Ring out the Old...? :[

Hey everyone! I hope all of you are enjoying your after-Christmas break! This is the one week of the year when our entire family is "off", and we don't have to worry about working in our businesses or doing school or anything of that necessary nature. :) Although it is a habit peculiar of our family to fill up our time with projects--among those looming on the deep, dark, horizon is the cleaning out of our garage. Ahem-ahem-ahem. It is our yearly nemesis, and one I balk against with all the force of a villain being pulled to the gallows. :D
It is so very hard for me to believe that 2011 is pretty much history. I am still puzzling over how in tarnation it could have been a whole 12-month!?! Life was packed to the brim with things this year--so many I hadn't the time to count months and weeks and things so I was genuinely surprised to find myself already at Christmas, having not felt the usual length of the year...maybe it's part of growing up? However it is, I am still unaccustomed to the idea that 2011 is going away.
I don't usually like years with odd numbers, but 2011 went right along with left-hands, cool temperatures, and the color blue! (Ask me about that sometime--it's a strange preference) I'll be sort of sad to see it go, especially since I think I'll start saying Twenty-twelve....all year I've been "old-fashioned" and said "Two-Thousand-Eleven". :] Oh well! :D
Do you have any plans for New Year's? We have an end of the year Generation Joshua open-house party in our area that The Gentleman From Virginia's band (including The Oldest of Many) will be playing for. (In case you hadn't heard, they are pretty great and their band is called "Paid in Full".) :) Then, of course, the next day (New Year's Eve) we will be staying up till midnight. I haven't heard if we are doing anything extraordinary for that...I hope so! :D
Anyway, I hope you are enjoying this holiday week. And how do you like our background? :)

~Rachel

P.S. On a random sort of New-Year's-Fireworks note, I love Sparklers....

Wait. Not that kind. ;)

This kind. I feel dangerous and daring and..sparkly. :)

Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas. I pray that all of you are having as blessed of a day as I've had so far. ;) And I hope that this year you really and deeply understand the awesome Gift that was given to you by your Papa. :)  Please take some time out of your day to think on these words....

"O, Holy Night"

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

 Luke 2: 10-14

 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
       ¹⁴ “ Glory to God in the highest,
      And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Matthew 1: 23

 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,”which is translated,  

“God with us.” 

Isaiah 9:6

"For unto us a Child is born,
      Unto us a Son is given;
      And the government will be upon His shoulder.
      And His name will be called
      Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
      Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

We both wish you a *very* blessed Christmas!!!

 ~Sarah and Rachel

"Fashionably Late, as usual."

It is a tradition for our family to be late. 

Not by choice, per se, nor by design, but by Natural Talent. It's a gift, really, ;) By late, I don't always mean too late, nor do I mean terribly late. Haven't you all ever heard of a dear little habit called fashionably late?

The sort of late that causes you to come through the door into a party after everyone else has arrived so that you are immediately the center of attention. The kind of late that gives you a breathless, wind-blown, "Oh haven't I been having fun!" sort of color in your cheeks. The sort of late that is no one can blame you for and no one can criticize. ;) 
I am in jest. But sometimes I do like being just the teensiest bit late for beginning things. Christmas shopping for instance. It is a Holiday Law for Daniel to do his shopping no earlier than three days before Christmas, and it is an equally important Holiday Law that I go with him to be his conscience.

Daniel: "Do you really think I should get this?"
 Me: "Get it."
Daniel: "But will she like it?"
Me: "Of course."
Daniel: "But is it too expensive?"
Me: "Are you kidding? It's the best price I've seen all season!" etc.

 We have rather a lot of fun, my gentleman and I, and it would not be at all the same to go out, say, December 6th. There would be no jolly rush, no peppermint-chocolate-and-sparkles feel to the air, no half-jesting fear that the shopping won't get done. No. One must be late for this sort of excursion.
There is also invariably a little dilemma known by some as a Simple Matter of Mathematics. It goes thus:
"Susie, how is fifteen dollars to be divided between gifts for four people without any sacrifice of quality or taste?"
Ahem. I may not be at all bright when it comes to General Math, but I am quite proficient in this art. The solution is solved in this fashion:

You are determined. You winkle your way through your wallet counting and counting and counting your money (including pennies) to be sure it was Fifteen and not Fifty instead, which would solve everything immediately. Having assured yourself that it was Fifteen after all, you begin to scour your memory as to how much of certain gift-cards you have already spent. If there is a spare 3 dollars and change on a gift-card,that store is immediately your destination, as even that paltry amount would nearly double (for one person at least) the current balance. You get in the store and debate over various items, find a long-forgotten coupon which happens to still be good, buy the item for much less than you had hoped, previously, and suddenly one person is checked off the list.

