Another Beautiful Fall Day

We had a fun photography session in Loose Park on a beautiful fall day in Kansas City.  These kids were such good sports.  In fact, the little guy ran from place to place wanting his photo taken.  He chose good spots!

Brothers 

Can I climb the tree?

What a smile!

Too, too cute!

T 

Boys' best friend

Fall Foliage in Kansas

I had the pleasure of photographing a multigenerational family yesterday. We took the photos in fabulous Antioch Park which is showing its fall colors.  The kids were great during the photo shoot, looking forward to playing in the park's playground afterwards.

It was so much fun taking photos of mom, dad, the kids, their uncle and grandma and grandpa.  Photos are are so important for lasting memories and I was privileged to photograph this fun family.

WHAT FUN!

The Splendor of Charlottesville, Virginia

We attended a family wedding in Charlottesville, Virginia last weekend.  What a fabulous area of the country!  We flew into Baltimore and drove down Skyline Drive in the Blue Ridge mountains.  Although it was supposed to be peak season for fall foliage, we only saw a sprinkling of reds and yellows.  Nevertheless, the drive is always stunning.





















One of the scenic overlooks on the drive intersected with the famed Appalachian Trail.  We were shocked to see how narrow the trail is, plus, although you can't get the full sense from this photo, the trail is exceptionally rocky and steep.  We had a friend who was going to hike the trail a few years back and he had to quit after a day because his feet could take the rocky pounding.
















Since we got into Charlottesville a day before other family, we visited Thomas Jefferson's home of Monticello (on the back of the nickel).  The plantation tour was fascinating.  To think that Jefferson believed that all men are created equal but only freed about 5 of his hundred slaves, three of whom were freed in his will.  Putting the slavery issue aside, though, he was a visionary.  The features in Monticello were many years ahead of the time.

Plus, Jefferson was famed for his knowledge of gardening.  The gardens were immense and the vistas were stunning.  We purchased some Monticello seeds for lettuce and a few other vegetables to grow in our garden next year.  (Note, the color temperature change in the photos.  The top photos was was taken in the morning and the lower one was taken as the sun was lower in the sky and more golden.)

The morning of the wedding 10-10-10, we strolled around the campus of the University of Virginia, also designed by Jefferson.  The campus is idyllic with an immense center lawn.  One fun factoid - the dorm rooms that face the lawn are highly sought after, even though the students who use these rooms have to go outside, around the building and down one level to shower and use the restroom!

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to photograph the spiffy pink bicycle, no doubt owned by the captain of the football team.

The late afternoon wedding, the first of the next generation, was lovely.  It was help on the grounds of Ashlawn-Highland, President James Monroe's estate.  While not nearly as grand as Monticello, it was still in a beautiful setting.  The weather was perfect and a fun time was had by all.  Of note- the bride and groom, who met at the University of Virginia and love the area, which was hosting an apple festival the weekend of the wedding, chose to have freshly prepared apple donuts as their "wedding cake".  I have to admit, they were the best donuts I've ever tasted.

Beautiful bride with her proud dad!

Overland Park Arboretum Arts for Kids

Saturday I was a volunteer photographer for Arts for Kids, an annual two-day event each October at the Overland Park Arboretum.   The weather was great all weekend - blue skies, no humidity and crisp fall weather.

The kids love this event, where they can make all sorts of crafts from nature's fall bounty.  Decorating hedgeapples is always a highlight.  This year they had a hay ride, a straw maze for the little ones to run through, a snake from the Kansas City zoo to pet, story tellers, music from the Kansas City Symphony and a bell choir.  The choir let the kids try their hands with the bells.  A tinkling rendition of "Row, row, row your boat" played by the kids was enjoyed by all.  

Below are a few photos.  The purpose of the photos is for next year's publicity for the event and the Arboretum, so I haven't included any of the kids that are identifiable.  I loved coming across the kids rolling down the teepee hill.  Does it get any better?  Also, the little guy ringing the bells had his hair sprayed green - one of the activities the kids could enjoy!