Christmas at the White House

 Stockings for all!  Though the cats do have to share.

O Christmas Tree

Our 2008 ornament: Just Married

Our 2009 ornament: The Year of the Cocktail

Our 2010 ornament: Viva la France!

Purrrrrr

Key Lime Cupcakes and a House for Birds

Because everyone deserves a nice place to live.

70th Birthday Cake

I made a cake for my step-dad's 70th birthday party a couple weeks ago.  It was fairly simple: classic yellow cake with chocolate frosting.  Being the big 7-0 it had to be special, but my piping skillz still need a lot of work.  So I went with a fondant based argyle design.  Not professional by any means, but I'm proud of it.

Wedding on the beach

We went up to Oregon for a wedding on the beach in June.  I think I'm the only Texan who travels 1500 miles North and gets sunburned.  Damn Irish skin.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the trip:

Driftwood on the beach.

Bench on the dunes overlooking the coast.

Official Ring Security

Reflection of a chandelier in the window.

Good drinks, even better breakfasts.

An aisle of sand.

Boutonniere on the most handsome groomsman.

It's not a beach without a sandcastle.

Just married.

 1/5 sec, f/32, ISO 200

Fun with shutter speeds: 1/250 sec, f/4.8, ISO 200

Flowers, Cats, and Pies

 James had to go to Dallas for a work thing, and I tagged along with my camera and manual for a free stay at a hotel and a chance to learn how to shoot in manual. 

Flowers on the patio of our hotel in Dallas.

Look at me, experimenting with composition!

Close up of an African Daisy from our garden.

Marley is a hoarder.  Specifically a hoarder of personal electronic devices.  If he sees your cell phone on the couch, he will sit on it.

 

And finally, nothing says summer like a strawberry rhubarb pie!

It's like Christmas in June!

I have a new love.  It's small and black and surprisingly heavy for it's size.

 

 I've been saving my pennies for the better part of a year, and now my patience has paid off.

I don't really know what I'm doing yet.  There sure are a lot of buttons and things to figure out.

But I've got my manual, plenty of enthusiasm, and lots of time to learn.