 Repeat as many times as desired until your shopping is done.

Yes. I am rather a mathematician. 

~Rachel

Spreading Oodles of Holiday Cheer :)

I woke up this morning to the ground covered in a thick, white, layer of....

Frost. :)

We are timidly remembering that by this time last year we had had one very large snowstorm and another one coming up right on Christmas....this year? Let's just say it was almost 70 degrees till a week ago. Truly, I can sing with a boy I used to know:

 "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas....just like the ones we never have!!!" ;)

So what's a girl to do when the weather outside is positively sweaty, yet Christmas is bloomin' in her heart? Let me name just a few things...

We can bake gingerbread men by the dozen and sigh over how darned cute they are...

We can drink gobs of hot chocolate and fish the last chunks of marshmallows out with our fingers... :)

We can sing "Jingle-Bell Rock" at the top of our lungs and dance around the living room in a manner that would astonish and delight you. ;)

We can wrap Christmas presents and pile them under the tree yelling, "Don't squeeze yours!!!" at the top of our lungs to anyone in hearing.

We can walk in and out of the front door just to smell the greenery...

We can lick our candy-canes into sharp points and have mock duels with them until they break and we have to eat them...

We can all wear Santa-hats and run around the house yelling "Mewwy Cwissmas!" at gale-force volume...

(crazy girl!)

We can wear diminutive wreaths on our head and wander around the house looking angelic and saintly and altogether useless. ;)

 

We can re-read A Christmas Carol and scare ourselves deliciously, knowing there's a smashingly happy ending by the last page...

We can sip egg-nog and try to like it...

We can stand outside on the frostiest of nights when the stars are just pin-pricks and our breath hangs white on the air, and hum "Carol of the Bells" to nobody in particular.

We can mull cider and try not to swallow the cloves as we drink it...

We can fling Christmas Cheer to everyone we meet, even if that everyone is limited to our cat...

We can watch Eloise at Christmastime and half-way wish were 6 years old and living at the Plaza Hotel...

Did I mention that my sister, Gracie *is* Eloise? I mean, a real Eloise. :)

Yes. All these things and lots more are do-able, even if there isn't any snow on the ground. After all, we Virginians are well-versed in combined New England Christmas charm with Floridian temperatures. :P

~Rachel

Oh Snap! Lucia Edition

 In this installment I'm interviewing Lucia!! :) I love how (even though up til just recently she hasn't had real nice equipment) she uses the resources God's given her to express herself beautifully through the pictures she snaps. :)

 How did you get started into photography? And how old were you?
I have always loved taking pictures, but I think 2009 was the year I really took an interest in creative shots, enhancing my photography skills, learning new techniques, etc.

What was your very first camera?
I always used whichever one our family had at the time--just little point-and-shoot Nikon Coolpix, Sony Cybershots, and so on.

Who or what inspired you to take up this hobby?
I guess I just discovered how much fun taking photos was! Also, when I was younger, my friends and I would do "photo-shoots" with each other every time we saw eachother (which resulted in a ton of photos of us,but lots of pre-photographer experience!).

What kind of equipment are you using right now?( camera,flashes,lens,etc.)
In 2010 I decided I really, really needed to get my own camera, but decided since I would be spending over $100 anyways on a
point-and-shoot, I might as well save up for a DSLR.  This last week, I JUST received my first ever DSLR camera--a Nikon D3100. <3 It came with an 18-55 mm lens, which I have been using--I hope to save up for a 55-mm lens and a 35-mm soon. :) I am mainly just using what came in the box! :)

Are you self-taught, or have you had classes?
I have taken a 4-H photography class for one year, which has really been helpful. We meet once a month, and our teacher gives us assignments and such, so it has been fun to learn and try to be creative while getting better at photography. Other than that, I have just been learning from other photographers' work, and scouting about for inspiration. :)

What is your favorite subject to shoot? (landscapes, profiles,
artistic shots, candid moments,etc)
I adore taking pictures of people, so--portraits. :)

Do you have any professional experience?
Nope, not yet, but I hope to someday--my dream is to become a Wedding photographer. <3

What is your method for getting new tips, techniques, or new information?
As I mentioned above, I love looking at other peoples' work online, or anywhere, and gaining inspiration from their ideas. Also, I have been scouring my camera's user manual, learning in my photo class, and looking up ideas on-line!

