Winter Is Here

Well the big "snow storm" just started! We will finally have some snow for the holidays. But looks like going to CdA for some Christmas shopping this weekend is out. Weather reports say Friday and Saturday snow snow snow and Sunday the freeze begins. Check out www.theleonardpaulstore.com for live video of lake weather from the east side in Cooin or www.hillsresort.com for a view from Hill's Resort in Luby Bay (west side of the lake). Hope all of your travels are safe this winter!

Thanksgiving Weekend Open House

Thanks to all of you who came and supported our open house last weekend. It was so nice to see some of our past customers from Autumn's Loft (when we were located in Priest River). Hope to see you again this coming year! Congratulations to the winners of our drawing for a "Matted 8x10 Photograph: Your Choice"... Macy Kennedy and Ken Meyers!

Update on Shaun Lunt's Life Photos and Video

Dear Friends, This is Shaun's dad, Norm. Thanks to Jim Christenson's help we have just put a video of Shaun on his blogsite that I took of him just before leaving for Alaska this past May, 2008. A film production company based out of New York had heard and read about Shaun and was interested in highlighting Shaun’s adventures in an upcoming movie they are planning to make on true life adventurers. At the request of this film company I took this homemade video for them (they wanted it for voice quality and visual perception purposes only). Minutes after I took this video I hugged my son for the last time and he lifted off the turf strip at Felts Field in Spokane and pointed the nose of N897SP for Alaska. You will see the video near the top of his blogsite at: www.shaunlunt.typepad.com Thanks again to all of you who loved Shaun. Norm, Margie, Shelly Fly to Jesus, Shaun www.shaunlunt.typepad.com

Inlander Magazine 2008-2009

Check out the 2008-2009 Pacific Northwest Inlander Magazine's article, "Lesser Known Lakes" featuring quotes from locals, and images of our area taken by myself and Tom Holman. If you have a chance pick up the yearly publication!

FREE RESTORED PRINT CONTEST !!! Enter Your Old Photo!!!

To kick off the holiday season I am offering a free photo restoration to the person who submits a challenging photo from the past that they want to see come to life!

How to Enter: Submit your digital negative by e-mail to Autumn@PriestLakeImages.com in jpg format.
Or send your image by mail with a return envelope & postage to Autumn Oscarson, 57 Shady Pines Loop, Priest Lake, ID 83856 (photos not chosen can also be picked up at our new Priest Lake Images showroom at The Little Store on Hwy 57.

Include: Explanation of the photo (who, what, when, where) & what it means to you and why you would like it restored. Please include your contact information... snail mail, e-mail, and phone.

Details: Anyone may apply. I will digitally restore the image I find most interesting... removing red-eye, repairing scratches or tears, erasing water spots or moisture, removing people (if you wish) and professionally jazzing up your image to acid free paper so it is enjoyed for years to come.

Prize!!!: Winner receives their restored image as one 5x7 or 8x10 photography print on professional kodak halide paper, in an acid free black display folder and cut to a CD. Worth $89. Image will also be posted online.

Deadline: All entries must be received by December 31st and winner will be posted by January 31st.

Opening Autumn's Loft at Priest Lake!

Come check it out this holdiday season! I will be opening a new location on Highway 57 right next to The Little Store in Priest Lake. We will be open the same hours as The Little Store / Service Center: 7am-6pm seven days a week. Come see images and artwork of the Priest Lake and Pend Oreille area, printed on canvas as Gallery Wraps, or rustic framed in wood from my parent's Freeman Lake Tree Farm. It's so exciting that I will finally have a showroom in the Priest Lake area! By summer, more of our rustic home furnishings will be added: garden benches, coat hooks, shelves, coat trees, frames, rocking chairs, boot benches, bookshelves and more. Please stop by this Thanksgiving Weekend to check out all of my new pieces! Now all of you International Selkirk Loop travelers will have a place to stop and view a more complete collection of my work: photo cards, picture maps, calendars, gallery artwork... all locally made. Add us to your stop for your holiday gift giving!

Shaun A. Lunt

Shaun, a fellow photographer, doctor, and experienced pilot who enjoyed the thrill of living an adventure, died tragically on June 7, 2008. I haven't been able to write about it until now.

When you passed I do believe a shock went out around the world... through the people you had an influence upon and didn't know it: the friends, family, acquaintances, and strangers. I visited a waterfall last week that we had taken pictures at. Your sense of humor comes through the images so vividly. I remember you going "out on a limb" to get a good shot. Something that I do regularly, but now that I'm a mother I hold back and do try to be more aware of my unstable surroundings. I think that is one thing I've learned from your passing. Though it is not a fact I want to accept. Your adventurous nature let you follow your passions and because of that many admire you, and so do I. You truly will be missed, every day, for the witness that you are.

