{Scenic} Adventures

One of the things we're going to be doing a lot more of this year, is getting out & enjoying the natural beauty that surrounds us. We live in one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.  There is so much to do here if you love the outdoors. 
Here are a few shots from our little adventure on Monday. 
 This first one is one of my most favorite ever & will be the first printed scenic shot that I print large to hang on the walls of our home.  I have pictures everywhere, lots of pictures, every wall has at least one, but this will be the first non-portrait photograph that joins the ranks.

{Scenic}Just a little Extra-Ordinary

One of our more recent favorite things to do while we wait for pre-school to be done during the weekdays is head into Greenhorn park & take a little 'nature' walk around the lake. It's usually too wet in the mornings to play on the 'park' but it's been decent for a little stroll. Grace asks lots of 'whats that' and "momma take my picture".  Brody just wants to get down & run. 
Friday I took my camera, hoping for some fall color and there is a tiny bit starting to emerge, but not out in full force yet. It was a gorgeous morning for photos.

{Local Events} Montague Balloon Fair

This past weekend was the Montague Rotary Balloon Fair. It's one of our favorite local events. We make it a point to attend every year, it's like a little family tradition for the past 6 years. Normally we do an early morning, watch the balloons go up, do breakfast (usually at my mom's), just hang out for a bit until the parade that runs downtown.
This year it was pretty much the same except I left my husband home alone to gather up the kids & head into Montague & I was with my aunt and grandpa. My favorite part of the morning is when the sun starts breaking over the hills & casting it's beautiful orange-y glow on everything. The other thing special for this year was that we built a float for Amanda Pratt Photography & entered the parade. It was a super fun thing for the kids. Our float was a prize winner as well.

The ascension starts of with a single balloon, carrying the American flag as the national anthem is sung.

 Then it's mass chaos of filling balloons, fans & people.

The kids graciously (errr, more like forced) posed for a quick photo together.

This year it seemed the wind was drifting a different direction & I could get Mt Shasta in the photos without doing too much traveling from the launch site.

Here is our float in all of it's before/after the parade, windy Montague afternoon glory.

Have a great day!

{Western Lifestyle} A time to sort & send off

I've spent this year working on growing. I did a post about this near the first part of the year. My plan & focus for the year is "Growth"; be it for business, skill, creativity or relationships, etc, it pretty much pulls in every aspect of this life. One of the things I'm doing more of this year is shooting for me. No 'rules', no time limits, no pressure, just shooting what I love.

One of my all time favorite things is the 'western lifestyle'.  I'm working on adding more of that to my portfolio, thankfully, I can pretty much go anywhere in this county and be exposed to that.  Even more than that, is I can go to my teenage "home" and live it, up close & first hand. 

A couple weeks ago, I got up nice & early to head out to the house for a morning of cattle sorting. It was a beautiful morning, the rising sun, much like the setting sun creates gorgeous light. ♥   Here are a few images from that little adventure, starting with the beautiful rising sun. 

 Mr Rowdy, sharing his "Jet-A Fueled" breakfast with Sally, the 'cow dog' (or so she thinks, she's slightly senile in her old age)

 Even the star-thistle & fox-tail looks gorgeous at slightly before 7 a.m.

The calm before the storm.

 And here they come...

One of my favorite shots.

Everyone getting settled.

 In the alley, waiting for the 'in' or 'by' call.

Thankfully, these little 'friends' stayed put while we were out & about.

Doctoring.

 Important tool.

Such a fabulous morning. Excited & ready for the next adventure as well. 

{Real Life} Air Tankers & Helicopters

Summer just wouldn't be summer without seeing some Air Tankers & Helicopters. We are fortunate to live in a wonderful, beautiful, rural area where we can just go out to the base & watch them fly.
Here's a quick peek from yesterday evening.

Have a great Thursday evening. I'm off to photograph a beautiful mother & daughter, for a sunset session.