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I was up at 3:30 this morning.  We're not leaving until 7:00, so I had a little spare time.  I decided to look at some of my pictures that I haven't had time to work with before.  This is from a Yosemite folder that was taken on December 12 of 2009.  2009!!!  (It was taken on the way to Yosemite.)  There are a few other pictures in this folder that I'm anxious to work with. 

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Tomorrow we leave for Trumbell Lake in the Eastern Sierras.  There are eight of us going, and we will have two jeeps, a fishing boat and a kayak.  On the way over Tioga Pass we will stop at my favorite eatery, Tioga Toomey's Whoa Nellie Deli. 

We reserved the same campsite that we had last year... one closest to the lake.  We would get up early in the morning and Dave would fish.  You can see our tent trailer in the background.  

I would take my camera and tripod and walk around for some pictures.  The sun coming up over the hills was beautiful on the lake.

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It's amazing how many pictures I have on my computer that I've never had time to really work with.  It seems I always have 'jobs' that take priority.  I'm going to try to work on one picture folder a week.  Who knows... maybe I've got some surprises in there!

This is another picture of the cattle roundup. 

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Kevin's alarm goes off at 3:30 every morning for work.  So this is a typical late afternoon scene after he gets home and showers.  Katie makes the big move from my bed to the living room to be by him.

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This is a picture of pine trees with Lake Tahoe in the background.  No, I didn't have too much wine (well maybe...), I was actually blurring on purpose.  I had the camera on a very slow shutter speed and panned down as I took the picture.  I saw a few examples with this method, and liked it.  Obviously I have a lot of work to do yet to get it right, but I do like the colors in it.

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I am going to Mass this morning for Theresa.  One year ago today she lost her short battle with brain cancer.  We went back a long, long time (junior high school).  I can honestly say she was the best person I've ever known.   More than 1,000 people attended her funeral... which is huge considering she was a homemaker from Westley.  I think that alone speaks volumes about her.

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We decided not to go anywhere today, but instead get everything ready for our camping trip at the end of the week.

But I'm thinking I need a baby fix and I just may have to go visit Micah today.  This is sweet baby 'O' that I took pictures of a long time ago. 

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(I'm still ten days behind on this blog.  Today should be day 204.)

This is my last weekend before going back to work.  Dave wants to go to Yosemite tomorrow, but I'm thinking the beach.  Maybe Santa Cruz and bring a picnic, a couple of chairs, a book... oh, and a camera!

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The best time to take pictures is early morning or when the light starts to get low in the early evening.  So whenever we go to a lake, I make sure I hit those times.  Not only is the light better for pictures, but everything is so quiet and the water is so still, I just put my camera away, sit on a rock and take it all in.

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The Tamales Point hike in Point Reyes is an elk reserve.  The first time we went we didn't see any.  This time it was so foggy we thought we wouldn't see any again.  But we did... hundreds of them. 

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This is Pierce Ranch by Point Reyes.  The Tamales Point hike starts from here.  This day it was so foggy we could barely see much in front of us on the hike.  Never did see the ocean.  I guess we'll just have to go back!

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One more of Katie.  Shawna got this umbrella from Victoria's Secret as a 'freebie' and gave it to me to use for photo shoots.

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This is my last day of summer vacation. . .  I go back to work tomorrow.  How did I spend it?  Working on Katie's proofs, of course!  As soon as I get these done I am caught up.  It's been a long time since I could say that.

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Yesterday morning I went back to the ranch.  This time to watch how the cows get a pregnancy test.  No peeing in a cup... sonogram... or blood test for this.  Just an arm (the whole arm) check.

Here they are lined up in the shoot waiting for their turn, then Dr. Jim does his arm check, and some get a new ear tag.  They are back grazing before they knew what happened to them!

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After an 'unusual' morning (next post), I finally finished proofs for a BIG family shoot.  Earlier I posted a picture of these siblings... posing very nicely.  Well... I think I like this one a little bit better! (It was shot right after the #163 post!)

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One more of roundup... then I HAVE to finish proofs for two jobs.  (But this is way more fun!)

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Cattle roundup.  Now they are all in a corral, but they keep shifting them around.  Couldn't quite figure it out, but I'm sure it made sense to someone!