Below are two e-mails from Shaun's dad, an explanation and a memorial fund information. If anyone is interested in some of Shaun's Alaska photos you can view them at shaunlunt.blogspot.com and http://www.adn.com/western_alaska/story/429996.html

"This is Norm, Shaun's dad. I remember you well and I'm so glad you and Shaun were able to spend some time together and share the beauty of N. Idaho. I would appreciate it very much if you could sent the pics to me -- that would be wonderful! Shaun was a very experienced pilot but he made a simple, fatal mistake. He was flying low and slow, circling a whale skeleton on the beach. I'm sure that he was distracted with taking a picture of the prize when his airspeed dropped too low and he stalled / spun into the beach. He was only about 100' above the beach and that isn't enough altitude to recover, unfortunately. This is based on a report of his friend, Loni, who was flying in another super cub right behind him and witnessed it all. Loni could do nothing to help after he landed beside Shaun's plane because the plane was engulfed in flames and did not extinguish for 2 hours. I will miss him more than heaven and earth will ever know. Thank you for you kind words and gesture of sharing those pictures with us. If the pics are digital you can email them or if on paper please use the address below at my business. THANK YOU!"

"Hello Friends and Family of Shaun, As many of you are aware we have been in process of setting up a memorial fund in Shaun's name at Camp MiVoden. The summers Shaun spent working at this summer camp were his favorite. He loved working outdoors, playing, and sharing God and Camp MiVoden gave him that opportunity. This fund is being set up to allow kids who don't have the monetary funds to come to one of Shaun's favorite spots in the world and enjoy nature, play and learn about God. For any of you interested, following is the information regarding how to make a donation. Thank you to all of you who have written or called and shared memories of Shaun. It has meant so much to all of us. Shaun's Family Donations (checks/money orders/online checks) can be sent to the following address or if the donor would like to use a credit card, they can call the camp at the following number. The donation should be marked on the memo line as "Shaun Lunt Memorial Fund". The donation is fully tax deductible."
Camp Mivoden 17415 E. Hayden Lake Road, Hayden Lake, ID 83835-8509 (208)-772-3484 mivodeninfo@mivoden.com

Lavender Festival 2008 Photos Online for Viewing

For any vendors or guests at the Pend Oreille Lavender Festival... you can logon to my website www.priestlakeimages.com (under Galleries), to view images of booths, products, and activities. And thank you to all of you out there that supported me at both the Lavender Festival and Priest Lake Huckleberry Festival. The turnout of art enthusiests was great and I'm excited to get product ready for both shows next year! It was great to meet all of you and thank you so much for appreciating my creations!

p.s. 2007 Lavender Festival images are still available for a limited time, under Client Login, password is Lavender.

Huckleberry Festival - Saturday, August 2nd 10-5

Well the 2008 Pend Orielle Lavender Festival was beautiful. This year it was located at the Newport, WA city park. Absolutely lovely! Huge timbers providing shade, live folk music, and lavender accents hanging from greenery throughout the festival. Kids painting pots in the art tent and creating handpaintings... adults learning to braid lavender wands and head pieces. This year's Huckleberry Festival is newly moved as well. The Priest Lake Search and Rescue recently purchased the event and will be moving it just down Hwy 57 to the Priest Lake Golf Course. Bluegrass music, a.m. breakfast, art & food booths will be on the course as well as a golf tournament. I believe there is also a bluegrass concert later at 7pm. We will have our Priest Lake Images booth set up, displaying a few of my new large GALLERY WRAPS of our area, as well as rustic framed scenic shots of CHIMNEY ROCK, LUBY BAY, and PRIEST LAKE FROM ABOVE. We have show special pricing, so all art pieces will be offered at less than the regular retail pricing, and only available for the one day at the Huckleberry Festival. Custom orders will be taken as well. Hope to see you there Saturday, August 2nd, 10am to 5pm.

Lavender Festival

Visit me at my booth at the Lavender Festival, July 12 & 13th at the Newport Park 9am-6pm. Check out some of my new shots along with lavender images from last years festival taken along the Pend Oreille River. This year the Pend Oreille Valley Lavender Festival has changed it's location to First and Calispel at the Newport Park which is a much more convenient location and one I'm excited to be at. Once again the association has invited me to be their on-location photographer to capture the excitement of the day. I will be photographing vendors, artists, booths, and more which will be available for online viewing. Visit me at my booth where I will be selling photo cards, art on canvas, and a few rustic home furnishings that my family has made from recycling birch bark. Hope to see you there!

