told us that the trip would mostly serve to ferry folks to the island that were coming out for the weekend to open up their summer cottages. As we waited to leave, we watched as grills, pool toys, luggage, and lawn furniture was loaded onto the boat. Soon people filed in too. They all seemed to know each other and eagerly chattered away about how excited they were for another summer. How they were just chomping at the bit to get back to the cottage.
Now, let me just say, this word “cottage” should be taken lightly. Very lightly. These cottages that lined the shore could swallow up my little Practically Canadian home and still have 1500 square feet to spare. In some cases, the wrap around porches alone probably held the same square footage as the main level of our house. It was wild.
That day we ate lunch at the Bridge Street Cafe, where we picked our waitresses brain about this lifestyle of “summering” in Maine. She told us she was 19 and that her family had always come to their cottage for the summer for as long as she could remember. Her family lived in California, where her dad worked for IBM. During the warm months, they came to Boothbay Harbor, where he worked from home at the large cottage they had inherited. “That’s pretty much everybody’s story. The cottage was a great-grandfather’s. They family keeps coming up here, because that’s what they’ve always done,
she told us nonchalantly.
Wild.
After walking the streets of the quaint downtown, we took a drive around Southport Island to gawk at more summer homes and do a little jaw-dropping at the coastal scenes. We took a short walk along a nature preserve. We pulled off to walk a beach that looked out at another lighthouse.
When we were tired and hungry, we headed back to town to change and head to dinner. This was our anniversary and it was fabulous. That night, we ate at the Boothbay Bistro, where we were {again} among only a small handful of locals eating before the holiday rush began.
The next day we took our time heading out. I got coffee in town, we watched the boats ready for the first day of the official tourist season. Then I pulled on my purple sweatshirt and we took off toward the next phase of our adventure: Acadia National Park.
Amy
by Amy | Jun 6, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Adventure
So upon finding my suitcase was filled with a lot of purple clothing, inappropriate for the weather conditions, I did manage to dress and we spent most of the day in Portsmouth, NH.
{Image source here.}
Let me tell you, that was a majorly good decision. Portsmouth is, #1 adorable; #2 delicious; and #3 pretty darn walkable. I highly recommend that you visit. I’ll tell you how we spent the day, but I’m sure there are loads more fun things to do that we missed out on.
We started our day off at the Friendly Toast. I tried to get some photos to show you, but honestly, it was a little dim and I was way too busy nom-noming on some of the most amazing pancakes I’ve ever had.
So when you go, remember–you need to go to Portsmouth–start your day here. These beautiful photos are from their lovely website. You should go and look at their other spiffy photos. And their menu while you’re at it.
After breakfast we took a stroll around town. We didn’t make it too far though. Just a few doors down from The Toast. A little place called Diversions. AKA–our paradise.
You guys, it is a game store! Not a game store like those places that call them game stores, but really just sell Dungeons and Dragons stuff. This is a legit board game a puzzle store. It is so amazing. Games that we thought were discontinued, games that we’d never heard of, games we added to our Christmas list. We like games. And the best part of all, was that they had a big shelf with “demo games,” and tables set up. So you could try out a new game before committing to buying it.
AND–they have weekly gaming meet ups. So. Cool. We spent 90 minutes playing games and left with just one–only because we flew and didn’t have the space for more.
Next we walked the town a little more. We took a stroll through the Book Bar. Way cute and a must-stop for book lovers.
A big highlight for me was Prescott Park. Although we were there pretty early in the season, and not all the flowers were blooming it was still breathtaking. No matter how fancy my new smart-phone is, it really didn’t do it justice. And I left my “fancy” camera in the car {WHY?} So I got these photos from online sources to show you the park in all it’s glory. Click the images to see their original sources.
From Portsmouth we continued our journey, after all, we did travel east with the intention of going to Maine. We crossed over to Kittery, ME, which proved to have something for each of us. Outlets for me, since I packed like an idiot. And, historic Fort McClary for Derek. {Little did I know at this point we were embarking on a fort tour of Maine…}
Oh, and while we were doing the military history thing…we went ahead and toured the USS Albacore, a retired experimental submarine. Even though it smelled really weird, it was pretty interesting {and cheap.} I don’t know–Derek and I are easy to please, so it’s hard for us not to have a good time.
