by Amy | Feb 19, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Adventure
It’s not a secret that winter lasts a long time in Practically Canada. The cold and snow blows in around October and doesn’t leave until the rest of the country is knee deep in spring. {Last year we had one final blizzard in the middle April.} This winter we are a little wiser to the ghastly tricks of PraCan. So, to stop ourselves from going stir crazy in the Polar Vortex we took a little stay-cation to Lake Metigoshe with one of our couple-besties…the Kelleys.
Lake Metigoshe is about two hours north of Minot {also where I shot that breath-taking wedding last fall} and covered in snow. Our cabin was plenty big for the four of us, the water smelled and tasted like pure rust {we bought our own from the store across the street}, but that didn’t matter. We had skis, board games, and a TV with cable so we could watch non-stop Olympic coverage.
Ideally, we would have rented snowmobiles along with our skis, but they were all checked out. So we were forced to watch others zip around the lake from our windows.
The weather was perfect. Highs above zero, and wind chills above zero to boot. It was ideal for getting out and taking a long ski through the woods, even though one person in our group said it was “…all the boring parts of snowboarding, except on skis.” I won’t mention names, but I will say that 3 out of 4 really enjoyed the cross country experience and 1 out of 4 chose to have a good attitude about it anyway.
If you are wondering, the trails at Lake Metigoshe State Park are wonderful. There are warming houses along the way, so you can ski a few miles, then come in to thaw. We did a total of 6.5 miles and ate lunch in the warming house, which had a wood burning stove-thingy, which kept us nice and toasty.
On Monday we went down to Bottineau Winter Park, where Derek and I did a little downhill skiing and the Kelleys went tubing. {Because Katie hates downhill.} The tubing was advertised at “Two hours of total bliss.” She assured me that it was just that.
The weekend definitely broke up the monotony of the long winter, which–if we are lucky–will only last a couple more months. If you are feeling cramped, bored, or stir crazy check out my list of 40 things to do this winter. It’ll help break up the time.
by Amy | Feb 14, 2014 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
Since it’s Valentines Day and all, I thought I’d show you some love. Really. Images of love.
No, it’s not a mushy engagement session. It’s better. It’s a family session. Meet Chris, Naomi, and Boaz. {PS, isn’t Boaz, like the coolest name you’ve heard…like ever?} This family radiates love. Shooting their portraits was so fun, because they simply emit joy. {Boaz’s antics gave me a laugh a minute.} I love shooting people who are crazy about each other and their little ones. And this was just that type of session.
Now, Boaz…he’s quite the character. I love a busy kid, and this one could be the king of the busy-bees. Once he was up from his nap it was go-go-go. He was very curious about all the oddities in my house: stairs, chairs, boxes, pillows trunks, hardwood floors to break dance on…He’s not the type to sit and have his photo taken {a la Annabelle.}
So we just tailored the session to him. Soon the living room was a scene of things to climb on, pillows to toss, and furniture constantly being scooted across the floor. Will this family look back at these photos and think, “Yeah, those look like formal family portraits…” I don’t think so. To me, these portraits turned out more like snap shots of real life, and I think that’s pretty beautiful. I think this family is pretty beautiful.
{I just love this one! What a stinker.}
This is love of the most real, raw and solid variety.
Happy Valentines! xoxo, Amy
PS, look for the full session next week on the Facebook page.
by Amy | Feb 14, 2014 | Blog
So I’m working on an office redo for the youth pastor at our church. I was looking through the photos on my phone because I was sure I’d taken a good “before” picture there. Upon looking back I discovered two things. First of all, I never took a “before.” Second, I had a lot of recent cat photos. Really good cat photos.
Today, I’ll show you those photos. For instance…I recently met this pure-bred.
That is all. Happy Thursday.
by Amy | Feb 11, 2014 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
You’ve heard the saying, “You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” Well, I’ve got news for you. At Annabelle’s cake smash session in honor of her first birthday, she had it {all over} and ate it too. Look at her. She doesn’t care what old sayings tell us. She’s too busy breaking the mold.
You might remember this sweetie pie from her newborn session just about a year ago. In that session her mother {master of sentimentality} had me incorporate heirloom blankets and clothing into her portraits, to make them extra special and personal. When she showed up for her birthday portraits, I was in no way surprised that she had another sentimental touch in mind. Our first photos had Annabelle in an antique dress that belonged to her daddy’s grandmother…hand made by his great-grandmother. There is a photo of Grandma in the dress standing next to her first birthday cake. Obviously, we needed to recreate the moment. Awesome, right?
Let me tell you some things about Miss Annabelle. I’ve photographed lots of kids. And there are just about zero that I didn’t enjoy spending time with. But, here’s the thing. I’ve never {ever} worked with a more photographic being. Adult, child, pet…Annabell tops them all.
