I'm out shooting tons of families this week, and we are soaking up the color. Just look at that lake shore!It's hard to be away from home each night when Ezra gets home from school, but I can't argue that all of the photos this week (and next) have the absolute best backdrops. Also? If you want next year's family photos in this color? Get at me. There's no limit on how far ahead you can book your shoots!For your internet shares of the day:+ Confession: I am a Minnesotan, and I've never made Chicken Wild Rice Soup. Maybe I should start here?+ Art made out of cassette tapes. Wow.+ Did you know you can buy pre-fab homes on Amazon? Me neither!

This weekend was busy, but with all the good things an October weekend should have.There was a birthday party, some decorating for Halloween, roasting of vegetables, cooking of soup, coffee with friends, fires in the fireplace, gathering provisions (grocery shopping) and a little yard work. We also had swim lessons, a few photo shoots and a lot of laundry -- those are not the most glamorous, but still necessary.The next 3 weeks are crazy busy for both Jamie and I on the work fronts, and then I feel like we can take a breath and settle in for winter. But even as we're slammed with work, we're doing our best to slow down at night, enjoy some soup and spend a few minutes as a family in front of the fire. I hope you all are able to take a few moments for yourselves as well!For your internet shares of the day:+ I'm starting to think about Thanksgiving and the table decor. Ezra loves blowing out candles, so I pondered this and this, but then realized he also knocks things over left and right. So maybe this or this? Oh, and look what I found at Target! Thoughts?+ Weird animal facts that made me laugh. I had no idea any creature could reproduce without sex.+ In case you missed this story, this couple survived the California fires by submerging themselves in a pool for 6 hours. This is an amazing story.

In case you haven't noticed, I go to the North Shore a lot.It is my happy place, and I want to share it with the world. Well... not literally. I like that it's quiet and not very crowded and still relatively cheap, so maybe I don't want to share it with anyone. Nevermind. Move a long.Just kidding.But anyway, I get a lot of questions from people about what to see and where to eat and where to stay when they visit. I've been extremely pushy when it comes to telling people about Scenic Cafe, as you know. (Sidenote, when I was there last week I ate brioche toast with soft bleu cheese spread on it and then figs and toasted walnuts on top and then drizzled in brown butter maple sauce. NOW do you see why you need to visit?)And I'm thrilled to report that I've found another must visit spot, and it's called fika. It is a divine coffee shop  just north of Lutsen. I found this spot on a trip last fall, and kept telling Jamie about it. Then this time I brought him there and he, too, is preaching the gospel.The beans are delicious, the mochas are unrivaled and the staff is super friendly and chill. And the pastries.... there is not a huge variety, but I promise you will love whatever you decide on.And for those of you with small children? They have a fantastic basket with wonderful toys that will occupy the kid for about an hour. When your child wakes up in the morning and is asking you to please go to the coffee shop, you know you are winning at life.They are open year round, so if you're heading up to Lutsen this winter, drive just 1 mile further north past the mountain and enjoy this amazing spot. And if you're not going to the north shore soon (what is wrong with you?), then you can order their coffee and such online.I need to promise you that I'm not being paid in any way or form for this post, I just wanted to share the info with you because if this spot doesn't thrive and stay in business for all of my visits I will be VERY upset. Now go forth and enjoy good coffee. For your internet shares of the day:+ I might need a pair of pink velvet converse high tops...+ Women are sexually harassed ALL THE TIME. I can think of 3 horrifying instances off the very top of my head that affected me, the first at age 7 or 8. The only thing that surprises me about this Weinstein mess is that anyone is even surprised.+ These ariel photographs are lovely.

Lake Superior at sunrise is about the most gorgeous thing ever. It is one of the few things that still gives me faith in the universe. And it is one thing I will forever thank dear Ezra for, because without this spawn waking me up at the crack of dawn every day, I wouldn't get to see so many of them.This was my favorite sunrise of our trip last week (yes, it was all just from one morning). Enjoy! Now for your internet shares of the day:+ This made me smile. Photoshop is amazing.+ Logos drawn from memory. The designer in me cannot get enough.+ Amazing advice for artists. I want to reread this every day.

While we were up north this past weekend, we finally ventured up to Grand Marais.Of course, I'd been there before. But it was back when Memphis and Merlin were pups, and we had them with us, and so we walked along the beach, got takeout and then headed back to the cabin. Not much of a visit.This time, we explored a bit more and finally ate at the Angry Trout. That soup? Oh my yes, was it delicious. I never knew I would love fish chowder so much.And as you can see, the color in Grand Marais was quite lovely. Here are a more shots from that day trip. For your internet shares of the day, I have a lot because I forgot them yesterday!+ I want this makeup bag. I always use the freebies that you get with Clinique purchases or whatever, and the one I'm using now I've had for about a decade. Maybe I should upgrade...+ Advice for men in the workplace. Amen.+ Wonderful reader comments.+ This dog saved his human. Bravo!

One of the most fun things we did this weekend was to take Ezra on a hike. Like, a real hike in the real woods along a real river. And he loved it.I always love exploring the forest, mostly because I cannot take my eyes off the ground. There are so many fungi and growth and moss and I just want to take so many photos! So this time I did.Below are some of the details that I loved on this trip, and at the end are some photos of us. Because, after all, I cannot resist. 

I'm up in Lutsen this weekend, enjoying the color and photographing families. Mad I didn't invite you? Oh, but I did. You have no one to blame but yourselves for missing this glory!I would say well more than half of these images were shot from our speeding car as I was gawking at the trees on our way up to Lake Superior. My God, it is just stunning in Northern Minnesota right now.We spent the weekend eating amazing food, drinking phenomenal coffee, gazing at the leaves, the water, the sky and the stars, and teaching Ezra games like Candyland, Checkers and War. We read books, we hiked, and I photographed the wonderful families who took the leap and joined me here for the weekend.Don't worry. I've already decided I'm doing this again next year. If you're interested in coming along, just holler.And if you wish you could see more photos from this trip, count your blessings. I'll be blogging about this journey for at least a week to come!

Happy Friday! Lucy here again - I can't believe a month has flown by already. I just got back into town after working for a new restaurant client in Ely, Minnesota. I was beyond thrilled when they reached out. Not only is food photography one of my favorite subjects (I'll share pictures from that shoot later!), but I adore working with passionate small business owners, and I *absolutely* adore Ely and the surrounding Northwoods area. It's a dream to finish up a day of work and then head just outside of town and hike in the woods. The shoot lasted a couple of days, and then I went to the family cabin which is on a lake nearby. It was cloudy, windy and rainy most of the time, but that didn't stop me from getting out and taking pictures! I was really happy to have a chance to be out in the woods during near-peak fall color. The clouds finally cleared on my last night there and it was spectacular sunset, and even more beautiful night sky.Have a wonderful weekend!!