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▣ Paddle at the Point - setting a world record !
Last Saturday I got to be a part of something really amazing - Pittsburg attempted to break the world record for the largest floatilla of canoes and kayaks. (I would have embedded the video but they had it disabled.) Check out the WTAE new story here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWSn7GP7FhQ&NR=1 What is a floatilla? Floatilla: A flotilla (from Spanish, meaning a small flota (fleet) of ships, and this from French flotte), or naval flotilla, is a formation of small warships that may be part of a larger fleet. A flotilla is usually composed of a homogeneous group of the same class of warship, such as frigates, destroyers, torpedo boats, submarines, gunboats, or minesweepers. Larger warships are grouped in squadrons.
Ok so I spell it wrong. I like mine better - it emphasizes the floating part.
Here is a time lapse video that shows the whole event.
We arrived early Saturday morning on the Mon Wharf and parked along with hundreds of "our kinda people" - folks who know that having river grime in your sandals and sitting in wet shorts all day are just "all part of the experience". To be honest, we had no idea that there were so MANY boaters in the area. It was pretty cool to be among so many friends! We arrived en mass at the Mon Wharf like we were hitting the beach at Normandy. And we were just the group that brought our own boats - there were hundreds more over at heinz field that were renting boats to participate!
*** Disclaimer! Due to the weather and nature of boating - it was a bad idea to take my big cameras out on the water so we used my Dad's point-and-shoot to take pictures all day. These shots are a little lower resolution than you're used to seeing here but I really wanted to share!! ***
The big launch onto the Mon river.
Like two armies meeting on the battlefield, when we paddled around the other side of the point we entered the Allegheny and joined up with the other half of the group that was launching from Heinz Field!
It was really great spending the day with just my Dad (seen here looking like the invisible man's evil twin - highly visible man!). There was supposed to be a helicopter fly over and take aerial photographs that we could purchase and so our plan was to stand out from the crowd. Dad wore bright tie-dye and an american flag bandanna - I wore my neon yellow Y108 Send Me Backstage t-shirt with an american flag bandanna and mardi gra beads (to be "festive")! We were tame compared to the folks who wore sombreros, dyed their hair pink, brought flags, work a shark hat - etc. The flag bandannas worked though! I've been able to pick us out in several of the overhead shots taken from Mt. Washington!!
This is what it looked like to be in the middle of the pack as they were starting to form the floatilla!
It took some fanangaling but once we were all holding eachother together, the paddlers at the outskirts of the group were able to pull us away from the point and we free floated - paddles in the air for 30 seconds to break the world record!! What a thrill to be part of such a large team effort litterally holding it together by our hands!
Then the sky let loose into a torrential downpour - you can see it at 00:36 in the time lapse video after the record had been achieved with 1800+ boats we headed for shore like rats leaving a sinking ship! Dad snapped this photo of me, now donning rain gear paddling past the gateway clipper dock. I found the above youtube video shot by another participant and wanted to share the rainstorm with you!
It was an awesome day on the water with my Dad who is always been the catalyst for my spirit of adventure since I was a little kid taking us on camping trips, kayak trips, and tons of long hikes and drives through the woods. The rain just made it even more Pittsburgh.
Big big thank you to Venture Outdoors for planning, organizing, and hosting the whole event - it was great!
Click on these links for more information:
http://www.ventureoutdoors.org/
http://www.paddleatthepoint.com/ 7 Comments added to this post ▣ Khyrsten
This post has two parts put together in one -the first is Khyrsten's senior pictures which we shot late last summer near Harrison City. We met her along with her mom and grandma at the park and then traveled around town for some variety!
She has the most unbelievable eyes!
Khyrsten really put a lot of time into planning her session and choosing her outfits. She had several wardrobe changes and even brought along her pet bunny, her CD collection, and her Dad's El Camino! It was great having her mom and grandma right there to help out too!
Cool car!!
We finished out the evening with her guitar collection at an abandoned set of tracks in Export. I did a little grunge vintage post processing work here.
************* Fast forward - BLOOP BLOOP BLOOP ******************* to last friday when I met up with Khyrsten again just before her senior prom!
You may notice something different about her dress - it is made entirely out of pop tabs! That's right, she designed it herself and it is constructed out of (i think this was the number) over seven thousand pop tabs!!
Some dress details :-) She also made her own jewelry.
What an achievement! I hope it was comfortable to dance in... hope you and your date had a great time at prom!
