Happy Ha11oween.

Happy Halloween!!!!!

xo, Linds

Halloween Traditions

I know everyone has their own traditions for holidays and Halloween is no different.

I remember carving pumpkins every Fall as a child, but then I think there must have been some time in between where I hadn't carved one for some time. More recently, I remember using a kitchen knife and thinking.. wow, this is a lot harder than I ever remember. Of course, I probably never carved a pumpkin on my own. No doubt, my parents were probably the ones to do all the hard work of cutting and I just got to do the fun part.. taking out the insides! So it was, in fact, more of a chore to carve a pumpkin than I had remembered. Well, this year, we had an abundance of pumpkins donated to our classes at work/school so I was able to snag one to bring home and give another shot at carving. This time, I used one of those little pumpkin carving kits, with the scoops and mini saws. I'm not going to lie, it was a million times easier! Seriously, who uses kitchen steak knives?! Apparently, I didn't know any better. This made it a breeze. I'm glad I gave it another chance. I made a pretty good memory of playing with pumpkin guts while The Shins were spinning on the player. Michael and Corpsey even got a little messy with me. The ferrets got to sniff around and crawl inside the pumpkin but they weren't too interested or willing to cooperate in any kind of photo ops!

What other Halloween traditions are out there??

I have been taking in all the October Magic going on over on the Lune Vintage blog. Jill has been covering many mystical, enchanting, mysterious traditions of this time of year, such as... Tarot cards, black cats, spell books, and scrying. It's been very interesting to learn a little bit about different history, customs, and folklore. Not to mention all the beautiful images...

I've got a big crush on Jill and the whole style of Lune Vintage. Check out the October Magic posts over at Lune Vintage.... Click here.

xo, Linds

White Halloween

I have heard of White Christmas... but White Halloween? Well, nothing really surprises me with the whacky weather we have around here. The snow is coming down right now. It's not enough to really stick to anything but enough to put a light dusting on top the cars and really define the trees. Just enough to remind me how beautiful the snow is.

I am so thankful to live in a location that has a decently fair share of all four seasons. When each one comes, I'm glad to see one go and always ready for the next. I do believe fall is my favorite but it is without a doubt the season to get cut short. No complaints, though. I'm pretty content with the hum or the furnace and the pitter patter of little ferret paws around the living room after sleeping in on a Saturday morning. :)

Here are just a couple photos from snow in the past. I'm sure this was in December or January or sometime when winter was in full swing. Definitely not in October! This was Michael and I's first winter together and I had just got a new fish eye lens for the Nikon and we went out to play with it. This upcoming winter will be our third winter together and our second winter here in the apartment above the crematory!

I think the last few years, we have had some of the most intense snows I can recall, with exception of one or two childhood memories and photographs that come to mind. It reminds me a lot of crazy, unexpected, fun times. I know the first year we got this apartment was one of the biggest snow storms we had in a long time. It was enough to knock the power out in LaBelle for a good week. Also, right around the time when my father was home from a serious stay at the hospital. It was a very eventful season! I guess we had figured I had better odds staying in town where there was power and a less dangerous hill to get up and down every day for work. So, Michael stayed with me in this apartment when it was completely unfurnished. We slept on the floor! We got snowed in. We dug cars out of the snow here, at my parents house, a block away from the house, and the one time we decided we would go to the pet store when it was obviously too bad out to go! Of course, I can't think of a winter now without thinking of the roadtrip Michael, Corpsey and I took to New Jersey in one of thee worst blizzards ever! I will still never understand how we navigated through Asbury Park when you really couldn't see what was the road and what was not! We got snowed in the hotel with The Bouncing Souls! We ate vending machine food and saw the beach covered in snow! That is something not everyone gets to see! Oh, and Corpsey's infamous slips and falls on the walk back from Asbury Lanes!

See.. I just love the how the seasons have the power to bring back such vivid memories from the past and fill me such excitement and wonder of what new memories will be made this time around.

So... I wonder if we will have a White Halloween.....?

Stay warm and safe!

xo, Linds

125 records

Guess what?

I've got the whole world at my fingertips once again!

Yep, we got our laptop back today! Thank goodness for Max. He is one smart, nice guy.

I can't tell you how amazing it feels to tap these keys again. I love my iPhone as much as the next person, but nothing beats this big old screen and full keyboard. It's silly, I know, but it doesn't get any better. It's going to be a tedious process to gather bookmarks and get back into my normal computer routine but I know it will be second nature once again.

I have to get back into the groove of blogging. I have so many drafts and snippets of ideas but I will have to work some magic to make up for my absence. It's a real bummer that I was without a computer for a huge block of time during my favorite month! I missed out on documenting a lot of fun times.

Instead of my usual review of the month, I think I will just share some Instagrams that should sum up some bits and pieces of the month since the phone is my permanent sidekick. Don't worry, though, I have about 4 camera memory cards full of photos too. To be honest, I'm not even sure what all is on them anymore. I know it's a mix of business and leisure, that's for sure. It should be fun to sort through those and I know I will have a lot to catch up on here.

As for now, this post here was probably going to rot away in my drafts if it was there any longer. It was a blank document with the title just as is. It was just a thought or idea for a post but somehow it never took off. Basically, I had finally made a count of all my vinyl and came up with a legit number. This is one of my proudest collections. I do have my favorites but all the records are very sentimental to me because they were either passed down to me or they were some serious thrifting treasures.

