Monthly Archives: October 2020

Fall 2020: An Unprecedented Portrait Season

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Oh hello! Time for a second wave update from EBI.

I’m terribly sad to announce that our home studio on Sixth Ave. in Kitchener will not be available for indoor photo shoots during fall 2020, although we ARE offering outdoor sessions. It is simply not possible to safely separate the studio space from our home space at this time.

For now, it will remain a sewing studio where I make masks and gowns for the pandemic. (This will please my husband, who for once, will not have to endure fake snow in every nook and cranny of our house following the holiday rush.)

Fortunately, we still have a window of time for outdoor portraits this fall. The leaves are just reaching their most colourful peak. Friends, now is the time to get your seasonal photos done. I have space for a couple of sessions with immediate families in the tri-city area during the Thanksgiving weekend. Since nothing is certain this season, the sooner we shoot, the better. If updating your family portraits is something you’ve been thinking about, I recommend that you get in touch asap.

As for COVID precautions, I’ve got several new policies in place to protect my clients. So far, our outdoor, socially distanced sessions are going really well. Family portraits are feeling extra special. Extra love-filled and important. Each family’s health needs are very unique so I’ll always check in with you about the details before we work together.

In general, I’m reducing the use of props, encouraging touchless, distanced sessions, I frequently stop to sanitize my hands when shooting, and I’ll probably be wearing a mask during our session. Despite these little changes, we are still turning out some great images this season. I am treasuring each session, knowing it could be the last one for awhile.

Hopefully we’ll be able to keep on doing outdoor photo shoots until after the snow flies. Fingers crossed. I’ll be announcing details for styled outdoor fall AND holiday minis in the coming days. Both will be by appointment starting October 11th, on the grounds of @adayliagardens just outside of Maryhill, Ontario. Oh, and I’ve also had the pleasure of doing some really unique personal branding sessions during September. I’m always available for head shots and website photography in addition to family portraits. 🌿 I’m very excited to see what we can accomplish together this fall! Don’t you just love autumn?

Have a safe and snuggly season!

~Emily

Auntie Em’s Super Secret Dill Pickle Recipe

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Homemade dill pickles are a part of my childhood that I missed as an adult, so I set about recreating the recipe and making it my own. After five years of trial and error, I’ve finally perfected the procedure and I’m ready to share it with the world! If you’ve always wanted to try making your own pickles, or if you’ve dabbled, but haven’t found the right recipe yet, give this one a try. It is gooooooood and includes full instructions for safely canning pickles.

My husband’s biggest pet peeve is Internet recipes that contain paragraph upon cringe-inducing paragraph of personal anecdotes before you get to the useful stuff. With that in mind, I’ve created a concise, easy to find, easy to save, easy to view on a cell phone version of my famous garlic dill pickle recipe.

Let’s jump right in!

Do you know the different forms of dill? These are fern dill, dried dill seeds, fresh dill flowers, and dried dill weed. (From left to right and top to bottom.) I like to include at least a couple different types in each jar of pickles for a nice, well-rounded dill flavour. I’ve also been known to add dill flowers to floral bouquets for texture and movement plus a pop of yellow.

Now you know all my secrets! (Okay, all my pickle related secrets.) I hope this recipe works out well for you. Trust me, once you taste these babies, you’ll never want to go back to store bought pickles again.

Cheers!