Graduation Photo Shoot

We'd been talking to Melanie about taking new headshots of Cora, and when we got her graduation gown, I asked if we could combine a graduation photo shoot in with the headshots.

It worked out for Mel to come up on Friday, the day of graduation, so Cora could kill two birds with one stone - get dolled up for a photo shoot, and for graduation.

She even got her hair done in the early afternoon!

We took the graduation shots in a pretty natural area in the neighborhood behind our house, where thankfully it was shady, since it was unfortunately HOT.

And beforehand, we went to the newer shopping center in Old Newhall, where there was a surprising variety of colored walls, perfect for headshots.

I wanted a few shots of Cora in a tree, since she's always loved climbing them. 

Graduates are invited to decorate the tops of their caps, and Violet took on the job for Cora. This is a funny phrase from the Simpsons, and Vi dreamed up red theater curtains and a dark stage backdrop.

Later, we realized the colors don't go with Cora's school colors, but rather the school colors from the high school she left two years ago. Oops!

So pretty!

Woodsy Walk

 We took a lovely after-church walk on Sunday, and Violet brought her camera. Such beauty every direction

These giant garden spiders are everywhere, too.

We had such a great trip! Thanks to Aunt Patty and Uncle Bill for a lovely respite from the grind.

Meteors at Riley's Farm

 Violet enjoys nature, including star-gazing, and Stace and I love Riley's Farm in Oak Glen. We've now been twice as a family over the last few years, once for Colonial Christmas and once for the Sleepy Hollow dinner theater. 

So when I saw Riley's note that they would be opening up late on Saturday night for the Perseid Meteor Shower, I thought, maybe we should make the (long) drive out and spend the night!

Plus, Vi has had a rather boring summer, and getting her out of the house seemed like a good idea. 

She didn't agree, to be honest, but in the end I think she'd say she had an OK time. And Cora stayed behind.

We got in around 5, in time for delicious dinner of chicken pot pie and beef/mashed potato pie. We then walked a bit of the grounds, through apple orchards and berry vines, past the goats and pigs. 

Stace got himself caught up in the stocks...again.

Cidery cheers!

Apple pie for dessert!

Then, we settled onto our blanket and waited for darkness.

We borrowed one of my dad's good cameras and figured out how to do a long exposure, for decent nighttime photos.

What glorious skies, our God has created!

Violet said this was the Milky Way in view here.

We were able to see a handful of meteors, too, which was very special. I've seen a few shooting stars in my life, but never a half-dozen in one night! 

Someone was able to catch a meteor on film! Well, digitally. Whatever. Riley's posted it on their Instagram - so cool! (Check above the tree on the right.)

We then headed to our hotel for  the night, and enjoyed the rest of our mini getaway.