Our Weekend Adventures | Beth's Farm Stand | Blue Hill Fair

We hope that everyone has enjoyed the long WONDERFUL weekend!

Three and a half days off from the day job has been great!

To celebrate, we took some day trips to some great places, and places we have not been for a while.

Friday afternoon we took a trip down to Union to Beth's Farm Stand.  They have AMAZING produce!!

We always leave there with BAGS full.

And I have to tell you the corn.

OMG

Like OMG - so good!!

Everything is seasonal, and grown locally.

I love the bright colors!

It was these pumpkins that inspired me to take out the camers.

So, we had a break from the day trips on Satirday with a wonderful wedding at the Wentworth.

Then Sunday it was BACK TO BACK fair days.

I love the Blue Hill Fair

Bright colors.  Fair Food.

YUM!

I have an obsession with the ferris wheel...but have never ridden on one.

Probably never will!

Again, the bright colors always get me.

Brandi has a different appreciation of the fairs.

Honestly, before I met Brandi, I had never been to a fair.

Brandi use to hit ALL the fairs, showing cows.

Ryan - never got close to cows.

Brandi has no problems mucking stalls, caring for animals, taking them for a little walk around the fair.

Ryan - gets cow sneeze on him everytime he gets close to one.

Brandi is all about the fair.

Ryan is learning more and more about fair life, and loving it.

Case in point - I ate lunch not 12 inches from a cows butt today.

And I love the look of horses.

But - I am allergic.

And still sneezing.

It was SOOOOO worth it though.

It was so nice to spend some time with family at the fair.  See friends that we only see once a year.

Eat so much fair food only elastic waist pants fit anymore.

Until next year!

Keep coming back to the blog this week - we have A LOT to catch up on!!

______________________________________________-

Be our friend, tell us what you did this weekend

Ryan

Brandi

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Thanks for Reminding Us Meredith | It's National Dog Day!

So, we didn't know it when we woke up this morning -

BUT Today is National Dog Day!

Thanks Meredith (of & Unlimited) for letting us know!

Make sure you celebrate with your pooch today!

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Out with the Old and In with the New ----- DOOR

Three years ago, Brandi and I moved to Bucksport, and only after living here a year, we decided that this was the place that we wanted to lay down some roots - move into town permently...

Buy a House.

A fix your own problems, no landlord to come make repairs house.

Problem - Ryan can only fix dinner.

Luckly for us - Ryan's Dad - can fix, build, repair, replace, create from nothing, just about ANYTHING.

YAY!

In all honesty - I have no idea what we would do without my parents.  They have helped us in so many ways around the house - from moving in and cleaning to general repairs, replacing doors, painting, changing trim, everything - they have done it all for us.  And for that we are greatful.

My parents arrive with their usual crew of helpers, watchers and opinion givers to replace the front storm door of our house.  We have had this planned for a while, and actually had the door purchased for a year now. 

And construction begins!

And Brandi and I head off to photograph a wedding!

Here is the house before.

(cute huh?)

With a close up of the crappy aluminum storm door.

Not cute.

See, we even have the talavera pottery right out front too!!

Anyway.

Are you ready for the after?

Are you sure?

Do you want to see the before again?

No?

Ok!

AFTER!!

Yah, big difference already!

And a close up of the AWESOME door.

Seriously, my father can do anything.

Love love love it!

Oh yah, and it's clean too.

My mother must of done that!  THANKS MOM!

Funny story before I let you leave.  Jonah actually has his bed right behind this door.  So being the thoughful dog father that I am I open the red door so he can

A) Look out the door and

B) get some sun.

What does he do?  Get's so excited - he runs head first into the door and konks himself on the noggin.

Too funny!

Thanks again Dad for putting the door on for us, and mom for washing it!

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Wedding Update & Inspiration

Lately, I have been addicted to blogging!


I wake up in the morning and think.... hmmm what can I blog about today.

Sometimes (like yesterday) a Facebook post is enough to inspire a blog.



Today's blog is inspired by our wedding.

Brandi hit another big milestone yesterday ----

The dress....







THE DRESS...



Has been purchased - as well as I guess a sassy pair of shoes.



I have no idea what the dress looks like - we are being very traditional. I think it's killing Brandi more than it is killing me. She came home last night after a full day of dresses and shopping and had almost nothing to say because all she wanted to do was tell me about the dress. But I want to be surprised on June 11th next year.



Anyway --- I am picturing that mystery dress --- doing our dance THE PASO DOBLE!!

Yup. I'm trying to talk her into it.

We became obsessed with Dancing with the Stars this year... And I became obsessed with this dance.

I am trying to wear her down.

But we gotta hurry up and start practicing.

I have been making progress on my part of the dance. Been at it a week now, and I have almost gotten into the tight pants!!



