On My Pole

One-year-old portraits

2012-01-26T08:11:00.000-05:00

You might remember this sweet child, Lily Jane, from when I photographed her soon after her birth last January. It was my first time doing photos for this family, and I practically invited myself over to their house after Lily was born so that I could visit the new baby.

Well, six months flew by quickly and I was invited to Lily's home again to take more portraits. She is one of the happiest babies I've ever had the pleasure of meeting; not to mention she's super smiley and very curious. She began crawling right after this session.

As children often do, Lily has continued blossoming into a lovely lady. She just celebrated her one-year-old birthday and I was asked to do a candid photo shoot of her to celebrate new milestones, such as walking and chasing after butterflies and crawling through tunnels and going down slides both forward and backward.

So this past weekend - as cold as it was - Lily's family and I bundled up and headed out to the Museum of Life and Science to capture some sweet moments on film. We toured the butterfly house, barnyard area, and toddler play gym to allow Lily to strut her stuff.

I believe I am smitten by this young lady!

Space goggles

2012-01-21T16:04:00.000-05:00

For Christmas Caleb received a set of 3D sidewalk chalks. I had no clue that sidewalk chalk could produce 3D images, but I guess it's the glasses themselves that do all the magic.

We tested the chalks out on a lovely January day, and while I failed to take a photo of our masterpiece, I did manage to get some snapshots of Caleb adorned in these attractive green 3D glasses. I know I'm biased, but I think he'd be handsome in anything.

See for yourself.

Photos of the Day

2012-01-18T19:18:00.000-05:00

Three little cutie pies all in a row makes bath time extra special.

From left, Maddox, Caleb, Madeline. These cousins are infatuated with one another.

Photo of the Day

2012-01-17T11:59:00.000-05:00

A lovely family portrait taken by Pam Lappegard on a chilly January afternoon. I love this photo for many reasons.
1. Because I asked for a photo with sun flare and Pam delivered!
2. Because my boys are so handsome.
3. Because this captures a moment in time. It's only going to be mommy and her two boys for a little bit longer. Soon we'll all have to share the spotlight with baby Natalie.
4. Because Caleb's expression is too cute. I think he's going in for a smooch in this shot.

More photos to come soon...

Celebrating Baby Natalie

2012-01-16T15:00:00.000-05:00

This weekend I was thrown a gorgeous "Winter Wonderland" themed baby shower to celebrate the upcoming birth of baby Natalie. It was a very sweet, very delicious affair filled with snowflakes, plenty of pink and silver-hued decorations, homemade hot cocoa and many friends and family members. Thank you very much to my dear friend Bridget - who is Natalie's godmother - for throwing such a splendid party. Thank you to each and every person who came and celebrated (and we missed those who couldn't attend). And many thanks to my friend Pam who took all these lovely photos (and helped prepare for the shower as well).

The lovely spread: Cobb salad sandwiches, Double Chocolate Chip Cake, White Chocolate Peppermint covered pretzels, pink starburst (the best flavor), chips and dip, yummy pasta salad, sweet tea, and hot cocoa.

The lovely pink roses!

The cake, which I am still enjoying days after the party.

Adorable decorations - perfect for a chilly day.

A very happy pregnant lady.

Opening gifts in the presence of great company.

Caleb awoke from his nap towards the end of the baby shower. My sister (Tia Lis/Melissa) was so thoughtful to bring him a gift. It really brightened his day, as he had been a bit under the weather.

Shoes to be worn during Natalie's baptism.

A wonderful way to start the long weekend, and to begin preparing for this little bundle of joy. We are so blessed!

Ch-ch-ch-changes

2012-01-16T14:40:00.000-05:00

Since my baby shower this past weekend, I've had a couple of days at my disposal to begin noticing some significant changes around the house.

First of all, this is the overwhelming abundance of gifts showered upon baby Natalie. Boy are we fortunate to have such generosity in our lives!!! Some of the bags are filled with hand-me-down items, which we were equally thrilled to receive.

But what I've noticed since the shower is that our home has already become less spacious. Hubby and I quickly realized we'll need to dispose of unused items and clean, clean, clean; this means we are officially nesting!! Hubby is also busy reconstructing our closets (blog post to come on that topic).

After doing our first load of baby girl laundry, I noticed another monumental change. The lint trap to the dryer now produces pink instead of blue. I know, I know - a silly thing to note, but it made me grin.

It's amazing how quickly you forget the size of baby clothes. Caleb is now practically a teenager and his clothes - while not huge - are definitely bigger and can't be constricted to darling piles as can infant clothing.

Then there is this new category of clothing altogether: bloomers. They are adorable and will be worn under all the gorgeous dresses Natalie received.

We've begun seeing new themes unfold before us. Only girls get to wear cupcakes...

And mice holding purple hearts...

And strawberries...

And ladybugs...

And things that say "Daddy's Girl"...

And things that say "Little Sister"...

And candy colored dresses...

Hand-me-downs come with their own set of rules. We must cheer on athletic teams other than Mississippi State.

We proudly welcome all of these changes. We are getting ready for our daughter. Hopefully she'll arrive right on time in seven weeks. But her clothes are washed and ready now!

Party in Pittsboro

2012-01-07T20:23:00.000-05:00

Caleb's friend Liam had his 1st birthday party today, so the Busbee family trekked out to Pittsboro to share in the family celebration. Liam's family lives in a gorgeous older home near the center of town on a 2-acre lot that I like to refer to as 'the farm.' It is not really a farm, but does have chickens, dogs, homemade cider, bees, and many different forms of homegrown produce. It is beautiful and every time we pay a visit, hubby always wants to move to Pittsboro.

Pittsboro has local bakers that can bake beautiful birthday cakes with only 24 hours notice (as seen below).

Yards in Pittsboro have white picket fences and hammocks for swaying in the breeze.

Dogs roam free and happy within the confines of the white picket fences.

Pittsboro makes people feel like they can play the mandolin, even if they've never before picked one up.

And in Pittsboro, people wear birthday hats on the side of their heads, as if to say, "Hey, I live life carefree."

I'm sure not everything in Pittsboro is fun and games and sunshine, but at least for the duration of little Liam's birthday party, and for our time visiting with the family, it was a beautiful day. Happy 1st Birthday Liam!

Movement in the belly

2012-01-03T19:01:00.000-05:00

At 31 weeks pregnant and feeling rather large and uncomfortable, I have become slightly restless and impatient with this pregnancy. For weeks now I've been saying, "I'm done." Yet I still have more than two months to go until this precious child makes her entrance into the world.

Today, as I was sitting still in front of the computer for most of the day (upon my return to the office after holiday break), I took the time to truly feel the baby moving in my belly. The motion made me realize just how much the baby is growing. She now weighs about 3 and a half pounds and is somewhere around 16 inches long.

Even sweeter is that her movements have changed. She no longer kicks quite as swiftly in her cozy surroundings. Instead, her now sizable limbs, feet and hands are pressing against more cramped quarters. Instead of quick jabs, she stretches and causes my entire belly shift. She can be seen from the outside. I poked at her little foot today and she pushed back.

This growth is a beautiful thing. It means she is healthy and plumping up. I'm glad I took a moment today to savor the miracle of it all. I needed that.

New Year's Eve Dinner

2012-01-01T09:46:00.000-05:00

To help ring in the new year, hubby and I decided to invite some friends over for a celebratory dinner yesterday evening. We kept it simple, since we waited until the last minute to throw the food together and because toddlers were going to be present. We wanted to only use ingredients we had around the house and hubby decided to create three small plates. Our guests provided the dessert, which I forgot to photograph because we didn't eat that until additional party guests arrived around 10 pm.

First course: Truffled white bean salad with basil in a tomato cup

Second course: Pan-seared quail with bourbon molasses sauce on grit cake with chiffenade mustard greens

Third course: Braised osso bucco with angel hair and asparagus confit

Santa went crazy

2011-12-29T15:18:00.000-05:00

Santa Claus was very good to us this year, basically spoiling hubby, me and Caleb rotten. We received gifts ranging from toy fire trucks to Thomas the Train lego sets to diapers to wine glasses (the wine glasses were for us), but no gift could compare to what our wonderful friends Pam and Rick delivered last night.

Earlier in the month, Pam asked me what Caleb needed for Christmas. I mentioned a few random items and then said, "but the best gift is when you babysit for us...Caleb loves spending time with you."

Pam and Rick have always been really generous in offering hubby and I nights out while they take care of Caleb. He adores them. Sometimes I even have to bribe him to fall asleep at night by promising that he'll get to see Pam and Rick the next day. Needless to say, these friends have been a huge blessing in our lives.

So yesterday evening as we exchanged gifts, the final present that hubby and I opened was what appeared to be a photo album that holds 4x6 photos. Inside the photo album were 24 handcrafted coupons that read "Good for one night of babysitting with Pam and Rick." The coupons were themed for different events too, like celebrating a birthday or play date at the pool or a Father's Day out. They expire on December 31, 2012.

Could there be a better gift? Or a more generous set of friends?

Icing on the cake

2011-12-28T14:02:00.000-05:00

Hope all had a very Merry Christmas! Hubby, Caleb and I returned home after being away visiting family for the holidays. We drove to Morganton to visit with Grandpa and Grandma, as well as Bridget, Tim, Ian, and Sofia, and then went over the mountain to Tennessee to visit the Cuban family. Because our schedules aligned perfectly for the first time in many years, we were able to spend three whole nights away instead of cramming all those holiday celebrations into one night as we usually do.

What a wonderful Christmas gift to have time off work together!

I have many special memories of this trip, though the first I'll share is the decorating of the Happy Birthday Jesus cake extravaganza that took place at my cousin's house, since Christ's birth is the REASON for the season!

Lindsey baked the yellow cake and iced it with plain white icing before guests arrived. Then Lauren, Lindsey and Will very patiently instructed Madeline and Caleb in proper cake decorating techniques.

The finished product - it says "Happy B-Day Jesus," if you can't see the script through all the sprinkles.

