Fall magic.

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that fall is my favorite time of the year.  Don't get me wrong, I like summer (what with all the mosquitoes, oppressive humidity, and endless construction zones, what's not to love.)  Sarcasm aside, fall is just my favorite, favorite time.  I love football weather, I love the colors in nature, I love sweatshirts, I love homemade soups and hot chocolate with marshmallows, I love down comforters, and I love my slippers.  It's just a glorious time of the year.  Another reason to adore fall?  Monarch butterflies.  Every autumn for the past few years, our family has temporarily housed monarch caterpillars.  Their housing isn't glamorous - it's usually just a plastic cup covered with saran wrap that sits on a window sill in our kitchen.  Aside from a few milkweed leaves to munch on, they don't need much attention (good thing).  After several days, the chubby caterpillars crawl to the top of the cup, attach themselves upside-down in a 'J' shape and before we know it, they've formed a bright green chrysalis.  After several days, the chrysalis turns black and slowly the butterfly emerges.  Even though I've seen this happen many times, I never get tired of the transformation...it's just amazing.  They're like little David Copperfields.  And what better way to welcome fall than with a magic show?   Enjoy the season, all!     

I heart this place.

This picture was taken at a local orchard this week.  I about drove myself into a ditch when I spotted the apple pickers and these crates.  For the longest time (after coming to a complete and relatively safe stop) I sat and just watched the activity.  Finally it dawned on me to grab my camera and take a picture rather than just stare at things (duh, right?).  Now that I have this shot, I could seriously waste the day just studying it.  I adore the crates. Love the apple-packed trees. Love the colors. Love the long rows of trees.  Wonder if they'd notice me building a small house in there? 

Separation anxiety.

My dear friend Evan, whom I love like a 6th toe, thinks that my blog has become too much about my photography adventures and not enough about my day-to-day life.  Apparently progress in potty-training and discussions about the contents of my cluttered purse are hard for him to live without.  Although I'd like to argue with Mr. 6th Toe (this is what I'd say in my imaginary debate:  Photography is a big part of me and my life and if you don't like it Mister Opinion then maybe you should take your blog-reading business elsewhere), I might have to agree with him.  Maybe I have gone a little overboard with the details of my photography adventures?  Humph.  I don't know.  At any rate, I will attempt to separate the two from here forward.  But I do so with a little lot of anxiety.  Afterall, I have worked so hard for so long to build up my following...my huge following of 11 people.  What will happen to these people?  Will there be a split?  Will 6 of them decide to follow the old blog while the other five jump ship?  Will they give up reading it altogether, frustrated by the change?  I just won't know until I try.  So, from this point forward, if you're interested in my photography adventures, please check out http://www.susanwpattonphotography.blogspot.com/ .  If you would like to continue following along with my exciting domestic adventures, there is no need to leave your seat. The show will begin momentarily. 

My oldest went off to 1st grade this week.  {Gasp}!  In years past, I have been a little too slap-happy about the idea of my child being in school all day.  But this year is different.  I have so enjoyed having him home all summer.  He's a really good kid: thoughtful, calm, articulate, inquisitive...all sorts of good.  He says things like, "Mom, when you get to a good stopping point, could I have a drink?"  What kid says this?  I just really like him.  And now he's away all day.  And here I am making that pitiful pout face that those loser moms make when their babies go off to summer camp.  What is wrong with me?

 
He had just said, "Mom, could you maybe not take a bunch of pictures when the bus pulls up?"  (Answer:  Deal with it.  I love you.)

  Picture of the husband + babies taken at Sunday brunch.  I seriously love these three boys. 

I pressured our waitress into sitting across from us at brunch - poor thing - all she wanted to do was clean off the table and instead she got a 5-minute tutorial on how to hold a camera, focus, and take a decent picture without using a flash.  She totally earned her tip.  

Another picture of 2 of the 3 Patton boys.  Again:  Love. 

Okay, now I'm headed over to http://www.susanwpattonphotography.blogspot.com/ to post some pictures of a recent shoot.  Did you get that?  It's http://www.susanwpattonphotography.blogspot.com/.  Don't leave me hanging. 

:)      

More beachness.

I'm still sorting through pictures from our beach trip.  I didn't realize how many images I took - yeesh - was I trigger happy or what?  Anyway, it's been fun to reflect on the week.  I realize now that this was the first year that I actually found myself thinking, 'Wow.  This is really great!" while I was on vacation.  Not that trips in the past have been unenjoyable...but let's be honest here.  Vacationing with small children?  Seriously?  What kind of torture is that??  What were we thinking?  Juggling naptimes, managing long car/plane rides, diaper changes, food related issues, sleeping arrangements...in retrospect, it all seems like such work.  But this year was so different.  My kids are now 4 and 7 and can do so much more on their own.  They enjoy playing with their cousins and can do so {for the most part} with little refereeing needed, they'll eat normal stuff, go to bed without a fight...the list goes on and on.  I'm not generally the type of mom who gushes about parenting, but I have to say:  This is just a glorious, glorious time in the journey for me.  Now, ask me how I like things when I have two teenaged boys and I might push you into heavy traffic.  For now?  Heaven.          

Here are more beach pictures.  

   

Old as new.

My newest photography addiction is 1970's style coloring.  I seriously can't get enough of it.  We have albums and albums of pictures from that decade and I just love going through them.  Aside from the weird plaid pants and bowl haircuts, I have really fond memories of that time. 

~

Below are some images {processed with 70's coloring, of course} that I recently took of a Cincinnati, Ohio family.  I would like to personally nominate this foursome for the Troopers of the Year Award.  Imagine driving 6 hours with a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old + no dinner and trying to get pictures taken.  At bedtime.  {fellow parents are cringing everywhere}.  Well, I'm happy to say that they did great.   And I love, love, love the 70's style coloring on these.   B: it was wonderful seeing you and meeting your incredible family.  Hope you enjoyed your stay in the area!       

  

stone harbor, nj

{Sigh}.  We are back from a wonderful week at the beach.  This year, seventeen of us ventured to Stone Harbor, NJ to spend some much needed time in lounge mode.  And boy, did we lounge.  Above are some images taken one morning with sister B.  She happened to be outside the house enjoying a quiet cup of coffee when I headed off to the beach with my camera.  It didn't take much coaxing to get her to come along.  I'm so glad she did. 

Love my sister.  Love soft sand.  Love coffee.  Love my camera.  Love these pictures. 

More to come soon...

H & kids.

I recently had the pleasure of spending a little time with a childhood friend and her three kids.  I always get a kick out of seeing my friends as parents.  And what a good parent H. is.  Her kids just love her and it's a joy to watch them interact.  Here are a few images from our evening that I keep finding myself looking at.   

  

Above was the game "Stick your finger in your brother or sister's eye"

Never {ever} underestimate the power of silly to get kids to giggle. 

This child has the most beautiful eyes.  Just like her mama.

H's bracelet is engraved with "A daughter is a little gift..."  I didn't even notice it until I opened the picture.  

If every family I worked with was like this, I'd be black & blue from pinching myself.