4th of July weekend (Part II).

I always feel so hopeful when the day starts off like this.

But things can go from hopeful to hopeless in under a minute.

Courtney Lee scoring in a morning round of Boka.   (You can see her ball wrapping around the top rung.)

On our way to go ride horses.  (Man, he's hunky.)

Where we were fortunate enough to meet Hayden.  (Hayden's mom works there.)

Hayden likes to talk in 3rd person and says funny things like, "Ger er' done!"

And he likes to tell stories about his dog, Ali Gator.

I know...if you've taken one of my classes, you just noticed the border merger (and at the wrist of all places).

Coley got the most stubborn horse last year too. 

Coincidence?...I think not.

And all the shots I took while riding my horse (Joe) turned out just as bad as they did last year.

That's Joe.

And see how Cali's horse (in front of me) is off the trail, trying to run her through all the brush...he did that the entire time.  It was quite funny.

The Pioneer Woman gets great shots while riding horseback...so why are mine so crappy?

And then we went back to camp for lunch.  (You can see Annie's scraped up chin in this one.)

She's so lovely.

She dropped her peach right after that stunt so I had to give her mine.

And then we headed up to Diamond Lake to watch the fireworks from Josh's boat.

I shot that from the hip, without looking through the viewfinder (just because I thought the light looked pretty).

The light was pretty harsh and direct in this one but I like it anyhow.

Icecream for everyone.

And then the girls whooped the boys in a game of Pictionary.

Josh Downs on the camera.

She's covered in bug bites and poison oak.  (She calls poison oak, poison milk.)

The lake cops came by and told us if we didn't have a light on the back of our boat that we'd have to get off the water...so we tied a lantern to he motor.  (Ok...maybe we ARE okies.)

See those three lights on the mountain?...every 4th of July, skiers go down the mountain with flares before the fireworks start.

Fireworks on the water are really pretty.

Just experimenting.

And that's what Annie looked like laying next to me (still in her swimsuit) when I woke up Sunday morning.

And then we made our way back home in time to have dinner over at Josh's parents.

A few notes:

1. I think an Okie has to do with someone from Oklahoma but I use it lovingly to mean 'hillbilly.

2. I shoot everything RAW.  It's more time consuming but it's worth it for me.

3. I'll post more details about the general registration for The Photographers' Workshop tomorrow.  Even if you're not planning on signing up this time around but want to sign up in the future, be sure to check back in.

4. Hope your day is great.

Comments

[Julie Pilch]

Just love your photos Karen xx

[Nancy Wyatt]

Awesome photos, I love the first two so much but they are all fab! hugs from Conroe, TX!

[Jennifer M.]

Best 4th of July ever. I'm so jealous cos it looks like you had such a great time.

[Davinie]

I emailed the link to this post to my hubby. Diamond Lake sounds like a fun destination for the 4th! He usually heads there with buddies for a long fishing trip weekend every year, but I have never been! Looks like you all had a blast! Imagining the conversation between Annie and Hayden cracks me up.

[Dawn]

Stunning photos...as always. You are such an inspiration!! TFS.

[Jen]

I can totally relate to the hopeful-to-hopeless transition -- been there, done that. And the border merger... when you're shooting candids, sometimes that happens (I've heard that before somewhere...)

[Jennifer]

Poor sweet Annie! Hope she is all recovered.
Beautiful and inspiring photos, as always!! LOVE THEM!

[Kathi (Irish Catholic Good Lass from the Midwest who loves Donna Downey too!)]

Dang Karen....how do you keep doing it?!??(Okay okay I was in your last class so I know but STILL>>>>>these are priceless...)

[Michelle]

Those black and white pics are gorgeous! I LOVE them!

[Tammy Mellish]

I loved these, and was glad to see that my Chloe isn't the only one who looks like she's been through a war when we've been on an outing.. bug bites galore and other incidents lol. I'm a huge fan of the PW, and from what I understand.. Marlboro Man takes the pictures on horseback.. so you are safe there! LOL! And I love all your references to Okie's. Here in Southern VT.. we call them Rednecks, Woodchucks, Hillbilly's.. yeah, I come from a family of them.. don't always like to admit it, but it's true (and they make me laugh, a LOT). The best man in our wedding was a born an raised Okie. He lived here for a short time, but missed the heat and moved back west! Thanks for sharing your holiday with us!!

[Sara at Be Still and Know]

fabulous pictures! i'm signed up for the jan. class...i'm so excited :) your family is beautiful.

[Huyen]

Poor Annie. I'm sure she still had a great time even with all her mishaps. Great Photos though!

[Cee]

As usual, beautiful work!!! I love the pic of Annie and the peach. :)

[Kimberly]

My Mom was born in Oklahoma, her family moved out here to WA in 1949 - I love that you use the term "Okie" - to me it just means resourceful. My Grandma and her sister were the most efficient resourceful women it was a blessing to grow up under their apron strings. Here's to the Okie in all of us!!! About horse pics, at least you can take your camera with you, where we rode this fourth, they don't let you, so funky pics are better than none. PS my Hubby thought the bbq left on the truck was an excellent idea.

[MichelleG]

These pictures make me want to do the holiday weekend all over again!

[Jennifer Hisi]

I love Annie's hairdo, she looks even cuter!

[allison Gottlieb]

those first two shots are a.m.a.z.i.n.g. TFS!!

[tammy t]

Your photos make me cry all the time. Just real, beautiful and raw. I mean that it the best way. You make real life look stunning. And you inspire like crazy.

t

[Lesserlie]

Always gorgeous. Your blog always inspires me. Thank you!

[Julie]

Diamond Lake looks beautiful in the summer. We go there every winter to snowmobile, however it is covered with many feet of snow! We'll have to give it a whirl in the summer. Great pics!

[Tracy]

Great shots!! Love them! Especially the first one. Don't you love that you are married to such a hunk!!! I have one too!!! Almost 23 years and he's still a hunk.

[Jennifer]

OMG I laughed so hard when I found out what Boka was...it is a game I know but we call it Polish Golf. LOL That is so funny.

[eh]

Just so you know... the Pioneer Woman does not ride horse back... she is always in her car or on the gaitor. heehee. Great pics... looks like a great time.

[Jennifer]

Karen,
Amazing and always! And guess what? Yep, I took your class and totally didn't even notice the boarder merger! Heck, even after I read it I had to go back and look again! Bad me! Does that mean I failed? I told you I needed to retake, lol.
Jennifer
www.bowdaciousbaby.com

[sharon]

1. Is Josh Downs flipping you the bird???

2. You went riding in flip flops???

3. Pioneer Woman does NOT take pics while on a horse, Marlborough Man does that and he has been riding his whole life. With boots. ;)

4. Love fireworks from a boat.

5. Lantern ON the motor??? I have never heard of the term Okie, Redneck comes to mind. ;)