Then we all gather round the table to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and to Bryce, whose birthday also falls on December 25th. I love this photo because it captures a grateful birthday boy, toasting his brother-in-law (my hubby - who is just an arm in this pic), while Madeline is clapping enthusiastically because she was successful in blowing out the candle, and Caleb's face is completely covered by a beer can. But if you could see it, he'd be drooling at the icing on the cake.

Pump Track, Puppy Dog, and a Park

2011-12-20T15:18:00.000-05:00

This dreary Tuesday morning Caleb and I visited one of the playgrounds down the street to burn some energy before nap time. We've been cooped up in the house - Caleb off from school for the holiday break, me working from home due to his school closing. Excursions to the great outdoors are necessary during these times.

While playing on the playground adorned in our puppy dog halloween costume (Caleb won this fight before leaving the house), we noticed what looked like a dirt patch off in the distance. We just had to investigate.

It was basically some lumps of sandy dirt that formed a loop. There was a succession of humps and bumps and mounds in it, as well as some deer tracks and bike tire tracks. Then I noticed a sign that read:

I had never heard of a Pump Track, but then again, I'm not a big bike rider. I don't even own a bike, unless you count Caleb's orange tricycle.

I looked it up on the trusty old internet and found that pump tracks are a common destination for bike riders, professional and amateur. I guess they are the equivalent of a skate park for skaters? This one looks a bit dilapidated, but still a fascinating find for a Tuesday morning.

A change in scenery

2011-12-14T07:30:00.000-05:00

In preparation for Baby Busbee #2, hubby and I have begun the process of turning Caleb's former nursery into a big boy room as well as creating a nursery out of the guest room. I'm not going to lie, it was a little bittersweet making this shift. Caleb's nursery had treated him well. But such is life.

So on Saturday, we (hubby) moved lots of furniture, sent a truck load of stuff off to goodwill, and vacuumed the floors many times. Moving furniture really is disgusting. The nursery is still a major work in progress, but things are moving in the right direction.

Here is the bare bones nursery.

Here is "Baby Elmo" aka "Baby Natalie" in the crib.

All these changes in scenery prompted many questions by Caleb, and I think this is the first time he truly understood that there is a baby sister coming into the picture. So for now, we are practicing taking care of a baby sister by taking care of Baby Elmo/Baby Natalie.

We swaddle her and play with her and put her down for naps. Occasionally she gets to join us at the dinner table - if Caleb allows. Baby steps.

And here is Caleb and the daddy man in Caleb's big boy room. We still haven't chosen a new comforter for him, but I guess that's not a necessity. For the past few nights (since we've made the change) he has done really well in his new bed. He likes all the pillows, covers and sheets.

I feel like this is a huge accomplishment and I'm glad we took the plunge. Now we'll have time to acclimate before March.

Cresset Christmas Performance

2011-12-10T22:12:00.000-05:00

Caleb was in a Christmas performance at his school in which all the children (aged 2 through preschool) strutted their stuff on stage and "sang" a few songs. Hubby was able to get most of the performance on video, in small, manageable clips. Caleb was right on the front row with the rest of his classmates, but getting a good filming angle proved difficult. I guess every parent really wanted to film their child, so heads and video cameras kept getting in the way. Here is one small clip that shows Caleb performing with such remarkable talent. I am a proud mama.

The Cookery featuring The Parlour

2011-12-10T09:20:00.000-05:00

When my friend Pam won tickets through the Stir-Crazy Moms Blog to attend a cooking class at The Cookery in downtown Durham, I was thrilled for her. When she invited me to tag along as her plus one, I was even happier!
We got to choose between different classes offered and narrowed down our selection to a chocolate class, which was taught by Vanessa Mazuz, owner of The Parlour, a local ice cream truck that opened this past year.
Pam and I were pretty excited; we'd be preparing French-style hot chocolate with caramelized white chocolate whipped cream, ginger-spice chocolate bark, and chocolate pepper cookies during the class. I was most excited to taste our creations, and to check out The Cookery. We were told we'd have to wear hair nets...so that was our biggest discouragement. hehe
Neither of us wanted to bring along our professional cameras because we just wanted to enjoy the experience and it is really hard to do so when playing photographer. Pam however, did bring her smaller digital and snapped a few quick shots for us, which I'll be featuring on this page. Thank you Pam!

Chocolate pepper cookies, cooling on plates - these were phenomenal and had the warm gooey texture of freshly baked brownies.

Ginger-spice chocolate bark, topped with candied ginger and drizzled with white chocolate spiced with cardamom. DIVINE!

Pam and I, no hair nets ended up being required as long as our hair was pulled back.

Parlour owner Vanessa scooping out servings of the french-style hot chocolate.

The french style hot chocolate was the one menu item I thought I might pass on. Come to realize it was heavenly as well. I guess I hadn't had hot chocolate in about a decade. If you make it well, it is thick and creamy and frothy and addictive.

Extra servings of bark and cookies to take home with us.

I will now be experimenting with bark very soon, perhaps today.

Thank you Pam for inviting me. I really enjoyed this experience!

Dean Family portraits

2011-12-07T07:41:00.000-05:00

I was recently asked to photograph the Dean Family for some last-minute holiday portraits. I met the Deans about a year and a half ago through my church and have grown quite close to these three. Baby Magdalene was born in spring of 2011 and has been a charming addition to their family. She joins us for our bible study group every week and always has a smile on her face. When I was asked to do the portraits, I knew this would be a great photo session and a fantastic family to photograph.

We opted to do the photos at our church between Sunday School and the worship service; there was only a small window of opportunity - but the family was flexible and and easy to work with. Our church is full of gorgeous, natural light, large windows and wide expanses of hallway. We are all quite satisfied with the resulting portraits. Thank you to the Deans for allowing me this opportunity.

My first art show

2011-12-06T07:16:00.000-05:00

Being a vendor at an art show is something I have wanted to do for quite some time in order to help advertise Melanie Busbee Photo. So when an opportunity at my church practically fell into my lap (in the form of a church bulletin announcing an art show), I had to jump.

The Church of the Good Shepherd hosted its very first Women in Arts showcase last Saturday, and all members of the female ministry were invited to attend as artists and display their work. When I called to register, the organizer said they hadn't even considered a photographer - most other vendors would be painters, jewelry makers, knitters/crocheters, musicians, etc. I was excited and eager.

I prepped by getting many prints together for sale, having hubby build some large displays for framed prints and canvas enlargements, updating my portfolio, and printing pricing cards and coupons, etc. My plan was to sell matted prints, take orders for canvas enlargements, and to book photo sessions. At that point I hadn't even realized the value of just getting my name out there.

The day of the sale rolled around and I was lucky to have hubby help me set up and my dear friend Pam, who also owns her own photo business, stand by my side for the duration of the art show. She's a trooper. We stayed busy chatting with attendees, handing out cards, selling a few prints, and taking a peek at the other goods for sale. All the other vendors were extremely talented! I wanted to spend a lot of money, and I'll be more prepared to do so next year if the church hosts another art show.

The talented gals from the vendor table beside mine. Beautiful jewelry!

I am so grateful for the opportunity to have been represented among such talented and gifted artists. And, I am happy to have my first art show under my belt. A big thank you to CGS and to friends and family who have supported me along the way.

Crispy tofu

2011-11-30T20:41:00.000-05:00

My most recent pregnancy cravings have been for Asian food - namely dumplings and tofu, not necessarily together. After a delightful visit to Li Ming's Global Mart, a local Asian food supermarket, I came home with many goodies including tofu and about four different types of frozen dumplings.

Tonight hubby was off to a basketball game with his buddies, which meant dinner on my own. I decided that I'd prepare a tofu dish since hubby won't even get near the stuff.

The funny thing is that I searched through about five different cookbooks at our house, including a vegetarian one, and only came up with one recipe (which wasn't very appealing). I took my search to the web.

There I found "Crispy Tofu with Shiitakes and Chorizo." I'm far from a vegetarian - so forgoing meat in this dish was not my goal. Also, a friend of mine said that tofu is versatile because it takes on the flavor of whatever you cook it with. Chorizo and Shiitakes sound lovely, so there you have it.

Here's the final product - easy and quick to cook. The recipe calls for extra-firm tofu (which would have been better than the medium-firm tofu I had on hand), shiitake mushroom caps, chorizo, scallions, chicken stock/broth, soy sauce and dry sherry (of which I had none, so I substituted water).

Next time I will also cut the tofu even thinner, or press it for 30 minutes prior to cooking. I also might prepare a little more sauce. Overall, this was a winning recipe for a tofu first timer.

Holiday traditions

2011-11-27T20:52:00.000-05:00

During the first few years of our marriage, hubby and I used to have this lovely holiday tradition of surprising each other with 20 gifts to unwrap on each of the 20 days before Christmas. To prepare for this exciting event, we would set out on a secret shopping night at Walmart or Target on December 1st. We'd walk into the store together, each only allowed to spend $20 on the 20 gifts. It was all so secretive. We'd pay for our purchases, still in private, and lug them all home to wrap in newspaper.

Then on each night for 20 nights leading up to Christmas we'd each open a gift. It was awesome. We ended up with some ridiculous items, like stickers or sidewalk chalk or a bar of soap. Sometimes the gifts were great...like candy or a magazine. But they were all inexpensive and a good deal of fun to open.

Since becoming parents, this tradition has fizzled. I think back on it with love and as something to cherish. I look forward to creating new traditions, as a whole family.

While visiting Southpoint Mall this past Saturday night with Grammie (Debbie) and Granddaddy (Pat), we encountered something tradition-worthy. Just as we were leaving the mall, exiting by the sidewalk near Barnes & Noble, an amazing thing happened. "Snow" began falling from the sky. It was shooting off the rooftop of Barnes & Noble. As a silent blizzard came down on our heads, I saw the joy in Caleb's eyes and realized this is a great memory. I took a video for proof. I assume the "snowstorm" is something that Barnes & Noble creates on a regular basis throughout the holiday season. And if so, that may just be our new tradition.

