July Staycation 2012

When airfare became ridiculously expensive, this year's staycation became local. While the boys were away at camp this past week, we drove down the Mighty Mississippi and enjoyed some of the wineries, cheese shops and local sites!

We stayed in a small loft in Wabasha, MN, that was recommended to us by my friend, Christine. It was just perfect and right on the main drag. We arrived Sunday after dropping the boys at church and stopping for a visit with our friends, Steve & Lorraine, at Vino in the Valley.

We quickly discovered that shops are not open on Mondays in Wabasha. It was a good thing that I had done some previous planning of other things to see and do nearby. So, with cameras in hand, off we went... I hope you enjoy! We sure did!!

And just another shout-out to my puppy sitters... THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!
You made our little get-away worry-free!!

photog fun {scavenger hunt Sunday}

On a recent blog hop, I came across Scavenger Hunt Sunday on Ashley's blog Ramblings and Photos.  I made a note of the next items to find and went about thinking and snapping pictures to fit the category as the week went along.  Here's my first week's participation in this fun event!  The last photo I had to get {without using a previously taken one} was the sunset...  and as if on que, Friday night provided a glorious one over the neighbor's house.

Sunset

Black and White

A Day in My Life

 

 
Four
(set of four photos that go together)

Colorful

 

If you're interested in jumping in on the fun, here's more information.

The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate.
2. You're encouraged to take five new photos this week for the challenge. Creativity is also encouraged!
3. If you get stumped, you may use one photo from your archive (although I'm not too strict about it - I do my best to take fresh shots).
4. Link up here on Sunday (or Tuesday at the latest) - you can use the button below.
5. Leave comments for at least five entries around yours (we have so many new participants each week, this is the only way I know to be inclusive).
6. Have fun!

gLoRiOuS

my morning commute was accompanied by this

gLoRiOuS

sunrise in my rear view mirror

Brandon Werth {photog blog}

I have a new favorite... check out Brandon Werth's blog if you're a photog nut like me! My coworker's daughter, Lisa, is featured with her new husband Cass.

Love the style, the quirkiness, the amazing capture of LIFE & love.  Well done, Brandon! 

copyright: Brandon Werth

Congratulations, Cass, Lisa & Maeve!!

Did you know...

That another passion of mine is photography?!  It's actually one that I would "drop everything and do for the love of it" if I won the million dollar lottery.  Henry adores the sign along Hwy. 169 that says "....$XX million reasons to put your toes in the sand."  Who wouldn't want to win the lottery and follow their passion?  And this is actually something that JP and I share ~ a love of all things beautiful through the camera lens. 

I find photography blogs and hoard them as a normal person would collect magazines.  The only difference being that I only collect links of beauty online and save to a folder called "photog envy".  I dream of a business that we could share together, he and I.  I have some friends of mine on the east coast who are living this dream and I find inspiration to keep it alive by keeping up with them too, @ Digital Party Pros.

Here's another site I'm sharing because I have discovered her give-away through a friend's FB status:

The Savvy Photographer is giving away a fabulous Kelly Moore bag!

Hey, a girl can dream?!