The new project

My brother Ben recently invested in some rabbits. These three are safe, but their eventual children are destined to be meals. I'm looking forward to documenting this new venture.

Wild and Wonderful

The ties that bind

I was back in West Virginia for Thanksgiving. It was a long drive, but spending time with my family made it worth it. I especially appreciate the chance to hang out with my siblings. We're only together  a few times a year now. I try to make the time count. 

A West Virginia Wedding

Something Blue

Andrea's dress was glorious.

Wedding Blooms

I photographed my first wedding in August. It was wonderful experience made better by the fact that the groom has been a friend for 20 years. John and Andrea had beautiful wedding that highlighted their unique style and sense of humor. These are a few of my favorites from the salon the morning of the wedding.

It's Been Awhile. . .

It's been a crazy couple (5) months for me. Since I last posted, I moved to Tennessee, started a new job, basically started a new life. It's been good, but there has been somewhat less photography and obviously a lot less blogging. I do have some photos to share, so prepare for a deluge.

This is one of the first photos I took after I moved. I was staying with some family that I hadn't known before, and I spent some time on their rural property. Walking in the wilderness is a favorite pastime for them and me.

Tracks

My other favorite photo from that weekend. Sam had never been on a train track before. She only agreed to it after seeing that I didn't instantly get run over. 

Sweet summer time

Sam came out to hang at the cabin a few weeks ago. It was a short visit, but we packed a lot in. 

Sam caught a dragonfly

And a fish

Fearless

The breath

I've got some exciting changes happening in my life, which I will be sharing soon. At the moment, I am taking a few days in the middle to stay at my family's cabin at Oral Lake in Harrison County WV. I've been staying "the cabin" for my entire life, and it's one of my favorite places in the world. It's a good place for sitting, thinking, reading, resting, and taking a deep breath before a plunge. All things that I need right now. I've been feeling lucky this week. 

Robin in the rain

My family dinner got a little damp last night, but my Uncle Fred wasn't going to let the grill go without a fight. In other news, I'm sorry about the deluge of posts today, but I am currently staying at a cabin without internet so I'm making all of my posts today. 

We did try to get him to come in. Really. 

Wedding Belles

Last week I had the pleasure of being in the wedding of one of my closest friends from OU. Being a part of Erin and Seth's wedding was an incredible experience. It was a little weird to be the subject of so many photos, instead of being on the other side of the camera. I didn't take many photos myself, but I did have some fun, as we were getting out hair done. 

A little early morning conversation at the salon.

Waiting to see the final 'do.

Waiting.

The bride getting gorgeous.

Hope & Hard Work

It has been a crazy month, but I am happy to say that I have finished my graduate program. My Master's Project - the product of two years of work - is finally finished. I am happy with how it turned out, and I am so appreciative of the four wonderful families who allowed me to follow them around for months. Working on Hope & Hard Work: Farming in the Mountain State was a fantastic way to spend two years, and I already miss the friends that I made and the farms that I photographed. I'm planning on some big changes in my life, which will I'm sure be reflected in my photography. I'll keep you posted.

http://www.mountainstatefarming.com

One potato, two potato . . .

Yesterday provided a welcome break from the rain that has been a constant fixture in West Virginia for the past few weeks. Grayson and Emma took advantage of the sunshine to plant potatoes. I remember potatoes as being one of my favorite things to plant, when I was younger - probably because they require less care in planting than other vegetables. 

Grayson examines the potatoes, already cut to be planted.

A mid-planting rest.

Planting turned up a worm that Emma named "Bob."

A hug after a job well done.

Hoop House

This week I had the opportunity to visit with a friend from last fall, Mary of Mountain Harvest Farm. She was generous enough to invite me to her home to photograph the farm's hoop house and the sprouts that she and Chico will soon be planting. 

Plants in beautiful light. 

The hoop house. 

It was very warm inside of the house. The plants were happy, but I got a bit sticky. 

Signs of spring. 

Time Flies

A belated happy birthday to my sister, Samantha. She turned 11 yesterday, and I can hardly believe it.

Planting Season

Spring has been slow to come to West Virginia, but that didn't stop Grayson and Kim from putting a few rows of seeds into their raised garden bed. It was exciting to see things being planted. It gives me something to dream about, as winter gives its last gasps. 

Grayson holds an imperfect egg, laid by one of their hens. When chickens get too old, the integrity of their eggs can become compromised. 

Kimberly and Grayson Samples plant their raised garden bed. It is still to cold to plant in the garden.

Grayson plants a row of parsnips.

The bees are usually fed sugar water, during the winter months, but, as they had run out of sugar, Grayson fed one of his hives old honey.