Check it out! Let me know what you think. E-mail Brandi - Facebook her - Tell her you want us to do the Paso!! COME ON!!!

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Stuff That Makes Us Happy - Pens & Paper & Lists OH MY!

I have been rattling around in my head some ideas for general, non photo specific blog posts that we can share with everyone.

Well I have finally worked through all the details in my head, and we just want to share with you the things that make us happy!

Yah know - the raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens kind of things.

Hopefully we can get one or two posts a month up like this!!

Another reason that I wanted to share this is to show you the things we really like together.  If you just look at the he and she page we have a lot of opposite tastes, but there are many things that we just Love love love!

Who can resist a Sharpie?

I know I can't.  In fact I went to Staples yesterday to get some organizational "things" and came out with Sharpies.  They were a deal, what can I say?

So now they are proudly displayed in the new pen cup that I bought at Staples to help me get organized!

OH THE CHOICES!!!

I love 'um.  The fine point, the smell, the bright colors.

They write on anything - anywhere.

I might start signing my checks in Sharpies!!

But alas - you must have something to write on with a Sharpie.

Yup - what better medium then a POST IT!

Even better, a traditional yellow post it.

Another Staples deal yesterday that I could not live without!

Now they are conveniently displayed in the new Post It corral that I purchased to help me get organized!

And finally.

I am ashamed to admit it almost - you must combine the Sharpie and the Post it to make that PERFECT to-do list.

I have to admit, I was NOT a list person - like ever.

Then along comes Brandi.  The list Maker.

She converted me.

So this morning, I sat down at my newly organized desk and made not one, but two lists using my yellow Post Its and my teal Sharpie.

Could anything be more perfect?

So now I have a personal to do list and a photography to do list.

Time to get crackin I say.

Two more things.

Please do not judge my mis-spellings on the Post Its.

And --- Did you know ---

that you actually retain more information if you write it on a yellow sheet of paper.

That's why all my Post its are yellow.

Happy Saturday Everyone!

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Let's see how many memories we jog with this...

I am reading a book - The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell - and we are at the point where he is talking about the "stickiness" of an idea.

The thought is that just some ideas "Stick" with you more than others.  And you are more likely to remember or tell a friend about this idea.

Now if you know me at all, you KNOW I do not like anything sticky.

We are talking Mr. Germ-ex here.

But he uses the example of Sesame Street vs. Blues Clues.

He says that according to testing, that Blue's Clues are more "sticky"

I say Sesame Street.

I am sure the debate can go on for years.  One may never know which is more "sticky".

What do you think?

While you are thinking - I thought it was appropriate to share with everyone MY favorite Sesame Street clip.

I have not seen an episode of Sesame Street for maybe 22 or 23 years and I remember this clip...and Song.

And sometimes I can't get it out of my head.

Press play.

Now try to get it out of your head.

What was your favorite Sesame Street Clip?

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Every Photographer has to Start Somewhere

Now, normally I try to make it a rule to only do one post per day --- well I just can't help myself today. 

Oh the heels of Megan & Gary's beautiful wedding details I have to get a little personal with you...

My first shot at a photographer...

Yup - that's me on the left, and my brother Josh on the right.

Wearing hand knit sweaters, lovingly created by Nana

Holding, that's right - a camera.

Even at a young age I knew I wanted to be behind the camera.

I love that my mother took TON's of pictures while I was growing up.

She dug out a box ---- yes a BOX of pictures Friday night and I had a blast looking through them.  So many embarrassing pictures, that if I ever ran for political office I would not want shared, but so awesome to see them all the same.

But, the one thing I could not get past.... What UGLY wallpaper we had back in the 80's!

And yes, I will be changing this to my profile picture on Facebook!

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Stella and the Peeps

If you follow me on facebook, you may have noticed a couple weeks ago that Stella's babies have hatched.

Who is Stella?

The bird who built her next above our front door.

Yup, right above the door.

Now Stella and I have bonded.  We share coffee, swap stories, she comes in an checks out the house.  She likes what we have done with the place - she should, after all she is living here rent free.

Well now the peeps have arrived!

So far, I have seen three of them.  There were 5 eggs, but I have not been able to get up to the nest to check them out.  I have tried, but I have to place a camera over the nest to get a good look, and the day I tried, the little camera's batteries were dead, it was too dark for my cell phone camera, and our good camera was too big!

So here are some shots from below!

There are two little peeps!

Look at those little cuties!!

I am not really appreciating the mess that Stella is making on the steps, but the peeps are cute!!

I am starting to bond with the babies - I say good morning to them every day and good night every night.  I have even caught Brandi out there having a little conversation with them.

They are the newest additions to our family!!

It will be sad when they finally fly away!

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