Handley Library

In 1913, Handley Library in downtown Winchester opened it's doors for the first time. Judge John Handley of Scranton, Pennsylvania left $250,000 in his will to “ . . . open a Public Library for the free use of the people of the city of Winchester forever.”

The Library has maintained it's Victorian architecture and cozy feel. Complete with spiral staircases, an elaborate dome roof, and a pay phone closet located on the first floor. 

 

It was the perfect location for me to shoot Susan and JayAre's engagement photos and I am eager to return for more photos later! 

The rainy day made the exterior even more glorious than I had imagined! 

Engaged: Susan and JR sneak peek..

Do you hear me? 

I'm talkin' to you

Across the water across the deep blue ocean
Under the open sky, oh my, baby I'm trying
Boy, I hear you in my dreams
I feel your whisper across the sea
I keep you with me in my heart
You make it easier when life gets hard

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again...

They don't know how long it takes
Waiting for a love like this
Every time we say goodbye
I wish we had one more kiss
I'll wait for you I promise you, I will
 

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Lucky we're in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

And so I'm sailing through the sea
To an island where we'll meet
You'll hear the music fill the air
I'll put a flower in your hair
Though the breezes through trees
Move so pretty you're all I see
As the world keeps spinning round
You hold me right here right now

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
I'm lucky we're in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

Ooohh ooooh oooh oooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooooh ooooh oooh oooh ooh ooh ooh ooh...

Photographer Forum Magazine pt. II

So, people have been asking... I might has well just say it... 


Some of you will remember me announcing that I made it to the finalist judging round of Photographer's Forum Magazine's 31st annual college photography contest. 


Unfortunately, I didn't place. But, hey... 14,000 entries... and I STILL made it to the FINALIST round! I'm stoked to have made it that far. Perhaps I will try again next year... and am definitely looking for other opportunities in the mean time. 


In other news... it was 75 degrees the other day!!!... Then yesterday we got snow and sleet again. ::sigh:: Go, Virginia crazy weather. :-P 

 ^^ugly dancer feet.... wheeee! 

Will spring every come for real? I was so ready to pull these babies out again and wear 'em for good... (yes, I know. Flip flops before Memorial day is a fashion faux pas... but do I care? Obviously not!).

Spring, how I await thy beautiful blue skies.... 

Chinatown

One of my favorite places in Washington, D.C. Smackdab in the middle of the nation's capital is one small block with 20 Chinese and Asian restaurants, Chinese markets, and an insane amount of character. Not to mention the gorgeous arch located just around the corner from the Verizon Center...

  

Dogs

These are mine. Both yellow, English labs. Both from the same breeder. They're actually cousins. But, other than the fact that they're dogs... I'm not sure they could be more different. 


Schultz (named for the lovable German Sergeant in "Hogan's Heroes") is going on 10 years old started as a crazy pup who would chew the siding off of our house, but has mellowed into quite the gentlemanly dog since since the new pup came on the scene a couple years ago. 

Rylie is the rambunctious reincarnation of Schultz as a puppy... only in female form. She will bounce around and go literally nuts when you walk down the stairs in the morning and she'll catch ice cubes and dog treats in midair (yeah, we teach our dogs cool tricks). She loves to play, but will throw nearly a temper tantrum when she's ignored (believe me, doggie tantrums? it's quite the sight to see). 

Descriptive of her personality? Yes, I'd say so. 

These next two shots speak more than a thousand words about how my two dogs react to things in such opposite ways. We had a branch fall from one of our trees during massive winds last week. 
Rylie's reaction: "BIG STICK!!!!! NEW TOY! LET ME HAAAAAVE IT!" 

Schultz's reaction: "That will make a huge mess and I don't want to be there when the humans find it."

All in all, I love them. And I think they're gorgeous... when they sit still long enough for a picture. :) 

Valentine's Day

Honestly, for a girl who is very unentangled romantically... I have looots of love in my life! :) 

And my mommy loved her flowers :) I think they're rather pretty too. :) 

I think my boss likes me. She gives me happy stuff on Valentines :) super cool! Best. Boss. Ever.