2 Comments added to this post ▣ Fun at the farm - Lingrow Portrait Day 2009At long last - I know these pictures were literally ages ago - all the way back in June. (That's how far behind this blog is - I really will catch up though!) The Lingrow Portrait Day was a big big success and as usual I had a blast spending the afternoon out in the sunshine with some familiar faces, and some new friends. Although no one brought a fishing pole, and I never found the inflatable orange couch I wanted - it was still a great day for photos.
Meet the Kingera's :-) They were married last fall at Lingrow Farm and unfortunately I was already booked for their date and wasn't able to be there with them. How lucky am I though that they decided to come back for a visit and some "belly shots" as they await the arrival of their first little one :-)
Of course I asked if they were waiting for a boy or a girl - Julie said she thought it was a girl, but her husband is convinced that it was a boy. He "saw the sonogram photo - and trust him - that was no girl " ;-) Either way they are waiting until the delivery date to find out - SO EXCITING! Actually - since these photos were in early June - they might already know! And if they don't yet - they'll definitely be finding out soon. Julie - if you read the blog - How are you guys???
Familiar faces back again were the Emili's :-) This post will just be loaded with little emoticon smileys of every variety so just smile along with them. Everytime we get together we have fun and get to catch up on the latest - they are expecting another grandchild for next year!
Do not. Do not ever. Play cards with these girls.
More familiar faces and friends as the day went on. If any of you were reading last year - you'll remember the three amigos Kate, Syd, & Jake. Well they were back this year and brought along Kate's brand new brother and the latest addition to the family, Aaron. Kate is a whole new persona as a big sister and takes her job very seriously.
Very very seriously. I love this picture.
Still getting used to having such a tiny person around - I asked her and she said he still can't play soccer yet and he screams a lot - Kate is sometimes wary of him when he's fussy. But here I asked her to tell him a story to make him feel better. She was telling him how much she loved carrots and he would too.
And then the cousins arrived and the amigos were a quartet! It was so good to see Syd & Jake feeling happy and healthy and playing in the grass. It hasn't been an easy year so far for them, but they're doing great. Jake was very proud of his missing tooth - apparently the tooth fairy was very generous ;-)
Aaron has no idea yet how his life will take shape surrounded by these three. A big sister and two cousins to be both a family and a friend. Always there to beat up bullies and yell for mom over spilled bubbles and skinned knees.
Being a kid should last at least the first 50 years of life.
There's one month left of summer - don't miss it.
2 Comments added to this post ▣ Golden Anniversary
At the end of May the Westmoreland Museum of American Art celebrated 50 years since it opened its doors to the public back in 1959. In honor of the special event, the women's committee revived an old tradition of holding a gala event to mark the occaision. The weekend was packed full of activities starting with Friday. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held open to the public and the main event was a cake by Charm City Cakes in Baltimore, MD. If you watch Food Network, are a foodie, or just love cake - you will know about the show Ace of Cakes. Geoff created this replica of the museum exterior for the event down to the last detail - even the roof! Tons of people flooded in not so much for the speeches, but just to see this awesome cake. Personally I was hoping Duff or Mary Alice or Geoff or someone else from the show would be there to meet and greet. (I was planning on going all fan-crazy - like a group of 12 year olds meeting the Jonas Brothers.) Alas - someone from the bakery arrived early that morning, dropped off the cake, and then made the return trip immediately. I was sad :-(
Like all of their creations, every detail was perfectly formed in fondant - and it smelled delicious !
Guests of honor on Friday included these seven original members of the museum who joined on opening day in 1959. What an accomplishement to have been part of 50 years of art and life and friendship.
On Saturday evening, the Women's Committee hosted the 50th Anniversary Museum Ball that started with a cocktail party in the gallery and then moved outside into a luxurious tent erected right in the middle of the street. Champagne carpeting covered the floor and gold and champagne linens covered the tables.
Guests enjoyed their drinks, chatted with friends and then strolled through the doors down the gold carpet lined with palm trees.
The food was a work of art by Common Pleas. P.S. BEST VENDOR MEAL EVER :-)
After a few speeches, the mic was open and guests took the opportunity to express their gratitude and thanks to the all the museum staff and contributers and their committment to making the museum a success.