Duke Campus in the fall

2011-11-23T18:29:00.000-05:00

As part of a family visit to Durham the other weekend, hubby and I got the opportunity to give a tour of Duke's campus. Hubby has become quite good at this task, as his new job is at the Divinity School on the campus. It was a beautiful fall day, with 7 adults and 3 children as our official tour group.

Madeline, Grandpa (my dad), Caleb, and Joe

My sister Michele and her boyfriend Joe

Me and Hubby

My sister Melissa and sleeping Maddox

Madeline and Caleb

The family overlooking an empty Wallace Wade Stadium

Duke Chapel - it was super crowded that day

The hallway leading up to Hubby's work

Some gorgeous stained glass at the Divinity School

Having out-of-town guests is always a great excuse to tour our local campus. These particular guests got the chance to see quite a bit about what makes Durham great - Parker and Otis, Pop's, Duke's campus, Foster's Market, Mez, Alivia's, and the list goes on and on.

Cornwallis Road Park

2011-11-13T21:16:00.000-05:00

Caleb and I spent a lovely afternoon together at Cornwallis Road Park on a sunny day last week. It was after work hours but before dinner - the perfect time to burn off some energy before heading home to call it a day.

Cornwallis Park is awesome for many reasons. It has walking trails with exercise equipment, it has disc golf (for those so inclined), and it has an awesome playground with some unique exhibits like climbing walls and webs and other contraptions that I have no clue what to call but that children love.

See for yourself.

That contraption is just a slide, but Caleb sometimes prefers to use it as a pull-up bar.

Handsome even with his Elmo Band-aid adorning his face.

Caleb and I hitting one of the trails.

Caleb sword fighting me with sticks. What?! You mean he could poke an eye out doing something like that?!?! I know, I know. It terrifies me, but I put on a brave mommy face and allow him to have fun since no other kiddos were around.

Downtown Durham skyline

2011-11-05T22:22:00.000-04:00

My sister Michele is in town visiting from Los Angeles both for work and for pleasure. For the work portion of her visit, we spent a good part of the day today shooting film and still shots in downtown Durham. We went home for a brief afternoon break and then headed back out to capture a sunset over the Downtown Durham skyline. Michele was working on a time lapse scene of the city, while I sought out light trails from traffic against the skyline.

I've always wanted to park my car near the bridge on Fayetteville Street that crosses over the Durham Freeway and snap some photos, but I've been too terrified of the traffic and the potential safety issues. I would have never considered shooting this alone, especially at dusk when we headed out.

Michele positioned on the overpass on Fayetteville Street

Our adventure began at 5 pm as the sun began its descent. We unloaded our equipment smack in the middle of the bridge (on the sidewalk) and began shooting with mild enthusiasm. Closer to 6:30 pm is when the colors began to come alive in the sky. Purples and blues were joined by city lights and headlights. Our mission was accomplished by 6:40 when we headed back to the car for the quick commute home for dinner. I've lived in Durham for six years and have always wanted to get this photo. So proud to have finally attempted it! Thanks Michele.

As the sun was still setting

A shot that wasn't that great...so I upped the saturation and had some fun with it

My favorite shot of the evening. This is exactly what I was going for. It makes our little city look alive.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T07:52:00.000-04:00

Caleb dressed up as a dog for Halloween, thanks to the generous Bridget Clark who lent us this adorable costume. I've been telling people that he was going to be a bear, but after finally pulling this out of the closet, it appears he's a dog. Woof woof. This is a short video of us walking up to the fall festival held at his preschool. Enjoy!

A Tennessee Pig Roast

2011-10-28T17:55:00.000-04:00

Every October, my cousins throw a big cuban bash in the mountains of Tennessee known as the Pig Roast. Come fall my mouth starts salivating for that delicious pork, cooked in a Chinese smoke box all day long. Then there are black beans and rice, and a ton of appetizers, sides and desserts, brought by guests in Southern potluck fashion.

Hubby, Caleb and I travel over the mountains to Jonesborough, TN and spend the night with my Tia Irene, Uncle Sam, mom, sister, brother-in-law, niece, and nephew. Family time on the farm at Tia Irene's house makes this weekend irreplaceable.

My mom and I always attempt to climb "the hill" beside the barn. This hill is more like a mountain, and many cows (and probably other wild animals) reside upon it. It's quite a hike.

View from the top

Then after the hike up the hill and back, we head over to the pig roast, set at Allendale Barn in Kingsport.

This isn't really Uncle Sam's hair. But this fake-hair hat was the hit of the show.

Durham Home Energy Savings Program

2011-10-28T14:53:00.000-04:00

According to Duke Energy, our home uses less energy than the average similar home, which is awesome news. In the past year or two we have upgraded to compact fluorescent bulbs for lighting and to at least one or two energy star appliances. Yet we can be doing more.

Lucky for us, the City of Durham is offering a Home Energy Savings Program to homeowners who qualify - which we did!

We just had to pay a small sum ($400) to receive a variety of energy improvements that included: sealing air leaks in heating and air conditioning ductwork; installing programmable thermostats; sealing air leaks in the attic floor and the crawlspace ceiling; installing attic insulation; installing high-efficiency showerheads and faucet aerators; and installing carbon monoxide detectors.

View of the attic, which I have never been in since we moved into this house 6 years ago. It now contains better insulation after the upgrades.

Our new showerhead. Slightly decreased water pressure, but hopefully it will help us save some water.

Our new slow flow kitchen sink faucet aerator. It really is better when you are washing dishes and veggies and such.

And our new programmable thermostat. The house temperature already feels more stable.

According to our energy bill history, January, February, June, and August are our highest usage months - probably pretty typical for a household in our area.

Since I assume the savings in usage won't appear until our December cycle (November may be too soon since the upgrades were just made), then we'll compare our usage to December of last year. Looking at last year's bill, our December cycle shows we used 2,023 kWh. Now rates have increased too, so I can't compare prices, but actual usage. I'll keep you posted! Thanks City of Durham.

The Bisanar Family

2011-10-26T20:13:00.000-04:00

I have some awesome photography clients - that is no secret. What seems like ages ago, the Bisanar family was one of the first I ever photographed as a professional portrait. Their son Asher was just a baby then, learning to roll over and scoot around. Now he's a two-year-old stud.
I consider myself fortunate to be called upon to capture their family moments on film. The fact that they can work it in front of the camera is just an added bonus. Asher, mommy, daddy...the whole family. They are just an attractive bunch...

... and charming...

... and loyal...

... and playful...

... and adventurous...

... and lovable...

... and charismatic...

... and full of expression.

They are the total package. Enjoy the photos.

Third trimester mama

2011-10-26T18:22:00.000-04:00

As part of the Bisanar portraits, I was able to take some photos dedicated to showing off mommy-to-be Tiffany's belly. She is expecting their second child, a baby girl, in the upcoming weeks. She's got the pregnancy glow and a great attitude about being in the final stretch of her 40 weeks of housing a baby. Congrats to the beautiful mama!

A daughter

2011-10-19T14:28:00.000-04:00

Hubby and I lay awake late last night, both anticipating this morning's main event - the ultrasound appointment for our little baby. Neither of us really had a hunch about a boy or a girl, but we both agreed we were more excited to find out with our second baby than our first. We came into this second pregnancy knowing a little more about what to expect, a lot more about the wonder of loving a child, and a lot more about the miracle of it all.

Both hubby and I wanted a girl, but we also love our little boy so much that having another one would be fantastic. This whole pregnancy I have accidentally called my fetus a "he" instead of a "she" or an "it" - though that's likely because I already have a boy.

After today's doctor's appointment I can now officially begin calling the baby a "she!" Below is a picture of her little face trying to take cover beneath her arm.

There is her little profile. I think she looks nothing like Caleb. Hubby argues that they look exactly alike. We'll have to wait until early March to find out.

The below photo is the official "It's A Girl" snapshot. I will make a promise to my daughter now that this will be the last photo of this sort to be posted publicly.

All others will include polite, tasteful, respectful cross-legged poses like below.

So that's our big news. We are very happy to report a healthy baby girl growing right on target. What a blessing. While we are still working on the name, we'll be sure to share once the decision has been made.

Fall Dinner by Chef Busbee

2011-10-18T16:30:00.000-04:00

Last weekend hubby and I hosted a fall-themed dinner at La Casa Busbee. Yes, the location sounds extravagant, but it was really just our humble abode in Durham.

Hubby had been aching to prepare a dinner for friends. I eagerly agreed to play hostess. We invited four of our closest friends plus three of their darling children, and preparations were underway. This was our first 4-course dinner with toddlers and babies at the table, which made for an interesting atmosphere.

First course: Pork Rillettes Served Over Cornmeal Pancakes, Pickled Okra and Beets

Second course: Pumpkin and Walnut Stuffed Ravioli, Baby Spinach, Pumpkin Oil, Nutmeg Cream Sauce

Third course: Pork Osso Bucco, Beet Greens, Slow-Cooked White Beans

Bryce ate his osso bucco rather quickly, which we all felt deserved a photo.

Dessert course: Pumpkin Mousse Parfait (an Ina Garten recipe)

Thank you hubby for a wonderful fall meal - and for thinking to include the rest of us.

Transitions

2011-10-14T10:51:00.000-04:00

This past weekend marked the beginning of something big - Caleb transitioning to a big boy bed from his crib. It was time. He is now 2 years old and we have a baby on the way.

So we started small by first removing the side off his crib. The first nights have gone very smoothly and we couldn't be more surprised. This is a picture of Caleb's cute little face first thing in the morning after a night in his big boy bed. He has everything he ever needs: his blankie, his milk and his handmade alligator from Grammie.

Apple Crisp

2011-10-09T19:15:00.000-04:00

Yesterday evening around dinnertime, an intense craving emerged from deep within my soul. It was for something warm, apple-themed, and crispy. This craving required butter and brown sugar as well.

I made it my mission to bake something the following day that would satisfy this craving. After church, hubby, Caleb and I headed straight to the grocery store to get butter. We were going to need A LOT. (Plus, we were all out - otherwise I would've baked something the night before).

We arrived back at the house, feasted on a rather large lunch of fried chicken, green bean casserole and mashed potatoes, and watched a lot of tv on dvd while Caleb napped. When we came to, I headed toward the bookshelf and searched through pages and pages of cookbooks to find the perfect recipe.

