I have just returned from spending the past few weeks with my family at our summer home. Our days there are passed in glorious slovenly fashion...we sit, we eat, the adults drink, we eat some more, and sometimes (if we're feeling adventurous) we swim. This goes on for several days on repeat. It is a time of laughter, of bickering, of games, and of nostalgia...especially bickering.

I have spent every summer of my life in the halls of this house, in the waters of the river, and it has  become a part of me.

I am a strong believer in slowing life down so that you can appreciate how fast it really goes. We all need places where we can accomplish this, and for me it is in the curious halls of Chicahominy house. 

The Mill (June 2014)

About two weeks ago I went on an adventure with my dear friend Zoe. We explored an abandoned mill that has been decaying, crumbling, dying for several years. (Yes, I said dying...I believe that buildings can die when they no longer feel the breath of use).

 The place was magical. The light shone brilliantly into every room, highlighting the peeling pink paper of the walls and the cracking white of the wooden floorboards. Ivy coated the outside of the windows, tinting them in a honey green. 

I needed to go back. I needed to make that magical place come to life again in a photo. I wanted to capture the haunting presence that filled every nook and cranny. 

Photos of the scouting mission:

After considerable planning, the day of the grand shoot finally came. The results were not as I imagined (there were several logistic problems during the shooting process–low light and ill-made head pieces being the two most offensive) but I still had a wonderful time.
I'm coming to understand that it's okay if the the end product of a shoot doesn't work out or resemble what I imagine...sometimes the experience worth more than the result.
Failure should be a pleasure–it is the only way to assure eventual success (or at least this is what I shall tell myself so that I can sleep at night)  

The final photos:

Early June.

June is such a lovely month! The stress of school is falling from my shoulders in waves just as summer knocks at my door with offers of new adventures.

May in a nutshell

I am stressed out and going crazy because of AP exams! I'm trying to distract myself with hiking and exploring. 

April 2014 (a cut and paste kind of month)

My parents and I tried to force the coming of spring and warmth by eating outside. It didn't quite work.

Easter:

 The rest of April (hiking, laughing, and baking lemon bars):

 It was William Shakespeare's 450th birthday on April 23 of 2014. My dad and I ordered these cupcakes in celebration. Happy birthday Bill.

The making of Pedal-Wonderful

Grainne came over last night. I glued flowers to her face and forced her to lay out in the freezing cold. She is gorgeous, though I recognize that you might not be able to tell that from the final photo. Expect to see more of her in the future.

Collecting petals for the shoot:

Behind the scenes of the shoot:

 The final photo:

NYC in April

I went to NYC this weekend with my father. 

We stayed at a hotel that was unsuitable for both his and my age...it had a very late twenty-year old clubbing vibe.

He sold at an antiquarian book fair and I was able to do one of my favorite things–to wander amidst aisles upon aisles of books. The books smelled of memories.

My dad and I stood on the balcony of the penthouse suite as we watched the sun rise.