I've been busy...

How sad, I lost a follower. I guess someone got bored since I haven't been posting a lot lately. Well, I've been quite busy, taking pictures! I did four photo shoots last month, which means I've edited over 400 pictures in the past couple of weeks. I planned to share them all with you this blog post, but I just have too many favorites. So, this post represents my favorites from Miss Reagan's one year photos. Happy Birthday Reagan!
I will not be doing any more writing this post, so for those of you who, like me, really just read blogs for the pictures, have fun scrolling!



It Starts...

And so begins another long winter...
Lounging near the furiously roaring fire...

Playing games (with so many options, always hard to settle on one, but most recently it's always been this one )

 And did I say lounging? Oh yes, definitely lounging (yes, that's my future niece you spy in the background)

The game was enjoyed by ALL

As was the Thai cuisine...

Yup, I'm not a big fan of winter. But evenings like these do make it significantly more bearable.

Root veggies...

I find it quite ironic that it is November, and I just prepared a nice fall dinner of roasted root vegetables wearing a tee-shirt in my sun-porch! It is a glorious 68 degrees, and I had to get my share of sunbeams, so I packed up the utensils and various veggies and headed to the back. 

I decided to attempt a dish I saw in Cooking Light magazine.

I don't believe I've ever purchased a parsnip or a turnip in my life. And unfortunately, I realized I had no idea which was which!!

Oh well, just chopped and peeled both and threw them in. Speaking of chopping, do you know how hard it is to chop raw butternut squash? Luckily, my Japanese friend brought me an amazing knife from Japan and it cut through the squash like butter. Thanks Dustin!

And have you ever appreciated how carrots have lovely little hatchmarks to guide you as you chop? Splendid!

I love photography, because it always puts me on the lookout for  interesting shapes, colors, and textures with which to compose shots. I found that today in my root veggies!

So pretty. I think I made to many though (yes, that is an industrial-sized pan). Too bad K won't be eating these...anybody want to come over for some fall roasted veggies?

Or to clean up the aftermath?

All made worth it, though, when I tasted the finish product.

Although, I must say...I think there is a reason I have never purchased parsnips and turnips...

Fall camping...brrr...

So. I've never been camping in the fall.

And I have never camped next to a river.

So a couple weeks ago was a weekend of firsts for me.

Me and the hubby and some friends/family packed up and headed off to Durand, IL for a weekend of fall camping. We camped at Sugar River Forest Preserve, and I would highly recommend it. By the end of this blog post, you will be ready to pack your bags and set up camp there this weekend. I promise. (Well, maybe you should wait until next summer, b/c if you go this weekend, you might be tempted to bring a space heater, and I hear that's not a good idea in a tent. Still thought about trying it though...

Our campsite was right next to the river.

We woke up to mist steaming off the river and golden sunlight filtering through the trees onto our campfire.

Obviously quite cold, so we huddled around the campfire for warmth and coffee.

Got some unfruitful fishing in...though my friend THOUGHT she caught something...but alas, only river-bottom gunk

Great view from our tent...



K and I found a near-by apple orchard, where we picked up some delicious cider donuts and hot cider to enjoy over the campfire later.



And on our way back, we crossed over a sweet bridge for some fun pictures.

All in all, a great weekend.