The butterfly exhibit is back at The Nature Center!

My advice, as always, is to go early. However, this time when we arrived the butterflies weren’t too cooperative at first. We had a lot of this.

Harper was also very annoyed that the butterflies kept landing on her clothes, instead of on her finger (that’s what you get when you wear a cacophony of color) so eventually we just stopped pointing out the butterflies on her hat and shirt.

And eventually they decided that they might like to sit on our fingers, too.

Then Cole found this really cool moth, and we all took turns holding it. It probably would have gone home with us, too, as it just sort of stayed wherever it was placed.

Having gone to this exhibit for several years now I’ve noticed that the admission rates always seem to creep up another dollar right around the time the exhibit opens. So my advice to you: if you live in the Asheville area, if you’re a tourist and think you’re going to visit the Nature Center even twice a year, or if you’re a grandparent in the area with family who comes to visit, buy a membership. My mom faithfully renews our membership every year and this is such a great gift for us to use. Plus, it includes free admission to the Greenville Zoo in South Carolina (as well as at other zoos across the country) and Friends of the Nature Center receive other discounts throughout the year as well.

Music provided by Hotlanta Dixieland Jazz.

Meet Sandefur…

…and Matt. They were married this past weekend at the Pavilion at Lake Rabun in northern Georgia. We so enjoyed documenting their day!

Combatting the heat and the nerves…

…feeling that pre-ceremony mix of anxiety, anticipation, joy and tears.

Hello, beautiful light shining on a beautiful bride! (Sandefur carried her grandmother’s Bible along with her bouquet.)

Love this one.

During the ceremony…

Whohoo! Oh so happy to be officially married!

Matt & Sandefur met in the woods, so we thought it only fitting to do their portraits in the trees!

A sweet cake cutting…

…followed by a slightly more mischievous cake cutting!

Everyone danced to the great jazz band.

I love this one, too.

And seriously, what better way to depart your wedding day than by boat? Bon voyage, Sandefur & Matt!

Back in May we decided to pressure wash our sadly neglected deck…i know….it looks horrible…

…but it wasn’t anything that a LOT of water and a little Thompson’s Water Seal couldn’t handle!

…like a sunflower…

…lilies in bloom….

…phlox…

…bees and pollen…

…and fruit loops in the garden (yes, in their pajamas) digging in the mulch while waiting for you to finish watering the plants…please also note the bright new flag in the background, replacing our tired old one in preparation for the 4th of July.

…okay, so there are a lot of things that say summer, and these are just a few. We’re just getting started, after all!

Oh, Ephraim - you are simply irresistible!

I wish you would have fit in my camera bag so I could have taken you home with me!

We drove through some beautiful countryside to get to Josh & Courtney’s hometown church in Alexander this past Saturday.

The groom…he seemed pretty calm the whole time…in fact, I’m pretty sure he spent the morning fishing.

The ring bearer…you can almost always count on ring bearers to be funny, and Austin lived up to my expectations.

And here’s the bride, Courtney, with her mom.

This is exactly how I picture Courtney at all times - laughing and surrounded by friends and family.

..even if a few “happy tears” managed to sneak their way in.

The couple had a beautiful evening service.

I loved the communion by candlelight!

After the service and portraits we headed outside for a few pictures before the rain clouds rolled in again.

They look pretty happy, don’t you think?

By the end of the night the rain had stopped and everyone came outdoors to wrap up the evening.

I always wonder about the getaway car (or truck) - who cleans it in the morning? Does it sit in an airport this way?

Courtney and Josh, we hope you have a fantastic Mediterranean honeymoon!