Kitty Hawk here I come!

I love beach weddings!  This weekend I will be spending my time in Kitty Hawk, NC photographing Sarah and Jon's big day.  The Outer Banks area is one of mine and my husband's favorite beaches because it's much less commercialized and crowded than Myrtle Beach, which was a place we vacationed for many years.  I am crossing my fingers for no rain and balmy temperatures for this laid back beach wedding :)  Can't wait! 

The Annual 24 Block Yard Sale Affair

Every year at the start of spring, the Hollins/Williamson Road side of Roanoke puts on a huge yard sale.  24 blocks huge to be exact.  And every year since I have lived on this side of town I forget about it... Until I stumble out of my house to let the dogs out all bleary eyed early in the morning with my PJ's on, no bra and no shoes.  Despite the many yard sale signs posted weeks in advance, every single year I get a rude awakening when I realize there are 200 people on our street and they are everywhere. Staring.  Of course, then my dogs go ballistic and I have to subdue them and rush back into the safety of my house where no one gives me the stank-eye for being in my PJ's and not wearing shoes.  Last year, I frightfully hid inside the house until everyone finally left around 3 pm, but this year I decided to make the best of it.  So, after my unexpected start to the morning, I got dressed, combed my hair and brushed my teeth.  Armed with a few business cards and my 2 cameras, I set out around the neighborhood to see what cool and weird things I could find.  And boy did I ever, along with some pretty cute ones too :)

My street ususally has only about 10 cars parked on it at any given time.  We live on a fairly quiet road, but you can see the craziness that ensues on yard sale day.

I figured I could start with the cute stuff I found! These part Siamese kittens were soooo cute. It's pretty rare to find black kittens with such beautiful, bright blue eyes.  It took EVERY ounce of self restraint to refrain from taking one of these absolutely adorable kittens home with me right then.  They were free and I lived right around the corner...  I could just take one home and... Ok... Self control engage...  Hopefully they found great homes!  And if you know me, you know I can't resist a cute Pit Bull, especially a blue one!   He seemed very happy about helping his owners go shopping- just look at that big smile! 

And now for the wierdest stuff I found.  Hmm... do uncles actually make good friends?  Yes, some uncles can be very cool.  But, from my experience and from talking to others I have to say I think most uncles do not make good friends and sometimes can be quite creepy. 

I think that cup is one of those when you put a hot beverage in it, her clothes magically dissapear.  I think.  I didn't buy it to find out. 

Also in the wierd category, a ceramic cowboy boot with fabric roses.  I kind of have to admire the talent it took to make those roses.  All of it could have been yours for a mere 50 cents!

And tied with the creepy uncle sign for wierdest yard sale find, a container of mixed nuts in a used turkey lunch meat container.   I thought $1 was a rip off personally.  And oddly enough, about 1 hour later when I came back around, someone had purchased them.  Food poisoning anyone?

 

Two of the coolest things I found was this old spinning wheel and some pottery.  I just thought the spinning wheel was cool.

I am also a huge pottery lover.  This awesome piece was from a Gatlinburg, TN potter (studio info was engraved on the bottom).  I thought it was beautiful, but the previous owners had drilled a hole straight through the bottom of the pot.  Such a bummer to ruin a nice piece of pottery like that!

I definately found some items that brought back quite a few feelings of nostalgia.  Both mine and my husband's family used to have an old blender like the one seen below on the left. I was also a huge Berenstein Bears fan, having read many of their books as a kid.

And MIB.  What can I say- kind of a classic.  Sing it with me- Here come the Men in Black!  Galaxy defenders!  Here come the Men in Black! They won't let you remember! 

The last photo reminded me of the dresses my Nanny (aka grandma) used to make me every year for Easter when I was a kid.  I hated wearing those dresses back then, but they were made with love by my Nanny's hands, which makes them so beautiful to me now. 

Christmas decorations were another thing I saw at almost every yard sale.  People apparently have a lot of extra Christmas decorations.

And I saw more than several friends which was great!   

Overall, I am so glad that I ventured out this morning.  I got to meet many of my neighbors that I haven't gotten the chance to speak to yet.  I met a lot of interesting people.  And I had fun too.  Not a bad start to my Saturday at all!  I can't wait until next year??

