The gates of summer, once open wide like the arms of absent friends begin to close, haltingly, with rusty hinges creaking in cool mornings.

Summer's End by Holin Kennen

one of my last shoots of the "summer" was of a darling little girl named haddie and her baby brother ryder.  i drove up to their farm and gasped when i saw the rolling meadows of purple thistles, weathered farm gates, tire swings, birch trees, and oh....the horses?  did i mention the horses?  this was more of a playdate than a session, as i followed haddie around while she showed me her playground.  we caught the wind on the tire swing, gathered flowers in a bucket, looked at new kittens in the barn, fed her beloved horsie, and skipped down the gravel road in mismatched socks and a tutu.  i met her new baby brother, ryder, who we gleefully "stuffed" in an old trunk and antique quilt.  he was just as pleased to be there as we were to have him there in all of his 3 month old glory. 

dee and family, thank you for such a wonderful afternoon.  "playdates" such as this remind me as to how really blessed i am to have the job that i do.