Hubby and I watched the premiere of “Boardwalk Empire” last night.  Freakin’ Fantastic!  It is really good, Steve Buschemi hits it out of the park, and visually it is totally arresting.  This is going to be a huge hit.

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This last weekend was jam-packed with two beautiful weddings.  First Tera & Scott tied the knot at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison.  Then on Saturday, I was in Kaukauna helping my Associate Photographer with the wedding of her cousin.  It has been far too long since Amy and I shot together.  We had such a blast!  We have an almost psychic way of communicating with each other that results in a great photo team.  Amy can set up a shot and start shooting and then think she wants me to be in a certain spot with a certain lens getting another angle.  She’ll turn around, and there I am, doing just that.  The same thing happens with me.  So much fun!

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Sunday we had a little mini-family reunion for my Dad’s side of the family.  We got to see some cousins we haven’t seen in a year, as well as meet the new babies in the family.  It was rainy and cold, but still fun!

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This weekend is developing into some double fun.  My friend Melissa is coming into town to shoot a wedding in Janesville.  I’ll be in Sheboygan for Katie & Ryan’s wedding.  We won’t be shooting together, but we’ve worked in several chances to hang out around the weddings, including one last Brewer game on Sunday!

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I got some incredible news about a certain wedding being featured on a certain fabulous wedding blog last week.  When it goes up, I’ll be sure to share!

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The last piece of the puzzle is coming into place this week for the studio.  I have had one giant print that I am waiting to be finished framing.  I can’t wait to hang it and finally be able to share the space with you all in finished form.  Once that happens, I can begin to use the space in the way that I’ve been wanting to from day one.

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Today’s Misc. Monday is going to be cut short.  We got a late start to our day, and I have a mountain of work to start scaling.  Have a great week – I’ve got some great blog posts coming up!

A lot of people have asked about the secret project.  When I put that page on my website I thought it would  be a couple of months before I could reveal what I’ve been working on.  Other developments, ideas, and projects have been jumping in line in front of it.  But the real secret project is still in the works.  And I still can’t wait to share it.  A wise friend suggested that I offer you a few clues, or sneak peeks into it.  I thought that was genius, and so, I am.

Today’s clue is this image – it was shot the first time I was able to dedicate some real time to the secret project. How or why or what is up to your interpretation at this point.  Your guesses were great on my last clue – keep them coming!

I’m hoping and praying I will be able to carve out time next week to spend some hours on this project.  I’m running out of time to get a few things done for it – and I think last week might be my last chance until next year.  (that’s a clue too….)

The Cousin Reunion was this last weekend (thanks to Kris and Janelle for planning and hosting!).  For those that haven’t been reading the blog for years, it is a yearly party with all of the cousins from my Mother’s side of the family.  We all really have a great time with each other and see each other so little.  So we started the annual get together three years ago.  Hubby and I are both so lucky that in both families we have members who we adore, and count among friends, not just family.  This year’s reunion involved go-kart racing before hitting the Madison bars.  Turns out I am quite the go-kart racer.  All of those years as a certifiable lead foot have finally paid off!

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I would really love to have skin as beautiful as Austin Scarlett.  Seriously.  That man has some serious good skin genes.  Serious. I, on the other hand, have been struggling for years with adult acne (I was lucky not to have it as a teenager), and the last couple weeks have been particularly bad.   I’ve tried just about everything available, including some very pricey laser and peel treatments for the last year.  Is clear skin really too much to ask for?

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Saturday before the cousin reunion we squeezed in a Badger game.  I have to say, I’ve been resisting the onset of fall like a screaming toddler being denied in the toy store.  But being at a college football game really puts you in the mood.  Autumn just seems perfect now.  The game definitely put me on the “bring on fall” track.   That might have to become a tradition too.  Seeing as how it was the first home game of the year, the fifth quarter was in great form.  It is my favorite part of the game.  Well, that and “jump around”.  And the “O” cheers.  And…

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Is anyone else as excited for Fall tv as we are?   Hubby has been anticipating the start of all of our favorites for weeks.

