We went to The Great Pumpkin Patch on Saturday with my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and nieces. It was a great patch focused on their plants. They touted 200? varieties and sold more types than anyone would want. They had creative decorations and no jack-o-lanterns. We were able to breeze through the place in the morning without lines or meltdowns. I would love to spend more time there in the future with the chitlins.
We at at Beth’s favorite pizza chain, Monical’s Pizza, on the way home. It’s very similar to Pizza Man with its tangy dressing & thin crust but the pizza is always a step ahead. They don’t use a conveyor oven which may be why their crust is very crispy. I also found it to be seasoned more.
This reminds me that I need to get back to Imo’s, a St. Louis chain. I must make a lunch trip West around Christmas when Holly is home.
Shooting my sister and her family may have had the highest enjoyment to effort ratio for any organized time with my camera. We were done in 30 minutes and the kids never complained.
Shooting my beautiful nieces this weekend was a treat.
Weekend
- We made both legs of the trip in 5 hours. Previous runs with Nolan and a pregnant Beth were around 6 hours.
- I made chicken salad for the drive up. We stopped at the TN/KY border rest area, chose a picnic table, and enjoyed a lighter meal than our fast food stop. I hope we continue this on future trips.
- I shot many family photos this weekend and I’m very pleased with them. Aperture, my photo management application, gets a hated on but I’m able to knock down a couple hundred photos in 10 minutes.
- I recreated a childhood memory at Niemerg’s this weekend by getting a bowl of tapioca and a muffin front he salad bar. I also stepped foot in their bar for the first time in my life.
- In The Brass Rail Lounge, my thirst, the environment, and the beer (Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat) reached a level of satisfaction that is rare. That frosted mug and orange slice hit a spot deep down. I almost ordered their 23oz $3 (TWENTY THREE OUNCES FOR THREE DOLLARS!!!) in the dining room but knew I would be indulging later.
- Beth & I went to The Brickbat Alley with Holly for a couple beers before her friends showed up. Being out amongst the youngins without my peers made me feel old but I enjoyed my time. I didn’t have to submit myself to an inferior beer which made me happy.
- I enjoy sitting with my family in church because it’s an activity that would be exactly the same if I was living there.
- We visited my sister’s new house. I’m so happy for her and her family.
- Beth, Holly, Nolan, & I had nice time at El Rancherito talking about veganism vs vegetarianism and enjoying the simplicity of white cheese dip.
- Nolan spiked a 103º fever that prompted a cool bath, super-cuddling, and ibuprofen most often than the recommended administration frequency. We quickly brought it down to 101º and then 99º this morning. It was back to 101º tonight so I will be staying at home with him.
- We brought back two bags of potatoes from Beth’s parent’s garden. I made sure to grab a bunch of new tater’s for roasting whole. We had some last week and they taste better than the store’s.
- Last night I looked West toward a green field and vibrant sunset. I turned to Holly and said something like “I love this. The openness. Wide sky. I really love this.” I have said it here once before; you don’t see the stars from the city. I gaze at the sky when I’m back home. Don’t take your stars for granted.
Sackbeat (Taken with instagram)
Luv (Taken with instagram)
Rest Area Stretch & Dinner (Taken with instagram)
Weekend Happys
- Watching Nolan gnaw on a green bean from Beth’s parent’s garden
- Eating yummy fish at The Midway like we did when I started dating Beth
- Sitting at the Shumway International Motor Park with my family while tractors and trucks roared beside us
- Sleeping my parent’s cold and dark basement
- Seeing Nolan enjoyed by so many people
- Receiving an exquisite pice of art from Shae she said was “Ty Ty’s nummies” when asked
- Chilaxin’ in my parent’s new pool
- Grilling and eating a very good pork burger
- Making and eating homemade ice cream
- Eating said ice cream on my Grandma Bierman’s delicious blackberry pie
- Eating a slice of my Grandma Neu’s equally delicious coconut cream pie
- Counting money with my family after church. We rock that job so hard.
- My brother kicked my ass in checkers.
- Breakfast at Cracker Barrel
- Yummy lunch and good company with the Hoene’s
- Watching Nolan squeal with Andy’s toy on the way home
Beth & I recently decided to go home Saturday after her family left because we had no plans down here and my family was hosting an Easter party. We hoped to surprise my family but had to give in when my Mom was contacting my mother-in-law and I to figure out how to get Nolan’s Easter basket down to us. I would have felt bad if she shipped it here so we spilled the beans. I don’t regret telling them but now my sister believes that we’ll never be able to pull the wool over her eyes. Some day…
Traveling home with Nolan for a 30ish hours was a good test. We clocked in at 5:45 on both legs of the trip. We’ve made it home in 4 hours before but usually will make it under 5 with a nom stop. We made a few more stops and each stop was longer than usual because someone kept shitting their pants. I’ll give you three guesses who that was.
Sunday was Nolan’s first trip to church. He slept the entire time which was appreciated. Simply being around so many people I know was a great feeling even if I didn’t speak to most.
That afternoon my parent’s hosted my Mom’s family which resulted in the bulk of these photos. Babies were the center of attention of conversation. I can’t help but think what the family was like when my cousin’s and I were young.
We’ll be back home next weekend for four days.
Easter
Sometimes I don’t feel like photographing a family event. I’ll usually tell Beth about 10 minutes from arrival, “I think I’m going to leave my camera in my car.” Whatever fold in my brain that enjoys photography doesn’t always click because of the mood I’m in or recent failures. I toted my camera around Friday night and didn’t walk away with anything special so I didn’t feel like trying on Saturday. I don’t regret the decision because I shot a lot with my sister’s camera. Beth had her’s in case my aunts started doing headstands. They didn’t. :-(
On Sunday I celebrated with my Dad’s family, a group I usually don’t get that “click” with because they aren’t outgoing and I feel like a black sheep around most of them. Nevertheless I brought my camera in. Shortly after the meal my cousin relayed word to me that Grandma requested I shoot group photos. I looked around for a suitable backdrop. The tree was in a tight, ugly corner and flanked by a huge pile of presents and noms. But there was a short, cinnamon wall with a chair and empty entertainment center. The hosts approved my request to move the furniture and I had a very pleasing backdrop as well as a clean white ceiling to bounce off.
I easily knocked out family photos but I had a strong desire to get a photo of my grandmother… alone. I have seen family struggle with getting solo photos taken of themselves for all of my life. I know that it isn’t enjoyable to be reminded that you are alone but I believed, at least on Sunday, that any sadness that may be caused by my request would be outweighed by the happiness the photo would bring myself and others. After she stood with her children I asked her if I could take a photo of her alone and she obliged. *snap* *snap* I showed her the LCD screen and she giggled, “That’s me.” I was giddy.
Shortly after the photos I sat across from her with my 70-210mm lens shooting some fun shots. I recorded a video of her opening a digital camera and making faces that I interrupted as “Why in the hell do I need this?”
Grandpa’s Workbench (Taken with instagram)
