the proposal

there was an ad, it read: photographer needed. i did not see it, but my daughter, the ad answerer, did. she signed us up and said 'a job for you mom!' this job actually needed two people, one to photograph and one to video (my daughters job). what we would be shooting:  a surprise proposal.

we met the couple at the agreed upon (gorgeous) place, on the pretense of taking a christmas card photo. my daughter was worried we would accidentally say congratulations! but that was quickly forgotten when we saw how flustered (nervous, excited...) the groom to be was.

we took photos and did our best to help him relax. inside though, i was a little nervous waiting for the agreed upon word, which would mean the moment was here.

finally, he said it, the secret, get your cameras ready, word. i watched him reach down and from his pocket out came a small black box. at the same moment he went to one knee.

oh sigh. oh my goodness. i took photos and i cried. it was all so romantic, the setting, the beautiful couple so in love, the surprise he had planned. it was an honor to be a part of, it's something i'll always remember.

once upon a time you met

and shared much love and laughter

may your engagement continue the fairy tale

happy ever after

congratulations sarah and david!

p.s. writing this post is helping to take my mind off worrying, at this moment chuck is running in a fifty mile ultra trail run, the santa barbara red rock 50 mile endurance run, and the sun set over three hours ago.
this is a post made year before last on the race, everything was the same today (except i didn't bring a camera) only his time might be a little faster, and the makers mark replaced jack daniels. i hope he finishes soon. it is sometimes a challenge being married to adventure.

little owl

have you seen this?! 

Pentti Taskinen was paddling through the chilly waters of Finland’s Lake Tuusula when he caught sight of a character straight out of a children's book, a little owl. Taskinen held him onto the front of his kayak and then took one of the most adorable and relatable photos of any animal ever. Moments after this photo, the Northern Hawk Owl went over to Taskinen and actually cuddled into his life vest to warm up. Once he’d dried off and regained his strength, the bird took off into the sky on his own, but we don’t doubt Taskinen will continue to keep this little visitor close to his heart. 

eeps!! omg. oh. my. gosh. i can hardly stand the cuteness! read more about this little northern hawk owl and the amazing kayaker who rescued him, here. do you ever wish something like this had happened (would happen) to you? to be the lucky rescuing kayaker? (i do). 




p.s. happy happy birthday tomorrow to my son~in~love matt, we hope you have the greatest of great days.
much love from california, mom, chuck and o-town!

days off

this week (all photos made by iphone) :
received roses from dear daughter!
visited some of the world's largest sand dunes, afterwards had a delicious meal (some of us played with breadsticks). saw hot pink sunsets at the end of the work day (run run run to the beach) shopped in town, christmas is coming! and hiked a new trail that recently opened in the mountains behind our town. knit two hats, one a cabled bulky wool, the other lace weight mink, held double (really! they comb it, no animals were harmed) both hats were popped on happy heads and no photos were taken (why does this seem to happen with hats?) thanksgiving is several days away, but there is much to be thankful for right (this minute) now.


p.s. i've been tracking the box of wool i ordered for the favorite things scarf and see that it's been at our local post office for a day, maybe tomorrow it will be here! i'm so looking forward to knitting this :)
i hope you have a wonderful weekend dear friends, do you have any fun plans? xxxxxxxx lori

my favorite things

thank you so much for the sweetest words on my last post. did you happen to notice (out of the hundred or so photos, sorry!) the painted owls near the end? it's our new favorite art! an anniversary gift to each other. we had decided that the getaway was more than enough and no presents would be exchanged. then on our way out of town, we made a stop at a local coffee shop (vanilla almond steamers, ummm) and saw the work of artist ben o`hara decorating the walls. the painting is a pair of burrowing owls on the carrizo plain, one of our favorite places! after paying we were told we could pick up our new painting at the end of the show, in a weeks time. our owls are home now! *happy* every time i look at them.

the yarn is not a favorite (so far). it is 100% nettle, made in nepal, curiosity led me to buy this interesting fiber (on our getaway also). it feels like hemp or linen, and may soften up like those fibers can do, after a soak. i started a swatch to see how it would go, and surprisingly it is softer in the hand than i thought. but it is twisty, and keeps tangling up on itself. i'm not sure what to do, it doesn't want to wind up. any ideas would be most appreciated!

'my favorite things' is the name of the scarf pattern shown in the last photo. still knitting on my lace shawl, but really needing a break, something less concentrated. this is so much fun, it's really more of a recipe than a pattern. using a size seven circular needle and worsted weight wool, cast on seventy two stitches, join in the round and knit all your favorite things! i've made flowers, sheep and the ocean so far. there are so many possibilities and charts available, and it would be fun to make up your own too. i told chuck how great this is! i would use only bits of leftovers for this project. until i quickly ran out of yarn and colors. i don't think i'll tell him i placed an order for more wool, my first here, look at all those colors! this is a perfect project for practicing colorwork. and for very personal gift knitting. :)  raverly link here
last favorite thing (LOVE) is the dancing forest snowy animal print, found here. i'm ready for winter!
have a wonderful week ahead dear friends, xxxxxxx lori

finding moonstones

it was a surprise. he had a plan.

"can you get three days off work?" my husband slyly smiled when he asked...

we celebrated our anniversary last week (thank you for the sweet comments on our wedding post! and a very happy anniversary to all those with october twenty ninth weddings!) with a getaway on the central coast of california, in cambria, on moonstone beach...

rain fell as we drove up the coast, and was falling still when we arrived. so we donned waterproofs and went looking for rainbows, for romance...

our cozy room had a fireplace and whirlpool tub :)

haha

it's cool enough to wear my sweater :)

we visited elephant seals

elephant seals are endlessly watchable

an elephant seal nursery

they fled when chuck climbed down

only to reappear, curious creatures they are

they came close

they looked

and then they posed

hee hee

we found a snake. chuck always has to touch the tail (non poisonous ones). when he reached out to this beauty, it turned and slithered towards us. in all these photos, chuck stood still as a statue. the snake slipped around his shoe while we watched fascinated. for a moment we thought it might go up his pants (hee hee), but instead it surprised us by going down a hole we hadn't even seen

william randolph hearsts castle is just visible on the faraway hill

at sebastian's, the store/ restaurant was closed for the day, but the winery was open, so when in san simeon...

hearsts zebras

killdeer, sweet shorebirds

a first, seeing this majestic buck

well we never did see that rainbow, but the romance and the so much more, yes and yes! it was so much fun to be surprised, moonstone beach is so lovely (and it was where we spent our first anniversary, thank you so much honey!!) we wildlife watched, on the ocean and on trails. we beach combed, hand in hand, we clinked glasses (even in the afternoon!) and counted down as the setting sun slipped into the pacific. we tide pooled and then briefly, we tucked into town, he to the sports store, me the wool. we dined on shrimp crostini, new england clam chowder, and macadamia crusted wild alaskan halibut. and each morning continental breakfast. and the desserts... they were almost more delicious than the time we spent, sharing, planning, dreaming, just being, together   :)

thank you for coming along, it is always such a pleasure to share! 

love, lori and chuck