Rockford Fair

a printing press featured at the Rockford museum.

Mom and I braved the Rockford Fair last weekend to have a little mother-daughter bonding time.  Lavs put aside her fear of strangers to accompany me to the cutest little fair ever.  We checked out the local shops, walked through the "booths", checked out our entries into the arts and crafts competition, visited animals, and saw the smallest town museum ever.  In other words, we had fun.  Afterwards, we went to Paradise Fiber for some yarn therapy, and had a visit to FroYo to end our outing.  Thanks for the lovely afternoon mom!

My winning photo

Finally, a finished project

That's right people, I finished something: a hat for my friend Katie.  Maybe I should do more hats.  They knit up quick! Here is her present; I think it turned out pretty cute.

Seattle Visit

Katie and I headed to Seattle last weekend for a fun-filled whirlwind of a visit.  We fit in a ton of family, a few friends, and a David Gray concert.  Good times.  Here are a few pictures from our adventures.

Katie and I have dinner with our friends on Saturday!

Me and Sarah

Katie with Michelle and Bethany

We visited with Mimi and Lisa.

Our little Mimi

We went to a Ray and Dave concert

Ray LaMontagne takes the stage

David Gray never disappoints!

We saw the Prentice's

Hadley and Katie do a project

Megan and her mini-me.  Oh Hadley, you are being held by your future!

Thanks for such a great visit everyone! We had an amazing time.

Cameron

A cute little family! Cameron, Erin and Cooper

Today, I had the opportunity to take my first ever senior pictures.  My friend Erin asked me to take her son Cameron's senior portraits.  I agreed with a bit of trepidation...I mean these are senior pictures people... but I took the gig.  We met out at a Center Point in the Valley and got some great shots in front of the waterfall feature there.  I think they turned out pretty well, and Cam was a great sport.  Here are a couple unedited shots from our day.

F-ing Deer

I can't believe it finally happened! After all these years of driving those country roads, and too many close calls to count, I hit a deer.  

I was driving out to my friends Greg and Melissa's lake cabin on Wednesday night, going 60 down Highway 54, when it happened.  I saw a deer on the side of the road, and it decided to jump in front of my car.  Luckily, I saw it early enough to slow mostly down, but I definitely hit it with the loudest thump ever.  

After I got my car stopped and pulled over, I braved a look at the front of my Sportage, expecting half my bumper to be gone.  I was met with this site...

Somehow, I lucked out.  All I got was this miniture crack with a little tuft of deer fur to prove that I hit something.  Thank you God!