I finally selected an Apple Crisp recipe from The New Best Recipe Cookbook, one belonging to hubby. About an hour later, the apple crisp came out of the oven, golden brown crust atop bubbling cinnamon and brown sugar apples. It was exactly what I wanted. According to the recipe description, most apple crisps aren't really crisp at all. What is necessary to give the topping that extra crunch are spices and crushed pecans (or walnuts).

Mrs. Ruth's Farms Corn Maze

2011-10-08T16:10:00.000-04:00

Fall is here. And you know what that means...candy apples, carving pumpkins, and corn mazes! There has never been a more exciting time of year. The weather is perfection, the holidays are just around the corner, and there are more excuses to spend time with family.
Our family time this morning consisted of a visit to a brand new corn maze in Cary, NC called Mrs. Ruth's Farms Corn Maze off of Green Level Road. It was about a 20-minute drive from our house along wooded back roads with lake views.
We went for the corn maze but were surprised by just how many activities were available for families. First, we lingered around the gift shop for photo opps.

Next, we boarded the tractor for a short hayride, which took us through the woods to the corn maze drop off point.

Once we hit the corn maze, Caleb took off. He led hubby and I the entire way. I have no clue where he got his sense of direction.

It only took us about 20 minutes to get through the entire maze, so not nearly as difficult as McKee's Corn Maze (which is highly recommended and which we will probably visit later in October). Caleb found the exit and darted off toward the excitement ahead.

The view unfolded before us as we saw a field full of activities for children.

Tractors and pedal karts for kids (and adults).

A bounce house. If anyone has any suggestions for how to take successful bounce house photos, please let me know. Or how to remove a child from a bounce house whilst he's having two tons of fun.

A refreshment cart with juice boxes, sodas, waters, chips, snacks, etc.

And piles of hay everywhere! I called this Hay Mountain.

Another great invention - the traveling hot dog stand.

Overall, we were quite impressed with this outing. This is the first season the farm has been opened to the public. There is also a small zipline, though it was too small for us to wait in line for.

The tractor makes trips every 20 minutes or so. Once you get back to the home base/parking area/gift shop you can purchase snacks, pumpkins, apples, and other harvest themed goodies.

Sarah's Bridal Portraits

2011-10-07T18:44:00.000-04:00

Another beautiful bride - Sarah Faith Johnson - married in the month of September. Sarah (now officially a Kozik) wed in the mountains of Tennessee, and I was fortunate enough to be able to take her bridal portraits months before the wedding.
We were accompanied by her mom, sister, and nephew on the day of the shoot, which was hot and sticky mid-summer.
When we arrived at the shoot location (the Wagner House in Clayton), the front doors were locked because the owners of the classic Bed & Breakfast had yet to arrive. Sarah was a trooper and changed into her wedding gown in the privacy of the backyard gardens. Stunning, even without a mirror in sight, Sarah emerged from behind the house and our photo session began. What great memories.

Fall Bridal Portrait

2011-10-04T22:13:00.000-04:00

I not only had the pleasure of photographing this lovely bride's wedding this past sunny Saturday, but I also photographed her bridal portraits - always a favorite photo shoot of mine. We got to do the photos on the grounds of my hometown church - The First Baptist Church of Morganton. What an experience to be back there after so many years away.

I have known this bride since high school. She is beautiful, both inside and out, and is a sweetheart of a person. I was completely honored to be taking photos of such a wonderful young lady. Enjoy the portraits. Wedding photos to come soon!

My next cat

2011-09-30T16:37:00.000-04:00

I read this astonishing AP story today about the existence of a two-faced cat, known as a Janus cat. Not only is this kitty cat alive, but he is the longest living of his type in the world - a whopping 12 years old. Supposedly these cats are born with two faces, two mouths, noses, etc., and have a typical life expectancy of 1 to 4 days. Janus cats rarely survive because birth defects associated with the condition make it difficult for them to breath and eat.

I know this may sound a little freakish on my part, but I think he's kind of adorable. My only question...where can I get one of these precious, able-to-beat-the-odds Janus cats? I think I may have found my next pet.

Duke Forest with new friends

2011-09-29T17:02:00.000-04:00

Hubby, Caleb and I set out on a Sunday afternoon hike in September with new friends. Our church is partnering with Duke for the fall semester to serve as hosts for Chinese government officials. Hubby and I were paired with a man named Fumin, who also has a toddler son. It's amazing how much he loved Caleb the first moment they met. We are grateful for this growing relationship. I bet it is hard to leave your home and your country for an entire semester to come study abroad. One of our planned activities with Fumin was a hike at Duke Forest. We knew he loved hiking, and the day was perfect.

Birthday fun with hubby

2011-09-20T16:13:00.000-04:00

It was a busy birthday weekend. Hubby and I celebrated his 33rd year of life on Saturday. We secured two very wonderful babysitters for Caleb and then hubby and I hit the town. I let him pick the itinerary, obviously, and most of it revolved around tasting the alcoholic beverages of Durham.

The first stop on Tour de Hubby was Wine Authorities for their Saturday tasting - though I failed to take any photos of that splendid event.

The next stop was Bull City Burger and Brewery, where hubby got down and dirty with a tasting flight that included 7 beers. If I recall correctly those were: Parrish St. Pale Ale, Stierstadt Octoberfest, Pro Bono Publico Porter, 60 Shilling Scottish Ale, Dr. Bartlett’s Ordinary Bitter, Specialty Cayenne Hibiscus, and the Bryant Bridge Gateway Ale.

We also shared some Duck Frites and Deep Fried Pickle Chips. Double yum.

Hubby narrowed down his final selection to the Porter, which he took home in a growler. Growlers are great. They are poured straight from the tap, last in the fridge for about 2 weeks unopened, and make husbands very happy.

Our next stop was Fullsteam Brewery - a first for us. The setting was very fun and comfortable with food trucks parked outside, dart boards, and a "dogs allowed" policy. There is also a great view of the brew house.

Lastly, we headed to Chapel Hill to dine at 411 West. We began our meal with fresh baked bread and Caesar salads. Hubby got a southwestern pizza and I got the seared salmon cakes, topped with tzatsiki sauce over hummus.

We brought home dessert to share in front of a movie - a slice of Millionaire Pie, a dreamy, creamy peanut buttery piece of heaven.

I had a divine time celebrating with my beloved. Hope he enjoyed his big day.

Happy Birthday Melissa

2011-09-18T13:25:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday to the best sister anyone could ever ask for - my big sis, Melissa. She is the sweetest, smartest, most beautiful person in the whole wide world. I adore her with all my heart and have looked up to her since the day I was born. I LOVE YOU MELISSA!!!!!!!

What's lurking in the woods?

2011-09-15T14:33:00.000-04:00

That's the question I pose every day during my lunchtime walk. What exactly is lurking in those woods? As you can see from the picture, there isn't much to see at all. These woods are dense and overgrown.

I take a walk each day to get me away from the computer - otherwise my eyes go crazy. The route I take winds around the back of the building where I work, along a back road that is lined with forest and a few other small businesses.

It's not very scenic, but it gets the job done and allows me to step away from the office for about 20 minutes.

These walks involve me, my tennis shoes, cell phone calls to family and friends, much-needed breaths of fresh Durham air, and my mind focused on counting my blessings. But occasionally as I inhale the Durham air, I catch a whiff of something not so pleasant - foul even. It is in these moments that I wonder, what is in these woods? Quite possibly someone dumped their trash beyond the edge of the forest. Quite possibly a wild animal has ended its cycle of life. But, I always - if only for a mere moment - allow myself to believe that there might be a dead human body tucked away back in those woods.

See, this is what happens when you walk alone and have too much time to think. You come up with crazy schemes about people dumping bodies among the trees.

Project Swing Set

2011-09-05T13:04:00.000-04:00

For Caleb's 2nd birthday, we decided it was time to invest in a backyard swing set. After much research and sifting through options, my sister recommended Walmart, and presto! There was a beautiful swing set for a reasonable price. We asked friends and family to chip in for Caleb's birthday present. So many, many thanks to Melissa and Bryce, Mom (Mimi), Bridget and Tim, Dad & Cindy (Grandpa and Grandma), Debbie & Pat (Grammie and Granddaddy), and Tia Irene & Uncle Sam. We couldn't have done it without you guys!

We waited patiently for the swing set to be shipped to our local Walmart and then, this past Saturday morning we took a family trip to pick it up from the store. All the parts and pieces fit in one single box. Wow.

Caleb and I helped hubby sort through the pieces of wood, etc. Then Caleb and I went inside while hubby did most of the work over the course of 5 hours.

It took two days for hubby to build, and I got to help a tiny bit on the second day with some easy drilling. We let Caleb test it out first thing Monday morning.

I thought he'd be most obsessed with the slide. Instead, he partied hard on the swing.

The swing set includes this precious little picnic table on the back side and space for a sandbox or toy area below the "fort."

Caleb loves climbing up the ladder to the fort and the slide.

Once he's up there he thinks he is in charge of things.

The hardest part of this project was convincing Caleb that he needed a nap this afternoon. He desperately wanted to go back outside to the swing set. So I told him the reason we take naps is so that we have energy to play hard on the swing set.

A baby on the way

2011-09-03T20:10:00.000-04:00

Hubby and I have great news to share! Around March 8th of next year we'll be welcoming another baby into the Busbee clan. I took a positive pregnancy test on the 4th of July and was absolutely thrilled. Hubby and I had been trying to conceive since February. We tried our best to be patient. If our first pregnancy taught us anything, it was that God is in charge - his plan is worth waiting for. I always think about how miraculous it is that we ended up with Caleb as our son. That alone helped me be patient and positive this time around. Then I think about all the people out there who have waited much longer, and all the people out there who desperately want to be parents but who can't. We are so grateful for what God has given us.

We went to the doctor when I was 8 weeks along and got this sweet little ultrasound, which allowed us to see the heartbeat, see the baby wiggling his/her arms and legs, and see the brain and organs forming.