The Derby Day Gala, Schaffer Photography

I was invited this year to be the official photographer for Event Zone's The Derby Day Gala (http://www.eventzone.org/).  This event takes place on the day of the Kentucky Derby and celebrates and embraces the traditions of the running of the Kentucky Derby with betting of the horses, mint juleps, seersucker suits, cigars and of course large fabulous hats.  This event is also cool because it raises money for the Scholarship for the Arts  (http://www.roanokefestival.org/html/scholarship.html), a local program that offers college tuition assistance to students pursuing a higher education degree in an accredited art program.  So many people and organizations come together and donate time, talents and items to make this day possible!  The students at the Culinary Arts program at Virginia Western were there to prepare and serve hors d'oeuvres, a buffet dinner and dessert.  The food that was was cooked by the students was donated by 10 different restaurants, grocery stores and business in the area.   I have to say, the Derby Day Gala was one of the best social events of this year in Roanoke so far :) 



Mr. Devine and his date Sue.  Devine Building Services was this year's sponsor of the Derby Day Horse. (http://www.devinebuildingservices.com/)



What a group of fabulous ladies!

 

Lucky guy, eh?



Craig Balzer working the wagering booth

These cigar boxes were used to hold the raffle tickets bought at the wagering booth to bet on your favorite horses.  All cigars that were in the boxes were donated :)

Hmmm decisions, decisions.  Which horse should I choose?

Awesome aerial shot of the party

All the women were cheering on "Pants on Fire" whose jockey was the only female racing in the Kentucy Derby this year.  I cheered for her too :)

Winners of the betting.  All were so gracious and donated their winnings to the Scholarship for the Arts (http://www.roanokefestival.org/html/scholarship.html)

She won "best hat"  Pretty cool huh?  And she made it herself!  Kudos!

Money pocket squares :)

Ahhh Mint Julep!  A Kentucky Derby classic!

Ken Stockton helping Deet Reed to auction off his paintings to benefit the Scholarship for the Arts

Art wasn't the only thing donated! A week's vacation in Nag's Head, a day at Wilderness Adventure was also given away, and a 2 hour set by Project 4 was also auctioned off.  I don't know if you have ever been to Wilderness Adventure, but it is amazing and so fun.  I went there last year with my Novozymes work colleagues.  We went canoeing for several hours and my favorite, the zipline!  You get to zipline all the way down the side of a mountain- how cool! 

Getting down to the band, Project 4 (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-4-Band/192457160789738)

Father and daugher cutting loose!

I think Marty is having a good time :)

Beautiful view from Rockledge at night.

Aheuro Family Portraits, Schaffer Photography

The Aheuros were a great family to work with!  They were the epitome of modern family in every great way possible.  Mom picking on dad, dad picking on daughter, daughter picking at dad back, brother and sister picking on each other.  Everyone was making everyone laugh.  It was hard to stop laughing myself!

One of my favorite moments was when the dad was making faces and just generally being goofy when I was taking the family photos where he was not included.  He was making everyone roll with laughter.  I kept trying to turn around to see what he was doing that was so funny and never was successful.  Every time I would turn around he would stop and look at me like "What? I wasn't doing a thing!" Until... I realized I could see what he was doing in the reflection of the viewing window on my camera! Ha!  So, fyi... I could see you too!!

Brittany Senior Portraits, Hotel Roanoke (Schaffer Photography)

Brittany was an absolute joy to work with!  After family portraits at Hotel Roanoke, we headed downtown to have some fun taking senior photos!  Brittany was so fun and bubbly, it made for such a relaxed portrait session.  Her senior portraits turned out beautifully.  I don't think I could have taken a bad picture of her if I tried :) 

Brittany, it was great meeting you!  I hope you have a fantastic graduation and good luck in college!  And now we know where the infamous grafitti wall is... even if it was just around the corner! 

As always, a few of my favorites-

Bolling Family and Baby Portraits, Schaffer Photography

I had such a great time photographing the Bolling family last weekend.  I have known Stacy for about 7 years now.  We go waaaaaay back when I met her starting my long career of 8 years working as a veterinary assistant at a local vet hospitals.  We only got to work together for a few weeks before she left for the job she has now.  And then 5 years later, we were back to working together just now we are working at a research laboratory.  Roanoke really can be a small world sometimes!  It was great to see her again with her beautiful curly hair.  I hope I'm not the only girl with straight hair that envies funky, pretty and cool curly hair :)

The Bollings became parents about 7 months ago and so far they seem to be fitting right in.  They asked me to come take a few family photos and lots of their little girl and I was ecstatic to!  As you can see, baby L is absolutely adorable! Here are a few of my favorites from last weekend-

How beautiful are her eyes!!

I think she loves her crib :)

Happy family and baby!!

I am way too cool for you...