Wisteria is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family

It is also considered an invasive plant in the southeast.

Wikipedia says its because it chokes out other plants. I say it's because it can eat your house.

Wisteria allowed to grow on houses can cause damage to gutters, downspouts, and similar structures.

Wisteria will certainly rend latticework, crush thin wooden posts, and can even strangle large trees.

But is sure is beautiful!

birds in the trees

One morning in March, I walked around my yard taking lots of photos. And, I'm just now realizing, I never did anything with them. So, if you see a lot of spring photos here on my blog soon, that's why. :)

Why, yes, that wisteria is awfully pretty. And yes, there will be more photos of wisteria to follow.

Also, I have a thing for birds. These photos were taken with my 85mm and cropped, but I hope to eventually have a 70-200mm so I can get better close up photos of birds, among other things. Like, you know, brides!

so much pretty: the golden stargirl hour

I can't really tell you exactly when I took these photos. All I know is that it was months ago. Maybe at the end of March? My sister came down and looked super cute, so I had to pull her outside for some photos.

Also, may I just say that the greenery and wisteria in the background made for some b-e-a-utiful bokeh? Because, wow, it totally did!

I wish I had gotten a better full body photo. Read: one that showed off her shoes. The shoes were super duper cute and pretty much made the outfit. In fact, I want those those. Mary, are you getting rid of them? I'll take them off your hands

Also, note my little neighbor mowing the lawn in the background. 

I also tried out a little off-camera flash work to capture the pretty sunset that we had going on. It was bare bulb, so the lighting is pretty harsh. But it was one of the first times I had played around with OCF, and you get the idea. :)

I know I usually give details about the outfit, but I have none. Suffice it to say: cuteness. The end.

I love guests! If want to be featured, please email me at fraukuech[at]gmail[dot]com.

work, complaining, and photos of my dog

It's been quite a while since I last sat down and wrote a blog post. Like a *real* blog post. Something more than a few sentences or a few photos.

There is so much going on. I've re-written this start of the blog several times because I'm not sure what to write about!

Not me. #1: I use a mac. #2: I wish I had that cocktail ring. ;) I just added this photo because I felt like this space really needed it. [source]

Shoot. I just spend a several minutes blogging and sharing with you all about my new job. Only come to find out that I already told you about it.

Let me say something, however, that I didn't say before. God wonderfully and amazingly provided me with this job. When it was decided that I'd start job searching, this was the first one I applied to. And it was the only one I applied to that I thought would be more than just a job but something I might actually enjoy doing.

After all, I was applying for the position of social media manager.

I used to scour the internet trying to find something where someone would hire me to do social media because I thought it would be cool. And now, at the right time, God dropped it in my lap!

I love interacting with our clients online. I get a total sense of pride seeing our Facebook stats increase. I love learning how to use Pinterest as a marketing tool.

And you know what else is really cool?

 

We have bring your dog to work day! In fact, that's every day! Ace, my boss's one year old lab mix comes to work every day. Everyone else takes turns bringing in their pups. For Bella's first day of work, she got a new dress. (Yes, I'm that much of a dog person.)

I'll be honest. My job is not always my favorite thing. Or, specifically, certain aspects of my job are not always my favorite. Which, I suppose is normal. Unfortunately, I can be a bit of a complainer. I have been known to come home and complain about my job. To complain about it with my friends.

But you know what? Shame on me! I am lucky to have a job at all, let alone one that let's me bring my dog (among other nice perks).

Whenever I feel like complaining, I remind myself that this is exactly where God wants me to be. When I complain, I'm saying that he's doing it wrong. Yikes!

I think my problem is just selfishness. I get in the zone and the phone rings, interrupting my work. Just like I can get selfish at work with the kiddos. (Say for instance, when the kids are like, miss tiffany, come play outside with us! and I'm like ugh. it is so hot and sweaty outside. And, by the way, we played outside today on the neighbor's monster swing. It was totally fun.)

It's not enough to just keep my mouth shut and my complaints to myself! I need to keep the complaints out of not only my mouth, but my heart as well. I keep reminding myself that kind of thing isn't something I can do alone. I feel like I've said these types of things for so long now but I'm only finally, in my heart, realizing what they mean in action.

Gosh. Longest blog in a while, huh? All this rambling to say that God has been teaching me a lot lately. 

With any luck, I'll remember to blog again next week with something other than a photo of last nights dinner. I mean, fingers crossed.

In the mean time, let me leave you with these photos of Bella and Ace taken at work yesterday. 

The love to wrestle. Though, eventually, my four-year-old pup gets a bit tired of the twice-her-size-one-year-old lab and starts telling him to back off. He just lays next to her and paws at her. Ready to play yet, Bella?

so much pretty: another work outfit

I wish I would remember to take SMP photos everyday. I've been wearing some cute outfits, but all I have to share with you is this one from a few weeks ago. Not that I don't like it, I do, but I just have more outfits to share. Unfortunately, I'm often too lazy to drag out the camera, tripod, and flash. Heck, with the above photo, I used camera, tripod, flash, battery pack, pocket wizards, lightstand and umbrella!

And really, it all seems like a bit much for an SMP post. Of course, actually did that for myself because I was playing around with off camera lighting. But even without the off camera lighting, it's still a hassle. In addition to the set up, I'm guessing where to focus and hoping I get it right, setting the timer, running over, posing, waiting, running back over to see if I got anything good.

Rinse and repeat.

Anyway.

I really like all of this outfit. Love the pants, the top, the everything. The top is from NY&C and is super comfy and soft and has pretty lace details. The pants are from Target and are, like the top, super comfortable. Which is good because I sit criss-cross-apple-sauce most days at work. Yep, I just kick off those adorable heels and curl up in my chair. ;)

Necklace from my first visit to Charming Charlie. I couldn't NOT buy this necklace. It was so adorable and so *me* that I just had to get it. Love the little birdie!

Heels from Ann Taylor outlet. LOVE the bows on this pair!

So, I was making lasagna today...

Next step in recipe: add two lightly beaten eggs.

So, go to fridge and get out---

Wait. Where are the eggs from the CSA? I knew we had at least a few eggs left in the carton. They can't be gone!

Ask Mike, who is showering, if he has seen the eggs.

No.

Look for eggs again. Look at counters, look in freezer (hey, it's possibly I was absent minded), look again in fridge.

Ask Mike. Again. Did he use eggs, perhaps in one of his yummy meals?

No!

Hmmm...

Look high and low. Again.

No eggs.

Check old eggs from the grocery store.

Old eggs are, in fact, old. Blech.

Ask Mike again. Maybe he remembers what he did with the eggs now? Pulls back shower curtain, looks at me and says, "Are you kidding me?"

No. In fact, not kidding. I really need those eggs.

Go back to kitchen. Stand at the island. Read the recipe again.

Look down next to my bowl.

See carton of eggs from the farmers market.

I am basically a genius.

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