I just finished my first trimester and am grateful to have recently said goodbye to my nausea. This pregnancy has been so different from my first already. It's been fairly easy and stress-free. My belly is already expanding, as well as the rest of my body. I can already feel the baby moving sometimes - only very tiny flutters. I've been craving only salty food. Seriously, all I want to eat is bacon, pickles, olives, cheese and pretzels. I haven't been craving sweets like I normally do. But who knows what the next 6 months will bring. I'm looking forward to finding out!

Photo of the Day

2011-09-03T19:38:00.000-04:00

I call this "Black Bean Face." Caleb was an interesting young fellow all day today, acting like a typical two-year-old having a bad day. He fussed and cried most of the day while hubby started putting together a new swing set for Caleb. I struggled to keep this little boy happy, but for some odd reason even popsicles, pool time, and playdough couldn't keep a smile on his face. Yet, come dinner time, black beans became the answer to our prayers. Finally, Caleb was a happy boy and painted the evidence all over his face. Thank God for Goya.

An Elmo party

2011-08-28T13:50:00.000-04:00

Hubby and I hosted our baby boy's second birthday party on Saturday. It was Elmo-themed. If I had waited two more weeks to plan the affair I would've had to change the theme to Nemo. Kids' opinions change in the blink of an eye, I am discovering.

The bright red Elmo invitations went out to family and friends. We are so grateful for all of our loved ones who could attend (even despite the winds and the rain from Hurricane Irene). We missed everyone who couldn't be there!

A recent trip to IKEA in Charlotte resulted in this $20 find - a pop-up circus tent that provided hours of entertainment for all of Caleb's friends.

Elmo favor bags lined the kitchen table. The little dancing Elmos adorning the bright yellow bags were created by a very creative friend of mine, Pam. Thank you Pam. Without Pam, the party would have had no decorations because I lack any talent in that area.

The Elmo cupcakes were made by my go-to baker, Jenna (cupcakes by Jenna-Marie). These were beauties (and delicious).

The Elmo banner was the first thing Caleb saw when he awoke on his birthday party morning. He loved it! Now his favorite activity is trying to reach up and touch the Elmo banner.

Yummy Elmo cupcakes. Time to sing happy birthday.

Caleb completely forgot how to blow out the candles. I'm fairly certain that hubby stole his birthday candle thunder. But otherwise the guests would have been waiting all afternoon.

Eating the cupcake took even more effort. Caleb is typically suspicious of any food we try to encourage him to eat. He believes we are tricking him into eating something nutritious. It was no different with the cupcakes and took a lot of convincing to take that first bite.

But once the bite was in the mouth, he devoured the entire cupcake with haste.

Then we opened presents. Lots of wonderful, sweet gifts. Caleb is a lucky boy!

Friends playing on the sun porch.

Ellie and Madeline becoming friends. They bonded over a mutual love for frilly pink skirts.

Caleb's artwork with his new birthday paints. So glad they are washable!

Caleb can never have enough balls to play with. Balls are the best.

I can't express how thankful we are to have such great friends. Hubby, Caleb and I feel so loved.

City paving

2011-08-25T20:03:00.000-04:00

About two months ago, the City of Durham posted signs in the yards all along our street that read: "Notice: Street paving will occur on the dates of August 9 through August 23. Please remove vehicles from the street during this time."

Hubby, myself, and all the other neighbors waited anxiously for August 9th to arrive to see the road work in action. Our street was in pretty poor condition, but mostly due to teenagers writing vulgarities along its surface.

Finally August 9th arrived and the city workers punched the time clock at about 1:30 pm to begin the road work. They were gone before I got home that evening at 5:15 pm. Pretty short day's work, huh? I can't technically explain the work they did, but it appeared as if they raked along the perimeter of the street and left vertical grooves in the pavement. I was excited that they had begun work on the day they promised, and I couldn't wait to see the finished product in the coming days.

The following day, no further work was done. Nor the next day. Nor the next day.

The deadline to finish the street paving - according to the sign in our yard - was quickly approaching and I didn't sense any movement to get this project finished. August 23rd came and went, and still no paving was being done. They had missed their window of opportunity. I, along with my fellow neighbors, was now allowed to resume parking on my street.

I left for work on Wednesday - the 24th - and returned 8 hours later to see (and smell) a freshly paved street. So in reality, it took the city at most 11 hours to complete a project for which they allotted 15 days.

Photos of the Day

2011-08-22T08:24:00.000-04:00

Caleb and his cousin Madeline got to play together all weekend long. It was so much fun to witness. They get together and just unravel with laughter. I hope that they continue to enjoy each others' company for many more years to come!

Madeline, Melissa and Maddox - thank you for spending your weekend with us. Love you.

My Maine Lobstermen Experience

2011-08-14T21:20:00.000-04:00

I did something very original while in Maine - spent 6 hours on a boat with two lobstermen, some Dramamine, and my sister Michele. We had prepared ourselves for an early start to the day (5 AM), cold temperatures, and the rocky motion of the fishing boat.
Michele and I met the lobsterman (Clive) and his sternman (Cage) on a dark, quiet dock in Boothbay Harbor shortly after 5 in the morning. We had our cameras and tripods in hand and were ready for some great photography. I was also ready for a nap, but that wasn't happening anytime soon.

The lobster boats aren't very big - just big enough for two men comfortably. Michele and I squeezed on with all of our equipment. FYI - there is a bathroom onboard, hidden beneath some steps. You have to pump your own toilet water and wash your hands with hand sanitizer. Yummy. Cage was very warm and friendly, a true Southern boy from Georgia. He shook our hands upon introduction and then announced that he was headed to the tiny toilet because - as he put it - he shouldn't have eaten three helpings of his grandmother's macaroni and cheese since he is lactose intolerant. Double yum.

Soon after leaving the dock, Cage began baiting the lobster traps using none other than dead fish. The smell was oh-so-fantastic. Did I mention this was a small boat? So small that at times, my thigh would brush against the slimy bin of dead fish.

Cage was a hardworking fellow. Very efficient and fluid when working with the bait and the lines that held the traps together. He would stack them up on the back of the boat and allow them to be pulled into the cold waters by the rope.

Each line is connected to a buoy, and holds about 5 traps. By law, lobstermen in Maine can have no more than 600 traps out at sea at a given time.

They will pull in and re-release anywhere from 150 to 300 traps per working day. And they get to work early - at 5 am - and return around 1 pm for lunch. Then they go back out for round two in the afternoon. It's a full day of pretty grimy work. I can't imagine ever getting the fish smell out of my hands.

Clive, the lobsterman who owned the boat, has been doing this for decades. Before working as a lobsterman he was a teacher.

Throughout our six-hour journey, Clive drove us past a few pretty neat sights, including lighthouses, harbor seals, and this old US life saving station.

There's Michele. Eyes and camera focused on the prize.

There's me (photo courtesy Michele). Cold, shivering, helplessly trying to not fall off the rocking boat.

This small house was located on an island near the lifesaving station. Cage told us that local fishermen used to throw parties out on the island after a day at work. Can you imagine anything more remote?

Another view of the lifesaving station.

This picture gives a slightly better feel for the size of the boat and the lack of walking room. The gray metal box in the middle of the boat is where the fresh lobsters are kept. Those slots lead down to a tank of water that keeps them alive.

Clive was in charge of steering the boat, navigating our route, and pulling the traps out of the water. He would then open the cages and pull out the beautiful little lobsters, if he was lucky enough to have caught any. On average, be probably got one or two lobsters per every five cages. But he wore his emotions clearly on his face. You could tell when he was devastated that no "worthy" lobsters had been trapped by a cage, and he couldn't help but grin ear to ear when his trap was full of beautiful lobsters.

Clive would pull them out of the cages, look at the quality of their shell, check their status (a female with a notched tail or with visible eggs is illegal to keep), and measure for size. "Worthy" lobster bodies measure between 3.25" and 5". This measurement doesn't include most of the tail.

Then Cage would clamp the claws shut with bands. Even this part was a science, depending on the density of the lobster shell and size of the claw. Different sized bands are needed for soft shell or hard shell lobsters.

A sweet little lobster awaiting his fate. It's possible I ate him for dinner that very evening. Right after Jed yanked his head off in the kitchen sink. Sorry little lobster. You were delicious.

A lobster about to go into the tank.

And in he goes.

The color of the buoys has great significance. Clive's buoys are green and white, as shown below. Every lobsterman has a specific buoy which must be registered. That's the only way they can locate their traps.

I have a new respect for knots - an art it seems is only taught to boy scouts, fisherman, and the military. But these knots are responsible for holding together 5 traps and surviving the climate of the cold Atlantic ocean. They are responsible for the livelihood of many a lobsterman.

Sweet little lobster. Interesting fact...lobsters can be three different colors: red, brown and blue. Most of the lobsters we saw were brown and red (though hubby and I saw a blue one at the Maine aquarium).

A starfish hitchhiking a ride on the side of Clive's boat. He was the more attractive of creatures I saw clinging to the boat.

Overall, Michele and I had a fantastic and enlightened time on the boat. I learned a lot about the reality of a job that is based around hard, physical labor. I learned a lot about a profession that I thought would be lucrative. These guys barely scrape by. That being said, they surely must have a passion for the job. And is there any better reason?

An Elizabethan collar for canine royalty

2011-08-10T14:47:00.000-04:00

About three weeks ago, Paxton the dog took his own vacation at the doggy hotel while hubby and I were out of town. When we picked him up from the doggy hotel upon our return, hubby noticed a small, brown spot on Paxton's neck. It was so small it seemed insignificant at the time.
Well, over the course of three weeks it has grown from an insignificant spot to a raw patch, then it healed, and finally it turned red and raw again. Yesterday we decided it was time to visit the vet.
Paxton's neck was carefully cleaned, shaved, and examined and a diagnosis was made. Just a "hot spot," said the vet. What starts as a small cut turns into a large sore and eventually becomes infected. Yuck.
So now, poor Paxton the dog has to take antibiotics twice daily, have a topical ointment applied twice daily, and wear this what must be very uncomfortable Elizabethan dog collar. He is not a happy dog right now.

