Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse

I am not sure about you but it feels like here in the Northwoods we seem to miss out on some of the really cool sights people get to see up in the sky (though I will admit we are lucky in our own right getting to see a clear view of a sea of stars without smog or pollution and the occasional Aurora Borealis) But the big stuff... that always seems to miss us, though not on this night!

This combined shot of the different moon phases plus Matt's hard work in some VERY cold temps despite being mid April (it was 1F this morning and the town just North of us this morning was reported to have been the coldest spot in ALL of the US including Alaska here on this lovely morning...) Tonight we were pretty luck and got to see a very rare sight that won't be apear again until 2019, which was the blood moon lunar eclipse! While I was cozy in bed a sleep (in my defense I did set an alarm but ended up hitting snooze a few times) while Matt got the amazing shots between 12am & 4am in our own backyard here in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. 

Anyhow, I will stop whining about the snow and cold so you can enjoy this amazing image! 

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Thirsty Thursday | Rush River, Nevermore

I think everything we have ever had from this little brewery out in the Western Wisconsin town of River Falls has been nothing but amazing and Nevermore is no exception! As far as I am concerned they have very stunning packaging, which is always awesome too. Plus, if you ever get the chance to see these guys at beer fest they have a sign that proclaims that their beer is “Fucking Far Out”… which makes me smile every time because it is!

Another Winter seasonal we are working through, I honestly don’t think this beer would be bad around a campfire in the Summer either! Pouring raven black Nevermore is a very smooth chocolate oatmeal stout. For being a stout it isn’t terribly heavy either which I tend to prefer. You might have a bit trouble finding this beer at this point in the season (has we had been sitting on this one for a bit) but if you ever see it or any other Rush RiverBrewing beers be certain to give one a try, they are pretty awesome I mean far out!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Turntable Tuesday | Lana Del Rey, Paradise

So over the past few months I have become pretty much become addicted to the music by Lana Del Rey, her voice is beautifully haunting and her lyrics are amazing! The songs simply become an earworm for days (thus having her on my turntable VERY often). I vaguely recall Lana’s not so hot Saturday Night Live performance from a few years and even at that, she never quite got on my radar. Having a turntable I don’t listen to Pandora much anymore but a few months ago while making a solo trip from Milwaukee back to the Northwoods I was jamming to my Robyn station (ok, LOVE Robyn, like A LOT but that is for another post!)… ANY WHO, several Lana Del Rey songs started getting mixed into the station and like Robyn, I just couldn’t get enough!

Paradise is actually the first album I sought out and purchased online on my own without even talking to the Husband Man (not that we are that kind of couple, it’s just that he tends to make the vinyl purchases in our home and the ones that are “mine” typically are gifts of sorts or mine are ones that I have purchased in person)…. So in a sense it’s KIND OF A BIG DEAL! This album was released the Fall of 2012 and as far as I am concerned every song is perfect (the GRAMMY Awards people do too since it was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album and Lana’s first every GRAMMY nomination to date). Her lounge singer-esque voice with some of her raunchy lines in Cola and Gods and Monsters just makes me love her more, plus songs like Body Electric and Drive are mind-blowing! If you have a chance, I highly getting on the Lana Del Rey bandwagon ASAP (hey even the Husband Man requests it often too!) For a fun bonus, check out her short film Tropico featuring the songs Body Electric, Gods and Monsters and Bel Air all from Paradise.

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Fornear Photo Friday | Lisa & Ben’s Summer Wedding

This Summer someone I know got married…. My sister Lisa! This was actually the first of two family weddings we had in this season (Matt’s sister Liz was to come in the fall and will be featured soon too!) Since I was the Maid of Honor we had a really great second shooter (other then myself for the first time) in Clint Hays for the day, who did a great job shooting and handling all of our humor that came his way!

Sister Lisa and I have been through thick and thin but mostly many good times! I have known Ben since we were kids and truly is a brother to me and these two crazy love birds really couldn’t be a better fit for one another! They had a very rustic, elegant wedding in Sayner, Wisconsin with the reception being held at Weber’s Wildlife, which has been in Ben’s family since the 1940’s and is known for having bear cubs in years past.

I had never been in someone’s wedding let alone the maid of honor before so the experience was something I will never forget and was very thrilled to do so for Lisa & Ben. Needless to say despite the rainy and unseasonably chilly 50 F in late July, everyone still had a great time and there were even a few breaks in the clouds!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Thirsty Thursday | Surly, Coffee Bender

Our awesome friends to the West in Minnesota know how to make some awesome craft beer just like we do here in Wisconsin and Surly Brewing is the shining star of the North Star State! Recently we made a day trip over to Minneapolis and of course we couldn’t go there without stopping at a local liquor store to pick up some goodies for at home. Surly’s Coffee Bender (and many other local items) made it’s way back to the Northwoods with us that day!

Let’s talk about those awesome cans for second! Surly is known for making their beer in 16oz pint cans, not only are they designed with an awesome flare but for those of you NOT in the know cans are increasing exponentially in the craft market right now not only for economic and environmental purposes but also because it simply makes your beer better. No sunlight, no oxygen… it’s like a mini keg in your hand!

Surly’s Coffee Bender as it will instruct you on the can (and just like you should with any bottled beer) it’s always best to pour into a glass to get the full sensory experience of this awesome beer. I mean if you love beer and you love coffee (especially iced coffee) this American Oatmeal Brown Ale brewed with a cold extraction of coffee to intensify the flavor, then you might consider starting off your day with one of these bad boys rather than the real thing!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Turntable Tuesday | U2, Achtung Baby

Have you ever had an entire album that has such a profound impact on you like none other, on your thinking perhaps, or even how it might define a time in your life? U2’s Achtung Baby was that album for me. A bit dark and moody, I love each and every song and played this cassette on repeat. At a very impressionable age, I spent much time behind a closed door of my bedroom listening to more music than most girls my age did, which I believe accounts for much of my taste and knowledge in music today.  

Coming out in late 1991 and releasing singles throughout 1992 & 1993 this couldn’t have been a more receptive time in my life (hello THIS was my generation’s “tween” music!) With such a powerful message both politically  emotionally and contemplatively and at a huge turning point in general within the music industry itself moving away from the upbeat, pop synth sounds of the 80’s to the raw, emotional rock of 90’s grunge U2 reinvested their sound setting themselves apart during this unique time. Maybe it was my age group, but for me 80’s music really was about having fun and being a kid and 90’s music started right when I was coming of age with the reality of what adulthood would start to shape up to be.  

VERY recently we acquired a used copy of Achtung Baby, something I honestly was not sure we would ever come across. My personal favorite being the creative rhythms behind Mysterious Way that just seems to lull your mind and mood taking you away to a whole new place. And of course you can’t forget about One, the ballot that in most critics opinion’s is the song that defines U2 as a band.  With 5 commercial singles all reaching great success on the charts and a Grammy win in 1993 for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, Achtung Baby is widely considered by many to be their best album… clearly I fall into this category myself. Enjoy!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo