Sierra Field Trip

Traditionally I drive up to the Hectors the day before Thanksgiving and help with the baking and chopping and what not. Of course, all my traditions are changing a little bit along with my life, often for the better. This year Joel and I did drive up the the Hectors on Wednesday, but we decided to turn a two hour drive into an all day field trip!

We started by driving to Sonora for lunch at Hong Kong Restaurant. The Hong Kong is the place we ate the day we got engaged, but the reason we keep going back because the have some of the best sushi (and service) we've ever had. I wish I'd taken pictures - they have some of the most ridiculous decorations.

We drove by Columbia and then up to Murphys, the center of Sierra Nevada wine country, where we visited the beautiful Ironstone Winery.

After the winery we headed even further up and East to Calaveres Big Trees. Joel had never been, and it had been about ten years since I had seen the big red woods. 

Anyway, we had a fabulous day. After seven and a half hours of driving and sightseeing we followed some vague directions that cut through the hills and arrived at the Hectors in time to roll pie crusts.

The End. Fine.

James

Today Janine, Kathryn and I went to Columbia for a girls-day-out/photoshoot with my favorite nephew James (he's my only nephew for now)! It was the perfect day and we had so much fun strolling around Columbia, taking pictures, a delicious lunch at Jamestown's Coffee Shop and even a little last minute antique shopping.

Erica & Louis

Erica and Louis chose Jacqueline Plaza to be their wedding photographer for their beautiful October wedding. Jackie asked me if I wanted to come with her as an assistant/student for the day, and I couldn't have been more excited! I spent the day carrying around lenses, keeping track of the time (a very important job) and snapping a ton of candids with my own camera. I was a totally awesome experience for me. Thanks Jackie for letting me follow you around all day. Erica and Louis, it was such a pleasure meeting the two of you on the day you became one.

Check out Jackie's photos from the wedding at http://jacquelineplazaphotography.blogspot.com/