The kid went from crying while her mom wiped lunch off her face to cheesing like a maniac as soon as I got the camera out. And it’s not just show for the camera. She’s a genuinely lovable, charming, sweeter-than-birthday cake baby. I’ll call myself blessed just to know her.
I’ve been to a few cake smashes in my time. But this one was different. See, the times I’ve witnessed this before or photographed it {check out this one of Zoe}, the baby has eaten a bit of cake, but mostly just played with the frosting. Not Annabelle. The child loves cake. Loves it. Once she discovered it was edible, it was all over. Cake was going in that tiny mouth by the fistful and fingers were being licked clean.
I’ll be totally transparent with you. This is my living room floor. I cleaned it and disinfected it right before we started. Annabelle’s mom, Tiffany is a good friend of mine. I took all of that into account….then I ate some cake off of my floor as well. I mean, really–it’s funfetti. How could I not?
Tiffany also snagged a few bites. At which point I asked her to step in for what became a priceless mother daughter moment. I love this shot. And I know it will be cherished by them as this little one grows up. {Aren’t fun mom’s the best?}
All in all, I’d say this session was literally a sweet success.
PS…You may have recognized these two from other sessions you’ve seen here. Like Tiffany’s maternity session, Annabelle’s newborn session, or most recently–their Christmas card session. I LOVE my regulars!!
by Amy | Feb 8, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Living
I think everyone goes through spurts when they feel old. I’ve been feeling that way a bit lately. On top of that my sister and mother are having milestone birthdays this month. {I won’t say which milestone just yet.} That all just got me feeling aged. So today I thought I’d relay a few quick anecdotes that have left me feeling old and out of the loop. The kind of things that leave you reaching for a Buzzfeed list of 90’s nostalgia or clearing your throat with “When I was your age…”
I got this sweet piece of Agro Crag for my birthday. As an unathletic child, I dreamed of being able to capture my own piece on GUTS. Even now, I dream of climbing that big, metal-plastic-dry ice-mountain, fighting through snow storms of glitter and falling foam boulders. If this doesn’t scream 90’s, I’m not sure what does. Also…I’ve mentioned the Argo Crag several times recently only to receive blank stares. Even blanker stares when I explain what it is.
image from the things we say {thethingswesay.com}
Quite a few months ago I was talking to a group of teenagers. I don’t know how it came up, but I referenced the phrase, “Shake it like a Polaroid picture.” In earnest, a one asked what a Polaroid was. The phrase was familiar, but they really didn’t know what that meant. So, I explained the magic of Polaroid, its instant gratification and how you would eagerly shake it, while watching the photo appear. Which leaves me wondering…How do they capture priceless moments at junior high dances these days?
While having dinner with a sweet gal from the youth group, she told me how a friend was “best friends” with someone on Snap Chat. I played it cool, like I totally understood what that meant. In my head thinking, “What the heck is a snap chat?” When I got in my car I Googled it.
I had my teeth cleaned today. Which I really dread, because I’m a bleeder. My dentist has a new partner. When he sat down, I looked at him. He was young. Like weirdly young. Dentists are supposed to be at least middle aged. And me, being me…I said “Hi, you look young.”
To which he replied, “I am. When did you get your braces off?”
“2001 or 2. I can’t remember. The early 2000’s are all a blur of good music and awesome pop culture.”
“Cool, we graduated in the same year.”
Yuck. I’m not old enough to be peers with people with professional jobs that take a million years of school. I’m not old enough to be the same age as my dentist. Wait…
At the New Year’s Eve party at church with the youth group, I overheard our youth pastor explaining to some junior boys that before Mark Wahlberg made movies he was a rapper who called himself Marky Mark. As in Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. They thought it was a sick joke. This is history, people. History that I witnessed.
Last one. It’s just been over the last year that I’ve officially started not being carded. Like, for anything. Ever. Unless I force someone to look at my ID, they just assume I’m good to go. I mean, isn’t the standard to card unless someone looks a definite 40? I look a definite 40?
I’m no longer greeted with a “Is your party all over 21?” Instead it’s “The full menu is served in the bar, if you don’t mind a small table.”
If I have my retainer in {oh, I don’t think I’ve told you…yeah, I have a retainer now, but that’s a story for another time} it’s a little more lenient…because then people are confused about why a 40 year old is wearing a retainer. But, my, my, my, it’s weird when you realize that not only are you not very young, you also don’t even look young any more.
Here’s to getting older gracefully. By relaying our witty, awkward moments in aging for all to laugh at. But really, family milestones are ahead, and you better believe there will be a tribute post here in each of their honor.
Amy
by Amy | Feb 5, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Adventure, The Art of Fitness, The Art of Gathering, The Art of Living
by Amy | Feb 4, 2014 | Blog
I’m used to waking up cold. I’m used to going to bed cold. That’s the thing about Practically Canada from October to May: It’s cold.
