As it turns out, love is not the only thing free in this world. And as luck would have it, we found it smack dab in our little town commons. Once a month, Carrboro hosts the Really Really Free Market! It’s a great concept and I’m looking forward to encouraging my neighbors and friends to come on down and share the wealth!

In case you’re scratching your head, Carrboro.com has done a great job wrapping up the purpose of the Really Really Free Market:

Because there’s enough for everyone

Because sharing is more fulfilling than owning

Because corporations would rather the landfills overflow than anyone get anything for free

Because scarcity is a myth constructed to keep us at the mercy of the economy

Because a sunny day outside is better than anything money could buy

Because “free trade” is a contradiction in terms

Because no one should have to do without food, shelter, entertainment and community

Because life should be a picnic, but it only will be if we make it happen

Believe it! We found hot meals, local produce, baked goods and knick-knacks galore. It’s kind of like a garage sale, but without all the 25 cent stickers and all the negotiating.

For those of you who attended June’s market, you may have seen me there! I decided my contribution would come in the form of an edible, and since I just discovered a delicious cookie recipe from 101 Cookbooks, I had to share them with the world.  Or at least with the fine folks of Carrboro.

And that’s not all! Going forward, I’ll be attending the Really Really Free Market monthly and donating cookies or other homemade goods along with…

FREE PHOTOGRAPHY!

Come track me down by looking for me and my goodie bags adorned in the Wander & Scrawl logo. The first person to introduce themselves and reference my blog gets a FREE portrait mini-session.

A mini-session is a 30 minute photo shoot at a local outdoor setting and includes a disc of 10 fully edited and retouched digital images.

Come on, what’s stopping you? It’s really, really free.

As most of you know, I’ve recently relocated to North Carolina from the Pacific Northwest, where I was born and raised. I’ve made a new habit of getting to know my surroundings by taking my camera with me on my morning walks with the dogs. Here are a few of my recent favorites, focusing on the textures and colors in my new neighborhood.

Every time I step outside, I’m hit with a wall of warm.  When it rains, it really rains. It rains like it’s been waiting to rain for months and finally someone gave the go ahead. The lightening strikes, the thunder cracks open the sky and it rains like there’s no tomorrow. It’s greener and more lush than I ever expected it to be. And the air smells like a flower. 

This one reminds me of Washington…

 Love is a 56:34 minute conversation on a Sunday afternoon.

It’s an old fashioned letter, hand written.

It’s in your lunch box, between the wheat, no mustard.

Love is in a pact.

It’s learning to play the same song on your guitars.

It’s inside the inside joke.

And on the rim of your shirt collar, where your smell lives.

It’s a beautiful day for ambling. It’s Summer, after all. You have the ultimate excuse to do nothing but meander about. 

The weekend is finally here…

You’re free! 

This is Opal. She entered this world with perfect eyebrows. Not to mention, she smells fantastic. 

Their house is full of love, quiet adoration and beautiful morning light. I spent a recent Saturday with this incredibly sweet family, photographing Jackson and playing on the floor with their sweet dog who’s assumed the role of unofficial baby monitor. 

This is Kelly, just before Opal came a knockin’.

I think they look perfectly at home together in nature. 

Motherhood suits her beautifully, don’t you think?

Opal on the inside

Opal on the outside.

More from Opal’s session on the way shortly…

He’s on that computer machine day and night. 

I think he might be selling our stuff on ebay.

He just twittered, didn’t he?  Huckleberry…

If this photo doesn’t make you smile, your heart is made of aluminum. 

This is Jackson. He’s too cute for his own good.  More photos from our photo shoot soon to come!