9/13 - Tractor Time

This week we made a little trip to my hometown to spend time with family and framily (when friends become like family). Elsie met everyone, Samuel was able to fulfill his toddler dreams with a ride on the tractor, and I came home feeling refreshed. Win, win, win!

♥, Molly

View From Here // Pike's Place Public Market

an image // from the week // no words

♥, Molly

View From Here // Family Time

an image // from the week // no words

♥, Molly

View From Here // Oyster Dome Hike

an image // from the week // no words

photo by David

♥, Molly

View From Here // Morning Cuddles

an image // from the week // no words

♥, Molly

Instant Love: an Instax Summer in Bellingham

U-pick blueberries

Indian Paintbrush

Sam ♥

Pop's 85th birthday!!

the ever-lovely Rosie Schultz

my momma

a break in the clouds

Although I was home for 5 weeks this summer, my little Instax camera and I were sadly separated for 4 of them.  Good thing I love these prints so much--it somehow balances things out and makes me feel less sad to only have 7 instax from the whole US trip!

Although I'm not sure I will ever be able to do more than visit, Bellingham will forever hold a special little place in my heart.  I think you can see that in these prints.  It's such a gift to be with people you love in a place you love. 

♥, Molly

View From Here // Heliotrope Ridge

inspired by {this moment} by soulemama
an image // from the week // no words

♥, Molly

View From Here // My Happy Place

inspired by {this moment} by soulemama
an image // from the week // no words

♥, Molly

New Year in the Northwest

No better way . . .

I can't think of a better way to start 2012 than with my dad, Wendy, and their 4 lively critters.  

I woke up to a special breakfast of green eggs and ham (my dad's pretty clever like that) and homemade toast.  Mmmm.

After breakfast we had enough energy for a full round of fort building.  Our little party was going strong until a gang of stuffed animals crashed the scene and brought down the house.  Literally. We recovered the victims, assessed the damage, and decided it was too difficult to rebuild.  Time to move on to the next thing.

Naturally, that meant fingerstaches.  Mustaches are probably considered to be an overused source of humor by now, but we still had a good time laughing at one another anyway.  It was a nice excuse to be silly.

The rest of the day included reading (I finished this), taking care of baby dolls with Nona, playing games (mostly this and this), eating too much homemade candy, drawing pictures, and staying warm and cozy by the fire.  It was a lovely, lazy, and wonderful way to ease into January.  

Now, after a perfectly relaxing start to New Year, I'm hoping the rest of  2012 will follow in the same way... Ha.

♥, Molly

P.S.  It's really hard to take photos inside a blanket fort.

Instant Love: An Instax Winter in Washington

1. lights and baubles 

2. an Old Town breakfast with one my dearest friends

can you tell which one of us lives in the eternally sunny UAE and which one lives in the rainy PNW? ha!

3. the stache

2009 may have been the year of the mustache but we think 2012 could be the year of the comeback.

4. a little shopping date with the sister

5. milkshakes and cute babies

 in one booth. at the same time. i can now die in peace. 

6. simply breakfast: 

GoodEarth tea and homemade panettone 

7. horatio, the great frisbee hunter

8. coffee date at avellino

9.  brie.  

whom i simply adore.♥

10. the snow covered cascades

i love having a little instant camera. i get such a kick out of holding a one-of-a-kind print in my hand seconds after i've pressed 'click'.  you don't even know.

♥, molly

p.s. scanning credits go to my incredible 'assistant', ms. jill cox.  you're the best!

Out and About Washington

Thanks to Liz for this picture.

We have the same hair right now!

I love Washington so much that it's hard not to get too mushy when I talk about it.  Sunny afternoons, snowy Mt. Baker, good friends, Old Town Cafe, foggy mornings, bowling under black lights, red headed critters, lazy days in pajamas, homemade baklava, classic milkshakes, the streets of Bellingham, sunshiney afternoon walks, and adorable babies with kissable cheeks are just skimming the surface.  Don't get me started.

♥, Molly

Oh Christmas Tree

On my first few days back in Washington, my body was having a hard time with jet lag.  Most mornings I'd try to stay in bed as long as I could before venturing downstairs to cozy up next to the fire and read.  One early morning I decided to skip the reading and play with my camera instead.

I read a little 'how to shoot sparkle lights' somewhere online and followed the directions. I was most surprised with how the lights came out--it's a mini-Christmas miracle that it actually sort of worked.   In the 4 tree pictures above I used a tripod, low shutter speed (1/5s, 1/8s, 1/8s, 1/4s respectively), low ISO (Lo1), f.1.8, and a remote.  Later I ended up changing the f stop, ISO, and shutter speed in all sorts of various configurations.  I seems that the lower the shutter speed, the more twinkles. I like twinkles.

Finding and decorating the tree is one of my favorite parts of Christmas. I love the fresh smell. I love unwrapping and 'discovering' the same ornaments year after year.  I love the way it looks once it's covered with lights and surrounded by presents. I'd say it almost casts a spell on me.

Must be magic.

♥, Molly