Do you blame him? I hate turtleneck sweaters. I can hardly imagine this thing around my neck. Here's to hoping for a quick recovery!

Photos of the Day

2011-08-08T21:33:00.000-04:00

Caleb just had the best three weeks! Grammie (Debbie) came all the way from Orlando to stay with us through the end of summer. Caleb got to skip his usual daycare routine and hang with Grammie, who got really creative while finding new games to play around the house. The extreme temperatures kept us indoors quite a bit.
What used to be a puzzle floor mat became foam hats for a hat party.

Thank you Grammie for making this sweet boy so very happy.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

2011-08-05T15:29:00.000-04:00

As part of our July trip to Maine, hubby, Caleb and I visited the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. We had heard excellent reviews of the gardens, and locally we love trekking through the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. We were prepared for a treat.

The weather was nice on the day of our visit - hot for Maine around 80 degrees. The wonderful thing about the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is that it includes a few hikes in addition to typical botanical garden areas. Our self-guided tour of the grounds included only a few shortcuts and lasted about 2.5 hours.

Maine blueberries - I was dying to find a blue one to pick!

A pouting toddler hidden behind a tree. Near the end of our adventure, Caleb went through a brief spell of not wanting to be carried and not wanting to walk. I love when that happens while hiking.

Pink dogwood - so pretty!

Sunset over Boothbay Harbor, Maine

2011-08-01T19:35:00.000-04:00

My sister Michele and I are pretty fanatical about photography. She in the form of video production and direction, and me in the form of still photography. What for some folks might have been just an ordinary week away at the Maine coast was for us a photographic adventure. Our July trip to Maine together was amazing - the scenery is impossible to ignore. There is nothing ordinary about it, not even the sunsets.
One evening after a home-cooked dinner, Michele and I set out to find a sunset. We didn't have to drive far. Just three minutes from our house sat the harbor. We quickly found an empty space on a lobsterman's dock and set up our tripods. The following photos capture what we saw over the next hour.

It just goes to show that a singular sunset can take on many forms. All beautiful, all unique, and all worth the wait.

Garden fresh poblano peppers

2011-07-24T19:59:00.000-04:00

Hubby is fully responsible for the success of our vegetable garden. He does every bit of the work. For him, I'm sure it is a bit like planting his future menu. He probably is already dreaming of the dishes and canned goods that he wants to prepare while embedding each and every seed in the soil in early Spring.

Right now our garden is producing banana peppers, poblano peppers, jalapeno peppers, green peppers, roma tomatoes, slicing tomatoes, zucchini, green beans, okra, basil, broccoli, brussel sprouts, snow peas, and maybe - if a particular vine survives - some fresh cucumbers.

The poblano peppers served as the centerpiece for tonight's dinner. Tomato and Goat Cheese polenta topped with roasted chicken, corn and feta-stuffed poblanos. It was the tastiest dish I've consumed in a long time. The peppers were pretty hot, but balanced by the creamy polenta. I made a goat cheese and avocado dip as an appetizer.

I am already dreaming of eating the leftover polenta. Ummmmmmm.

Whale watching in Boothbay Harbor, Maine

2011-07-24T14:47:00.000-04:00

While visiting Maine for our summer vacation, hubby and I agreed that whale watching was the quintessential tourist activity that we just had to do. We tracked down a tour company local to Boothbay Harbor, the town in which we stayed. It was a beautiful day, and the company offered guaranteed whale sightings. I had my doubts from the moment we bought the tickets. Internally, I questioned how could anyone ever guarantee that every trip out to sea in the vast Atlantic would result in the spotting of a whale. Sure these are big fish we're talking about, but it's an even bigger ocean.
The boat traveled across the lumpy waves about 20 miles from shore to the "whale feeding grounds."

I guess you can tell by my attitude that we never spotted a whale. We were offered complimentary tickets to come back anytime for a second attempt. Sure...the next time we're in Maine.

Despite not seeing a whale, the boat was actually quite an experience. We saw seals, one of my favorite animals. They are blubbery, lazy, and enjoy lounging in the sun near waves crashing on rocks.

We had pretty decent views of lighthouses and the Maine coastline.

And the sailboats dotting the frigid waters are exquisite sights.

Then there's this exquisite sight. My two boys. Hubby was holding Caleb on the deck of the boat and the rocking waters coaxed Caleb to sleep.

We tucked him in one of the benches for a 1.5-hour nap, snuggled warmly in my newly-purchased Maine sweatshirt.

Hubby and I enjoyed the waves and the sights while Caleb slept.

Overall it was a fun adventure with only a minimal amount of seasickness.

Pool pals

2011-07-22T19:59:00.000-04:00

For the past week, Caleb has had the pleasure of having his Grammie (Debbie) in town to visit. She has been spending all of her time, energy and love on that sweet little boy. And because she loves him so much, she offered to watch Caleb's girlfriend Ellie a few days this week as well...just so the two of them would have toddler company.
To top it all off, they got to splash around in the swimming pool on a very hot day.

Caleb appears to have been very thirsty during their pool time. I'm sure the kids worked together in toddler fashion to share the hose and the water and everything else they encountered that day. Thanks Grammie!

Boston by foot

2011-07-17T14:23:00.000-04:00

Hubby, Caleb and I just finished off a summer vacation in Maine with our final night in Boston.
We are pleased that we got to spend the final night of our vacation in air conditioned, king-sized bed comfort at the Westin Waterfront in Boston. No complaints about Maine - I just enjoyed the royal treatment in Boston.
During our inaugural visit to the beautiful city of Boston, Hubby and I decided to fit as much in as we could. We had only one afternoon at our disposal.
The concierge at the hotel urged us to not use a car, but tour the city by foot. So we checked our rental car in one day early, which ended up being a good thing. Parking for one hour at the hotel was $20. The luxury accommodations were a pretty penny too - but that came as no surprise, and one well worth it.

Our hotel, the Westin Waterfront.

We dropped off the car at the rental place near Government Center and started our journey toward Faneuil Hall Marketplace in the center of Boston.

View from below in downtown Boston.

We stopped along the way to watch a street performance - three very energetic performers who played music, danced, and did acrobatics. They also passed around a bucket to collect money, pleading with the crowd to "help keep the black man out of prison and out of your houses." These humorous fellows enjoyed calling attention to their ethnicity.

Street performers in Boston.

Then we entered Faneuil Hall, a market building built in 1742, where town meetings once took place including protests by Samuel Adams and others against the imposition of taxes on the colonies.

Faneuil Hall

Upper level, Faneuil Hall

Upper level, Faneuil Hall.

Each step represents the first 13 United States in order of statehood from bottom to top.

Shopping and attractions in the Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

Our next stop was a merry-go-round (a first for Caleb) near the waterfront. This activity was followed with a popsicle, a constant Caleb request.

Midway through the ride, the conductor stopped the merry-go-round, approached me and told me I had to get off the seat and stand beside Caleb instead of riding. It was safer that way, according to him. Felt a lot less stable to me, but I'm just the mama.

After a brief stop at the waterfront, we moved on to the King's Chapel and Burying Ground. I love cemeteries, but this is not news. I try to photograph at least one during every new place we visit.

The King's Burying Ground

Neat architecture in the cemetery

The King's Chapel. Very cool pews - these were the originals. They are like family boxes.

After a hushed visit to the chapel, which had Caleb in fits to scream and yelp with all his 2-year-old energy, we scurried on to the Tadpole Playground and the Frog Pond, a free sprayground in the Boston Commons. Much fun was had splashing around.

The Frog Pond, Boston Commons

We got drenched and then began the mile-hike home to the hotel. Some sights along the way...

Then dinner in the hotel room, bathtime and bedtime.

Caleb curled up in a bath towel, ready for bed

City views from our 16th floor room at dusk

The Westin even provided a crib for Caleb. It came with a cute little baby rug. How precious!

We can't wait for our next visit to Boston.

Photos of the Day

2011-07-06T19:33:00.000-04:00

The family made a Sunday afternoon trip to Jordan Lake a few weekends ago. This marked Caleb's first trip to the Durham area lake. He enjoyed stripping down to his bright orange swim trunks and he enjoyed watching Paxton the dog bounce around in the water, but he just wasn't a fan of the actual water itself. I don't blame him.
I desperately wanted to float on a raft in order to avoid touching my toes to the murky lake bottom. Caleb just wouldn't allow it. He insisted that I stand in the water while holding him. Jordan Lake is not for the faint of heart. It takes courage to get in that dark, ooey, gooey abyss.
Here is Caleb striking a few adorable poses. Picture me, shrieking and whining in the background.

A 4th of July flowerbed

2011-07-05T07:20:00.000-04:00

I am a very bad influence. I convinced hubby that we should skip church this past Sunday and instead finish planting a flowerbed in our front yard. We dreamed up the idea of a new flowerbed over Father's Day. Our front yard has horrible grass and consists mostly of weeds - so why not substitute grass for a flowerbed, we thought.

Hubby dug out the space and we selected most of the plants on Father's Day, purchasing the goods from Kiefer Landscaping in Durham. What a beautiful place! They have this giant koi pond where kids (and adults) can feed the fish.
But then the empty dirt bed just sat there for 2 weeks looking far from attractive. I couldn't let it go any longer.

So we spent Sunday in the blazing hot sun, thanking God for a beautiful day, as hubby and I worked together on the yard project. Our new bed includes a small Winterberry tree, two types of leafy groundcover, some purple and red azaleas, an ornamental grass, bee balm, dwarf hollies, verbena, among other plants (whose names I have since forgotten).

I think it's funny how different the before and after photos look (yes, I know, that is the point in taking before and after photos). But one was taken on a dry, dusty day and the other taken the morning after a series of torrential rainstorms.

Have you found your inner peace?

2011-07-01T10:18:00.000-04:00

My boss - a positive, professional, motivating leader - sent this checklist out to staff this morning. It outlines the "symptoms of inner peace." I smiled a bit as I read through the list. Some of these are familiar symptoms, and some I definitely have yet to achieve. Here's to wishing you each some inner peace during this holiday weekend!

