Welcome to the Farm

 Last weekend Pete and I drove to Madison

to enjoy a weekend full of Eric Church, friends, farms and FUN!

It's a weekend like this that ALMOST makes me regret

my decision to move back to the Twin Cities...

On that note, I have over 20 photos to share,

with a special thanks to my BFF Amy Larson 

for her hospitality, and for taking time out from school 

to spend a weekend with me,

and to my favorite 'country' boys for taking me

to their farms, taking me boating, and for the all out good time.

Lastly, Pete, thanks for driving EVERYWHERE, 

despite our car troubles! 

Friday night we spend the night in Richland Center

for the Star Spangled Celebration, to see 

our favvvvoorrriteeee country artist, Eric Church.

(apparently he was hanging out at our hotel prior to the concert,

but we missed him... we met his bus driver though... again...)

the amazing Eric Church

my bestest, Amy Larson, at the hotel before the concert

Amy and her brother, Zach dancing to Chris Young

Saturday, we spent the morning touring Jason's and Dexter's 

Dairy Farms!!

The Ballweg Dairy Farm (Hickory Hills Dairy)

The Ballweg Farm (Hickory Hills Dairy)

Enge Dairy Farm

Enge Dairy Farm

Enge Dairy Farm

Playing with the Calves!
Enge Dairy Farm

Playing with the Calves!
Enge Dairy Farm

Playing with the Calves; Amy and I named this one Pumpkin
Enge Dairy Farm

Enge Dairy Farm

Enge Dairy Farm

Enge Dairy Farm

Amy got to milk a cow! (well... sorta...) 

Enge Dairy Farm

Dexter then took us boating
 out on Lake Wisconsin...
Besides the ice cold water and overcast skies,
it was so wonderful to get out on the water!

no papparazzi please

special thanks to my guest photographer, Amy Larson
for taking these shots while I drove the boat.

I love this picture because Dexter is mid-fall!
special thanks to my guest photographer, Amy Larson
for taking these shots while I drove the boat.

special thanks to my guest photographer, Amy Larson
for taking these shots while I drove the boat.

special thanks to my guest photographer, Amy Larson
for taking these shots while I drove the boat.

After Pete and I finally made it home Sunday,

we finished off the weekend with delicious 

chicken-kabobs on the grill.

I love Summer.... 

Exploring Photoshop Elements

Sorry for the absence in posts...

Out of the past 9 days, I've worked 8 of them.

It's been exhausting and I have done nothing else (that includes cleaning)

So today is my catch up day,

and with the weather being less than desirable, 

it's a perfect day for it! 

Since I haven't gone on any exciting ventures lately,

I thought I'd try a post about photoshop.

It is such a popular (and awesome!) program, but 

probably one of the most complicated I've dealt with!

About a month or so ago, 

I took an Introduction to Photoshop class

through the National Camera Exchange in Edina. 

For $50, you attend a 2 hour class that

 covers all of the basic manipulations to improve your photos.

Now if I went through everything we covered that day,

I think I'd have to write a book,

and I know you don't want to sit through that!

So as I continue my blog, every so often I'll have posts

with "Photoshop Tips"!

Today, I'll touch base on the tool palette

located on the left hand side of your work space. 

pictured here:

Obviously there are many, many tools to use. 

Don't worry, the majority of these are self explanatory.

However, others are little more confusing.

One thing to note is that there are MORE tool options

on some of the icons. If you see a little arrow in the corner 

of one of the icons that means there are MORE options, so right click.

So here are my tips for the tool palette:

1. Each icon is also associated with a letter. 

I'm not going to list them all, but if you hover over the icon,

 it will tell you which letter.

This way, you can just hit the letter, 

and it will change to that icon (no ctrl, alt or shift needed!)

2. When using one of the selection tools to remove 

and place an object elsewhere, right click and you will

find the option to "feather" the selected image.

This allows you to make the edges of the shape more transparent

and thus blend in more.

3. The Lasso allows you to make a selection of any size or shape,

or in other words free-draw your selection 

4. The quick selection tool is your best friend! 

It automatically 'guesses' the selection you'd like to make.

This is awesome to use for complex selections such as a person

5. It was recommended to us not to use the "spot healing brush".

This has one of those arrows in the corner, 

so right click and use the "healing brush tool"

The tool removes unwanted areas of a photo.

example:

BEFORE- lady standing awkward in background...                                   

 

AFTER- no more lady!

6. Last tool I'll cover today is the Sponge tool. 

This tool changes the exposure of whichever area of the picture you choose, 

by simply painting over it. It can produce some neat effects!

Are you overwhelmed with information yet?

Best thing I can suggest is to just monkey around with the different tools.

I honestly don't use them quite often, 

but they do come in handy when I need them!

Have a fun weekend, I'm off to Madison tomorrow!

Giant's Ridge: 'Couples Retreat'

This past weekend, my boyfriend, Pete, and I 

headed up to the good ol' Minnesota Northwoods

to enjoy a weekend getaway with our good friends Cullen and Kelsey. 

We joked that it was our very own couples retreat... 

minus the therapy... 

We spent the weekend at Giants Ridge,

(located in Biwabik, MN)

supposedly one of Minnesota's best ski and golf resorts

We made our own bonfire, went canoeing,

the boys enjoyed a round of golf and 

Kels and I enjoyed the spa!

The area was so serene 

and the perfect relaxing getaway.

Not to mention, we were pretty much the only people staying at the place, 

(besides the wedding on Saturday night)

It was hard to pick which photos NOT to post!

Special thanks to Cullen and Kelsey for being

my little guinea pigs and letting me take pictures!

(Cullen, you were a trooper!)

Friday night, as we constructed our bonfire, 

the sunset, and the lighting it created was amazing!

It also gave me the chance to play with one of the effects

in Photoshop Elements called "Sunshine", which both the first 

and third photos exemplify. 

I just love how the sun bounces off of Kelsey's hair 

and the way the two of them seem to glow.

Pete and I
special thanks to my guest photographer, Kelsey for this shot

Attempting to play with fire

bonfire and sunsets, the epitome of summer.  

the beautitful sunset over the driving range, and the view from our bonfire

Canoeing on Saturday morning
(taken with the point and shoot, didn't want to risk my DSLR if we capsized!)

Canoeing Saturday morning

The view from the restaurant we ate at Saturday night

The other side of the view from the restaurant Saturday night 

my boy, Pete, enjoying dinner and the paparazzi

The weekend was blissful and much needed.

and most importantly let me practice photography, on PEOPLE!

Now back to reality...

Colorado Rocky Mountain High

A year ago this month,

My parents had to sell my childhood home

and move to Denver, Colorado, 

giving me an awesome vacation whenever I want!

Last weekend was the first time I'd been out since I bought my camera.

Lucky for me, my parents are always willing to go on a mountain adventure!

But unfortunately, the smoke from the Arizona wildfires

had caused quite the haze over Denver and the surrounding mountains.

So I was able to get some interesting photos, 

but most of the pictures of the mountains didn't turn out great.

We traveled up to Avon, Colorado

where the Beaver Creek Ski Resort resides. 

My parents love the area and we were able to find some really cool hikes

and enjoy some classic family time.

a delicious butter braid my dad made before we left on our adventure

driving through one of the many tunnels through the mountains

father and son

mother and son

my family, and the only pic I could get the mountains to turn out in... 

View from a lookout at the Red Rocks Amphitheater 

Red Rocks Amphitheater

beautiful family 

This will be one of many Colorado posts.

I go out there a lot, because there is just so much to offer.

If my parents had to move anywhere out of  Minnesota,

they couldn't have picked a better spot!