The Gman turns 2

My favorite puppy on the planet earth, Gunny Highway, is now officially a teenager! I can't believe how fast time goes by!

I have a story to share about "Gunny's Adventures" from Friday. We are having a good friend , Karen, re-do our bathroom cabinets and she was finishing up on Friday. I met her in the morning and think she only had about 45 minutes of stuff to finish up, so I went to off to the studio to start my day, asking her to go out the back door and leave Gunny on his porch when she left. Well, I can only assume he snuck-out, with her or before her, without her noticing, because at 12:30, about 2 and half hours later, and of course minutes before my lunch meeting, my neighbor called and Gunny was in her yard, but wouldn't come to her, instead he ran home.

Let me preface this with, our yard is very open and natural and we have no fence. So when I got the message I ran out of the studio with keys in hand to high-tail it home, you see, we live set-back on a fairly busy street, with people who drive WAY too fast! and have no fence, which is why he stays on the porch - don't get me wrong, he truly lives a life of luxury....you should see his view and "porch hunting grounds!"

So I pull up to the top of the driveway and peek across the gully and yard, at the top of the stairs, and what do you know, he's sitting on the very top step, just under the closed gate, as if he'd been there for hours. Normally when he wanders off, I have to physically go get him, which can involve getting poison oak too! The look on his face... "where have you been, you've locked me out of my kingdom for hours!!" He killed me with the expression - I am positive he made the rounds of west-side of A-town for two and half hours or more , pursuing all hunting and visiting neighbor dog's at his leisure. I couldn't have been a prouder mama, seeing he loves us and his home so much that he choose to come back! Needless to say, he's been exhausted after his "freed" day.

On another note, one time I couldn't find him, when he'd wandered off and I eventually called Dan to come home from the shop and help me find him. I decided to go through one of our neighbors yards one more time (few of us have fences), calling his name - I look over, he's sitting INSIDE my neighbors house, yep, he welcomed himself through the screen door and into her home for, well, who knows how long!

So ends the Adventures of Sgt Gunny Highway for the week...and hopefully for a while! Here are a few of his "2 year photos!"

Keith | Senior moments

Keith and I had a fun time taking his senior photos. His mom is a good friend of mine from church. Keith, his brother David and their parents and I went on a mission trip together a couple of springs ago. He's really a great kid and hopes to go to Europe for 6 months after he graduates! I asked what classes he had this fall... he responded:

PE
PE, T.A.
PE, home study
etc...

Ummm, I think I could adjust to his schedule!!

Emily + Ed | A-town!

Emily and Ed where my annual photo contest winners. Part of why I chose them was because of Emily's enthusiasm, and I was certainly not disappointed when I met up with them in person! Emily likes to grocery shop, a task I detest. So I figured, where better to shoot, than the grocery store! Emily and Ed were on board, so I knew they were the perfect candidates!

There's a grocery store in our town called Spencer's. Everytime I go there, I feel like I'm in a movie, and well, I guess I am the star of my own movie on a daily basis. But, I'm not exaggerating one ounce when I say the isles are PERFECT. The items on the shelves are stacked perfectly to the edge, with no spaces or missing products, it's a total trip!

Spencer's was kind enough to let us use their store as the backdrop, thanks Spencer's! Emily and Ed are dating, she said it's too early for an engagement session - which was fine by me, since I have no shortage of those each year, the grocery store presented itself with a completely new and unchartered territory for my camera. We had fun, to say the least, and well, we laughed A LOT!

I hope these make you smile!
A little Spam...
A little bowling....
look at the placement of the ball in this photo - seriously enlarge it on your screen, I could not have planned it in a funnier spot!

Ed likes Top Ramen
Emily is a riot and had me cracking up the whole time!





here's a "cheesy" picture...haha

For those of you not in the know, A-town, refers to Atascadero, the town Dan and I live in.

New Mexico!

A very familiar scene in Santa Fe...
Ummmm ummm! Delicious food at the La Fonda
mi y mi papa


Our cousin's boy, Angelo
my dad being an Indian
Bandelier National Monument....






ahhhhhh the beautiful land of New Mexico, I just love the setting. We visited my dad and some of his family for a few days, went up to Santa Fe, visited Bandalier National Park - it's sooo cool, and ate WAY too much mexican food!!!

Well, national Allyson vacation month is coming to an end, and now it's back to reality, and some fantasticly fun and amazing weddings coming up, I'm so excited to be a part of! yeah!

Sarah + Bill | Paso Robles

Sarah and Bill eloped on the sunny central coast! They came all the way from Texas to the California Mid-State Fair to see one of their favorite bands and decided to turn the trip into their wedding! It was a simple ceremony, I was the only witness, along with the officiant. They were staying at Villa de Buena Vista, which provides for a beautiful backdrop. Here are a few of my favorites, congratulations Sarah & Bill!
~allyson

Michelle + Robert | Santa Ynez, Fess Parker Winery

Michelle & Robert had an exclusive wedding and guest list, with just about 20 guests, they really paired down who they chose to invite. Their guests traveled from as far as Germany! I think that says something about what a swell couple they are. They chose Fess Parker's Winery for their ceremony and the Inn for the reception. Michelle left no detail undone, everything was perfect to a "T!" Congratulations to you both!
Their puppy was very intent on watching the ceremony!

Home on the range...Oregon

Last week my mom and I headed up to Oregon for a quick trip to visit family and the family ranch. In the summers as a kid, my sister and I would spend a lot of time up there, pretty much every summer up till hight school. I love to visit as it makes it feel like summer and brings back so many memories!

During our visit I had planned on shooting my favorite church in the whole wide world, located in the tiny town of Fox, population 9. I get out there on the first afternoon, and what do you know, my shutter breaks!!!! How this happened I don't know, and even though I was bummed, I was super happy it didn't happen in the middle of a wedding. So my friends at Canon are working hard and quick to get that back before our next vacation this weekend, yes August is vacation month for most of the world, so why not me too!?

I ended up using my little point and shoot for some shots, then we headed back to my aunt's. You might remember how I've written about going 100% with your intuition over the past few months? I woke up at 5am, determined to get my sunrise shots with my favorite little church (even if I had to use the point and shoot) and had this bright light come on in my head that said "Hey Allyson, why don't you try shooting with your camera upside down?!" I thought, now that's just silly, but I'll try it. What do you know, it worked!!! Because the piece broken on my camera was dangling down so if I held it upside down, it fell back into place after the shot fired. Now if that's not a sign that I should always listen to that little voice, then I don't know what is. It still did have some technical issues, like a major light leak right through the middle, but I found if I positioned that lovely extra light on something interesting, it kind of worked.

We came, we shot with a broken camera, we had freezing toes in my favorite flip flops in 40 degrees, and we conquered, the little church in Fox, at least the best we could for this trip!
Mi Mama!


The Strawberry Mountains













the new dock at the pond.

Until your next visit, AA, you get the booby prize photo posted!

Shannon + Quinn | Adelaide, CA

Shannon and Quinn had a traditional wedding, at home, on the ranch. But it's not like your typical "ranch" wedding when I say ranch. Their family's home was incredible, incredible views, incredible infinity pool, incredible light!

I just love this shot!
Quinn made his bride this oversized very sweet card, with an exceptional photo on the cover!
rockin out to some sweetness 80's rock!