Tuesday, July 31, 2012

The Crossroad of Time (Guest Post by Lynnae)


Hello, y'all. This is Lynnae from over at Randomnessbylynnae.blogspot.com All my friends just call me Nae-Nae, though! Anyway, I thought for today, I'd just tell you a wee bit about the blog that my sisters and I have started over at crossroadoftime.com. It is a research blog focused mainly on the Regency and Victorian Eras. Our interest in the History of these time periods goes way back to when we first started watching the BBC Classics 'n Dramas. While watching them over and over again, we began to want to know more in-depth about the customs and traditions of those time periods.

Hence, we decided to research these subjects for ourselves and post about our "discoveries" on a blog we entitled "The Crossroad of Time". Over there, we cover all sorts of amazing subjects, such as the relevance of the walking stick, the ridiculous fellows called "macaronis", what a "day in the life of" a butler or a prisoner was like, and we also explore some of the "lost arts" of those eras...such as "throwing a Victorian dinner party" or writing a "period-correct" letter. Right now we're doing a series on "How to Play Victorian Parlor Games", which are absolutely amazing games to play with a large group. Some of the subjects are most amusing, others are quite sobering...Perhaps you have heard of the beer flood that swept over London City in the year 1814. "A vat containing approximately 3,550 barrels worth of beer, weighing nearly 571 tons, burst. Being surrounded by several other vats, the explosion caused a chain reaction, bursting every vat within its vicinity. The torrent of beer cascaded out and completely flooded the surrounding streets & alleys, leaving utter chaos and calamity in its wake." 
Or maybe your interests lie more with the inventions of that time period. Ah, yes, even such mundane subjects as "inventions", are brought to life by humorous and informative articles. (Speaking of the "Vigor's Horse-Action Saddle"...) “A perfect substitute for the live horse, but acts so beneficially upon the system as to be almost priceless value. It promotes good spirits, quickens the circulation, stimulates the liver, reduces corpulence, creates appetite, cures indigestion and gout.” (Dr. George Fleming C.C. President of the Royal College Veterinary Surgeons)
Perhaps you have heard mention of the black hole of Calcutta from Jane Austen's, "Sense and Sensibility"? Even such a black subject as this is touched upon. “My friends, I am here to tell you of the horrors which I experienced on that terrifying night of June 17th, 1756. I can never forget the stench of the rotting bodies or the helpless screams of those suffocating in that crowded hole. If I did not tell you this story, then perhaps, over time, it would become one of history’s forgotten atrocities. But I must write this, so that these truths cannot be denied. I must speak for those that will never speak again."


Of course, we are hoping that down the road, as our blog receives more popularity, we can make it more of an interactive site. We would like to eventually incorporate guest posts, dance tutorials and the like...expanding it into more of a community research site.We'd love it if you'd stroll on over and stay a spell. Tell us what you think...we are very open to feedback...be it complimentary, suggestive, or derogatory. (As long as it is instructive ; )  Or perhaps you have some interests or questions in certain areas we have not covered, yet, just let us know and we'd be more than happy to do so.

Well, I must be getting along now... it was lovely getting to make your acquaintance; I hope this shall not be our last encounter. So, come, my dears... Let us say not farewell, but as the French would have it ...
Au revoir!



Sunday, July 29, 2012

into the blue


It has been nearly two weeks since I hit "create a post" or even logged on to my blogger dashboard. It was an unannounced break, but a truly refreshing and much-needed one. Not saying I don't love you guys. I do. It's just that sometimes, I need to take a step back and breathe--retain some of the private moments in this pretty life I live. 

It's a good feeling, but it's also a good feeling to return.  To gather my photos in a virtual pile and type away on a clean screen, and remember things and smile. 

"The meanwhile" of these past two weeks has been stuffed full like my mouth when I eat s'mores. There was our county fair last weekend, filled with friends and blue ribbons and dancing in the dirt and country music + bucking horses at the rodeo. I made milkshakes for four hours at the "Got Milk? Dairy Women of Oregon" booth, and earned myself a raspberry one--the tastiest thing on the planet right there, folks. I also embarrassed my self by being in the direct line of fire when one of the machines stopped working in the middle of a shake. Let's just say I resembled an ice cream cone. .

...Oh, and I also called the booth "got women?" by mistake. Oops. That's my only comment on that one. 

This past weekend has been spent at the Oregon coast with my mom's side of the family (the prettiest place on earth, I promise. Come visit me and we'll cruise on down). Blue skies, sparkling surf, sandy toes, breathtaking hikes and bonfires as the sun melted into the sea all made their way into my heart. I got some more freckles, stalked a hippie van, wore a tie-dye shirt, and scared seagulls. 

And when I got home, I freaked out because I'm possibly shooting a wedding next week. By myself. 

