I’ve realised I don’t feature my new ‘adopted’ hometown on this blog as much as I’d like to. I tend to focus on exotic locales that capture my imagination or on photo shoots that feature the local scenery primarily as a backdrop. I’d like to remedy that today with a post featuring photos from a local walk Will and I took at sunset this past weekend, and a few words about some of the things we love about life in Livermore.
One of the things we love is the access to fresh fruits and veggies all year round, many of which come from local farms, but an abundance of which come from what is known as the Central Valley–a section of California’s interior which produces a staggering portion of the food grown in and for the United States with more growing seasons than a Canadian like myself would know what to do with.
Well it’s generally around this time of year that Will gets a hankering for peaches. Fresh ones. So we set off for the Central Valley and stopped at every fruit stand we spied, and eventually found a stand selling the season’s first batch of ripe, juice-running-down-your-chin quality peaches. Of course we didn’t stop at peaches. Fresh cherries and strawberries were also to be had, so we loaded up and and drove home fruit-filled and sticky-chinned.
That evening, Will treated me to a lovely dinner at Wente Vineyards (a TOTAL splurge and something we’ve never done) with dining on the patio overlooking the grounds, sumptuous local, organically grown/raised fare (Wente has its own organic gardens) and perfectly paired wine–only a few sips for me though! We dressed up, (a little) lingered over amazing food–try the chef’s signature appetizer if you go, which is the lamb pastrami with coriander aioli, pickled onions and rye crisp–and basked in the lovely glow of evening light and warm summer air.
To bookend our beautiful day, we headed to Del Valle Regional Park for a walk where the photos below were taken. It was GORGEOUS! Perfect light, beautiful scenery, and of course company that could not be beat! There is so much I miss about living in Canada, specifically Vernon in the Okanagan Valley, but we have so much to be grateful for and partake of during our time in Livermore that I would be remiss if I didn’t share some of that with you.
Will also shot a few frames of me in my 23rd week of pregnancy, which I know people keep asking to see, so there’s a few scattered throughout the post!
Sigh…I love the weather, the geography, the food, the wine, the proximity to so many amazing things to see and do. And oh yes, THE LIGHT which I know is the envy of so many photographers elsewhere and something I will never take for granted!
Hope you are having a wonderful week and if you’d like to book a final shoot with me before I take a self-imposed maternity leave, I’m available throughout the month of June. After that, I’ll be taking a break (or so I tell myself) until late fall. During that time, however, I’ll still be meeting with potential clients, so if you’re interested in booking me for your 2014 wedding, event, or portrait session please shoot me a message!
Cheers!
Jaime
PS Will is sometimes my second shooter at weddings…he’s pretty great right?!
PPS We are heading to Mississippi next week and then I’m off to shoot a destination wedding in Colombia at the end of May, so stay tuned for more photos and adventures!
You and Will look great Jaime..we have enjoyed our walks out there with you guys.