misty & we

This is Misty: the gorgeous, the sweetheart, the possessor of a velvet nose. No, she isn't mine--I wish. I absolutely love horses, if you didn't already know, and I just discovered yesterday how much fun it is to photograph them. Future equine photographer? Oh, wait. Make that equine/wedding/children/family/senior...cough. 

Anyways. 

Misty was a dear, and so were the lovely young ladies I spent yesterday evening with. It was golden hour just as we tramped down to the barn, and hazy sunlight filtered through spring foliage. I knew it had been a good idea to bring the Nik. 

This is Andrea: the beautiful, the lovely, the sweet.  I've known Andrea for a very long time, but over the past few years have enjoyed getting to know her better. She is a very wonderful and encouraging person whom I am blessed to call a friend! Andrea loves beading and makes lovely jewelry.  

This is Anna: a lovely lady who is an avid reader, avid hat-wearer, and has a pretty smile. I've known Anna for a few years, since her family moved to Oregon from the South, and she is genuinely fun to be around. Anna loves music, and plays the flute with excellence!

This is Sarah: the cheerful, the pretty, the animal-lover. She is Andrea's sister, and is also a dear friend of mine. She is always ready to laugh and to give a hug. Sarah is also a pretty amazing soccer-player, and I love her shade of red hair to death. :) 

Oh--and this is apple crunch pie: summer days and cinnamon sugar all rolled together. And which is now in the state of "gone-ness." 

Like this Indian Summer weather soon will be. I love it like I love apple crunch pie, but I'm afraid even that honor will not keep it.

In any case: here's to friendship, horses, and sunlight! 

xo,

lucia 

ps- photographers! never fear, the winner of the march photo challenge will soon be announced. in the meantime, enter your sunlit portraits in april's challenge linky while you can! 

the miscellany & the lovely.

It's been a miscellaneous & beautiful week filled to the brim with sunlight, jelly donuts, camera clicks, Cadbury chocolate eggs, new chicks, fresh flowers and bike rides down quiet country back roads.  Easter weekend was all azure skies and balmy breezes, and my camera was out almost every second.

On Saturday I helped photograph the annual Megga Easter egg Hunt at our local county fairgrounds. The midday sun was bright and un-photogenic, but the kids were beyond adorable (dang, there were over 1,000 to choose from). It was my first shot at event photography, and I have to say I'm pretty smitten. I wandered around at my leisure into the petting zoo, the face painting and the egg fields taking pictures to my heart's content.  This is the type of thing I could get used to.

On Easter Sunday we had some family over for a full spread, and basked in the warm sunlight. Food + sun are my "one weaknesses," as Miss Lane of Lark Rise to Candleford would say (just FYI: favorite.show.evah.). We talked and laughed and played around in the glowing embers of dusk, just like we used to when we were little. That's the funny thing about family; you can always, always be yourself with them. Even if you change.

Maybe that's why the miscellany and even the mundane are always the loveliest.

What did your Easter look like?


ps- never fear, the march photo challenge finalists will be announced soon-ish! 

caught in the rain //

It rains, and we laugh. Anne is ten-going-on-eighteen in her big sister's winter coat; I think she's two inches shorter than me as of now.

Boom, baby. That's how fast the years have flown. And yet here we are, caught in this moment, with the crystal raindrops splattering around us and the water dripping down our noses.

She holds the big yellow umbrella over us, and we run shrieking from the pine trees as the branches decided to dump a bucket or two. Caught in the rain again. That's Oregon for you.

And so we've learned to dance in it.

Is the sun shining where you are?

breath of spring.

A balmy wind appears out of nowhere, warming the still-chilly late winter air and gently prodding sleepy buds from their hiding places. With the breeze comes the scent of something lovely--wildflower perfume, roads warming after a rain, and home baked bread all in one.

I step outside and stand on the front porch, basking in the sunlight, inhaling deeply; taking a breath of spring.

I sit in the sun and gaze at the world around me. At the moment, there is nowhere I would rather be: this is my seraglio, my nature palace spotted with sunlight. The yellow daffodils beside the porch are beginning to lift their heads after a long winter nap. I've watched them bloom every spring for so many years, in that same spot, beside the bottom porch step.

Funny how time flies, how seasons pass in a blink.

I pull off my socks and leap into the mossy grass beneath me. It is cold and wet, reminding me that winter is still here--today the sun shines, tomorrow the rain pours. Nevertheless, I  curl my toes between the green blades and forget the chill still within the ground.

Winter can live out its course; I've had a breath of spring.  

this week.

These past four days have been spent in another home--our friends, the C.'s. A mutual friend, Mollie P., was visiting from CA, and we all wanted to spend time together, so we just went up there to stay awhile! We had a grand ole time...mud fights, a beautiful hike, cookies, games, good movies (I foresee a big post, and few reviews in the future!), etc.