Do you, or have you sold your work?
No, I haven't.

Show me one of your favorite shots you've taken. (I know it's a tough question.....)

"Orange Blossom Special"

Which of these would you label the photographer side of yourself as:Passionate, a wanna-be, obsessed, artistic, avid, a newbie, a
photo-holic, or a die-hard?
Can I say "all of the above?" ;)

For how many years have you been interested in this sphere of art? 

Around two, if we're talking "really" into it.

Now for the big question: is it Canon or Nikon? (or neither :P)  ;)
I have a Nikon, so...*Nikon.* ;) But, I have heard Canons are just as good, so I can't really be the judge. :)

And the last one.....

Why do you love photography, and what is your purpose for doing it? :)
I love photography because it enables me to cultivate my creative

side, prosper in something fun and stimulating, while at the same time exult in God's creation of people, places, and things. I do it because I love it.

 Lucia is a small town girl with a passion for words, music, photos, and laughter. She loves to share her thoughts with the world in the hope that she will inspire, encourage, and amuse. Lucia lives for Jesus and is keeping her eyes on Him.
You can learn more about her, and check out her photography at her blog, lucia,etc . :)


Thanks a million, Lucia! :)
~Sarah

 

Jesus, welcome to our World...

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You've been promised, we've been waiting
Welcome Holy Child
Welcome Holy Child

Hope that you don't mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long awaited Holy Stranger
Make yourself at home
Please make yourself at home

Bring your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking Heaven's silence
Welcome to our world
Welcome to our world

Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born
Unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy
Perfect Son of God
Perfect Son of God
Welcome to our world

"Welcome to our World" by Michael W. Smith

How often is it that we stop to think of the whole picture of the Christmas story? I like to let my imagination wander through the story, waiting with the the shepherds on the hill-side to see their reaction to the angels, peeping through the kitchen window as Gabriel tells Mary she is carrying the Christ-child, following behind the young couple as they walk the weary miles to Bethleham...and then on from there. To the stable, to the temple when Jesus is twelve, to the many many incidents where He spoke to the multitudes of people and performed miracles...to Calvary. And to victory. To His ascent into Heaven, and to the hope He has given us.
It's a triumphant tale that never can grow old if we pull it out of the dusty pages of antiquated Bible-picture-books and see it as it is: A story that has not ended. A story we are living. A story that is full of adventure and intrigue, emotion, war, famine, peril, and then sweet victory at the end.
That's the Christmas story I like to think about, and then retract my imagination as quickly as I let it run away and focus in on the stable. On Mary, holding her sweet baby in her arms for the first time. Of the angels singing for pure joy and exultation on the Bethlehem hillside. It's just such a beautiful, timeless truth, and it gives me chills every time I think on it in this fashion.
I can't understand it. I can't understand God's perfect love for me, that He'd send His one and only son, Jesus, to live a life here on earth, become my sin, die for me (personally!)....just because He loves me. And then He rose again, more triumphant and powerful and splendidly beautiful then before...and He calls me to Him.

 "Come, my child. I love you. I want you. I gave my life for you. Not because I had to, but because I wanted to. Come to me, love."

This is what I'm celebrating this Christmas. Thank you, sweet Jesus! ~Rachel

Layered Peppermint Bark

Hello! Here's a very holiday-ish recipe for one of our favorite Christmas candies! We made this for the first time a few years ago, and it's turned into an annual tradition. :) You can make it as a fun treat for your family or you could put some in a pretty box or tin and use it as a gift for a dear friend. :)

Layered Peppermint Bark

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. white chocolate (either chips or bar)

• 1 lb. semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips

• 2 tsp. peppermint extract

• crushed candy canes

Okay, so this recipe couldn't be simpler. :) I have made quite a lot of this candy and have kinda modified several recipes to the results I like. 

