fotologic had another busy weekend in the studio &  on location with models. On Saturday we had a photo shoot in the studio with Callum, who some may recognise from the William Brookes Prom & the James Bond night with fotologic event photography

Callum came on a location shoot with Lydia on Sunday to Ironbridge, we were incredibly lucky to have a break in the weather, although it was still quite chilly even though the sun was shining.

Here are a few images from the day

Most golfers who have visited Lake Tahoe are aware of the many extraordinary courses available here. The only problem is that when the snows of winter set in all those challenging fairways and greens are buried for months under several feet of that cold white stuff.

Ah, but all isn’t lost for the avid golfer because there exists a group of great courses just down the mountain in Carson City and the Carson Valley  that are open year round.

Called the Divine Nine, they are easily accessible from your Tahoe Vacation Rental via US 50 over Spooner Summit or State Route 207 (Kingsbury Grade).

Give their website a looksee: The Divine Nine

Ian and Julie at fotologic want to thank all our visitors to the new web site.  In just over 6 months we have had 10,000 visitors as of midnight 30th October 09.  fotologic have had a busy year with events, portraits, model portfolio’s, baby shoots, fashion and Artistic nude work.

We are busy taking event bookings both for Christmas and New Year and into 2010.  Valentines night 2010 is already booked. For information on any of our photography services or our Free Event Photography with on-site printing please visit fotologic or follow any of the links above.

Many Thanks

Ian & Julie

By KD Dickinson and Jean Clark

News from the Northside/Westside neighborhood:

It’s hard to believe that August is here and kids are getting ready for school. There’s been a buzz of activity in college rentals, which is a sure sign of fall around the corner.

Every August one of the best parties in Missoula happens in the Northside-Westside neighborhood. We are so looking forward to this year’s annual MUD Garden Party.

MUD stands for The Missoula Urban Demonstration Project. It is a nonprofit organization that envisions an engaged community of empowered and aware individuals enjoying sustainable living through both community interdependence and self-reliance. MUD fosters sustainable living practices by providing a tool library, educational outreach opportunities  and a community-focused demonstration site to residents of the Missoula urban.

This year’s event happens on August 28. If you were at the party last year, you know how they like to do it up! Come dressed to dance the night away to some great live music, indulge with local beer and a silent auction. A delicious dinner and entertainment are included in the entrance fee. This year’s party is titled “Get Dirty Missoula,” a tribute to their revitalized workshop series and all their upcoming site renovations.

All proceeds directly benefit MUD and help ensure that next year will be as fruitful and productive as this past year. Contact them at 721-7513 to volunteer or donate! Tickets are $10 for members and $15 for non-members; beer and wine cost extra.

It’s groups like MUD that make Missoula a fantastic place to live, so if you get a chance, check it out.

As I do every year, I have been working on an essay for Creative Communication. I believe it’s ready to share now. It is ready to be read…so now you can read it.

Fun at the Farm

Last summer, my parents went to Cancun, Mexico, for a week. They left my sisters and me at my grandparents’ farm.  I’d visited before, but had never stayed for a week.  At the farm, there are crops like corn and wheat. I didn’t know what I’d be doing to help out. I thought maybe I’d be cutting the wheat! I didn’t, but I learned a lot about farm life.

Once, my grandfather took us along when he returned a combine harvester to a neighbor.  I stood up, since there weren’t any more seats.  I loved the experience, though it was scary because we were up high.

One hot Sunday, we got some yummy ice cream. There was a mini-zoo with fascinating animals, and we watched them after we ate our ice cream. My favorite was the bear – though it was sleeping, its size and beautiful black color were amazing.

My farm trip was important to me.  I learned that if you don’t have something, you make do with something else.  Without Internet access, I read Uncle Tom’s Cabin. I enjoyed it, since some of it took place on a plantation. I had fun with my grandparents.

I was excited to see my parents!  They brought us presents from Cancun, such as change purses and jewelry.  We enjoyed my dad’s photographs. There were photos of the Chichen Itza ruins, the remains of ancient Mayan temples. I would like to see them someday.

Word Count: 245

fotologic had a holiday.  Ian, Julie & 3 Dogs headed to Devon for a 5 day rest but it didnt take long before some inspiring moments arrived and the camera came out.  Hope you enjoy some of our UK holiday snaps and look forward to welcoming you to our web site.

We have had THE most beautiful last couple of weeks. No humidity, 81 degrees every day, 55 degrees every night and barely a cloud in the sky. We have taken full advantage of the absolutely gorgeous weather. We have been out on the lake every weekend and a couple nights during the week. Here are a few pictures from our weekend…

Sunday out on the lake…

Pre-Packer game @ Paul and Allison’s

The other day I had a long talk with my kids. I told them that I understood this was their summer vacation and that although they had been away almost the entire summer, now that they were home I was concerned that all I saw them doing was playing Xbox and watching TV. It’s okay to hang out, I said, but this constant TV and computer thing was starting to get me worried. Where was their spirit of adventure and sports. Why weren’t they outside with a million friends doing something.

