Gabarus Lake

 Just before Christmas, I found myself in Cape Breton again to spend some holiday time with my mother. December 21^st was particularly clear, crisp, and cold, with a light layer of snow, so I packed my camera into the car and let it take me where it would.

By early evening, I remembered a sunset I had never captured, and headed out to a little place I know on Gabarus Lake.

On the way there, I came across this lovely fellow and couldn’t resist stopping the car to catch the juicy way the light was falling across him.

I arrived at my destination with plenty of time to wander before the sun went down, so I piled on gloves and an extra sweater and went to investigate a nearby brook. It was there that I found exactly what I hadn’t known I’d been looking for!

Mother Nature had turned some random twigs into canvas, and frozen some dripping water into expertly carved sculptures. There were icicles and droplets, solidified in place by the calm below-zero temperatures, and painted with reflections of the surrounding water and skyline. I was entranced!

So cool!

I did also end up getting my sunset shots. This is actually two stitched together for the full effect and it's my favorite.

All in all, it was a long drive, and a cold, wet shoot, but so definitely worth the trip!

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Once, this was my favorite place on Earth.

I grew up here, made so many friends, and hit so many milestones right along these shores. These days, it's overgrown and unkempt, split into lots to be sold to the highest bidder. For me, though, the memories alone made it warm and inviting. My heart swelled so much that I stood there frozen to the spot, and went through the entire spectrum of emotions while the sun burst out from behind the ominous-looking clouds.
It was a sign, I knew. Someone very important knew I was there, and he hadn't forgotten either.

Boo!

 Happy Hallowe'en!

Wolfville in the Fall

Nova Scotia is famous for its apple orchards among other things. Every year, we take a day and head to the orchards for apples, pears, and a shopping mission at the local farmers' markets. It's usually in early October, but this year we didn't get out until the 29th: a little late for apples, but we still managed to find a bag or two full!

My husband's son looks forward to joining us every year, and as he gets older, he gets to be more and more of a ham for the camera. His father makes it easy. :)

We were at a different u-pick than usual due to the lateness of our arrival, and on the way out, I had a "stop-the-car!" moment as we drove past the most surreal-looking pond. It was positively beautiful!

And afterward, we made our traditional stop at Hennigar's to find these creatures all painted up for Hallowe'en!

Our last stop, as always, was Kenny's Farm Market: all the freshest fall fruit and veggies right out of the family barn. It's one of my favorite parts of the tradition, and the incredible display of color on the trees outside made it the perfect ending to another gorgeous fall day!

Lisa and Corey

Lisa and Corey came to me through a friend. It was one of those weddings where I barely knew a soul, but they made it easy for me to feel comfortable. Corey was the most easy-going groom I've ever dealt with and Lisa wasn't stressed at all!

 

Their ceremony and reception were held at the Atlantica Hotel here in Halifax. The room was small but beautiful, and everything went off without a hitch.

 They chose the Public Gardens for their formal photos and the light was absolutely perfect for family shots and fun poses alike.

 

  

  

 

 Then it was back to the hotel for supper, a candy bar, an ice cream bar (serviced by the bride and groom themselves!) and his and her cakes!

 

 Corey danced with his mom like an old pro.

 

 And Lisa and her dad both cried over a slide show of the two of them over the years.

This was one of the most difficult weddings I've ever shot, due mostly to some personal issues I had going on at the time. Lucky for me, Lisa and Corey had an action-packed day and I was able to let myself get distracted and enjoy the time I got to spend with them!