Oops. I forgot to blog yesterday.I was just trying to cram so much fun and adventure into our last day on the North Shore and then we drove back and then we had bath time and then we unpacked and then I caught up on work email and then we made dinner and then it was story time and then it was bedtime and ... you get the idea. Yesterday was busy. Sorry about that!But how about this mama deer up there, eh?!?Monday morning, we took Ezra over to a short hike around Two Harbors. Ezra is completely enamored with reindeer, and lucky for us he thinks all deer are reindeer (for the time being). We got to the location, where the fog socked us in, and hiked around listening to nearby boats, foghorns and birds. We spied dewy spiderwebs, dogs out on walks and tons of wildflowers. But no deer.As we got back to the car and were pulling away, I asked Jamie to slow at one spot where I had seen deer on 3 other trips. And lo and behold! There were two baby deer! We parked on the side of the road, and I pulled Ezra up into the front seat. We rolled down the window and I was pointing to the baby deer.And then out of the grass comes a mama. And she looks at us, and just starts approaching. You guys, I only had on a regular, fixed lens for these shots. No zooming. How close that deer looks is how close she was. Her nose was almost inside the car! It was sweet.Once she determined we had no food to share, she turned around and led her babies back into the woods. It was pretty magical. For your internet shares of the day:+ Did you know Crispin Glover lives in a Czech castle? And you can see the inside?+ I think I will make this for dinner soon.+ I love this photo essay.

In case you didn't guess, I'm back on the North Shore in my happy place. I'm staying in my favorite Air BnB (you should totally stay here), the weather has been PERFECT and this morning there was cool and foggy and filled with warm coffee. It was completely magical.We went for a hike early on today, and I snapped this image from one of the cliffs. I love how it looks like an island out there (it's not). Also, there were HUGE freighters passing by in the water, but we couldn't see them through the fog! We could only hear their fog horns, their engines and see the waves lapping at the shore near our feet.A few hours later the fog disappeared completely, and now I can see the clear blue waters from the window as I type this. I have Scenic Cafe pie in my belly, a good book on the table and a sleeping toddler in the next room. Right now, life is spectacular.No internet shares today -- I'm getting off the computer! Happy Monday everyone!

Last week, I visited a friend of mine who does AMAZING underwater photography. I wanted to see how this was done because her photos are SO MAGICAL. I look at them with such wonder and awe, and I just wanted to watch how she did it.And I fantasize about photographing dogs underwater. Let's be real, it all comes back to the dogs for me. But I digress.You guys, some of this work is so much more simple than I thought it would be and some of it is SO MUCH HARDER. The ever talented Emerlee agreed to have me over to watch, and she even encouraged me to model for her. No, you are not going to see those photos. And let me tell you why.Modeling itself is so much harder than it looks, and that is when you are above the water breathing normally. Modeling underwater? A disaster (at least for me). In my mind, I looked so peaceful and serene in each photo. In the real world? I looked like I was trying to decipher tax code. My face was a MESS! The photos were hilarious, but I will not be attempting that again (nor will those photos see the light of day). However, it did teach me how to give direction, to empathize with my subjects more, and to respect Emerlee's work even more than I already did (which I thought was near impossible!).Here are some behind-the-scenes photos I took above the water while Emerlee was shooting. To see more of her work, check out her website. And if you are a recent bride or a pregnant woman, I think these shoots would be so awesome for you. I cannot suggest it enough. But you might want to practice relaxing your face underwater a lot before you arrive. It's way harder than you think! 

I have a backlog of animals to show you guys, so here are a few. The top owl was from a raptor center demonstration at the farmer's market last week (Ezra was so uninterested that it was embarrassing!), the moose shots were from the zoo a few weeks back (they were training them! I loved it!) and the bottom owl photo was also from the raptor center, but from back in Buffalo last month. I told you I had a backlog!I always think of owls and moose as northern animals who belong in Minnesota. I know this isn't true (I saw a similar owl in Texas this year!), but I never had a chance of seeing these creatures growing up in Kansas, so they seem native to me here. And the moose probably won't be in Minnesota much longer -- they're dying off pretty quick with how warm it is these days. I'm certain the current administration will do nothing to really help the problem either.For your internet shares of the day:+ The Hate U Give. This book has been on my hold list at the library for six months. I just got it and am devouring it and EVERY body should read it. And by everybody, I mean every white person. Every single one of us.+ Kelly Moore has some new camera bags. I have never purchased these before, but I am tempted by the Collins and the Jude...+ Oh how I would love to do a photo shoot like this!+ Or this!

We made a cake for the holiday yesterday, and I let Ezra have "the licks." Oh man, did that make his day! And then we had fireworks! And hot dogs! And water balloon fights! And squirt gun wars! And friends over! And corn on the cob!We had fun. I hope you did, too.Now? Back to work.And for your internet shares of the day:+ I love how this man is taking on Paul Ryan.+ 35 cheap recipes from Bon Appetit.

Yup, I'm still posting photos from the zoo. I know it was last week, but it's a holiday weekend and my motivation to sort through recent photos is low. Bear with me.We've spent the weekend playing at parks, swimming in pools, napping, grilling out and seeing movies. It has been wonderful. And now I'm hoping to hop off this computer as quick as possible so I can continue this amazing streak I have going in this fabulous 80 degrees and breezy weather. I encourage you to do the same!But first, some leopards!

I guess I disappeared there for a bit, didn't I?Sorry about that! I've been out shooting on locations every day from sunrise to sunset, and with these long days, that leaves not much left in my fuel tank by the time I return to the hotel.Today I got up and shot for a bit before meeting one of my very best friends for lunch. Seeing my college roommate at home with her adorable boys? That was pretty amazing.Then I drove to the airport, and due to a delayed flight, I have a few moments to blog. This photo is an outtake shot from a scouting session I did for Colorado State University. The campus was beautiful, and it was so fun to see so many buildings, programs and students. We photographed labs, stables, hikes in the mountains, hikes in the woods by the river, two breweries, downtown nightlife and the fermentation lab on campus (where beer makers get their education). It was all a blast, and I am so fortunate they found me and hired me for this gig.And now I'm going to fly home and collapse into bed and sleep forever. Or at least until Ezra wakes me up tomorrow at 6 am.Thanks for your patience guys -- no internet shares today. I haven't even seen a newspaper since Tuesday, which is super rare for this girl.

 Is this eagle cool or WHAT?I had a shoot a while back at Buffalo Days in Buffalo, MN, and the Raptor Center was there doing a presentation. And you know me and birds... Total sucker. So needless to say, I loved this shot. This eagle is 18 years old. It came to the center as a baby with a broken wing. They mended the wing, but it's not strong enough for her to fly in the wild, so they use her for education. I think her name is Maxine.I am flying to Colorado tomorrow for a work trip (by myself -- no toddler!), so posting might be a bit sporadic, but I'll try to stay on top of it.And here are your internet shares for the day!+ Documentaries to keep your kids busy and learning this summer. Also? I want to watch them as well.+ Tips on buying wine.+ Perfect places for Wes Anderson. Or for me! Let's go take photos there!+ This movie hits Minneapolis on Friday and I want to see it SO BAD!