Mountain Girl Maps

Many of you are inquiring about certain hikes in the area, around the International Selkirk Loop, and Priest Lake. If you are interested in Priest Lake hikes I have created a 16x20 photo map of seven of my favorite hikes. You can view it at www.priestlakeimages.com go to galleries, favorites, and it is the first image that pops up, click on "add to favorites" in the upper left of the image to add it to your shopping cart. An included insert has hiking directions and is great to carry along with you on your drive. The photo poster is a hand drawn image of Priest Lake overlaid on a large water photo from Rocky Point. Smaller images surround the lake... moose, Bald Eagle, bear, waterfalls, placed in the location where I took them. Map is rolled in a tube and wrapped in plastic... ready to send to someone or frame on your wall. Retail $24.99

Congratulations Graduates!!!

This weekend will be a busy one for sure with all of the graduation celebrations and ceremonies. Just wanted to post a couple of my favorite Senior Picts. and send out a big congratulations to all who are graduating! May you have many great adventures this summer and in the coming years! God Bless You in everything you chose to pursue!

People Helping People Auction, Memorial Weekend

Saturday, May 24th, at 3:00pm I will be taking photos at Elkins' Resort for the Priest Lake People Helping People Auction. Free 5x7 photos of couples who attend the auction dinner will accompany the purchase of the centerpiece frames. Individual images are available with a $5 donation to the Priest Lake Chamber of Commerce. Come and support our community at the silent auction at 3:00pm or attend the 5pm dinner and live auction!

FREE RESTORED PRINT CONTEST !!! Enter Your Old Photo!!!

To kick off spring I am offering a free photo restoration to the person who submits a challenging old photograph that they want to see come to life!

How to Enter: Submit your digital negative by e-mail to Autumn@PriestLakeImages.com in jpg format.
Or send a copy of the original to Autumn Oscarson, 57 Shady Pines Loop, Priest Lake, ID 83856 (photos not chosen will not be returned, so don't send your original).

Include: Explanation of the photo (who, when, where), what it means to you and why you would like it restored. Please include your contact information... snail mail and e-mail.

Details: Anyone may apply. I will digitally restore the image I find most interesting... removing red-eye, repairing scratches or tears, erasing water spots or moisture, removing people (if you wish) and professionally jazzing up your image to acid free paper so it is enjoyed for years to come.

Prize!!!: Winner receives their restored image as one 5x7 or 8x10 photography print on professional kodak halide paper, in an acid free black display folder. Worth $89.

Deadline: All entries must be received by May 31st and winner will be posted the first week of June.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Guess I'm just a holiday blogger. I would really love to post some of my latest favorite shots, but between running after Miss Clara who is turning 1 year old this week, and keeping up with the business, the day just goes by way too fast!

This morning on The View they had some great environmental companies to look at if you are trying to "Go Green" with your purchases, house remodels, etc. My favorite was the organic soft cotten sheets at http://www.target.com/ , natural baby products at http://www.californiababy.com/ and the bamboo flooring that can replace linoleum (since bamboo is a renewable resource growing a few inches a day). You can find toxic free flooring at http://www.calibamboo.com/bambooflooring . (So those are my name drops for today.) As far as "Going Green" is concerned I'm really glad that my parents have taught my brother and I how to recycle/reuse/and go nature all before it was popular. Our Oscarson family tree farm has been turning the dead timber into products for over 30 years! You can check out some our latest wood designs all locally created by my parents at http://www.autumnsloft.com/ . Back to photography...

Another interesting product that is coming out next month that I'm really excited about is Canon's new 48x zoom FS11 Flash Memory Camcorder that uses internal hard drive storage AND flash cards (similar to what you might use for your digital camera). Retail is $599 + and more with having to purchase the accompanying storage cards plus accessories. But the optical zoom on this is amazing and has just one the 2008 Popular Mechanics Editor's Choice Award. Downer is it records in standard definition rather than HD (which we are being told that "everyone" must switch over before Feb. 2009 which seems to me like a force to get us consumers to add to the economy and spend money in technology upgrading our TVs etc.) If HD really matters then the next best product I'm looking at is the Canon HDD (Hard Disk Drive) HG10 High Definition Camcorder which has internal storage and no need for carrying around cards or tapes. If you don't mind recording to mini tapes then look at the HV20. Anyway back to the day of the Irish...

If you live at Priest Lake, then tonight you might enjoy my main man's favorite corn beef and cabbage 6:30pm dinner at the Nickleplate in Nordman. A good day to you all and wear green TODAY but try to GO GREEN EVERYDAY. :)

p.s. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIGI !

Happy Leap Year!