It was a great way to kick off the trip. Tomorrow I’ll tell you about our days and nights in the Boothbay Harbor region…and my new understanding of what defines a “summer cottage.” Stay tuned!
Amy
PS–looking for more fun in Portsmouth? We got some of our ideas from this article–and I’d bet the rest are just as fabulous.
by Amy | Jun 3, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Adventure
Sometimes moments in my life pass by in a blur. I remember bits and pieces of them, but the details are all foggy. Then I snap to it, look back and wonder, “What the heck was I thinking.” A moment like that pretty much kicked off my vacation just over a week ago.
The day before we left we realized that we had pretty much no clean clothes. I did laundry all day. That evening Derek folded while I I hosted a social for the spouses of Derek’s squadron. It was really fun. I love seeing all those awesome ladies. It was a paint-along party. Our art turned out lovely.
After everyone left I was exhausted, my back was killing me, and I was dreading the 4:45 wake up call the following morning in order to catch our 6am flight. Luckily, I have an amazing husband. All our toiletries were packed, all my laundry was folded and sitting on the bed. I just needed to pick out clothes for the trip and put them in the suitcase.
“I’m so tired. I don’t even know what the weather is going to be like. I hate packing. I have no idea what to bring. What should I bring? I can’t do this.” I whined that to Derek upon walking into our room and throwing myself down on the floor.
“Ok–ay. Well, the weather is going to be chilly. Pretty much like it’s been here the last two weeks. And–this is what you’ve worn the last two weeks. So just pack some of that.” Derek is always nice and logical. He pointed at the stack on the bed. It was a good point. There were lots of basics, solid t-shirts, a couple sweaters, a cardigan or two.
After that I don’t remember much about the rest of the night. It’s all just a blur.
The following night we stayed in Portsmouth, NH. When I got up the following morning and tried to get dressed I was shocked. Just shocked. When I looked through the suitcase I just simply could not believe what I was seeing.
Hardly any of the clothes that had been on the bed had made it into the suitcase. I had brought the appropriate number of bottoms: two pairs of jeans, two pairs of leggings and two pairs of shorts–enough for a 10 day trip. But the tops–oh, the tops. Here’s what ended up in the bag.
Okay, setting aside the fact that I packed every purple article of clothing I own–why, I have no clue–just look at what I brought. Those two, nearly identical, purple tank tops have actually been in my Good will stack. They are ratty gym tops that have stains on them. I only wear them when I am completely out of clothes…and never if I’m teaching in front of a class.
Why that dressy top? No clue. We were going to a national park. And why, oh why are there only a few things? No basic long sleeves, no cardigans, no flannel button downs. And, what did I think I would wear those purple shorts with? One of the purple tank tops? Am I Grimace from the McDonald Play Place?
I sat in front of the suitcase for a long while. Just in utter disbelief. I didn’t even bring hiking socks. WHAT? Just low cut running socks.
I just really don’t know what happened.
I got dressed. Later–again, I have a great husband–we made a pit stop at an amazing outlet mall in Kittery, ME. Old Navy and the Columbia outlet set me up with more appropriate attire for the rest of the trip, but I’m still just really unsure about how I ended up with such a poorly packed bag. So as the rest of the week goes on and I show you photos from the trip–don’t judge me. I’m wearing that purple sweatshirt in nearly every photo.
Amy
by Amy | Jun 3, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Gathering
As you know, school is wrapping up. I know of a few schools that have let out already, but most of the teachers in my life are still at work this week. So, it’s crunch time.
If you haven’t been trolling Pinterest for months to find and create a super heart-warming gift for your kids teacher {or your bestie who happens to be a teacher} don’t sweat my pet. I’ve got a couple sure-to-please ideas for you.
