Happy Halloween

Halloween felt a bit frazzled this year, coming home so late from after school activities.  But we managed to fit in a bit of trick or treating.  Trick or treating is really hit or miss in this country, mostly miss.  I'd say in our area of London only about 5-10% of houses participate.  It was still fun, and Trevon and Madeleine enjoyed it well enough that it felt like real Halloween for them.  This is the first year Dallin hasn't gotten in costume, but somehow that didn't stop him from grabbing his pumpkin and hitting the streets with us.


Holy Batman!


Batman took his class teddy out (think Flat Stanley) trick or treating.


After an hour or so trick or treating in the cold, rain it was time to head back over the train tracks for home.


Dark Knight

Falling

This park is one of the main reasons we chose this house.  It's a block and a half from our front door.  It's a massive, gorgeous park (one of only eight royal parks in London).  We drive through it daily to school, church, etc.  It's also home to a large deer population, descendants of the deer that King Henry VIII hunted (unsuccessfully :) when he lived in Hampton Court Palace just adjacent to this park.  It's mating season now, and the deer are very active.  We can hear their loud mating grunts (I can hear it now as I type) from inside our house a block and half away from the park gates!

Right now the park is hitting its autumnal glory, in a full array of autumn colours.  Not an hour off the plane from Dublin we stopped in the park on the way home for a little evening frolic in the leaves.





Practising his deer in the headlights look.



































The one shot I could get out of my very (near) teen full of angst.


I'm feeling a bit lazy this year on the Christmas card front.  Don't be surprised if these end up doing the job.

Irish American

This was my favourite shoot of the weekend.  What is not to love about gorgeous Irish stonework, brilliant low, late afternoon light and this completely charming Irish-American family?







The girls with my dear friend and photographer extraordinaire, Kamee June.  Love them all!

Irish Pub Grub

As the sunset after our day of shooting, we were invited by our hosts to join them for a pint in the pub.  I've never had a drink of alcohol in my life, but I love a good pub.  Maybe it hearkens back to my childhood watching my all-time favourite sit-come, Cheers.  It's where "everybody knows your name." Most often dimly lit, cozy establishments, pubs feel like a shared family room.  In many towns and villages across the UK and Ireland, the local pub is the heart of the community.  People gather to share and unload life's cares.







Chatting over Guinness and Diet Cokes!

Cheeky Kamee taking a pretend turn as barista. 

You can find some seriously good food in a pub.  Pub grub has turned into an art form, and fine gastropubs dot the land over serving some of the most delicious comfort foods you've ever eaten.  This Irish stew was melt-in-your-mouth goodness!





This place was a real find, the epitome of a great gastropub.  Beautifully welcoming and delicious food!











A little preview of the next day's shoot . . .