“Dad, we’ve been with our friends at camp all summer” they told me, “give us a break…we just want to veg.”

I did not give them a hard time although I did leave them with a little food for thought.

“Try to use at least some of your time wisely,” I said. “Be creative. Make something. Write something. Compose music. Make a video. Do something that has some lasting quality. Essentially, be creative.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah….sure Dad, whatever.”

In one ear and out the other. Or so I thought. Today, after we had lunch and I was heading back home, my boys asked me to drive them to Home Depot. I looked at them curiously.

“You’ll see,” they assured me.

Once at the store, they took out a piece of paper and roamed the aisles in search of wood, nuts, bolts, screws, wheels, rope and other miscellaneous items. We checked out, came home and they’ve been in the garage ever since. At around five, they called me in to the garage to inspect their work. There, in the middle of the garage floor was an old fashioned go cart like the kind they used to race in soap box derbies. To say I was impressed was an understatement. I was blown away. We threw it in the car and headed for the smoothest sloped stretch of asphalt we could find. A truly great afternoon.

I might have annoyed them the day before, but boy were my annoying words taken to heart. They had it in them all along. It just took an annoying dad to bring it out and get them away from the TV.

Big ole gap in posting since I’ve been up north for my brother’s wedding. I expect there were all sorts of hilarious things I could have relayed to you about those funny little northerners and their ways, but I didn’t notice any since I am one. Although I did, as always, spot a regular perplexed look on my other half’s face, as he struggled to comprehend what people were doing/saying/eating/wearing. I was in a bit of a daze anyway due to AB’s refusal to sleep anywhere but her buggy, meaning that we were up at hourly intervals, pushing the buggy up and down in the dark to get her back to sleep, since nobody, not even a little 10 month old person, can sleep all night strapped into a chair. So I spent the wedding half asleep, and to make matter worse, sober. Although I am not sure how the latter happened. It is inexplicable.

While I was away, it was my birthday. Have to say that it was the least birthdayish birthday ever, not from lack of trying by Ant and my mum, but I just didn’t feel it this year, not even in the local craft fair which we accidentally visited that afternoon (we stayed long enough to admire the knitted swiss rolls on sale). Mind you, I was pretty spoilt on the present front which is why I am in the rather lovely position of planning a shopping trip, as I have birthday money and vouchers burning a hole and I MUST SPEND THEM NOW OR I WILL EXPLODE.

Thing is, I have no idea what to buy. I do need some new threads, cos when I became a mum I lost my sartorial mojo big time, as illustrated by today’s stylish ensemble of ancient Nancy Sinatra t-shirt and brown trackie bottoms (although I was pretty damn delighted that the said Nancy tee fitted me again for the first time in over a year). But I just don’t know what to get. I am basically that article that’s always in Good Housekeeping/She/Other mumsy mag -  the one about busy mums who need a makeover as they are always in  tracksuit bottoms, but it must be practical for the school run. I am that mum, except we don’t have the school run yet (although obviously she is intelligent enough to go with her being a baby genius and all).

The problem is, the solution in all of those mags is some bootcut jeans and a floaty top, accessorised with a scarf in ‘jewel shades’. I don’t want to wear any of those things. If I’m honest, I want to wear my Nancy tee and some leather trousers. Leather trousers are not mum wear but they should be. Admittedly they take about 5 hours to get on and off, but they are wipe clean, always a bonus.

Whatever happens, shopping wise, there is one thing I am desperate to resist, that would mark me out as Suburban Mum from 100 paces. Must. Not. Shop. At. Boden.

Two days ago, Sarah and I had a sleepover at my house.

On Tuesday, her mom dropped her off at around 5:45. We had peanut butter chicken, pasta, carrots, and applesauce for dinner and Extreme Cookies and Cream for dessert. We then watched The Sound of Music and painted our nails. We slept on the foldout bed from the couch.

In the morning Susanna and Lucy woke us up. For breakfast we had chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream. Yum!  After breakfast Sarah and I played with Susanna and Lucy. Then Susanna, Lucy, and my mom took Ginger to the vet for a surgery they had to do on her eye. Sarah and I stayed at home. We finished The Sound of Music. Sarah and I took a walk around the block, then it was time to take her back to her house and pick up Maggie from the Null’s where she had been having a sleepover with Laura.

Our sleepover was so much fun!! We are planning another one for Halloween.