Well, let's take this nice and slow. I promise for some great content. I'm looking forward to it more than anyone.

xo, Linds

These Days

Another little hello from my iPhone. The new hard drive for our laptop should be in by the end of the week. Thank goodness. I know it sounds stupid sillybut I really miss my computer. I feel very unproductive and uninspired without it. I'm keeping updated and in touch with mostly everyone I need to but I must say, my days are a bit more dull without all these beautiful images and ideas floating around in my mind from all my favorite corners of the internet.

What else is new? Well, Ichabod seems to be back to his normal, sleepy lifestyle. He has become especially attached to a tiny stuffed basketball with a bell inside of it and also, a cardboard box that I intended to throw out but they have all three taken a liking to it.

Right now, Michael is playing Magic with some friends while I fiddle with my technology. Corpsey is in route here. It's bath night for the weasels. We are still battling fleas but slowly and surely winning. I got a pumpkin from school/work since we had an abundance of them donated by parents. I would like to carve it up tonight. Perhaps before the ferrets bathe because I think they would like to check it out and explore it and that could get messy. Maybe they wont be interested at all but it seems like a fun experience. They were crawling all over, sniffing, and digging at it when I brought it home. It made for some pretty great festive picture. I cannot wait to upload them and look at them and share..

We have a Modest Mouse record spinning at the moment too. It feels very right and relaxing after a exhausting, productive Sunday, a pretty miserable night, and a long Monday at work. I think I will go savour the moment...

xo, Linds

Crashed

Hi. I'm struggling to do a quick post from my phone on my break. My life has been quite an eventful mess! As far as the computer goes, the bad news is that it needs a new hard drive. I plan to take care of that as soon as I get a free minute. I had been very busy taking, editing, and delivering photos and preparing again to do so all over again this Saturday! Last Friday, Ichabod got into a pretty serious accident with the couch. It really shook our world up and gave us the biggest scare. He is doing well and recovering still but it was a total shock and it all happened so sudden. I'm still trying to sort through all the emotions and thoughts that flashed through my mind and move forward. We are very blessed. Also, we did have our Halloween party finally! It was a good time. There are some crazy fun pictures but well, they do us no good without a computer to upload them on!

xoxo, Linds

Editing

Hi, I'm still alive. Just not much to say lately...

I'm in the process of editing some engagement pictures I took over the weekend. I'm pretty pleased with them. The fall colors really do make a beautiful backdrop. I could still use some pointer with my camera and the forever changing lighting settings. I just can't get it right. I plan to take them over to Carla tomorrow to show her. I hope she is happy with them. That's all that really matters when it comes down to it. I shouldn't be so hard on myself. I have some other work lined up and it would really do me good to have some confidence.

Back to touching up and watching Grey's Anatomy.

xo, Linds

LPS Update

I just realized that the usual backdrop where I photograph my collection is now covered by a poster. A sweet Ralph Steadman poster, but nonetheless, I had to set up a new makeshift spot in the living room to photograph. They're a little different.. shiny and reflective. Enjoy.

Phew.. Still a few more to share before I'm all caught up!

I'm also working on a fun little project to display my collection. ;) More about that later.

xo, Linds

Unparty Party

I think we are finally over the rain. It had rained.. for days, I swear. We had to cancel the Halloween party we had planned to kick off the first Saturday in October last weekend. So instead of sitting around bummed out last weekend, I decided to have some close friends over for a little laid back get together. So here are a few photos from last Saturday. I'm glad most of my friends don't mind being in front of the camera.

Last night, Michael and I met up with Paul and his girlfriend, Laura, and headed to Connellsville to hang out with Russ and his lovely roommates and friends. It was a good time. It seems like on Saturdays it is becoming a ritual to spend time with friends. It reminds me of many of weekends when I was younger. I love it so much.

As soon as I can get myself moving, I am going to get ready to go shoot some engagement photos for my cousin, Carla. It will be nice to check out the mountains and see how all the leaves are changing. Fall is so beautiful around here. I'm not going to lie, I'm a little bit nervous about taking  pictures, but what can I do? I'll just go with the flow. I'm sure they will turn out great.

xo, Linds

Pinch me!

Sorry for the lack of post the last couple days. I've been pretty busy.

Friday I took off work because I had planned on going to see Primus with Laura that evening at Stage AE. Somehow it all worked out even more perfectly because on Wednesday morning I had found out Leftover Crack was playing at Altar Bar on Thursday night!

Here's a couple Instagrams I snapped.. I love my camera, but unfortunately, I'm rarely allowed to take it into venues with the detachable lens and all. I did get a couple quick couple minute videos. I'm sure they are bad quality all around but perhaps I'll post 'em later because I know looking back on them will bring a smile to my face.

 Les Claypool of Primus @ Stage AE in Pittsburgh

 Stza Crack of Leftover Crack @ Altar Bar in Pittsburgh

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. So far so good over here. Tomorrow afternoon I get to shoot some engagement pictures and I'm off work Monday, also! Ahh.. niiiice.

xo, Linds

Maestro

Maestro after a morning bath. :)

Maestro does not get enough attention on my blog. Obviously, he's tricky to photograph. Uncovering Maestro's cage is the highlight of my morning routine. I love how perky he gets when I open the blinds and the sun is starting to peek in through the windows. It's admirable. I love to hear his beautiful singing. I just love this little birdie. My pets really brighten up my day..

xo, Linds

Students

These photos are from Open House way back in the beginning of September. Yeah, I know, I thought they looked like sweet little children, too... ;) Ha ha. Kidding.. I think. It's hard for me to even say this after a long, hard 8 hours of work, but they do have their moments when they make me smile.

xo, Linds

Instalove

A few recent Instagrams....

xo, Linds