The Symptoms of Inner Peace

· A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than act in response to fears based on past experiences

· An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment

· A loss of interest in judging other people

· A loss of interest in judging oneself

· A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others

· A loss of interest in conflict

· A loss of ability to worry (a very serious symptom)

· Frequent overwhelming episodes of appreciation

· Contented feelings of connectedness with others and with nature

· Frequent attacks of smiling

· An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen

· An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it

Priorities and efficiencies

2011-06-26T14:09:00.000-04:00

Early Saturday morning when hubby announced his plans to go over to a friend's house, dig up a 10-foot-tall willow tree, and transplant it into our yard, I knew I had been given the perfect opportunity to go shoe shopping with Caleb. Digging up trees and I do not get along. Digging is one of those tasks that sounds awfully exciting, catching a glimpse of what lies beneath, but it's actually not fun at all. Our Durham soil is hard and dry and uninviting. Plus, shovels leave ugly blisters on hands.

So, hubby was 100% okay with not having mine or Caleb's assistance in the matter - and we went on our merry way to DSW shoes (i.e. - paradise). It felt as if only mere minutes had elapsed when I received a phone call. Hubby.

"Are you guys almost done? The tree is in the ground and I'm now on to my next task," he said nonchalantly. Really?! Done???

"So let me get this straight," I questioned in disbelief. "You drove over to Chris's house, dug up the large willow tree, drove it back to our house, dug a 7-foot hole in our back yard, and finished planting the tree?"

"Yes," hubby said.

I hadn't even narrowed down my selection to two favorite shoes yet. I had the one pair. Yes, these little grey and white beauties were coming home with me.

But it would take a great deal more time to select my second pair. I had 5 shoe boxes sprawled on the floor in front of me, and I hadn't yet visited the pumps section. DSW is a big place, and the shoe rack in my closet had some vacant spaces.

To speed up the shoe hunt, I did what any good mother would do. I retrieved my cell phone from my purse, searched for Elmo video clips on YouTube, and handed the device to my son so that I could pay full attention to picking out the perfect second shoe.

And as Caleb's face washed over with satisfaction with Elmo close by, my eyes were drawn to a pair of shiny, sapphire jewel-tone, flexible ballet flats one shelf over. That was that. We were ready to go.

Some of us are blessed with the gift of efficiency - like hubby and his ability to transform a yard in under an hour. And some of us are not. At least when it comes to shoes.

Photo of the Day

2011-06-26T13:28:00.000-04:00

Caleb loves Paxton the dog. Are the feelings reciprocal? I'm not sure about that one.

Taqueria la vaquita

2011-06-20T20:00:00.000-04:00

There is this charming little taco stand in Durham, Taqueria la Vaquita, that is no secret to locals. Though it only occupies a small lot on Chapel Hill Road, the food served really satisfies. Hubby and I visit the taqueria frequently as the food is fast, fresh and delicious. The menu is enormous and includes both typical tacos and more unique fillings like cow udder and braised beef tongue, Mexican snacks such as gorditas, empanadas, and tamales, Mexican sandwiches, and traditional plates.

I like to order tacos carnitas (roasted Mexican pork).

Jed always orders the chilaquiles, a casserole of corn tortilla, tomatillo sauce, shredded chicken, cheese and sour cream.

We always leave satisfied!

To my baby's daddy

2011-06-19T19:50:00.000-04:00

As I sit here in the next room listening to hubby reading a nighttime story to Caleb, I can't help but think of how lucky I am to have found such a great man - someone who is the most fantastic father to Caleb. Happy Father's Day to a man that deserves such recognition every single day.

Angus Barn chef talks steak

2011-06-15T10:11:00.000-04:00

Today's News & Observer featured three NC chefs sharing secrets on how best to grill a steak at home - perfect timing just days before Father's Day! Thank you Kathleen Davis (N&O writer) for this feature. Click here to read the full story.

I was very interested in Angus Barn chef Walter Royal's tips for the perfect steak. His answers shared below.

Preferred steak. The ribeye; it's meaty, flavorful and well-marbled.

Selecting the cut of meat. Look for a good, rich red color and not big chunks of fat, but little flecks of whiteness woven in the meat itself.

Prepping the meat. Let the meat come to room temperature for 15-20 minutes before grilling. Those minutes are crucial in allowing the juices to go back into the meat.

Special seasoning. Brush the steak with melted butter or olive oil just before putting on the grill, again when you turn it, and again just before it comes off the grill. Wait until the very end to salt and pepper. Salting too early zaps the product of moisture.

Before serving. Let the finished sizzling steak rest before cutting into it. That will preserve juices.

Now I'm ready to devour a perfectly cooked ribeye!

The Mullinnix Mojito

2011-06-11T14:59:00.000-04:00

I won't give away the recipe for this very special Mojito that my brother-in-law makes to perfection. I can just tell you that these mojitos are divine - down to the last drop.

I actually helped make them this past Friday night - and by help I mean I juiced limes and lemons.

Bryce (said brother-in-law) took off where I left off, mixing unknown amounts of sugar, fresh-from-the-Busbee-garden mint, rum, and club soda.

The kids feasted upon frozen mojito popsicles. Only kidding, they were regular, kid-friendly popsicles.

And then, like magic, the mojitos were ready. Presented beautifully with a fresh sprig of mint.

Actually, I'm extra proud because hubby took the photos of the final product. I hadn't realized what a great photographer he has become.

Leftover mojito from last night is taunting me from the fridge. I'm betting I'll be sipping a cold one this evening. I'll keep you posted.

Race for the Cure

2011-06-11T14:19:00.000-04:00

The annual Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure took place in Raleigh this morning - and I got to be a part of this wonderful event! I have wanted to participate in a breast cancer walk for quite some time now, and I'm so glad I was able to.

My sister, whose Wrigley's team was walking the Recreational Open 5K, invited me to tag along. I even got my own Wrigley t-shirt to don during the event.

The folks who I saw support this cause were an inspiration. Every one of them was happy to be there. Breast cancer survivors wore special shirts so that the rest of us could be reminded why we were doing this walk/race. Every one of us was cheered on until the finish line - even those of us who strolled along lazily in the summer heat, and those of us who have never come close to dealing with the challenges that the survivors have overcome.

The Wrigley Team, pre-race

A happy, just-crossed-the-finish-line Wrigley Team!

The Waterfalls of North Carolina

2011-06-11T13:06:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday at this time I was standing deep within the Pisgah National Forest gazing in awe at the beauty of Log Hollow Branch Falls.
It was during I trip I took with the Triangle Photography Meetup group. Our group organizer mapped out about 12 different waterfalls to visit, all located in the Brevard/Transylvania County area.

I grew up near the NC mountains, but had never spent a great deal of time challenging myself to take photos of waterfalls.

In total, I was able to visit six different waterfalls - Log Hollow Branch, Moore Cove, Looking Glass, Mill Shoal, Bird Rock, and Eastatoe. Eastatoe (shown above) was my favorite. It was by far the most breathtaking, and oddly enough, it was located almost directly in someone's backyard. What a lucky property owner!

The Triangle Photography Meetup group is already planning an autumn trip to see a different set of waterfalls in all their seasonal splendor. Anyone interested can come along!

Blisters from Greece

2011-06-03T10:38:00.000-04:00

I wore one of my favorite pairs of shoes yesterday. Espadrilles from Ann Taylor Loft that I purchased many moons again. They are a sturdy pair of shoes that offer a small amount of comfort and large amount of height.

As I slipped them on my not-nearly-ready-for-summer feet, it brought back memories of a trip I took to Greece back in 2007 (and yes, the shoes are that old). I purchased the shoes right before the trip and was ready to hit the Grecian streets with these beauties on my feet.

I fondly recall an afternoon spent in Mykonos, one of many beautiful Greek isles. It was my sister, her husband, my hubby, my mom, and myself as we set out from our hotel (Hotel Artemis) in search of the infamous Greek sunset.

We heard from many locals that we just had to see the sunset from the dock at Little Venice, which was about a 2-mile walk from our hotel. The view was going to be worth it...we just knew it.

And it was. But every inch of that 2-mile walk in my 3-inch espadrilles was painful. We walked carefully along the Greek sea coast and hugged the edge of the rocky roadside. Cars drove wildly on the island and being a pedestrian wasn't as easy as it is here in America. So the terrain was rugged, our safety wasn't guaranteed - but the views were gorgeous.

Little Venice and a Greek sunset at last. We enjoyed every moment of those golden rays as we sipped on Greek wine. But then came the walk back.

It was easy to get lost within the maze-like streets of Mykonos. The alleyways are small and all the buildings look similar - white buildings with blue staircases. Don't get me wrong, I adore Greek architecture. But getting lost with painful shoes within an unknown city still 2 miles from home is not as pleasant as it may seem.

The part I find most intriguing is that I have more memories of the Ann Taylor Loft espadrilles and Greece than I do of the authentic Greek sandals purchased in Mykonos.

I guess that is the plight of an American tourist. I welcome the challenge any time.

Southern cooking by Chef Busbee

2011-05-25T20:19:00.000-04:00

If you marry a Mississippi-raised chef, you are bound to be both dazzled and delighted by the wonderful taste of the South. Before marriage, I thought I knew what Southern cooking tasted like. I had tried hushpuppies and a variety of BBQ. I had even savored the tang of fried pickles. But these few menu items barely gave me a taste. Chef Busbee - or hubby, as I so lovingly call him - treated my taste buds to a whole new world. One filled with collard greens and gravy and okra and baked sweet potato pie. To Chef Busbee I owe a debt of gratitude.
With family in town last week, hubby really put together a menu that screamed home sweet home.
First he spent hours over a hot stove making his BBQ sauce, a recipe he has been perfecting for years.

Sometimes he gives it a smoky kick and sometimes he gives it a bit of heat.

This batch was his traditional style - a tangy, tomato-based sauce with a hint of brown sugar.

After making the sauce, hubby moved on to fried okra.

He pulls out the cast-iron skillet and drops in his cornmeal and herb battered okra. Even the sound of popping oil coming from the kitchen makes us all antsy.