My mom’s cousin’s wedding reception is today.  The couple’s names are Andy and Sabrina. It is in our Aunt Sally’s backyard.  Our whole family is going to be there. This includes my cousins, aunt and uncle, grandparents,great-grandmother, Uncle Pete, Carolyn, and Zander. Andy and Sabrina got married last week,I think. I don’t know where they got married. My mom doesn’t know either. So that is basically what is going to happen today in my family.

The Lego Experience Tour
at The Children’s Museum of Cleveland
DATE: Thursday, September 3, 2009
TIME: 10 am – 3 pm
ADMISSION: Included FREE with membership or paid Museum admission
MORE: The LEGO® Experience Tour invites families to get “hands-on” and “minds-on” with LEGO bricks, video games and more! Whether playing with LEGO toys for the first time or rediscovering a childhood favorite, this engaging, family-focused event has something for everyone!

LEGO products have inspired imagination and creativity in generations of builders; come experience the LEGO world for yourself and see how it all fits together!

Verb Ballets at LINCOLN Park

August 28 & 29, 2009
8:00 p.m.
Lincoln Park, Tremont
Free Admission!
Picnic in the Park with Cleveland’s National Repertory Dance Company August 28 and 29!
Bring family, friends, and a picnic basket for a free night of dance under the stars. Verb Ballets returns to Lincoln Park in the Tremont neighborhood for the Annual Arts in August series!

The performance features the summer World Premieres of the feisty Ballroom piece “Lady Be Good,” choreographed by champion dancer Gary Pierce, and the solo “Scent,” created by Verb Ballets company member Troy McCarty. The evening includes the company premiere of “Urban Study,” a contemporary ballet by Ginger Thatcher (Lar Lubovitch, Cleveland San Jose Ballet Company) and Heinz Poll’s “Elegiac Song,” dedicated to the innocent victims of war. Rounding out the bill is a special sneak peak of one of our fall works. Be the first to see it!

Kory had his first triathlon experience this weekend! Competing under the official name: “Tri-Virgins”, Kory (the runner) and his two teammates, Nate Cutsforth (on the bike) and Danielle Magargee (swimming) crossed the finish line as the 7th team overall!!!! Not too bad for their first tri-attempt! I think Kory may have been bit by the “tri-bug”, he’s already talking about his next competition! SO proud of you, K!

the team, pre-competition

Danielle is somewhere in there! She’s standing to the left of #412.

Nate coming in on the bike to tag Kory

Kory, off to the races…

…and as he crosses the finish line!

NICE WORK TEAM!

Today my mom took us to Staples to get school supplies. I got 800 sheets of paper and 5 notebooks (of which 4 were 1-subject and 1 was 5-subject), also some pens, a calculator, a compass, and a pencil box that zips. I have a binder already. Tomorrow we are going to Target to get backpacks. We looked at Kmart today, but I didn’t like any of their backpacks except this really cute messenger bag, and my mom wouldn’t let me get it, since I have a lot of books.  Our school starts September 9, unlike many schools in the area, so we are hanging out at home until school starts.

Over the Summer months, Canadian All-Terrain Adventures offers a variety of activities including ATV tours. Catering to all skill levels and abilities; you can chose between 4 different tours and if you’re a foodie like me, you can throw in a meal while you’re up there with the Salmon Bake or the Sunrise Waffle tour. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to try the Salmon Bake, classed as a moderate tour, it is ridiculously fun.

You meet at the Carelton Lodge in Whistler village and take a shuttle bus to the Canadian All-Terrain Adventures base on Blackcomb Mountain. You’re given all your equipment; helmet, boots and gloves…initiated with the ATV’s and then you’re good to go. After a practice run around some terrain to get a feel for the vehicle (which for me was the hardest part), you’re off up Blackcomb mountain in a group of 6, led by a guide who caters to the least confident / experienced of the group…you’re never out of your depth and believe me, you’re never bored.

Stopping to check out the view along the way, you climb 6000ft above the Whistler village. Taking in the scenery, viewing the wildlife on the mountain breathing the alpine air. It’s an experience to be remembered and it doesn’t end there. You arrive at Crystal Hut where you are given a warm welcome, beverages and some appies; followed by live music and a delicious 3 course meal. After a relaxing feed, you’re ready for the adventure to begin all over again as you descend Blackcomb Mountain. It’s dusk by now, so keep your eyes open for black bears. We saw  one while making our way down.  We also drove past the Whistler Sliding Centre, so got to check out where the Winter Olympic 2010 Bobsleigh events will be held!

Priced at: $169 single rider/ $139 per person sharing $99 youth (8-15 years passenger) it’s not one of Whistler’s cheapest activities, but it’s worth every penny. Dress to get dirty, if it’s dry the paths are dusty you’ll be covered in dirt; if the tracks are wet you’ll get splashed with mud. Keep your mouth closed or you’ll end up eating dirt. Take your camera, there’s some fun times to be had.

For more info you can visit their website.