I don't have much time to write, so for now, I'll just share one picture that pretty much sums up the week. :]

With only the girls home for a little while, we decided to don our old clothes and make a "mud hill." I've heard people take mud baths....:]

Annnnnddd...

1.) Sunday, we're leaving for Idaho. And seeing our dearest friends ever, the H.s. Reeeally excited, here. :)

2.) Guest posters are needed. If you have an amzing idea and think you would suffice, send me an e-mail.

3.) My birfday is in three days. :)

4.) I got my sports physical today, and had to get two shots. My arm is all achey now, and I'm using one hand to type. :P Who here loves shots? ;)

5.) I watched a movie this week that made me cry. Like, as in, "sob" cry. More on that later. :.)

6.) I love you guys. ♥ Here's a hug. See y'all in a week or so...

{HUG}

the doll house | guest post by sonja

My sister's doll house is a beauty--full of delectable dainties, creative notions, and oh-dear-I-can't-believe-she-made-that loveables.

It is home to 6 little girls and their many pets--5 to be exact (3 dogs, 1 lamb, and 1 cat).

I'm serious. 


Interested in a tour?

The doll house is painted a lovely summer orange and trimmed in white and brown. Shutters, window boxes, and a white wrap-around-porch adorn the outside.

(tip: mouse-over to see downstairs!)

The house is three stories tall. At the tipity-top is the attic which currently houses all ongoing and future projects. It is also littered with summer garden tools, vegetables from the autumn garden harvest, and spare furniture.

Down below are two rooms--a bedroom and the drawing room. And below that, down a second flight of stairs, is the kitchen and parlor.

Homemade suitcases sit on the porch waiting for an adventure. Ingeniously crafted out of old dental wax cases (those of you who have had braces know what I'm talking about), wrapped in canvas and embellished with leather, these little beauties are just a few of the many handmade items inside the doll house.

The walls and porch railing are a pure white. Natural wood furniture decorates the doll house with rustic charm.

Outside 'round the side of the partial wrap-around-porch is a clothes line strung up to dry the hand washed linens.

Paper crocuses fill the window boxes giving the appearance of spring year-round. And the kitchen is full of homemade salt dough creations.

This doll house will hopefully remain in our family for many years to come; thus allowing the next generation of little homemakers to come along and run their own home. 

Doll houses really are splendid things. Don't you agree? 


Do you have a doll house? Or perhaps did you grow up with one?

Much Love Dearies,

Sonja

 
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who am I?

I'm Sonja--a country girl at heart and lover of all things beautiful. I'm a self proclaimed passionate optimistic life-enthusiast and can usually be found with a camera in hand. I write about my faith, life, and family at my blog Girlish Musings.

blog//etsy//e-mail

4th of july

Okay. Yes. I know. It's been over two weeks since the 4th of July. And I still haven't posted.

:P

..you can blame the general busyness of life for that. :] And I'll spare you the details so we can get to the point! I know this is kind of a lame, way overdue question, but--what did y'all do for the Fourth? Better yet: what are your yearly traditions? There. XD Gotcha planning ahead for next year, already...;)

Cowboys warming up

Our Fourth started with the best kind of thing--a rodeo. Olivia and I had gotten free tickets at a parade to a large rodeo about an hour away, and so we gathered some rodeo-lovin' friends and headed out. For the first time in my life, I splurged on fair food {think Teriyaki} and had a bite of the biggest Elephant Ear I have ever seen {think bigger than a steering wheel}. We shouted our lungs out for the daring cowboys on bulls, ooh and ahhed over the rodeo queens' pretty outfits. Yesh, I j'adore rodeos {kay, Française and rodeos don't exactly go...}

 It was a hot day, so we stopped and got smoothies at McDonald's after the show. By 5:00 p.m., we were back at the house, and preparing for a couple of families who would be spending the evening with us for food and a few home-approved fireworks. We had hamburgers, hotdogs, watermelon, chips, popsicles, icecream...all the traditional 4th o' Julyyy foodstuff. :D The boys then decided to take a dip in our swimming pool, and us girls thought a walk would be nice. We didn't get far before we spotted a nice daisy-filled field, and turned the walk into a photoshoot.

Caley, Olivia, Me, Sarah, Andrea, Hannah, Chrissy

Pretty Andrea ♥

Pretty Sarah ♥

Pretty Caley ♥

Yeah, my camera has like zero macro...but I love how this turned out. ♥

  

 The lovely Caley and I. Isn't her hair amazing, y'all? ♥

I love these girls!!

Andrea and I during the fireworks :)

...Annnnnd I got literally NO pictures of the fireworks, because of my everlasting excuse: terrible camera. Bleh. Yes, I am saving...I am saving. *feels sorry for herself* :.(

Since I didn't say this...er..umm...*cough cough*...two weeks ago:

HAPPY {late} FOURTH OF JULY, Y'ALL!!!

In God we trust. ♥