Lehigh Family Photos

It’s the end of October.

The first frost has come and gone.

As time goes flying forward, I’m going backward a few months.

Back to summer when I took photos of this family.

I loved how they are truly a family.

And how obvious it is that they care about each other.

You can feel it.

 We’ll start with the littlest fellow.

Completely adorable with a personality to match those

sparkly eyes, the grin, and freckles on the nose!

His sweetness will steal your heart.

And now the youngest sister with her open and honest eyes,

genuine smile, and the sprinkling of freckles.

(I love the freckles.)

And here’s the middle sister.

Growing into a young lady

with a lovely soft smile and warm brown eyes.

The big brother – almost a man.

There seems to be a lot of thinking going in that mind of his.

 The oldest sister is graduating, so we took an evening

to do quite a few photos for her.

I admire her confidence and thoughtfulness.

Her willingness to talk.

And laugh.

Ariana, may you experience all the amazing things

God has for you,

by walking in His path!

 And I will leave you with one more of the little guy...

just so you can leave with a smile.

A Poached Pear Kind of Day

It seems a long while since the sun 

has warmed this wet Virginia earth. 

We sit inside doing school, day after day, with the rain dripping outside.

But on Wednesday, the skies were clear long enough that the girls

spent every spare minute outside.

They picked a little bucket of wild pears from a scraggly tree

that grows near the edge of the woods.

This year it’s branches are unusually full.

The fruits are small.

And hard.

And grainy.

But so full of juice and flavor!

They really are not so great for picking up and munching,

So we made poached pears.

 It was an add-as-you-go pot of pears

 that turned out surprisingly delicious.

We added about two cups of water (enough to cover the pears)

and ½ cup sugar to make the syrup.

(I’m thinking of using cranberry juice instead of water next time –

wouldn’t that be nice?!)

The spices were:

One whole cinnamon stick

About 10 whole cloves

A shake or two of ground nutmeg

About a teaspoon of ground ginger (fresh might be better)

And a dash of salt brings out the flavor

We cooked our pears a half an hour or more,

but as I mentioned, they were hard to begin with.

This probably made the cooking time longer.

When a fork pokes through the fruit easily, they’re done.

 I’d say if you’d like to make poached pears with bought fruit,

just choose pears that are still pretty firm,

so they don’t become poached pear sauce.

Although that might be good too! ;)

 And there’s an additional benefit;

the smell of autumn spices filling the house

 is almost as delicious as the pears!

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;

teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”

Proverbs 9:9,10

Kerry and Emily -- Wedding Photography

One Sunday evening in August, there was a wedding

on a farm in the Shenandoah Valley.

Kerry and Emily said “I do” during a small ceremony

on the family farm where Emily grew up.

 I love unique weddings with lots of character

and theirs certainly had both!

photo credit: Marla Martin

 Kerry and Emily had a first look planned 

for a pretty little spot on the farm.

photo credit: Marla Martin

photo credit: Marla Martin

photo credit: Marla Martin

Since the wedding was small,

with only close friends and family,

 the entire affair was relaxed and very friendly.

 The wedding party included Emily’s three sisters

 and Kerry’s three brothers. 

We went to a lovely location nearby

– a millpond on Spring Creek –

to take photos of the bride and groom and the bridal party.

 The bride and groom grabbed a fishing pole right away

when we got to the pond. 

I could tell we were in for a fun time!

photo credit: Marla Martin

photo credit: Marla Martin

photo credit: Marla Martin

 

Thank you to Marla Martin for once again doing

an awesome job second shooting. 

This shot of the groom and groomsmen 

is one of my favorite photos of the day!

photo credit: Marla Martin

photo credit: Marla Martin

photo credit: Marla Martin

photo credit: Marla Martin

photo credit: Marla Martin

 Guests walked along the cornfield and then down a path

cut through the corn, to a clearing in the field.

  The ceremony took place in the field completely

 surrounded by corn. 

Sunflowers had been planted at one end of the area months earlier,

in anticipation of this August day.   

The sun was bright as the ceremony began.

And the sky was a brilliant blue with white cottonball clouds. 

photo credit: Marla Martin

photo credit: Marla Martin

photo credit: Marla Martin

photo credit: Marla Martin

 The father of the pastor who married Kerry and Emily

was the man who had married Emily’s parents years before.   

 Emily surprised her groom when she sang (beautifully!),

 “From this Moment On”.

photo credit: Marla Martin

 As the sun was sinking low toward the mountains

behind Emily’s home,

guests made their way to the reception in the back yard. 

  Supper was served in the house on a long table.

 A table FILLED with delicious things to eat! 

Desert was another array of deliciousness. 

photo credit: Marla Martin

photo credit: Marla Martin

The evening ended with sky lanterns and bubbles at sunset.

 Just beautiful! 

photo credit: Marla Martin

photo credit: Marla Martin

photo credit: Marla Martin

photo credit: Marla Martin

I wish you the very best, Kerry and Emily! 

Thank you for the opportunity to photograph your wedding.