Crooked Stream- the studio

About Crooked Stream's New Design!

2012-02-25T19:14:00.003-08:00

SURPRISE! I've been wanting to work on my site since OCTOBER, but just got around to it last night. And I did it! By myself. ALL by myself, and in one evening too... Which, for me, IS as big of a deal as I'm making it. I must have been half asleep or something... ;)

My wedding photography SITE has been neglected since last Fall, which I've heard lots of you have noticed! I really do have pictures to post of last year's weddings (!!) , but the lack of posting them has been somewhat intentional since I've been taking a break since September. I was ready for some time off- ready to spend that time with my family, and investing in other interests that were being shoved to the wayside in my non-stop race to keep up with weddings. Photographing weddings is something I really love and enjoy, and I want to be careful to keep it that way! Summer is just around the corner, looking deliciously not-so-jam-packed (hoping to keep it that way), but yet, bringing some excellent events that I'm excited about! Fall will be here before we know it (only 6 months away!) and by then, I know I will be missing the good ole18-solid-hour-days of adrenaline-rushing-wedding-photography and post-production-processing!

Anyway, back to the original subject. My goal is to have Crooked Stream be a one-stop shop... ;) You know, everything combined into one site. I'm going to launch this new design tonight (yaaay!) , and then continue to do the fine tuning as I am able. So, if any"site details" aren't ironed out yet, you'll know why... I'm workin' on it! I hope you enjoy it as much as I am! I'm so excited to finally accomplish this, and having too much fun while I'm at it! Get ready for new posts!

Spring Baby {number 3} for my Sis!

2012-01-26T20:46:00.002-08:00

Merry Christmas, Everyone!!!!!!

2011-12-23T22:49:00.001-08:00

The happy yelling of George Bailey's always seems stick with me after our annual, "It's a Wonderful Life" family movie night.... "MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!!!!!"

Happy Thanksgiving, Folks!

2011-11-24T10:50:00.000-08:00

The day is off to a great start!

Way to go, Ben-
on the first day of "Late Muzzle Loader" season, too!

DIY Fall Project: Organic Wreath

2011-11-07T19:16:00.000-08:00

F irst

You gather your sticks.

I lucked out with a brother who just bought a new mountain bike, and is R E A D Y to go on a ride anytime. So for this step, we ventured down the gravel road, and I, perched on the seat of my blue bike, pointed to the Vine Maple branches I wanted him to chop down for me. It was great. ;)

Then it was my turn to go to work.

To form the base of the wreath, I bent and twisted the branches together, wiring when needed. I can never find clippers around here, and scissors weren't tough enough, so to trim the big branches, I whacked them off with the firewood maul instead...

I love how it resembles a Celtic Knot....

Find yourself a decorating pal.

(Who was also my backup photographer for this post.)

And pull out all of those fall decorations you just bought at Michael's Craft store for 70% off.

Wait, this is the spot where I have to apologize and confess that this wreath isn't really Certified Organic. All of those decorations you see...

they're fake.

P L A S T I C.

Styrofoam.

Who would have guessed?

Create!
Prop the wreath up so you can see how it will look when finished/hanging. It is much easier to design this way!

Enjoy it.

It takes time to wind the details, and sometimes you will end up taking it all out and just starting all over again. That's okay!

Because the exciting bonus about this "organic wreath", is that it should last much longer than the truly certified organic wreathes..... ;)

Epic Fall Weekend...

2011-10-23T22:46:00.000-07:00

Molly turns ONE,

pumpkin pie for dinner,

and the "release" of our latest Fairchild Family Film,

"The Revenge of the Maple Bars"...

http://fairchildfamilyfilms.blogspot.com/2011/10/revenge-of-maple-bars.html

Our Little TuTu

2011-10-21T20:41:00.001-07:00

3months.

Cooking with The Pioneer Woman

2011-10-11T22:34:00.001-07:00

It's a blast cooking with "The Pioneer Woman"! This morning we ate "Edna Mae's Sour Cream Pancakes" for breakfast~ (Except this country girl added *pumpkin to the recipe.) Her recipes are soooo yummy, I'm beginning to wonder if I should just stick to reading the cookbook........... It's good reading too, ya know. I'm not the only one who reads cookbooks, right? Love this one.

Finishing up my last wedding of the year.

2011-10-10T22:48:00.000-07:00

This makes me happy.

by Vera Bradely

2011-10-07T16:17:00.000-07:00

Mom bought a new diaper bag.

And Natalie approves!!!

http://www.verabradely.com/

These Are the Good Old Days

2011-09-06T21:13:00.000-07:00

This weekend found us at one of our favorite places in the WORLD.

It's a pretty special place, with pretty special people.

And we girls were mighty proud and excited to watch Gabe fight his first battles...

...and Ben playing with the Fife and Drum Corps!

THESE are definitely the "good old days".

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice...

2011-08-24T19:50:00.000-07:00

My new Baby Sis is here!

She just about leaves me speechless.

Thank Heaven for little girls!!!

I love you, baby Natalie!

♥

One Year Later... ♥

2011-07-12T15:22:00.000-07:00

Keslie 5 months pregnant last summer and Mom right now at 8.5 months!!!!!