After dinner and dessert, everyone moved back inside to the gallery for the after party. The lighting changed colors throughout the night from blue to pink to purple to red - painting the canvas of the blank gallery walls. A live band kept everyone on their toes and dancing till long after midnight. (I know they definitely out-lasted me ;-)
Not only was it a fantastic evening celebration, I had a great time hanging out with the girls from Fanfare Column ! If you'd like to be part of the experience, check out www.wmuseumaa.org and visit ! 1 Comment added to this post ▣ 4th of July - pricing changes
This past weekend was the 4th of July - (these photos are from the Canal Days festival which was actually in June - I just didn't have any other fireworkds pictures to go with this post). July 4th marks the peak of summer and the halfway mark to the year. We spent the 4th camping out in the backyard with hamburgers and a big campfire - long live the Staycation :-) The halfway mark of the year is a big milestone for wedding vendors especially. By July 4th you've pretty much booked all the weddings you're going to book for that year and it's tme to look ahead to next year! That means analyzing everything so far and coming up with the refined game plan to start fresh for 2010. I've really wanted to branch out into some new directions for next year and so I've cut back on products and services that nobody ordered - out with the old and in with the new! Such as - Indoor studio style senior and family sessions. The last time someone called me and said I want to take a picture of myself,my child, my senior, my family sitting up straight on the little stool in front of a washy background, looking into the camera and smiling - was 2 years ago. There's been a gradual but dramatic shift in photography and what consumers are looking for. Everyone that calls me is looking for a documentary, photojournalistic, lifestyle, relaxed, FUN session and photos that are REAL.
Praise the lord.
The more traditional roots of photography were kids in patent leather shoes sitting on the box in front of the velvet backdrop in a cramped studio room with the photographer and mom and sometimes grandma and dad too waving the stuffed bunny and begging for a smile - bribing with promses of trips to the toy store, ice cream, you name it. As a parent - you were exhausted by the end and the pictures were usually "hmm that's cute." As the hassle goes on - you start out having your kids photographed twice a year when they're babies and by the time they're in grade school it's once every few years. Everyone knows that old adage about how the oldest child has the biggest photo album, the thickest baby book, the most finished scrapbook pages - and the youngest was lucky if they got pictured with the older siblings. Why? Are we bad parents? NO! Because the thought of dressing and pressing 3 kids and wrestling them into carseats and trying to keep them all awake and happy and not get kool aid on themselves on the way to the portrait studio - followed by trying to keep them quiet and happy in the waiting room - then working your tail off with begging and bunnies - just to get one crooked little half smile - makes your knees quiver and your brow sweat and your skin turn a little green. I know - I've been the bunny waver.
The one thing about those portraits was that it never told a story - the best it did was say "this is what my son/daughter looked like at age 3". There's so much more a photo could tell you, why not seek photography that's more than a sit and smile portrait? Invite your photographer to a day at the park or into your home for a few hours to capture your family in REAL time. You'll have images to look back on that say "this is the shabby green tutu my daughter wore around the house for a whole year when she was three and refused to take it off" or "this is my son hysterical with joy running through the sprinkler water on the lawn" "this was the time they tried to put doll clothes on the cat" "here he is stomping around the kitchen in his dad's boots".
I realize fireworks photos don't have much to do with this post - except that its July 4th-ish.
Other than taking the indoor studio-style sessions of the pricing page, I've also increased my wedding coverage fee - but I've thrown in an incentive! (If you met with me to discuss your wedding before July 4th you are still able to receive the 2009 pricing). Everyone booking a full day of coverage for their wedding will now not only get a free engagement session, but a Rock the Dress session as well. What is that? Have you heard of a Trash the Dress session? It's like that - but with less danger to your wedding gown. I'll talk about it more in a later post. For now - be glad that photography has moved in this direction where professionals are standing by at the ready to make REAL lasting memories of all the little moments that make up life. Call me for a summer session ! I'll bring the bubbles and the sparklers - you just bring yourselves. And maybe some giant slices of watermelon :-)
3 Comments added to this post ▣ Announcing!
Greetings! We are very happy to announce for the second year in a row - Family Portrait Day at Lingrow Farm! Here are the details and a few images from last year!
THE FINE PRINT * This event is hosted by Photography by Amanda Wilson and we are grateful that Lingrow Farm is allowing us to use their fantastic facility - HOWEVER if you have questions, need directions, or want to book a session please contact ME :-) There are a lot of friendly, hard working, talented folks out at Lingrow who are happy to share the grounds with us but are very busy making sure every wedding and event scheduled there is perfect, so please contact ME with all of your portrait day inquiries ! * This event is WEATHER PERMITTING - if it's raining we'll have to cancel and reschedule for later in the fall. * What to wear/bring? Almost anything! Wear whatever you like - earth tones and jewel tones look the best outside - just keep in mind that we will be outside so dress for the weather and keep in mind that while we're out we are very likely to sit on the ground, play in the grass, etc. As far as props - I want to see some creativity! (No ice sculptures though...) Fun ideas - picnic blanket, football, flowers, matching accessories, sunglasses, hats, fishing poles (no hooks please). I am currently on the hunt for a small sofa or armchair that is a really bright color to borrow and use for outside portraits. * Rules and Regulations - I LOVE KIDS and CRAZY FUN but I want everyone to be safe. The grounds are extensive and there is a lake so please please keep a close watch on your munchkins.
