Mugwump

In between a few assignments and a wedding I spent a couple hours this weekend at a mini-music fest called Mugwump. It is on the property of an older couple and started as a party for family and friends over 40 years ago.It grew from there and now they play host to over a hundred "close friends." I met the couple last year when I started a project on the party but left for school before I finished it.
The party is completely funded by the party-goers, and they volunteer their time to keep it going year after year.




It was great to see some old friends there and hang out for a bit. I didn't shoot a ton, but I did add a few to continue with the bits I started last year. Hopefully more to come from the wump...

Clean up and Clean out

Doing a little mid summer cleaning of the "blog" folder....

More from the lake...

Evening on the lake

Tubed

Dueling cameras.


"You better move, I'm letting go now!"

Abortion Protest

About a week or so ago I went out to cover a local pro-life group that was protesting at the intersection of two major roads on the north (wealthy) side of our coverage area. It was an experience to say the least.


They had about 8 to 10 people lined up and down both sides of both streets at the intersection holding up signs and flags as they shouted at cars driving by.

Most of the signs were pretty graphic with photos of aborted babies and such. There was a mixed response from passers-by, from honks to the one finger wave to straight up threats, but never any confrontations.

Trees.

Kane County Cougars

I spent an afternoon over at Elfstrom Stadium the other day. Nice light and great weather, its tough to beat a good day at the ball park.


Couldn't decide between these two...






Plus it was fireworks night!

War Birds

Three planes that fought in various wars throughout the years were at Aurora Airport on Thursday. These were my favs and surprisingly what actually ran! Gotta love when that happens.

64 Years

Last week I shot what may have been the best wedding ever.

Well, sort of.... After 64 years of marriage Albert and Marion Wagner renewed their vows at the nursing home where Marion lives.


About a year ago Marion suffered from a stroke and nearly passed away. "It was close," Albert said, "but shes still here."
Since the stroke Marion has been on hospice care at the nursing home and Albert comes to visit her daily.
"They sit in her room and watch soaps all day holding hands. It's really cute." Marion's caretaker said.

Family and friends all came out to the ceremony decked out in pink, Marion's favorite color, and then they had a mini reception (complete with bad DJ) afterward.

I asked Albert if he felt any different today than he did 64 years ago. Without hesitating the 85 year veteran said, "I love her more today than I did 64 years ago."
To read the story and see more photos click HERE.

Picket line

Bball

Wedding Preview

With another weekend of wicked wedding fun coming up I thought I would post a little preview/review of some wedding goodness so far this year. A short little slide show that has more juicy goodness is in the works but this should do for now.

A Porch Night

Day in the Park

I went out the Fox Valley Special Recreation Associations Day in the park yesterday to have some fun. The park was filled with kids from camps all over the Fox Valley Region which was really cool, unlike the temperature which felt like 100 degrees plus humidity. One of those days you walk outside and start sweating. Oh well, any day outside is a day I'm not in the office and thats perfectly fine with me.


My answer to the heat was to hang out by the dunk tank and get splashed whenever the dunkee was dropped.
They had some of the coolest blowup bouncy things I have ever seen. This one had basketball in it while others were full obstacle courses and mini theme parks!