Yesterday was like an extra day! Not really. I still don't understand how some years there is February 29th and other years there isn't. Does anyone out there know?

Well, the snow is finally melting and ground is beginning to appear on driveways and some county roads. The old white Bishop's Marina that marked the south end of the lake has now disappeared. If anyone clicked on the Coolin Bay web cam from the Leonard Paul store you could watch it in real time. It's absence follows the removal of the old barn in the field on Hwy 57, that was torn down last year. Many of us watched as the years went by using it as a landmark, signaling the halfway point to the lake. At least you can still see the remnants of it (wood ladder and boards) at the new lodge style Priest Lake Realty on Hwy 57, in Priest Lake. Terrene Mack and her husband, Dan, used many of the character boards to enhance the interior of their new office just past mile marker 28.

It is sad to see these old relics go. But most melancholy of all, is my grandpa's old "Lilac Homestead" that finally crashed to the ground from the weight of the snow this winter. Over the years I've photographed the many seasonal phases of the old barn-looking homestead. It has been one of my best sellers at Autumn's Loft, as a postcard and a 4x6 blank photo card. Like a passing era, it has evoked an emotion in some of us... a lingering sweet smell that we don't want to let go.

I'm so glad to have this photo in remembrance of summer days gone by... my grandpa and all the hard work spent caring for the surrounding Forest land... the horses that grazed behind the homestead as our 4th of July fireworks began to light up the fading sky... the potluck of potato salads, BBQ hot dogs, beans, chips and cold pops. We'll never see the lilacs the same again.

Happy Valentines!

Been awhile since I posted! Anyway, I would like to shout out a big I LOVE YOU to all my friends and family who have supported me the last few years with Autumn's Loft and endured my craziness as I was going between my artist's Loft and managing the Old Northern Inn Bed & Breakfast and shooting weddings, reunions, and nature photography! I so appreciate your patience with me as I never knew if I was coming or going! Obviously I'm still recovering from those super busy summers, and am just now really starting to slow down and enjoy my surroundings. When you're on the go go go so much, it's hard to start living in a different way.

This winter, with all the snow we've had (I'll include current picts as soon as I can) I've felt like I'm in a winter wonderland snow globe. You know the glass ball that you shake to see the snowflakes get all mixed up inside then wait as they gently fall to the base? Well that's what Priest Lake feels like right now... it's own little world (but then when doesn't it?). When the snow puts a heavy coat on all the pine trees, their green tones really stick out. The sun shines bright on these nice blue days and the trees' white coats sparkle with their own brilliant bling-bling. Don't you wish you were here? Anyway, the untouched snow on either side of our driveway is over 4 ft tall and the plowed snow is higher than the roof! This adds to my feeling of living in a snow globe and the silence of winter in the mountains definitely helps me to feel refreshed. Not that Priest Lake is a "cure all" but anytime you can get in nature can definitely help to slow-you-down. So here I am still getting settled in our little home that we moved into last May, and really enjoying my little valentine Clara who is now on tooth #7! And for those of you who read my last blog, yes, I did learn to drive the skid steer cat... very exciting... though it did take me a bit of practicing to get the whole go forward, lift bucket, and dump at same time thing. But I definitely think with more practice I could go pro and plow you out if needed! :)

Happy Valentines Day to YOU and enjoy your surroundings wherever you may be!

Winter Wonderland

The last two days at the lake has been O degrees, but very beautiful!

First Blog Ever !

I'm so excited to finally get my photography site up and going again! Right now it is just bare bones, but will be added to on a regular basis. This blog is an extension of http://www.priestlakeimages.com/ and is half business, half personal and will be mostly about photography and life at Priest Lake. Of course, since I'm a new mom I may have to show off my little one occassionally. Anyway, if you're familiar with Priest Lake you know we have a ton of snow and just this morning had to plow AGAIN! This week I will be learning how to drive the skid steer so I can plow and have some fun with that! Ya! Charlie Brown, my wonderful Ibizan Hound has moved back in with us and is adjusting to life with Abby (blue heeler). And I have been busy packing up Autumn's Loft in Priest River... which has been bittersweet, but definitely time for me to move on. Not only is it "out with the old, and in with the new" but I made the decision to close my artist loft location because I believe if we can't let go of some things in life, then we don't open ourselves for the new blessing that is possible. And just like my name, I believe that the good Lord has a season for everything. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (Whole Chapter) [ A Time for Everything ]
Well I hope you enjoy my site and blog. Feel free to comment on anything! And look for my regular photo contests. More on that to follow. Anyway may you be blessed this new year and enjoy 2008 to it's utmost possiblities! Also, THANK YOU to all of my clients who have been waiting to view their images. I really appreciate your patients! Thanks!