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Oh boy... a brand new experience today.  A cattle roundup!  I had no idea what to expect.  Conditions for photography were against me... bright sun, no clouds, black cows, but I put that aside and just decided to enjoy it.  And I did.

This is a picture of the 'cowboys' taking off to surround the cattle in the distance and bring them in to the corrals.

Nancy... if you are reading his, thank you for inviting me!

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Next week we're heading to the Eastern Sierras... one of my very favorite places.  We'll be camping at Trumbell Lake.  We usually try to go to different camp spots, but last year we fell in love with this one, so as soon as we could, we made our reservations to go back.

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Today is a baby shower in Oakland for Katie.  Last Saturday I took her maternity pictures.  It was fun, and things went well, but I made a decision before the shoot that this would be the last maternity job I would take.  There are several reasons, one of which is that I don't have a studio and I don't like working out of my house.  Another is that it is a lot of work for very little return. 

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One more of Natalie... now I need to get busy on photo jobs I have to finish by the end of next week.

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It was a good day.  After an early morning bootcamp and shower, I drove to Nicole's to babysit while she ran a few errands.  To spend two hours holding and playing with Natalie was heaven.  Of course we had to sneak in a mini photo shoot!

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I had a surprise visit this evening from Collin and Jennifer (Collin's aunt).  He's a little wild man.  I think we should have really thrown him in the pool.  (Better be careful Colllin... next time we will!!)

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Only two weeks until we leave for our last trip of the summer... camping in the Eastern Sierra.  It's silly how much I look forward to traveling over the pass to one of my favorite spots.

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I attended a photography workshop yesterday in Sacramento.  I left not sure if I just want to try harder or give up completely.  The jury is still out.

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This is one of those pictures that will not only remind me of the hike we did, but the entire weekend that went with it.

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Need a great wedding photographer?  (No... NOT me!)  Aaron Draper did an amazing job in very challenging weather conditions, taking advantage of the storm clouds to get some beautiful photographs of Bryan and Shawna.

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While the rest of us were mixing our martinis, Sharon was mixing a different kind of cocktail.  You never know what life is going to throw you.  She was a trooper, and we never heard a complaint.  I'm so happy that she joined us at the cabin for a few days.

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Girl talk and lots of laughs ... that's what girl weekends are made of.  (Oh... and a few martinis and margaritas too!)

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A blueberry martini was the perfect cocktail after a day of shopping in Twain Harte, lunch on the deck, and a jeep ride on dirt roads with fun friends!

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Thursday I met Linda and Joyce at the Long Barn cabin.  We decided to drive to Kennedy Meadows for lunch.  Joyce insisted on taking her jeep despite my (slight) fear of riding in an open-top vehicle.  I was tense at first, but then was able to just relax and take in the beautiful mountain scenery and fresh, cool air.  It was fun... fun... fun!!

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I have this picture of Bryan on my dresser from when he was a junior groomsman in 1992.  As I put a picture of him on his wedding day next to it, a wave of emotion came over me.  Where does time go?  Don't blink... when you open your eyes your little boy has become a grown man.

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Sisters... cousins... friends.

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Today is my big sister's birthday.  Sixty-two.  Hard to believe so many years have passed since we were young girls playing wedding.  I was always a bride.  In fact, I don't think I would play if I had to be the groom!  Linda is the tall one with the potato sack veil.   (Notice Joyce is the only one not praying!)

This is a good example on how priceless photographs are.  The ones we are taking today will bring back so many memories fifty years from now.  

Happy Birthday Linda!

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How many road trips do you take where this is your view?  Sometimes we take a road trip just for an excuse to get Starbucks!  My favorite?  Iced non-fat vanilla latte with an extra shot.

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I relax just looking at a picture like this!  I love a beach... any beach.  This one happens to be Pinecrest Lake.

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Happy 4th of July!  Yesterday we went to Pinecrest Lake.  I love to go when I know the beach will be crowded because I love to people watch.  I got my wish.  I've never seen so many people there, and I've been going every summer all my life.  By 10:00 there was nowhere to park, and on the beach... well let's just say you had to get cozy with your neighbors!!

This pano is ten shots stitched together in Photoshop.  You can click on it to open it larger.

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I have to post one picture of Little Miss Natalie since I've been following her progress since way before she was even born.  She is a cutie!

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Siblings.  Wouldn't it be fun to have this many?