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There is a primary election in Wisconsin tomorrow.  So if you are a local reader, please go out and vote.  I don’t care to get into who we are voting for or any political opinions.  But if you are able, voting is a right you should exercise.  You can find your polling place here. In this state, you don’t even have to be registered ahead of time, just show up!

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I realize I’m 10 years late to this game, but I watched Pollock while editing yesterday (I have to watch or listen to something while I edit).  It was really well done.  I’m not going to lie- the way Ed Harris managed to embody the painter was intriguing.  Just incredibly well done in the way he showed what the creative process can be like, and what it was for this artist.  Loved it!

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Ahhh….to be an artist again.  Seriously, you just don’t appreciate the time you have to paint for hours when you are in college.  You think it will always be there.  I haven’t turned the crank on a press or held a paintbrush (that wasn’t destined to paint my walls) in years.  I can’t tell you how many things I have said “no” to just so I can make more room for something like that, and yet still, life is too busy.

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Oprah’s last season starts today.  I’m going to miss her.  She has been on the air for most of my conscious life.  I am excited to see what she does next though.  One of my clients works for her new network and has been crazy busy with the preparations.

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When we were driving home from the Cousin’s reunion yesterday, we drove thru a really nice neighborhood.  We were all commenting on how beautiful the giant houses were.  Then there was a detour and we ended up in another neighborhood.  All of the houses were divided by these ‘lanes’ of picket white fences forming paths behind and around the houses.  It took us a minute before we realized this was for horses.  Our definition of a “nice neighborhood” changed completely.  Ha!  Totally random, but it was so out of left field, I had to share.

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Have a great week!

How did it get to be Friday so quickly?  I had intentions to blog on Tuesday, then somehow I woke up today and I see that it is already Friday.  Dear Blog, I’m so sorry to have neglected you.

To make up for it, I have some random ramblings….sort of a Friday Brain Dump:

I spent Wednesday and part of Thursday in Minneapolis for Jen & Shane’s engagement shoot.  It was such a blast!  They were like two old friends who you just can’t stop chatting with.  The light was beautiful, and the mosquitos were plentiful.  To top my time off in Minneapolis, I had a fabulous dinner with my friend Laura.  We had such great conversation and yummy cocktails.  Dinner out with a good girlfriend is so therapeutic.

It was fun to revisit, even if super briefly, a place where I lived for two years (I did my first two years of college at “the U”).  I didn’t get to see much of my old stomping grounds, but from what I saw; so much is the same, and so much is different too.

I have this weekend “off” from shooting.  It is my last one until the season is over.  As usual, anytime it is known I don’t have a wedding, those days fill up to the brim with other activities.  We have a Badger game planned for tomorrow, and the annual Ultsch family cousin reunion.  Hopefully Hubby and I can find some time to work on that secret project that is supposed to launch this month too.

Inquiries for next year have been fast and furious.  Insane and a tad bit certifiable is more like it actually.  I’m grateful for such fervent interest, but it is so sad to let people down when I’m already booked too.  Brides in tears, not happy ones, is one of my least favorite things.

I’ve been working as much as possible each day to keep up with the workload, but one person can only get so much accomplished in 24 hours.  It is continually frustrating to me.  Time. It is always too little, too small, too short, too thin.

I’m not that excited about the onset of fall.  I really feel like I’ve missed much of summer, and now it is already over.  If the warm weather could hold on just a couple more weeks, I would love that.

We have a quick trip scheduled to Nashville next week.  It is baby Jude’s first birthday, and I can’t wait to see him, Brit and Scott.  I guess since he is turning one that he isn’t a baby anymore.   There is a little post-it note on my computer that has his name, weight, length and time of birth written on it.  I only recently realized it has been there since last year at this time.  Wow.

Here’s an image from the wedding I am working on today.  Liz and Tom had such an amazing day. This shot isn’t perfect photographically – I’m a little too close to them, but I love it anyway.  I think it has to do with Liz’s expression and Tom’s hands. And the creaminess.

Here’s hoping your weekend is creamy, full of light and just a little bit sparkly.  Catch you on the flip side.