Hasta la Vista!

Our family is off to the Riviera Maya in Mexico until April 29th. We will have very limited internet and no phone service while we are away. Isn't that the way a good vacation should be? : )
I will have so much to blog about when we return.
I hope you all have a wonderful week!!
Adios!
Daria + Andy
xo

Welcome Home Captain Richard Phillips!!

On Wednesday, April 8th, I received a call from the New York Post asking me to photograph the local news regarding Vermont's own Captain Richard Phillips. So I cleared the schedule and rushed off to Underhill, which is about 20 minutes away. Each day I joined up with a swarm of media in anticipation of news about the captain, but the news didn't come. By Saturday I had decided that I needed to get back to my life and told the reporter with the NY Post not to call on Sunday unless a miracle happened. Well two mimosas into brunch at our home with friends, the reporter called with the news the world was waiting for!! My friend Kim threw me into her car and we raced off to the family's home.
It was such a thrill and honor to cover this story from beginning to the happy outcome!! I thought it would be fun to show you a few of the photos like you probably saw everywhere, and a collection of behind the scenes photos that you probably didn't see anywhere.

Oh, and for all of you People magazine fans out there...be sure to look on the cover of this week's issue for the photo of the captain's wife and that same photo inside as well. The photo credit is very teeny tiny, but if you look close enough you will see my name. : )

On Thursday, the local CBS and Ryan Mercer, photo editor of the Burlington Free Press, interview a neighbor.
Ryan Mercer, left, and Toby Talbot with the Associated Press
A family member talks with the press.
A Fox camera guy naps.
Outside the family's home.
The media sets up for an official statement from the family.
My new friend Rebecca Rosenberg, a journalist with the NY Post, sets up her mike and gets caught on international news....a proud moment. ; )
Rick Leventhal with Fox News, New York
By Friday, the media had to move off the family's property and move into town. (The family was so gracious to let the media stay as long as they did!!) We had to find things to tell the story and didn't have to look too far...
The local priest is interviewed by CNN.
Rebecca and I decided to take a break and see some baby lambs near by.
Rebecca!

The farmer introduced us to some newborn goats in the barn and these tiny premature cashmere goats inside the home.

Reporters were all over town. Here CBS national is interviewing a neighbor who was tying yellow ribbon around posts.
The media's new spot was the church parking lot.
Super friendly Craig Boswell with Fox News
These little bunnies made the most of the media circus in town and sold lots of lemonade!!


Sunday morning. Holly with the AP.
My brunch guests and designated drivers, Kim + Melissa. Kim ended up being interviewed on the national NBC news when she and Melissa drove up to the corner store while waiting for me. So funny!!
Emily Nelson from the Free Press is all business.
Rebecca waits for the family's official statement.
Glenn Russell from the Free Press.
A Maersk representative gave the family's statement.
Craig Boswell and me.
Homecoming day!! Mike Taibbi reports.
Mr. Taibbi kept us all entertained before he was on the air.
The media mosh pit.
Our hero!! Be sure to look at his wrists...
Back at the captain's home...
I held it together really well until I saw this sign...
The community signed this one...so cool!!

Bunnies + Eggs + Snow...oh my!!

I hope you all had a fun Easter celebration! We had kind of a crazy week and weekend, as I had been assigned by the New York Post last Wednesday to photograph the town of Underhill, Vermont, where Captain Richard Phillips and his family live. Each day I drove to Underhill to cover the story and await good news about the Captain, but decided on Sunday to stay home with the family unless a miracle happened and he was freed. Well a miracle did happen...during brunch at our place (and a couple mimosas in) I received a call with the wonderful news! So another post will cover more on that, but this post is the fun times with my family and friends that we celebrated with, before that excitement...

Our Paas Boom or Easter Tree

Ooops, busted...Summer caught me taking a photo (from Saturday)...

this one kills me...
Sunday morning Easter hunt with the family...


I'm pretty sure it's a law that it snows on Easter in Vermont. I love these photos Andy took of Summer...

Yeti scored a nice stick from the hunt.
The bunny hid the big baskets really well this year. Everyone was frozen solid by the time the kids found them.

The kids had some help sorting their loot. : )
Friends came over for brunch and brought these amazing scones....
and Champagne and fresh squeezed O.J. for Mimosas.



My cute husband
Kim + Tom
Mark + Melissa
We ran out of Contreau for the Mimosas, but I had some stashed in the cupboard. Phew!!

My friend Kim planned an egg hunt for the kids which involved eggs with clues and a prize at the end...Ready, set...
Go!!
surprise...yummy cupcakes!!

I caught this cute little piggy...

Happy Easter!!

Here comes Yeti Cottontail....



We're looking forward to having some friends over for brunch this morning so I'll post some more photos later....

Have a lovely Easter and a happy spring!!
xo

E-Session: Philippe + Elizabeth

Andy + I ran around the village of Stowe with lovebirds Elizabeth + Philippe on a very chilly day last month. We popped into the Stowe Coffee House and a couple other spots to warm up which made for a very fun session!!
Elizabeth + Philippe are planning to have an extra special wedding day in July in Woodstock, Vermont. And to make sure everything is perfect they've hired Nancy with NJoy Event Planning. Andy and I are really looking forward to their wedding day!!
I'm excited to share some of our favorites....




raaaaar!






















Check out their slideshow for more!
xo

Spanky Pysanky Eggs : )

Summer and I watched a Ukrainian Egg (aka Pysanky Egg) demonstration at an art shop in Burlington called Boutilier's last Saturday. We were both so excited that we gathered up a bunch of supplies to try it ourselves. After looking online at hundreds of mind-blowingly beautiful eggs we were both feeling a little intimidated, but we decided to get over that and just do it our own way. We made the dyes yesterday and brought our eggs to room temperature, etc. so today was finally the day! All of us were quite enchanted with the process, except when we dropped the eggs a few times :( , but we were all thrilled with the results. I think we have a fun new spring tradition!

Summer applies the beeswax with a Kistka.
The beeswax is heated in the Kistka using a candle's flame.
Baxter picked dye to match his shirt.

Andy is in the pysanky zone!


Summi removes the wax with the candle flame to reveal the colors.


Baxter's egg had a sunshine on one side and the moon on the other.

my first egg.
Some little friends stopped by to make eggs too. I was impressed with how focused they all were!





Miss Mia and her "prettiful" egg

Barrie Fisher popped by!
the kids show off their works of art!
Our magical eggs...



To learn how to make the eggs, click HERE for an online tutorial.