Merlefest 2008 Part Three

Michelle and Joan. Still quite over-exposed--hate that, would be a great photo otherwise. They hung all weekend! And became Merlers for life, I think!

Every year Jug and I celebrate our anniversary at Merlefest. This year marked 27 years! Doesn't seem possible! We have both actually been known to forget the day and it's difficult for me to be indignant about it when I forgot too! I got flowers and an absolute tear-jerker card and I gave him a journal (from The Vintage Home, of course!). Told him he needs to record all the epiphanies he's been experiencing lately!! Seems there's great growth potential in mid-life!! Life is just good, ain't it?

Fell in love with The Carolina Chocolate Drops this year. A fabulous group--very humble and genuine--and very talented! Please visit their website: http://www.carolinachocolatedrops.com/

Meaner looking pretty in her new Merlefest dress. Marina is a bit camera shy and I have to really coax her to get her to relax. Longer she hangs around Camera Kim, the more she'll relax. Grant and Olivia have grown up having every step documented with flashes and Mama saying, "let me get the camera and you do that again"!! They don't even flinch while I click away.

Merlefest 2008 Part Two

Nice nature shot. This was in front of the Walker Center. The grounds at Wilkes Community College are fabulous! And as stated earlier, most all my photos from the weekend were over-exposed but I adjusted the lighting in Photoshop and got them tolerable!

Me by the tulips. It was very hot Thursday and Friday hence the "oh-so-not fashionably" upturned jeans. Also note the fabulous burlap bag---these can be purchased at the oh-so-fashionable store on Main Street, Wilkesboro: The Vintage Home. www.thevintagehomeofwilkes.blogspot.com --please visit!!

"Meaner" (Marina) and Grant. Grant sat with us more this year than ever! Yay!

Jug and Grant confer over the schedule. See what I mean about the "interesting" views/shots I get when I have the telephoto lens in use? Also--Jug's goatee--while putting old photos in albums recently I came across some really good pics of Jug when he was sporting a goatee some years back and while at that time I wasn't too keen on the facial hair, I thought he looked so handsome in these particular photos and when I told him---well next day he quit shaving!! I think it compliments him!

Merlefest 2008 Part One

Another great Merlefest! Jug practically lives just for Merlefest! He is literally there from the moment the gates open on Thursday until they close on Saturday. We all enjoy it but he relishes it! This first photo is Jug with two of the members of Blue Highway. Sorry about the over-exposure. Wish I knew what I was doing using the fancy camera I have! I had it set on 1600 iso and didn't realize it and it was too much for outdoor shots--good setting for indoor if you are trying not to use a flash. So ALL the pics from this day were mostly over-exposed--scheech!!

A good pic of Jug as we lay on the grassy hill at the Hillside Stage. I had my telephoto on the camera all day so I'd be ready to zoom in on subjects far off which always makes for some interesting views! Can't you just see how very happy and content this man is? He just loves Merlefest!!

And me on the same grassy knoll. This was actually a series of about six shots--had the camera set so that you could take quick shots one after another (this is called something--can't remember what) but have just included two of them. I was just zoning and relaxing trying to rest up while I could! Merlefest is exhausting!

Toward the end of the six shot series. I could hear the camera just clicking away and was grinning at Jug because he couldn't stop it! We have such a good time at Merlefest! We just savor it!