But this morning was different. Derek had to leave for work very early, like 3:30am early. When my alarm went off, I swiped it off, noticing that the screen was like ice. Ice, however, cannot stop me from snoozing, so I nuzzled my nose under the down comforter and drifted back off to sleep. Not many minutes later I woke up again. This time sleep was not a temptation, because the cold was unbearable.
I was reminded of waking early on a backpacking trip in a nylon tent coated with ice from the morning dew. In those moments though, I knew things would get better once I was up and moving, once a fire was lit and food was in my belly. Today things were different. I looked back to my phone to find a text from Derek.
“If the heat isn’t working call someone as soon as you get up. It was 58 when I left.”
I hated the thought of 58 degrees. Reluctantly I jumped out of bed and pulled layers on at a rate just shy of the speed of light.
52 degrees and dropping.
A heating company said they’d be out at 1:30. At 2:30 I gave them a call. “Should be there soon…your house is next on the list.”
At 4pm I got a call. “Actually, a complication has come up. No one can come until tomorrow morning.” By this time the thermostat was reading 43 degrees and I was wearing a coat, boots and hat inside. Poor Panda cat was laying on top of her icy cold paws. The electric blankets cords were snaking around me and the setting on the digital screen read “H.” That’s one click higher than “9.”
For a moment I wanted to cry. But tears would not save me from the cold. So instead I Googled. I called every H/AC phone number on the list. Number number 3 yielded results. A man named Bob, who was surprisingly young for a man called Bob came over within 20 minutes. Thirty minutes after that I had a new ignitor in the furnace and heat blowing through the vents.
Today taught me a few valuable lessons. Firstly, the cold here is serious. Serious enough that the inside of my home dropped down to a temperature lower than winter-temps in other places we’ve called home. Second that heat is a necessity here. I feel so blessed to have it on demand. So blessed to be in a stable enough situation that I can dial up the temp. Blessed that, spoiled as I am, I put a sweatshirt on because I’m “a bit chilly” even when the furnace is working properly. We really are so very lucky.
by Amy | Feb 1, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Projects, the house
Remember 2014’s first project? Yes, that hideous closet that I left untouched after completing the bedroom remodel…that’s exactly what I’m talking about. Well, it’s done. And I even had a day or two to spare. It might not be as lavish as other cloffices floating around the Pinterest world, but it’s functional, I think it’s pretty, and it’s a heck of a lot more productive than working from the couch.
The next big house project we are planning to tackle is the basement. Task number one of that job is getting all our stored stuff out of there. Which means, my craft supplies. Honestly, I was all too happy to go through my things and move them upstairs to a well-lit, cute space. It’s nice to have {almost} all of my go-to supplies in a location that isn’t shared with Panda’s litter box.
I sorted out all my string and ribbon and stored it in a basket. And I used a box left over from Christmas, covered in scrapbook paper, to organize all my writing/drawing/doodling supplies {chalk, charcoal, markers, crayons…} Buttons, which I rarely use but seem to have an abundance of, are stored in a vase that came with some flowers from the florist. And my stack of unused notebooks for list making are finally all together in a bin from Martha.
The basement is currently unfinished except for a few “walls” made of peg board. It’s all going to get torn out soon, so I salvaged a chunk, gave it a coat of spray paint, and made it into a vertical desk. I had a hard time finding pegboard hooks, so I’ll tell you where I finally bought them: Menard’s. Really any big-box hardware store should have them. Insist that they find them for you. At Menard’s I asked three employees before one knew what I was talking about. In the end they were by the closet stuff.
In days to come I’m sure I’ll have more things to pin up, but in the mean time I clipped up a few old photos that I came across while sorting through the desk. They make me happy.
I took the same can of paint that I used on the pegboard and sprayed the old, ugly-gray file cabinet as well. Much improved!
We had that silver utility light in the basement. I bought it once upon a time to use in dim photography settings. I haven’t used it in a long time and it’s perfect for the desk space. I love that it clamps onto the shelf so it doesn’t take up {precious} desk or floor space.
Eventually this closet will return to an actual clothing closet. With that in mind we installed all the shelving on a closet kit from Rubbermaid. The shelves are adjustable and you can buy additional accessories to add hanger rods or additional shelving. It was easy to install. Derek helped with this one, but I used a similar kit in the bedroom and put it in myself.
I’ve already been more productive the last few days since this has been finished. It’s really amazing how having a dedicated space that you actually enjoy coming to can change your attitude about work. This project also serves to show that with organization and creativity, even a small, overlooked space can be transformed into something useful.
Amy
PS…In case you missed it, here’s how I made that cute dry erase board. And going even further back…here’s how I made that wreath.