And BANG! It's July Already***

2011-07-01T23:56:00.000-07:00

Thus begins the summer of a lifetime for this Family of ours~ ♥

I Went to the Thrift Store [and this is what I found]

2011-06-23T20:15:00.000-07:00

A truly vintage {white} dress with a silver & pearl beaded bodice.

For a dollar.

A Father's Day to Remember!

2011-06-18T16:46:00.000-07:00

From my grandparents, to my little nieces... we all took a day trip to see the *original* Focke-Wulf 190 A-5 German WWII fighter plane and listen to the history behind its restoration from a Russian swamp. Wow...

36 days... ♥

2011-06-16T20:20:00.002-07:00

We're Keepin' Busy!

It's a Beautiful Day...

2011-05-18T19:33:00.000-07:00

And I feel like posting a blog post!
aaaaand going on a walk,

cooking something out of nothing,

weeding,

catching up on emails that have been patiently waiting for me,

playing Frisbee with Dad and the kids,

and Chess with Gabe,

shopping for a new lens,

organizing my brain,
and on
and on
and on

Right now, I'm working on the brain part!!! Top priority, right? I just started my own special "Brain Book".

I'm so excited!!!

I mean, it IS so simple, but invaluable.

You just need a notebook + pen + string = all tied together.

You can keep your "brain" somewhere handy to jot down fleeting thoughts and to-dos.
And get this: no one can steal your pen!!!!!!
It will always be there for you.

;)

This week we celebrated TWO birthdays.

Our "sweet, sweeeeet" Annie Liz.

And Ben, our "Lean, Mean, Fishing Machine".

Today, the three of us spent the afternoon together... like our usual weekly date. We started out at our historic Post Office (where our favorite Mrs. Newman was working. And we uh, mailed a package), drove a block down to the library (where I picked up my latest reading: "Seeds of Deception" - about genetically engineered foods) , and then bee-lined it for the park (where the two little girls I volunteered to push said to me, "I haven't seen you in a while. Or... have I EVER seen you?"). Next, we visited our favorite thrift shop (since our favorite ladies work on Wednesday)... where I found a poster of one of my favorite Renoir paintings. (Score!) All this before music lessons at 3:30. And our date was topped off with a birthday purchase of Annie's.... Popsicles.

I'd say it was a beautiful day. And it's not even over yet.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."
2 Corinthians 4:7

A Day at the Ocean

2011-04-21T19:48:00.000-07:00

Cherry hat by Mom...♥

Something to Ponder

2011-03-31T21:06:00.000-07:00

"There is a difference between devotion to a Person and devotion to principals or to a cause.

Discipleship means personal, passionate devotion to a Person, our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord never proclaimed a cause; He proclaimed personal devotion to Himself."
(Oswald Chambers)

----------<> Let's Go Fly a Kite <>----------

2011-03-26T21:53:00.000-07:00

These guys love kites... And I mean true love.

It seems like we have new kites being built weekly.

Today found Ben and Annie flying $2 kites from Dennis Company

{our local hardware store}.

But still, they spruced up their $2 purchases.

Dad's striped surveying tape made such a groovy tail.

But my favorite part of all has got to be the fishing poles. How creative is that? I mean, why didn't I think of that when I was little? But then, I wasn't a kite addict either.

I loved soaking in these sights today. These moments are something I've wanted to capture for a long time. This is a regular part of our lives...

The sun rarely shines here, but the wind is our next door neighbor. I'm thankful. As much as I miss the sun, we have wind and rain.

And kites.

Pepsi, Anyone?

2011-03-24T15:20:00.000-07:00

{Just now found this random shot as I was sorting photos. I had no idea that lonely pop can was sitting there when I took this... I was just scouting out photo shoot locations, that's all!} =)

Get Your 2011 Calendar

2011-03-13T21:39:00.000-07:00

remember Chimera?

She's been working hard on her senior project.

I like it, because it includes this calendar of hers... and me. {um, did that just sound vain? ;-)} In other words, I like knowing I'll get to have her around/be a part of it.

First off, she made this calendar, and it's for sale... now only ~~$17~~ $12.
Just think, a buck a month to keep your life organized!!!!
Contact either of us or comment if you are interested.
Second part of her senior project entails interning with me for the next few months... and that means nothing better than shooting side-by-side paired up with cozy photography discussions next to the warm stove in my little white studio. With tea. And cookies. In the end she'll have a portfolio and time log showcasing everything she did while working with me.

Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE doing what I do?

for I have learned

"There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without him?"

Ecclesiastes 2:24&25

P.S. Psst... While you're here, hop on over and cast a vote for her photo essay HERE

Huckleberry Lane

2011-03-08T18:05:00.000-08:00

My dear Smith family just officially launched this special family furniture business. ♥

Visit Huckleberry Lane by clicking on the image,

and find them on facebook by clicking on the logo...

Pssst, don't forget to "like" them! ->

Menu Planning...

2011-03-07T22:46:00.000-08:00

Ah! Look what came in the mail today! ^

A few weeks ago, my sis sent me the link to a deal where a year's subscription of "Taste of Home" was just $3.99! And it arrived just as I was getting ready to start a menu outline, too. This is going to be fun.