BBC’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s  Emma

A definite favorite, sigh… 

Emma
Starring~ Romola Gara

Ms. Gara also starred in Amazing Grace, opposite Ioan Gruffudd

Mr. Knightley
starring~ Johnny Lee Miller

Mr.Woodhouse
starring~Michael Gambon

I don’t think they could have cast better actors, sigh.

Enlarge to ‘full screen mode’ and watch it here if you like.

On Saturday, Ironman and I photographed a candle lit wedding, with the help of the best assistant I could ask for, my sister Suzy.  Then we had fun snapping shots of all sorts of characters during the reception, as the couple encouraged their guests to change into costume to help them celebrate. 

I love the way he loves her.

The groom slipped into “something a little more comfortable” for the reception.

And what’s a costume party without a little karaoke?

My wonderful “assistant for the day” Katy and I had a photo shoot with the most adorable family last week.  We went for a walk, read books, and ate the most delicious chocolate chip cookies EVER!  This family was such a pleasure to photograph, I could have shot them all afternoon… but then… they got the cookies out.   A girl just can’t hold her camera and savor her chocolate chip cookie at the same time!

Baby Jovie is definitely a girl after my own heart!

Thanks for being so wonderful guys!          

P.S.   What kind of chocolate did you use in those cookies???

P.P.S.   Did I mention I liked ‘em?

My mom has been busy creating with wool.  Purses, hats, baby shoes… first she crochets them, then she felts them…  and finally, I drool over them.  well, not directly over them… that’d be kinda gross.

She’s not exactly proficient on the world wide web, so I’m going to hook her up with an etsy account and create her a business card in exchange for this pair of beauties.  Jack Frost… bring it on!

          Our Little Kinsmen
           ~Emily Dickinson~

         Our little kinsmen after rain
         In plenty may be seen,
         A pink and pulpy multitude
         The tepid ground upon;

         A needless life it seemed to me
         Until a little bird
         As to a hospitality
         Advanced and breakfasted.

         As I of he, and God of me,
          I pondered, may have judged,
         And left the little angleworm
         With modesties enlarged.

“Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!” 

                                                          ~Amanda Bradley

Just pausing a moment to make a list of the little things that make life so enjoyable these days…

The rich colors of the autumn palate.
Walking along roads scattered with colorful, fallen, autumn leaves.
The way an October sunset paints the landscape in a deceptively warm glow.
Fresh sheets that have been misted with the light fragrance of lavender water.
The soft tickle of warm breath on my ear as *Goldie Locks shares a secret with me.
Quiet intensity of ten little eyes peering through the pages of a basketful of new library books.
Listening to the boys read off their list of Boggle words after the sand has completed its tour through the hour  glass.
The smell of his neck on a Sunday afternoon when I nestle in beside him on the couch.
Sipping hot coco from the bleachers while watching *History Buff’s football game.
The vase of fragrant flowers greeting me from the windowsill at my kitchen sink.
The pleading of my children to read on, “Just one more chapter, mom, please!”
The dancing of leaves on the windy gusts of the season’s first storm.
Cooking with fresh herbs from the herb garden.
Warm, fuzzy new socks.

 *Goldie Locks – youngest child,  History Buff – eldest child

We recently harvested our first season’s honey, with the help of our good friends Neris, Wendy, and girls.  It was a fine excuse to get together and enjoy a lovely afternoon!

The first step in harvesting honey is to prepare yourself some nice, thick smoke (as seen coming from the smoker in the picture below.)  As you can imagine, removing frames of honeycomb from the hive tends to upset the little worker bees within, and if you’re not carefull you just might get yourself stung!   Smoke helps to disorient the bees, thus making it easier to make off with their summer’s work before they have enough time to get mad.   

Mmmmmm Mmmmmm, would you look at that!

Some of the bees will have to be physically brushed away from the honeycomb, now those are some loyal girls I tell ya!

Some people use an extracting machine which spins the frames within a big drum until the honey is extracted and ready to pour into jars.  We, on the other hand, ended up extracting our honey the old fashioned way – scrapping it out with a spoon, wax and all.

We scrapped the honey into a fine mesh bag, which we then hung from the side of a big pot to drain for a couple of days. 

Eventually the honey drains into the pan and we’re left with a bag of wax and several jars of liquid gold.  Mmmmmm Mmmmmm good.

The color of the honey is determined by what is in bloom at the time of production.  The honey above is most likely a product of the Japanese Knotweed which has been in bloom most recently.  There was also a variety of light colored honey in the hive from earlier in the season, most likely made from the blackberry blossoms and clover of early summer.