First of all, let me give you a very helpful equivalent to keep in the back of your head: 

1 cup of chocolate chips = 6 oz. 

I was constantly having to go use those equivalent calculators, until I read this recently. 

1. Melt your dark chocolate in a double-boiler. (or if you don't have one, you can be like me and make your own. Simply take a medium sized pot, fill it with water and set your smaller pot (the one the chocolate will go in) in there when it's boiling.

Tip #2. We've been making Peppermint Bark for our Coastal orders for the past few weeks. Several times as I was melting my chocolate (for some reason it's only happened with the white chocolate..) it wouldn't melt down well, and would get terribly grainy. So, after it happened again today, I Google searched my issue. And guess what? Apparently it's common enough in candy-making. When that happens they say the chocolate has "seized". It's caused by the chocolate coming in contact with water. Which makes complete sense, because I'm using a double-boiler and I'm sure I've had a few splashes make it into the pot before. 

2. Once the chocolate's melted, add in 1 tsp. of peppermint extract. Stir it in well, but you don't want the alcohol evaporating, so try not to keep it on the heat for too long. 

 

3.Then get a cookie sheet and put parchment paper on it. Spread the chocolate out evenly all over the pan. Stick in the freezer for a couple minutes to let it set.

4. Do Step 1 and 2 with the white chocolate, this time spreading it on top of the dark chocolate layer.

5. Sprinkle on the peppermint candy pieces and stick the tray in either the freezer or fridge.

6. Once the chocolate's set, remove from freezer and here's the fun part. Take a hammer and brake up your peppermint bark into whatever size pieces you'd like! =D (if you don't wanna risk the hammer ordeal, just brake it by hand. ;) 

Since this candy is so quick to make, I always seems to forget to take pictures of the process. :P But here are some of the final product! :)

 

Mmmm.....doesn't it look scrumptious??!! ;)

Until Later,

Sarah

Oh Snap! Bethany King Edition

 Today I'm interviewing Miss Bethany King from Bethany King Photography. :)

Hey Bethany! Thanks for being with us today.

Okay, let's get started:

 

How did you get started into photography? And how old were you?

I became interested in photography as a teenager. In high school and college, I was always the one with the camera taking embarrassing pictures. When I was a child I spent hours and hours looking at my parents' old albums, and I think that's what really inspired me to do the same. I love to print out my photos and put them in albums, and I have so many albums from all stages of my life, with every sort of embarrassing haircut and fashion faux pas from the last twenty years or so. My one regret is not writing down everyone's name in the pictures--you'd be surprised at how quickly you forget people's names.

What was your very first camera?

Hmm, my very first camera? I think I had a Fisher Price camera as a child! I remember that it was blue, long and skinny. Does that count?  

 

Who or what inspired you to take up this hobby?

My husband was my main inspiration-he really encouraged me to pursue photography as a career and follow my passion. He believed in me even when I didn't. My two kids, Miles and Stella, are also a major source of inspiration for me.  

 

What kind of equipment are you using right now?( camera,flashes,lens,etc.)

 I shoot with a Canon 7d. I try to use natural light when possible, but I do have a Vivitar flash with a Gary Fong LightSphere that I use in low light conditions. I mainly use a 28-135mm lens and a 50mm lens. I also have an older Konica Minotla 5d body that I use as my "back-up" camera. I've got a few lenses for that body, but my current favorite is the Lensbaby 2.0, which produces dreamy, soft focus photos.

 Are you self-taught, or have you had classes?

A little bit of both. I am mainly self-taught, but I have taken some classes to learn the basics. I took my first photography class in college.While I feel that experience is the best way to learn, and just lots of practice, classes helped me to better understand my camera. My latest challenge is to master studio lighting-I'm trying to teach myself using the internet, books and practice.

 

What is your favorite subject to shoot? (landscapes, profiles, artistic shots, candid moments,etc)

I love shooting people! Kids are so fun and make great subjects, but they are also quite the challenge. My kids are probably the most difficult subjects because they are so sick of me sticking my camera in their faces. My ideal portrait session is with someone who is creative and flexible, who is willing to try out my whacky ideas and who has a few whacky ideas of their own.