The breaded okra morsels emerge from the hot pan golden and crisp.

And last comes the vinegar-based, slow-braised pork. Hubby usually prepares top round or butt.

It falls apart at the touch, displaying perfect tenderness - no chopping necessary.

You might be a Southerner if this is one of your favorite meals.

A week in good company

2011-05-24T21:36:00.000-04:00

Jed's parents were in town last week - partly for business, partly for recreation. Their visit couldn't have come at a better time. Their sweet grandson Caleb is now 21 months old and is changing into a spirited little boy. Grammie and Granddaddy got to witness the oodles of love, affection, joy, humor, and tantrum production that this boy of mine has to offer. The beautiful thing about grandparents is that they have undeniably been there, done that. So a tantrum or two or three or four is no big thing to them. Grammies and Granddaddies just roll with the punches.

Caleb enjoyed time spent with those he loves - and he really enjoyed all the extra attention. He spent his days with Grammie, reading books, going to the museum, going to the park, and playing at the mall. During the evenings we all gathered together for good food and conversation. I am grateful for every moment spent with family. Thank you Grammie and Granddaddy for a wonderful visit.

Witherspoon Rose Culture: First Bloom 2011

2011-05-22T17:11:00.000-04:00

Witherspoon Rose Culture just celebrated its 60th year during its annual First Bloom Celebration, which took place this Saturday in Durham. I attended with my mother-in-law after a wine tasting, and we were both in awe at the beauty of the gardens. They contain rows of every color, size and shape of rose you could ever dream of.
I asked a question I've been wondering for awhile. If someone wanted to go through the gardens and pick their own bouquet, could they? I assumed the answer would be no. Much to my delight, I was informed that customers can do just that! The experts at Witherspoon will assemble any 12 roses that I desire - all for $21. Not a bad price for a dozen gorgeous roses.
In the meantime, I created my own personal bouquet through photos. Enjoy!

Cresset Eagle Golf Classic

2011-05-18T08:12:00.000-04:00

I recently attended my first Cresset Eagle Golf Classic, an annual golf tournament that benefits Cresset Christian Academy. The golf tournament has been celebrated since 2005 and was held this year at The Preserve at Jordan Lake, a beautiful golf course between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro.
You might be wondering, can Melanie play golf?
The answer is no - I was in attendance as a photographer and sponsor. See my first piece of advertising for Melanie Busbee Photo below.

I arrived at the golf course 2 hours before the shotgun start and it was my job as volunteer photographer to corral all the golf foursomes before tee-off. I knew going into this project that this would be a challenging task. Golfers tend to want to practice their swing and putting before beginning a golf competition. I don't blame them one bit.

Each and every golfer was pleasant and very willing to work with me. I had 17 foursomes to hunt down and photograph before their game began.

Here are just a few of the players at the golf classic.

This was such a wonderful event, pulled together through great efforts by the Cresset team, and it was a joy to be a part of.

Waller Family Farms

2011-05-14T12:33:00.000-04:00

I recently took Caleb to Waller Family Farms, one of the local pick-your-own strawberry patches. It is very conveniently located near Caleb's school and makes the perfect late afternoon destination.

I was impressed at how quickly Caleb caught on to the concept of picking (or eating) strawberries from the vine. We had two other young ladies with us - Taylor and Ashleigh - who probably helped make the event much easier. Caleb tends to follow along behind older, pretty girls.

What a delicious discovery!

To all the mamas

2011-05-08T21:03:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the mamas out there - but especially my mom (aka - Marmie). I got to spend yesterday with this wonderful woman as she, my sister, and I drank mojitos together and posed for family portraits with the grandchildren.

Just one of many photos from the day's photo shoot. Photography by Pam Lappegard.

It was a very special day. We exchanged Mother's Day cards and gifts and simultaneously boo-hooed at the sappy words written on the page. We are a family that prefers personalized messages (as does my Mother-in-law, Debbie - who also deserves a special Happy Mother's Day wish!!!). None of us are actually able to read the sweet messages while in front of one another; we attempt it, but only make it so far before we crumble into weeping masses.
My mother's letter to me said touching phrases like, "beautiful, talented young lady," and "the pride and joy I feel in having you as a daughter is totally indescribable."
She goes on to describe my wedding day, my pregnancy, watching me give birth to her grandson, and my way of being a "wonderful mother to that lucky baby boy." My throat clenches up just re-typing some of those thoughtful words.
So, Marmie, you should know that I have felt nothing but pure adoration for you since as early as I can remember. You say I have a unique way of singing everything and dancing with joy with my son - I learned that happiness and optimism from you. You are gorgeous and intelligent, strong and capable, gentle and patient. You are the mom that I hope I can try to be. I love every moment you spend with my son. He needs his Mimi as much as I still need my Marmie. I love you.
Happy Mother's Day!!!!

Teacher Appreciation Week

2011-05-06T20:33:00.000-04:00

Today was the last day of Teacher Appreciation Week, a celebration and time of thanks for all that our teachers do. I happily delivered bags of goodies and a bouquet of fresh pink peonies to Caleb's two preschool teachers today. I certainly am grateful for the devotion, instruction, and emotional support they offer to my son. Without them, Caleb wouldn't know half of the words he knows now, he wouldn't be eating as well as he does, and he wouldn't take directions or understand routines at the level that he does. Wonderful teachers make all the difference.

I delivered the flowers as I dropped Caleb off at school this morning. He ran right up to Ms. Mattison with the bouquet in hand and gave it to her with a big grin. Instead of putting the bouquet immediately in a vase, Ms. Mattison then walked around the classroom and asked the other children what color the flowers were and how many there were. She then went up to each child individually and let them smell the flowers. This type of one-on-one, social interaction with each child is exactly what makes a great teacher.

Thank you Ms. Mattison and Ms. Mayhew for taking fantastic care of my child.

Engagement portraits: Eno River State Park

2011-05-01T20:40:00.000-04:00

I visited the Eno River State Park this morning to photograph a very sweet couple, Sarah and Daniel, who got engaged this past December. Cheers to a fabulous couple, ideal weather, and a heavenly backdrop.

Breaking out the grill

2011-05-01T19:50:00.000-04:00

Our first grilled product of the season was Bar-B-Q chicken, shrimp and vegetable kabobs. Hubby broke out the grill yesterday.

We paired the kabobs with a homegrown spinach and arugula salad.

Hubby has been hard at work growing lettuces, herbs and veggies this spring.

Dinner, which we enjoyed al fresco on the sun porch, was paired with a rosato from Wine Authorities.

The first of many fantastic dinners outdoors.

Fridays on the Front Porch

2011-04-30T12:50:00.000-04:00

One of the best things about having a local newspaper that provides excellent coverage on events Triangle-wide is that they produce eye-catching headlines like: "Fridays on the Front Porch series kicks off April 29." These headlines alert me to fun and exciting events around town and I couldn't be happier.

I called hubby upon reading this headline regarding this annual summer series hosted by the Carolina Inn that showcases bluegrass and other local bands, good beer and great Bar-B-Que. Plus it's kid-friendly and runs from 5 to 9 pm every Friday throughout the summer. All those ingredients add up to awesome.

We invited some friends to last night's kick-off event, which featured the band Big Fat Gap, a favorite of ours.

This was new mommy Adriana's first sip of alcohol post baby. I'm glad I could witness the event. Congratulations Adriana and Mike! And thank you Carolina Inn and Big Fat Gap for a wonderful evening.

Homegrown spring

2011-04-30T10:38:00.002-04:00

Easter has come and gone

2011-04-28T19:18:00.000-04:00

Easter has come and gone, but I'm just now getting the time to share how the Busbee family celebrated. It was a glorious, sunny day - the first warm Easter we've had in a long time. I feel like Easter typically brings with it a surprise frost. But not this year!

We celebrated in Morganton at Mimi's house and attended church with her in the morning, which was followed by an Easter egg hunt in the cemetery. The church provided Easter baskets for all the kids and even treated us all to a visit from the Easter bunny.

Caleb caught on quickly to the concept of hunting for Easter eggs. And mostly he just followed his cousin Madeline around. She clearly knew how this game was played. I believe she even ended up with two baskets.

Then came the Easter bunny, to whom all the children flocked. Well, all except Caleb.

He waved from afar. There was both a desire to meet the Easter bunny and an obvious fear.

Then we drove up the mountain to Asheville to feast on a late brunch at the Grove Park Inn, our traditional Easter haunt. The buffet is endless and includes a dessert buffet that forced me to eat chocolate, which I had given up earlier that day.

And then we relaxed on the 4-hour drive home to Durham. Caleb stretched out his legs as if to say, it was a good, good day.

Mango mania

2011-04-22T19:57:00.000-04:00

I have developed a rather unhealthy addiction to champagne mangoes. I only recently discovered them - probably 2 months ago - and almost by accident. They were nestled in the produce section beside the regular mangoes and I thought I would live on the edge, try something new. I picked up one single champagne mango and placed it in the cart beside the rest of our $250 groceries.

I tried it that night and fell head over heels in love. It was juicy, dense and tart - not nearly as sweet as a regular mango.

I began buying them each week and eating one for dessert every night. Having now consumed them in mass quantities, I consider myself a champagne mango expert. The green ones still have time to ripen, the yellow ones are ripe and more tart than the blushing orange ones that are very sweet, just like a regular mango. I have become skilled at peeling and slicing. I have begun to purchase them in bulk at Sam's Club - just $7 for a 5-pound box.

After doing some research online, I discovered that these delicacies are in season until August or September. I feel like I've stumbled upon something great.

Family photos by Pam

2011-04-22T13:35:00.000-04:00

My dear friend Pam, who has blossomed as a photographer, offered to take spring portraits for the family and I. We headed to Duke Gardens on a warm spring day, Hubby, Caleb and I all clad in shades of blue. I am so lucky to have skilled photographers in my life to capture these moments. Thank you Pam!

I've attached a number of favorites below so that you may feast your eyes upon this delicious little son of mine. More of Pam's work can be seen on her Web site: http://pamlappegardphotography.com/.