Betsy Jo Photography Blog

I told you the light was beautiful, Rebecca!

Rebecca’s friend Laura came to help her out with the pet-sitting part of the shoot, so we got some images of her with her dog, Darling– who is a very nice dog. But I will admit it was funny for me to talk about or to her and say, “Darling.” I decided I should nickname my children Darling so that when they are misbehaving and I’m getting after them, no matter how frustrated I am, saying ‘darling’ along with it won’t sound so mean. Right?

Hello, Smudge.

Fun little shot here:

Rebecca, I love this one of you in black and white. So calm-looking and enjoying the beautiful evening. With just a tiny grin on your face.

Know what’s nice about this little job of mine? I get to hear beautiful, lyrical songs being played on a violin out in golden light. Laura even pulled out all the stops and played a lilting Irish melody for me. Somehow, she thought I just might enjoy that. Imagine that.It was just beautiful. And right then, I thought, “I love my job.”

See how gorgeous it was? I did nothing post-editing to this sky– just let it wash cobalt blue in all its glory.

A little bokeh always makes me smile:

Light. Yes. Gorgeous. And a relaxed, smiling Laura just adds to the equation.

Love it.

Thanks, Rebecca (and Laura) for a nice little evening spent in beautiful warm sunshine! I enjoyed working with you both!

I don’t usually choose non-human objects for a sneak peek, but I thought these were fun to start off with– two unlikely items to begin our post.

Is your curiosity piqued yet?

More to come soon…

This was my second shoot for the Rockville High School FFA Club, and we had a great afternoon with stellar blue skies for shooting photos! I always enjoy individual portraits, and this day was no exception.

Thanks to all of you for being willing and easy to work with– and to the coordinators for their efficient organization!

Here’s just a little peek; many more to show once your private online gallery is complete!

Two of my favorite words:

Saturday morning.

(Yes, I may have asked Paul to wait to eat until I grabbed the camera to get the yellow sunlight illuminating the powdered sugar.)

*Post-Edit to add the recipe – by request:

“Wicked Good” French Toast:

1/2 c. butter
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 c. brown sugar
3 T. New England maple syrup
1 apple, sliced
1/2 c. raspberries
1/2 c. blueberries
1 – 8 oz. loaf of french bread, cut in 1/2″ slices
2 eggs
3/4 c. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla

*I usually double this recipe to put in a 9×13 pan.

Melt butter, stir in cinnamon, brown sugar & syrup in small saucepan on stove. Pour into base of 8×8 pan. Arrange apple slices & fruit over butter mixture in dish. Arrange bread over the fruit, doubling up layers. In a small bowl, beat eggs, milk & vanilla. pour over bread. Sprinkle cinnamon over all and cover with foil. Refrigerate overnight.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 40-50 minutes. Eat. (Sprinkle with powdered sugar before eating, if you like. It’s so pretty on the toast, and it’s fun to watch the little white dots slide down the maple syrup waterfalls.)

**Note: I never refrigerate overnight because I’m too lazy, and don’t plan ahead. And I change up the fruit and ingredients pretty much every time I make it. I don’t use a half cup of the berries; I use 1 c each. Also, I think one more egg and a little more milk makes the whole thing better. And I usually put in more vanilla. Because it’s good. And I don’t use a 1/2 cup of butter. Maybe a 1/3 cup. It’s also good with chopped walnuts on top. Okay, I realize that the final product is really nothing like the original recipe. What can I say? I broke the rules. I would not make a good cookbook writer. But it tasted pretty good. And please don’t think that I’m an expert or a good cook. I’ll admit that I’m not the best of either. Just trust me on that. If you’re looking for a good recipe, check with my sister Melinda. She’s an expert on the culinary arts. But I do like to eat. Does that count?

And please. Please. Whatever you do, use real maple syrup. I would appreciate it. (Dan, that goes for you, too. Even if you are in IL and eat the fake stuff, I ask that you not corrupt my niece and nephew.)

Enjoy.

Happy Birthday, Anderson! ‘Love you, little man!

This one’s for you: