Danielle + Brandon // Married in Mendocino

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Danielle + Brandon // Married in Mendocino

Danielle and Brandon did it right. They said their vows on a bluff overlooking the town of Mendocino, surrounded by their closest friends and family, and celebrated with a beautiful brunch with ocean views. It was one of the warmest days I have ever spent on the Mendocino coast, and from a photographer's perspective, the bright, mid-morning sun proved to be a challenge. But the love and gratitude radiating from these two made every moment meaningful, and I am really proud to share these images. This is what can be achieved in two short hours of wedding coverage. Who needs golden hour when your couple is so full of light.

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The End of Summer

Summer is past, but we're still harvesting incredible amounts of tomatoes and squash. Hopefully the forty degree nights don't halt production. I never shared a photo of our 13-foot sunflower, here it is in all its glory (with Ethan in there for scale in early August). We FINALLY finished our fence, installed shelving in the living room (details here), purchased new windows (just waiting for our install date) and we've gotten quotes to begin our kitchen remodel. We have to level the floors and move our water heater before we can take down the kitchen/dining wall. Squirrel continues to grow into the sweetest little girl. She curls up with me on the couch at night and most mornings she sits on our chests and purrs. I think she actually thinks she's a squirrel. She watches them with astute interest and continues to climb higher and higher. So far she hasn't had any trouble coming back down, fingers crossed.

Currently reading: All the Light We Cannot See and LOVING it. This story follows its beautiful characters through France and Germany during WWII. Some are fleeing Paris on foot while bombs are falling, while others are coming of age at a school for boys during the height of Hitler's reign. Both scenarios are utterly terrifying and I have so much compassion for them all, particularly the older generation who is living through hell for the second time. It's incredible how destructive humans can be. And in our current political climate it has me slightly terrified. One more month before we can [hopefully] put all this idiocy behind us. #imwithher

Tomato soup for dinner tonight. I'm going to roast these beauties with onions and garlic, blend with basil, and serve with parmesan sourdough toast.

Robertson Family // At Home Session

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Robertson Family // At Home Session

These are good people. I have had the privilege of photographing them twice before, last fall when Kai was a baby bump, and back when Liam was only one. Documenting families blossom and grow is the best, especially when they have babies this beautiful. 

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Two Nights in the Tahoe National Forest

Seven adults, one pup, and two nights in the mountains. We're already itching to go back. I posted on my instagram that I was a bit apprehensive about backpacking. I have a history of scoliosis and a back that tires easily, and in the past I wrote it off as something that wasn't for me. I don't do well when I'm tired or hungry or in pain, and I was worried it would bring out the worst in me. But our friends invited us to join them, so we bought some essentials and borrowed some gear, packed plenty of food, and stayed optimistic. Waking up that first morning to the sun rising over the lake had me sold. Having the right gear makes all the difference. I highly recommend anyone on the fence about backpacking to borrow some gear (or rent from REI) and give it a try. You have nothing to lose and the world to gain. 

Welcoming July

June is a blur, and by the looks of it, July is going to fly by. In the past week we:

  • landscaped a new corner of our garden with drought tolerant perennials (echinacea, Mexican sage, salvia, ornamental oregano, Santa Barbara daisy, yarrow, jasmin, ceanothus)
  • went on two dates
  • picked our first beans (purple pod and rattlesnake, the scarlet runners aren't happy in this heat)
  • tasted our first lemon cucumber
  • cooked and gave away countless sunburst squash and zuccini
  • made a beet green/arugula/basil/kale salad with chickpeas, feta, dried figs, and citrus vinaigrette
  • planted more lettuce after the last batch bolted
  • harvested garlic 
  • fell more and more in love with our Squirrely girl

I'm proud of the work we do and I'm grateful for the time, ability, and resources to make so much progress in our garden. We are surrounded by beauty, and I never want to take that for granted.

This weekend we are going backpacking with friends for the first time. Two nights in the mountains. I'm really looking forward to swimming in lakes, cooking over campfires, and sleeping under the stars. This is what summer is made for. Now if only my tomatoes would ripen!