Rain + Sunshine =

We certainly have more than our share of rain around here! But there can be benefits to all this rain. It’s difficult to not notice when there is a vibrant rainbow in the sky. If you are with other people someone always points it out and everyone looks. They are stunning and so dramatic and so out of place. To me they don’t exactly look natural, with their brilliant color combination and symmetry all up there in the sky.  Sometimes you even get to see a double rainbow. I’ve seen a few of those in my days. But I had never seen what Jeff and I experienced over Yale lake last Saturday.

Jeff, Lucy and I were exploring a new to us trail. Its actually an old access road that borders the southern edge of Yale Lake. Jeff had looked it up and read that it was a 3.5 mile hike to washed out area and you can make a nice 7 mile hike out of it. Hiking trails have been so crazy full lately that were were thrilled to have the trail to ourselves. It was partly cloudy, upper 40s and calm. About a mile down the road we found access out to wide beach area. Lucy was thrilled and promptly went for a swim. She happily fetched stick after stick as we enjoyed the views.

We headed back up to the road and continued on our way. With the exception of the beach area we had explored the road had a shoulder, trees and then a drop off down to the lake. About 2 miles in we noticed a big black cloud ahead and realized we were about to get wet. We hadn’t dressed for rain…

When It rains it can pour!

We huddled under a tree as the brief but heavy shower passed over and then continued under a light drizzle. Then we saw another heavy rain shower coming and eventually at mile 3 we decided to turn around and head back. By now my down vest was soaked.  Naturally, it wasn’t long after we turned around that the sun began to shine. We were content with our decision and continued walking.

A Once in a Lifetime Rainbow!

It wasn’t long before we saw the rainbow. It was faint at first and slowly it turned up its vibrancy. I noticed a faint reflection on the water and commented to Jeff that I didn’t think I had ever seen anything like that. And then it just got to be so much more! As the colors grew in intensity the reflection got stronger. It was simply amazing! 

My only frustration was that I didn’t have my big girl camera and I was stuck in an area where I couldn’t quite see the entire rainbow. But I settle down and just enjoyed the moment with Jeff. It was spectacular! When the rainbow faded we continued back towards the car. Jeff and I had been discussing some of life’s stresses that we are facing before the rainbow sighting. As we walked Jeff said “you know, if we hadn’t gotten rained on we never would have seen that rainbow.”   Truth! There is the lesson of the day.

Spring Sessions – Can’t have flowers without some Rain

Tomorrow I have my fist Spring family session. I’m so excited! I’ve seen some trees beginning their bloom and I am loving the warmer days. Like it or not Daylight savings happens this weekend which means longer evenings which I am a big fan of! Bye, bye, long winter days – Spring is coming! Did you see the amazing clouds yesterday! Spring weather is always a bit wild around here!

Did you miss last weeks post about Adventure Sessions? Click here if you’re curious https://shellyfryphotography.com/my-everyday/adventure-shelly-fry-photography

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy

I just have to share this book! It speaks to my heart! I have read it several times (it only takes about 10 min) The words are powerful, the illustrations messy and beautiful! I love it! It’s inspiring, stirring and encouraging. I plan to give this book as a gift or two. I also plan to read this book to my future grandchildren, grand nieces and nephews and anyone else I can corral to sit still and listen!  The author writes that this book is for those age 8-80. I think it should be on everyone’s shelf!

Here is a link to Goodreads and what they say about this book. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43708884-the-boy-the-mole-the-fox-and-the-horse?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=wSkBMvywWd&rank=1

If you’re missing my book reviews they have moved to my monthly newsletter. If you’d like to sign up here is a link http://madmimi.com/signups/f92831e48f4c4758a38ad3779e2d9f9b/join

Shelly Fry Photography

For the past several weeks it has been a mess in front of the studio. They broke up and removed half of the sidewalk and the shoulder of the street. There have been big noisy trucks and lots of worker bees outside my window. Yesterday it was at an entire new level of mess when I arrived. The front of my building had plastic taped to it blocking the door and the entire sidewalk had been tore up. As I walked up to the front door they had just lowered the trough to pour fresh concrete.  The foreman was standing on the sidewalk and I explained I needed to get inside and he quickly ushered Lucy and I in before the concrete began pouring. 

Locked in!

The studio has a back door but I had piled a bunch of stuff in front of it so I knew I could get out once I moved things around.  I snapped a quick picture and sent it to Jeff. He then casually commented “good luck locking your door”. Shoot!!! I hadn’t thought about the fact that the only way to lock the front door is from the outside. I peeked out the window and saw the concrete trough was now placed right in front of my door. It had yet to start pouring, I had no time to waste.  So once again I poked my head out and smiled and asked to walk through. Thankfully they were very kind and patient with me.

So I’m now sealed into the studio and I can see just under the plastic the fresh new concrete and I naturally think – It would be fun to put my mark there… As I pondered if I should (I even put a IG poll up click herehttps://www.instagram.com/shellyfryphotography/ to see the results. I was worried about getting caught. Obviously if I carved SFP into the cement they would know it was me. I could put a little doggy print of Lucy’s paw, harder to prove it was us (notice I am willing to throw my dog under the bus!) As I was contemplating committing a crime it occurred to me that it was no longer an option for me.

Now that the front door was locked I had no way of unlocking it from the inside! Saved from a life of crime by a door lock!

Enjoy the sunshine friends!

Shelly