First of all. This is my sister. She is a kindergarten teacher and a genius with children. At field day her kids found a lonely baby duck. Which she took home to my parents. Together she and my dad managed to get it adopted by another duck family on the river they live on. Amazing.
Second. I wasn’t even going to write this post. I thought it was too late. But then she called me on Saturday, raving about an amazing gift she got from a student. She described it as the best teacher gift she’s ever gotten. Here it is.
Pretty simple. Pretty smart. Tea container, drink mix, cute cup, good magazine, pretty napkins, sunscreen. Awesome.
Just for kicks I also asked a couple of her fellow teachers what a great, last minute gift would be. Their unanamous answer: A gift card with a note from the student. It’s just that simple. Another teacher approved idea is to give something for the classroom. Some teachers have a wish list online, so ask about that. Or buy something you notice they need. I’ve yet to meet a teacher that doesn’t enjoy a good Smencil or Sharpie. Or get a classroom toy {depending on grade level, of course}. Erin replaces her stock of baby dolls every year, other classrooms may have puzzles or educational games for the kids on hand.
Here’s what they said to avoid. Figurines. Knick nacks. Used items. Bad, Dollar Tree lotion. Food flavored lollipops. {Once Erin got one that was labeled in another language, seemed to be chicken flavored. That’s real. It happened.}
Happy End of the Year!
Amy
by Amy | May 30, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Living
I think we can all agree that life doesn’t always follow our self-designed plans and paths. My friend Molly is no exception. {You might remember her from our 15 Ways to Clean Like a Pro post.} That’s why I love her and I love this story. I find her endlessly interesting because she is in love with her work. I don’t know that I’ll ever tire of talking with people about their passions and how they found them.
Delving into Molly’s head was such a treat. Her journey to her passion and success took turns and twists and included a few seasons of confusion. But she came out on top. Let’s look at her, and learn how to follow the lead she has set up for us.
Molly cleans. You might remember her from a post I put up a bit ago with some awesome cleaning tips. That’s her. She cleans and she loves it.
Recently I was at her apartment with another friend and the night soon turned from pizza and frozen bananas to a lesson on cleaning dried toothpaste off of mirrors and the best way to keep your faucet sparkling. She really loves it. A gleam comes into her eyes, she likes talking cleaning, she likes seeing things go from grimy to glistening. To Molly, it is fun. I think that’s a big part of mastering the art of living: knowing what gets you jazzed and finding a way to keep doing it over and over. After that night, I knew she was doing something very, very right. So I asked her if I could go to work with her one day and pick her brain. Like the awesome friend that she is, she obliged.
I followed her out to the Practically Canadian country side to a very {very} large log cabin style home. It was stunning. Hunting lodge-woodsy decor made me feel like I’d stepped into a mountain resort. Hanging from the living room rafters was a swing. A swing. So cool. I knew coming to work with Molly was a great idea.
Like lots of high school seniors Molly planned to go to college. Because, well, for a lot of us…that’s just what comes next. When she thought about what she should study, she looked to her interests. Deep down, what she loved most was being with people, acting as a listening ear and offering support. She thought about turning that passion, and a natural knack for it into a counseling job. As she entered her freshman year, she selected social work as her major.
As time went on and she dove into courses, she found that she wasn’t happy. No, she was miserable. She told me she’d sit up at night pouring over the university’s course lists, reading detailed descriptions of majors–waiting for one to reach out and grab her. None did.
There had to be a reason nothing was sticking out to me.
She started to think about the possibility of leaving higher education, a notion that was foreign to her. But as she prayed over what to do next, she told me she was stressed all the time–except when she prayed and thought about taking “time off.” Peace came when she thought, prayed and considered leaving school. So she did.
She was discouraged after leaving college. As she moved into the future with no real plan, she felt judged by the people in her world, for abandoning the “correct” next step in life. She took a job cleaning and helping out at a local bed and breakfast. But that came to an abrupt halt in 2011 when, what folks up here refer to as The Flood hit and closed the property.