...Yes, that was my news. Actually, no it wasn't--my news was really that I am shooting a wedding in September. But now I'm shooting two, if everything is set. Am I nervous? Ahem. But more than that, I am beyond thrilled and excited to have this opportunity--because I never dreamed it could become reality so soon. Send some prayers my way on the 11th. 

Now, I leave you for one week to go on a belated troupe to Idaho with a tent and my family. There will be guest posters, so watch for them. And give them some love?  

Into the blue I go! 

xo,
lucia

ps- i found a pretty car 


Sunday, July 15, 2012

jessica / trent [seniors 2012]


..You remember Jessica from part one of her senior photo shoot, don't you? Well, last Monday we were able to finish up where we left off with an urban + country mix. We picked up a few friends just to come and watch and headed out in the glowing late afternoon sun.


Needless to say, we filled the memory card to its entire capacity, talked a lot, laughed a lot, gasped a lot (we're an extremely admiring bunch when it comes to photos), pigged out on Chinese food at 9:00, and ended up some sweet shots (Jessica is just a little photogenic). Her cousin, Trent, is a senior this year, too, so I also got some shots of him and then the two of them together. 


Only problem? Deciding which out of the 200-and-something "boom, baybayyy!"'s to show y'all. And I think Jessica's going to have a trying time deciding which ones she's going to pick as her main senior pics. 


(oh, and by the way, she has really cute outfits. She also gave me chocolate for doing the shoot. And is a fellow lover of Kinfolk. And might start a blog soon. Keep tabs on this girl, y'all...) 




..and then we headed out to the country fields around my home, just as the hour was turning golden..


..altogether, I would say the shoot was a success. And this is only a little over half of the amazing shots we got--I'd say there was only one or two that didn't turn out the whole evening. Sometime's it's annoying working with beautiful people. ;)

///

...and to end this post, a shot of the group by the end of the evening (taken by a very considerate water box):

left to right: olivia, rachael, jess, me


Engagement shoot coming up next. And then my little secret that I announced I hadso long ago.

xo,
lucia


ps- guest posted today at the marvelous Jess'. go check it out. she's British. makes it all worth it. ;) hehe just kidding Jess. love her & her blog to pieces!  

Thursday, July 5, 2012

summer stills



The past few days have been all hazy blue skies, cotton clouds, and swinging screen doors. The summer season is at long last acting her age, bringing much-needed warmth to us rain-drenched Oregonians. My tank tops and flip flops are thankful to be seeing the light of day. 

Our Fourth was spent outside in the sunny calm, just the way I like it. We went down to the bay in the afternoon with our canoe and kayaks, grabbed our towels and sunglasses, and paddled away into the still cool waters. There has been so much rain this year that the bay is flooded--you can paddle amongst the trees, just like you're in some kind of an under-water forest. I lagged behind the others so I could take memories and soak up the sun from underneath my bandana (bandana headbands are my new loves--super cool and cute for summer!). 

In the evening, we joined friends for a potluck and firework party to commence our nation's birthday. There was laughter and rhubarb pie and hide and seek and big starry explosions against the night sky. I loved my Fourth. Did you? 

xo,
lucia

ps- thank you all so much for your sweet thoughts and prayers for my dad's back! we have our trip re-scheduled for August and he is feeling a little better! :]

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

july photo challenge || emotion


...Annnnnd it's back! Just in time for the 4th of July, and after a two month break (unintentional but necessary, I assure you), I am so glad to be hosting Lucia, Etc.'s fifth photo challenge. 

The winner of April's photo challenge (theme: sunlit portraits) was Lauren, with her beautiful "sunlit smile:"


...congratulations, Lauren! This capture is simply breathtaking. 

---

As photographers, one of the best things we try to capture is emotion. July is a crazy fun month thriving with it, too. Belly laughs, silly faces, grumpy babies that are even cuter because of that little pout--it's all emotion. And that's the theme for this month!



So. Grab your camera (or your computer's picture folders, whatever is most handy), take an amazing shot, and then come back here and link up your blog post, Flickr photo, or whatever you want to use to link it up. Just fyi:

lucia, etc.  



-"Linking up" means to copy & paste the link to your blog post containing your photo, or the link to your photo on flickr, into the linky box below. Just submit your name, and voila! You're all "linked up." 

-Only one photo per entrant, please!

-Editing IS allowed--of course! Editing is part of the art process. :) Go for it! 

-Please include the button in your post, or beneath your Flickr (etc.) photo, give the link to this challenge. That way, others can join in, too!

-If you can, visit other entries and give them some support. :) Everyone likes a comment or two! 


Have fun--I can't wait to get started. :) This challenge ends on July 27th, 2012. Finalists will be announced [hopefully] by the 29th, and we will all vote on a winner the following week. But the 'contest' is just a side thing: the main goal of a challenge is to get your creativity flowing!

xo,
lucia

ps - photogs! read this fantastic article to make sure you're holding your camera right--the way that ensures you get the best shots! 
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