If you're interested, call for an appointment TODAY!
1 Comment added to this post ▣ Out around town - cool wedding idea of the week (Pittsburgh Popcorn Co)
The weather is finally getting better and it's time to be outside. Pittsburgh is not famous for being easy to drive around, but it's great for walking! Pittsburgh is known for its three rivers, its bridges, and The Neighborhoods. Unlike most cities, Pittsburgh has a relatively small downtown metro area (where the skyscrapers are) surrounded by neighborhoods characterized by their geography, architecture and ethnicity. There's the North Side, the South Side, Mt. Washington, the West End, the Hill District, Polish Hill, the Mexican War Streets, Oakland, Bloomfield, Shadyside, Regent Square, and more. But far and away one of the best places to visit is the Strip District. Originally the Strip District was a section of the city made up of glass factories, foundaries, and warehouses for industrial production. As times changed these old structures were converted into produce warehouses, markets, lofts, studio spaces, restaurants, and more. If you're showing out of towners around the city or looking for a taste of pittsburgh yourself, this is the place to go. You can park, feed the meter, and walk all day through specialty shops, art galleries, and all the gourmet food you can handle. It's a foodie's paradise. If you like italian - check out the Pennsylvania Macaroni Company Over 100 years old the PA macaroni company has a deli with all kinds of meats and cheese, an olive bar, every shape of pasta you can imagine, produce, homemade bread, fresh pasta, and all kinds of specialty items for italian cooking. You can even choose and dispense your own olive oil in bulk.
If you like seafood ( or food in general) go to WHOLEY'S . The fish sandwich is legendary. You can buy fresh salmon, shrimp, crab and more. You can choose your own live fish or lobsters from the tank and have them prepared and wrapped up to take home and cook that evening. And it's not just fish - on the other side of the store you can get everything from lambshank to sirloin to cow tongue. Chickens for frying, wings, pigs ears, sausage. Everything. EVERYTHING.
This was our big fantastic find of the day. Listen up those of you planning a wedding and still looking for ideas for favors or food! The Pittsburgh Popcorn Company was a wonderful surprise. They make gourmet popcorn in a variety of flavors and packaging. I know we've all eaten popcorn before that we microwaved or bought out of some big popcorn bulk tank at the movies. But this is the real deal. You have to try this stuff! We tasted the Cinnamon Toast flavor and it was to die for. Their popcorn is all made fresh throughout the day on the spot. Now here's the cool thing - they make wedding favors! You can choose your flavor and it comes in a neat little package ready to hand out to your guests. OR if you're looking for snacks or something unique for cocktail hour - you can have a popcorn bar! Choose your flavors and they are set out in barrells with scoops and bags are provided for your guests to make their own treats.
Ok admission of guilt here - I have no idea what the name of the shop was where I took this photo. If you know me - you know I LOVE tea. I love my tea flavors and my tea gadgets and just the whole experience of tea. I have no idea what this shop is called because I was in awe . The walls, the counter, everything floor to ceiling was different barrells of coffe and glass jars of exotic tea. Everything from Irish Roast to Yemen Mocha.
The weather is going to be great this weekend - get outside and experience something amazing!
3 Comments added to this post ▣ Pittsburgh Zoo visits Kiddies KornerKids get to do all the fun stuff. Last month the Pittsburgh Zoo made a visit to Kiddies Korner Nursery School in Apollo and I got to tag along for the day! Two students are selected each week to be the "Stars of the Week" and they get to choose an activity for the whole class. They chose to schedule a "Zoomobile" visit where teachers from the zoo bring the animals and the facts right into your classroom! They read a story about the ways different animals move and acted out the motions. They got to touch an elephant tusk, elephant hair, and wear a shirt made for a gorilla!
Here they are pretending they are clownfish (like Nemo!) who are trying to find food in a sea anemone. They loved the bubbles!
Aside from interactive stories, games, and songs, the zoo sent along three of it's small friends to meet the kids: a chinchilla, a turtle, and a very calm and friendly snake.
The kids decided that the turtle was able to move much faster than they thought she would and that snakes are not slimey after all. However, the definite favorite was the chinchilla which are nearly extinct in the wild.