Molly told me all of this as she polished the stainless steel in one of the most beautiful kitchens I’ve ever sat in. When she was finished with the fridge it looked like we were in a Whirlpool appliance ad. She stepped away to return her rag to its caddy, then paused and added,
I didn’t have a plan for the future. But even though I didn’t have a plan, I could hear God saying, “It’s okay–I have a plan for you.“
It’s one of the most profound things I’ve been told. Especially considering she was only 19 when all this went down.
She took some time away to visit family, then picked up a summer job working on a construction site doing clean up {of all things.} Then one afternoon she was hanging out with two older ladies, friends of her grandmother. Jean and Marlys. Molly and Marlys were helping Jean clean up her house as she prepared to move to an assisted living facility. Molly told me it was during this afternoon that they asked her bluntly what she planned to do. She couldn’t keep drifting from job to job, and they knew construction wasn’t her ideal workplace.
Molly didn’t know.
They asked what she liked and why. They observed that she was naturally talented at cleaning, something she really loved. Then they encouraged her to branch out on her own, to make a job for herself. That same afternoon Marlys placed Molly’s first ad online {she’s pretty tech-savvy.} Soon after, Molly was in business and it’s been that way ever since.
Molly told me that in a lot of ways cleaning allows her to do all the things she enjoys most. Best of all, her job has allowed her to become that listening ear and shoulder-to-cry-on she always longed to be. Coming in to a home requires a certain level of trust. Once in, she finds that many people are put at ease and become comfortable talking to her about hard topics, like life, loss and God.
Cleaning homes allows her to connect with people on an intimate level. “I come to the door and see women who normally always put together wearing no makeup and pajama pants.” She told me it’s an honor to think that people are that comfortable with her. She loves that cleaning genuinely helps people, and points out that when you feel good and confident about your home, other things will follow.
She admitted to me that at first she saw her new undertaking as “just cleaning.” It didn’t take long to realize that it was much more than that. God has used her as a strong witness to all of her clients. Amazingly, she told me that nearly every single one of her clients has spoken with her at one time or other about spiritual needs, topics or curiosities. Molly says that if she wasn’t in the home, cleaning, those opportunities would never have arisen.
She takes pride in leaving the home sparkling and fresh, but is most fulfilled when she can offer comfort to the people living there. As she talked about her clients that she cares so deeply for, I realized that she is so much more than just a “cleaner” to the many people who invite her into their homes. And to her, they are much more than simply “clients.” They are friends, people she cherishes.
Molly is a prime example of how when we trust God, He will perfectly put our skills to effective use that will bring us joy and serve Him well.
Recently Molly has given her expanding business an official name: Victory Cleaning. I find this very appropriate, because she brings victory into the home in so many ways: victory over grime, stress, life, and best of all..the victory offered to all of us through Christ.
xo
Amy
PS–Keep your eyes out for more from Molly. I know this graphic designer who is currently working on creating a logo for her and will soon be assisting in a business page set up.
by Amy | May 23, 2014 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
Say “Hi” to one of my favorite families, the Gillman clan.
Now, let me issue a public apology here. I’m very sorry I didn’t get your session finished up and to you before I ran away to Maine for 10 days. But–I did get a sneak set up of some of my favorite images from the shoot. I hope these will hold you over until I get home. In the mean time…enjoy these. Loading them on wi-fi that runs slower than molasses in Minot is proving to be quite the feat. However, I’m committed and I’m sorry. So here goes.
So what if the grass isn’t quite as green as Ireland and the trees are still pretty darn bare? After rescheduling our session multiple times due to weather {read me…snow, ice and 20 wind chills in MAY} we were just happy to finally get out and get some fun photos. Even though it was still a little gusty, the temps were in the upper sixties and we had a great time hanging out at the trestle under the train tracks.
These kids are so fun. And very well behaved. For me, it is always the most fun to shoot kids with personality. And there is no shortage here. I like it when kids are happy. So catching these two playing in these wide open spaces and giggling at their mom’s antics behind my back was a real treat.
Thanks again Gillmans! I can’t wait to see you when I get home…and after a multi-hour lay over, I should have your session pretty much finished up.
xo
Amy
