I have a nephew who goes weekly to his great-grandmother's vegetable garden. So far he's adopted one cucumber a week. Carries it around all day, has conversations with it. He's 2 1/2.

Beautiful pictures!
When you publish your coffee-table book, I want a signed copy..... or three.

She looks just like Schroeder!  (thanks Steve for spelling it for me first).  You really should have the Peanuts theme song goin' on during this post. 

I can't believe these aren't LAST YEAR's fall pictures!  LOL ~just teasing a little~

Last year I bought about 5 different squash and my kids named them ALL.  I felt like we were eating their playmates.

I just got back from a Dunkin' Donuts run, I bought 1/2 a doz donuts and the kids and I ate them while sitting on the grass in the yard.  It was so fun!!!  Now they're all jumping on the trampoline. 

(and I'm flying high on caffeine *from my ice coffee* and sugary donut). . . .    Love, Shan

as always the photos are wonderful

i especially enjoy the tree branches and apples,,

such lovely colors of fall,

the family pumpkins look as though they are gazing into the meadow.

perfect.

*~matthew~*

@swedish_maiden - Isn't Louise great?

As for as your question here is what was done to the photos above Photo #1) Right out of the camera except for deleting a hint of Coco peeking into the tunnel  

#2) I darkened the landscape behind the pumpkins because it was blown way out

#3) nothing really I shot this as a macro and wanted to keep it simple

#4) I cropped and upped the color a little, putting three in one takes time. 

#5) Right out of the camera I loved the sun rays on this one and didn't want to hurt the picture by playing around with it 

 #6) Steve told me they looked blown out which is what I wanted and had shot them overexposed to give a light and airy feel but I value his opinion above everyone else so I went back and darkened the apples.

#7) Jeff and his hat is right out of the camera

#8) coco had a spot on her face I had to take off, it was a shadow or something, nothing else done

#9) Sharpened the pumpkin I loved the details of the dirt and all that 

#10) made it slightly darker and upped the color I really wanted this one high contrast

#11) I think I upped the color.

I used to spend way too much time on photos but I feel more and more that I need to see each photo as a finished product as I am shooting and not spend as much time trying to make it better.  Part of this philosophy is because I want to spent most of my time with my kids and husband but also just to push myself to "see" better to begin with.  I set a timer often and make myself finish editing within that set time.  So to answer your question editing can be endless it is so much fun and for each photographer it is different.  I usually spend less than 3 mins on any given print.  If the print is for a client I will take longer depending on what needs to be done to make the image fit what they want.

@RamblingAngels - Thanks! Do you mean the second to the last one? That was just my backyard.

@mymeanderings - 

@swedish_maiden - I use Photoshop cs2 some of my friends use Adobe lightroom and think it is better/easier than Photoshop.  For years I used Photoshop elements it did most of what cs2 does and is quite a bit cheaper they sell it at Best Buy.  It will take some months to learn how to use it but is worth it, Adobe products are the top of the line in Photo editing.

OH MY GOODNESS!  i LOVE the first slide pic!  and jeff...unaware you are watching.  BUT i've gotta say that last pic of  coco "takes the cake"! 

also...i haven't commented before but i surely enjoyed taking your trip with you!