Gus 'n Stuff!

Can we all say a collective 

WOW 

at the counter space at the new and improved 

Gus Antiques & Wonders? 

From the magical brain of Carol Hicks Bolton, 

Gus has moved just a few feet to the right 

into the historic Woerner Feed Store. 

Such a perfect fit!

And what's in the former Gus space?

The gloriously lovely return of Room No. 5!

More photos ahead from both the new Gus 

and Room No. 5.

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"Cowgirl Up"

A little sumpin' from an upcoming magazine feature. 

This darling cowgirl isn't the subject of the story, 

but she sure oughta be. 

Magazine out in the Spring. 

Happy Week!

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Back At It

After taking the better part of the Summer off 

from doing photo shoots, 

I'm back at it again with gusto.

I've completed two commercial shoots 

for local clients this past week, and I have two 

more shoots lined up for next week, 

PLUS another shoot for the 

Where Women Create family 

of magazines scheduled for early next week. 

Whew. 

Glad to know I've been missed! 

Here's a peek at the two Fredericksburg, TX 

guest houses I shot last week. 

Many more photos of these darling properties 

very soon.

The first three photos are from 

Cotton Tail Guest House, 

one of the 7 B&B properties 

owned by my friend Melissa Mabery. 

I've been lucky enough to shoot all of 

these properties, and I must admit that 

Cotton Tail is my fave!

Cotton Tail is a two-story guest house, 

has a full kitchen, three roomy bedrooms 

and bathrooms, and sleeps EIGHT! 

Melissa's decorating choices are 

always spot-on. 

Even though it's new construction, 

vintage touches are found throughout. 

Old tin ceiling added, antique pocket doors, 

and vintage doors as headboards. 

Lots of reclaimed wood for the floors and beams. 

Sigh....

So what lies beyond the second floor landing 

at Finch Feather Guest House ? 

Check back next week to see more. :-)

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Published in Where Women Cook

Not much scares me at this stage in my life.

But food photography?

THAT scared me.

Still. 

I put on my big-girl panties 

and marched right over 

to Boerne, Texas, to photograph 

the culinary delights 

and wizardry of my friend, 

mixed media artist extraordinaire, 

Laura Roberts, aka Hasty Pearl.

Fast forward several months, 

and I am so happy to share mine and Laura's 

contribution to the Autumn issue of 

Where Women Cook magazine.

As an artist, Laura sees food as an expression 

and extension of her creative muscles....

And her artistry is showcased to perfection 

the minute she steps into the kitchen. 

For her feature, Laura chose to share her passion 

for Mexican food, a South Texas staple. 

Down yonder in these parts, 

we use crushed red pepper 

the way some of y'all Yanks use salt. 

I'm just sayin'.

The keys to any South of the border inspired feast? 

For starters:

Avocados,

Cilantro, 

Tomatoes, 

Onions, 

and let's see...

I know I'm forgetting something here.... 

Oh! 

Peppers! 

How the bejebbers could I forget??? 

Serrano, Jalapeno, Poblano. 

Even the names sound festive.

Any self-respecting Texas cook 

knows how to whip up a mean batch of Salsa. 

Laura happily shares her recipe with you 

in the pages of the Fall issue.

Now tell me....does that photo above resemble 

not only a cutting board, but a painter's palette as well?

The beauty of food, indeed.

And the Pico. Never, ever forget the Pico de Gallo. 

This stuff goes on EVERYTHING. 

Chips, Tortillas, Enchiladas, or as a meal 

all by itself. 

Just pass me the bowl and prepare 

to get it back empty. 

Yep, it's that good.

And I don't know about you, 

but here in Texas, we love, love, love to add 

a Tex-Mex twist to just about everything, 

especially any and every type of seafood.

Grilled Shrimp on skewers, 

marinated in a savory green verde sauce. 

Edible art.

 I want to thank my sweet friend Laura Roberts 

for going along on this ride with me, 

along with everyone at Where Women Cook.  

Jo, Brandy, Amber.... always a pleasure! 

If you can't locate this magazine 

or any of the "Where Women" publications, 

click HERE and they'll hook you up.

I hope you'll visit Laura at her blog

Hasty Pearl Blog

and her Etsy shop.

Hasty Pearl Etsy Shop

If you think she's a fab chef, 

just wait until you feast your eyes 

on what she can whip up in her studio.

To see more of Laura's feature, 

visit me at my website, 

Anne Lorys Photography

Gracias!

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french country cottage

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Rediscovering "Us"

It was one of those weird things... 

I had taken my laptop in to be repaired, 

and I just picked it up this afternoon. 

I don't know what sort of hoodoo voodoo 

the computer tech did, but he located a folder of photos 

that I haven't seen in almost 5 years. 

They are the story of us. 

Me and my husband. 

From our very first date, 

until our honeymoon, and a few stops in between. 

We've been married 8 years this Summer, 

and it hasn't been the easiest of paths. 

We've butted heads our fair share and then some, 

but rediscovering these photos reminds me 

of the really, honest-to-goodness, important stuff. 

I'm sharing these with you here... 

none of them are edited, in fact they all pre-date 

my career as a photographer, which didn't 

happen until late 2009. 

So here we are.The story of Anne and James. 

For better, for worse, 

in sickness and in health,

and you know the rest. 

:-)

The first date....St. Patrick's Day 2006. 

Dolores del Rio on The Riverwalk. 

Still the first date. Cheesy photo from Dave and Buster's.

From my trips to see him in the Rio Grande Valley....

And from his treks to see me 

in the Texas Hill Country....

Meeting other members 

of his clan, pre-engagement...

Meeting his oldest friends from The Valley. 

*****

And at the Texas Renaissance Festival in Plantersville...

THE PROPOSAL!!!

All captured by his younger brother Andrew, 

who was in on the stealth plan.

And a post-proposal, celebratory dinner

with my husband's brother Andrew, ( my now brother-in-law ), 

and his lovely girlfriend Mary who became 

his bride 2 years later.

The bridal shower.

I don't think I've ever been this thin since!

Bridal shower loot and swag!

Hooray, I got the entire 

Antique White Mikasa china set!

And then the day arrived.

July 21, 2007.

Mr. and Mrs.

He put a ring on it.

Off to Hawaii for the honeymoon...

The one thing I most wanted to do, 

fly over an active volcano!

Bucket list...check!

Swing from inside a Banyan tree, 

just because I could.

Go native at a Luau...

{ please note: that armband "tat" was a pre-tat tat. It washed right off }

A view like no other,

Waikiki Beach.

And to just take a minute to realize... 

"holy cow, I'm married!!!"

And then below, a photo of us just a couple
of weeks back with me, my bro-in-law,
and the husband at the Houston House of Blues....

^ ^ ^
me + three dirty martinis later = not even recalling this photo. ;-)

The laughs, the fights, the tears, the unspeakable joy 

of finding your other half. 

Our faces pretty much say it all.

Thank you for sharing in 

our memories. 

Thank you for rediscovering us.

XOXO

Ad majorem Dei gloriam

Latin for "all for the glory of God."

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