Here they got to high five a gorilla and compare their hands to his.
It was really a great experience for the kids AND the adults! If you'd like more information about the zoo or would like to schedule a Zoomobile trip for your school or organiztion - check them out at the Pittsburgh Zoo Education Department ! If you'd like more information on Kiddies Korner and how your child can become part of the fun - check them out on the web at www.kkns.net ! Thank you so much for letting me spend the day with your class! 2 Comments added to this post ▣ Westmoreland Museum
Meet the staff of the Westmoreland Museum of American Art! They are proud to be celebrating their 50th anniversary this year and had me come out to visit and take a group photo for their annual publication. They were a great bunch tolerating all of my bad jokes.
I'll have the privilege to spend the evening with them for their annual gala event on May 30th! (Where I will probably subject people to more of my bad jokes). Yikes! 0 Comments added to this post ▣ Pittsburgh Zoo
While my friend, Brenda, was home for the holidays back at New Year's - we visited the Pittsburgh Zoo with some friends. I have to say that January is not the best time to visit because many of the animals are behind closed doors for the winter, it's cold to walk around, and the normally lush scenery is just average pittsburgh january drab - BUT there are no lines and no crowds! You can spend all the time you want at each exhibit! I was excited to see the new baby elephants at the newly constructed elephant house, as well as the polar bears. The lions were hanging out on the rocks.
The aquarium was really cool! It was the first time I had visited the zoo since the aquarium was renovated a few years ago. It was nice to get in out of the cold and see all the exotic tropical fish!
This is Brenda - we met in the seventh grade and were friends ever since. She was home on leave from the United States Air Force where she is currently stationed and training in San Antonio, Texas to become a navigator. We are VERY proud of her :-)
She really wanted her picture with the giant praying mantis sculpture :-D 0 Comments added to this post ▣ take me to the river
Yesterday we spent the day with the fine folks from Northwest Kayak and Canoe as they helped the Lonestar Inn host its first annual Canoe Run on the Kiskiminetas River. If you've never been to the area and never tried to kayak - you've got to get out and try this! We've had kayaks for years and are very lucky to have one of Pennsylvania's Wild and Scenic Rivers right in our own backyard.
The folks from Northwest getting set up for the big event early in the morning. When you give them a call, they'll help you plan a trip on the river for a few hours or a whole day! Each rental comes with your boat, paddles, life jackets, transportation to the beginning of your float and a comfortable ride back to your vehicle when you're done. Bring along a picnic and some snacks and spend the day outdoors!
We love our kayaks! After spending years in a tippy silver canoe, dragging on the riverbed in the shallow water, discovering kayaks was awesome. There's a common misconception that if you roll over in a kayak you'll get stuck. That's only true with whitewater kayaks which are designed to keep YOU in the boat and the water OUT no matter how rough the rapids. The kayaks that we have and you'll see at most outfitters are called touring kayaks and have an open cockpit. So if you roll over, you'll fall out easily just like a canoe. However, you have a WAY better chance of capsizing in a canoe than you do in a kayak. Thanks to the kayak's low center of gravity, it's extremely steady and therefore MORE RELAXING for you! You have to actually work at rolling one over to get it to finally flip.
There's lots to see a long the river! This is an old iron bridge still in use at Tunnelton. You can launch your trip under the bridge and float along past the old canal system and see remnants of the train bridges that carried coal to the city. Many of the railroad grades have been refurbished by the rails to trails organization into incredible bike paths.
Besides the local history, there's plenty of wildlife to be found along the river! Miles of forest surround you as you drift past whitetail deer, turkeys, beavers, muskrat, blue herons, and lots of fish and waterfowl. Some paddlers have even spotted a black bear!
Besides kayaks, you can also rent canoes from northwest .
You can paddle, float, stop for a swim, take pictures of the scenery, or just relax in the sun.
We took some shots when the whole 30 boat floatilla pushed off from tunnelton and then went down to saltsburg and got on our bikes and rode up river and sat around on a rock for a while till they floated by. There was about 4 feet of water off the end of the rock we found to sit on. I think with some rain it would have been a nice swimming hole. Once we waved to the group again, we rode past them down the river to the foot bridge where the bike path crosses the water.
Canoes floating under the foot bridge that used to be a train bridge. Converted by rails to trails to have a solid deck it connects you to the section of the trail to Slickville that will eventually connect to Trafford.
Thanks Northwest for asking us to tag along for such a fun and relaxing event!
0 Comments added to this post |
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