 

Do you have any professional experience?

Yes! A few years ago I decided to start my own photography business. I launched Bethany King Photography in 2009, after my family and friends convinced me that I was talented enough to make something of my photography hobby. I shoot kids, families, couples, singles, weddings, engagements, bar mitvzahs...I'm up for anything.

  What is your method for getting new tips, techniques, or new information?

The internet is my favorite way to get new information, for sure. I follow a few very talented photographers online, and I am always getting new ideas and inspiration from them. I also have photographer friends that I share tips and techniques with.   

 

Do you, or have you sold your work?

Yep! I sell my work via my business, Bethany King Photography. I sell prints, canvas wraps, cards, albums, etc. However, as a photographer in a time when digital images are so prevalent, I try to focus on selling my time and and creative energy rather than paper or prints. Sure, people may want prints for their walls at home, but they also want to be able to post their shots to facebook, on their blogs, or send to their families in an email. My business model is a little different than other photographers in that I have a slightly higher session fee, but you get all of your high-resolution images after the session and you are free to do whatever you want with them (except sell them). I really think that this is what people want with their photos. I'm not going to charge you $200 for an 8x10 print.  

 

Show me one of your favorite shots you've taken. (I know it's a tough question.....)

That is tough! Here is one of my favorites from a recent engagement session that I did. This was shot at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, D.C. 

 

Which of these would you label the photographer side of yourself as: Passionate, a wanna-be,
obsessed, artistic, avid, a newbie, a photo-holic, or a die-hard?

Definitely artistic!  

 

For how many years have you been interested in this sphere of art?

For as long as I can remember! But I really became passionate about it about 5 years ago.   

 

Now for the big question: is it Canon or Nikon? (or neither :P)  ;)

Canon for the win! 

 

And the last one..... 

 

Why do you love photography, and what is your purpose for doing it? :) 

At the risk of sounding like a cliche, I use my photography as my artistic outlet, and as my way to be creative. 

 

 Bethany King is a photographer from Northern Virginia. Bethany lives with her two kids and husband in Falls Church, VA. She is left-handed, loves ice cream and chocolate, and hates ice, celery and carrots. She once had a pot-bellied pig named Hercules as a pet. Check out her website at Bethany King Photography or like her on Facebook at here.

 

 

 

 

 

Wow! This was so much fun! Thanks for taking time to do this with me, Bethany. :)

~Sarah

 

p.s. Coming up: Layered Peppermint Bark Recipe and Pictures!! :D

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...

Shocking. Absolutely unacceptable! December 12 and nary a post about Christmas yet on this blog! I will admit to having been a lazy-bones in posting on this blog. It started with good intentions: Give y'all some of Sarah in stead of me for a change, but then I ditched you. Sorry, chaps! So gird yourself up and get ready for some fabulous posts from now till Christmas. We'll be having posts about our Christmas traditions, music, recipes, pictures, and much more to make up for our negligence beforehand. :)

This post is about our Christmas tree. The more Christmas trees I see, the more I realize that ours is a little different--we know some families who have themed trees--all silver and gold or blue and white. Some families swear by the parents decorating the tree. Some families have bought their ornaments at one time and keep buying new ones each year. 

Our Christmas tree, somehow, is not like any of these.

The bottom limbs are always sagging from too many ornaments hung there by the littlest people. Our ornaments have no rhyme nor reason to them--the collection has grown with each child in the family. We haven't a color scheme at all--there's everything from gold to purple to turquoise to copper. But I think it's beautiful. The ornaments are not just decorations--they are memories, and practically part of the family. There are some things that hold honored court with the tree branches this year that have hung there every year since I was a wee little thing myself. I can remember peeping into the depths of the tree to see my favorite ornaments illuminated by the colorful Christmas lights...inhaling the clean, wintry scent of fir, and feeling that somehow everything was right in the world. You know what? It's still that way. If I just get close enough to the tree, bend low enough to look at it as I did when I was a child, and then just be, Christmas gains all of the wonder it had for me as a little girl. That being said, I thought I'd show you some of my favorites of our ornaments. Get ready for the lovely, the uncouth, the homemade, but the best of our ornament collection. ;)

 

This is an angel my Gentleman woodburned with my name the year he got a wood-burning set. I can still recall his sheepish grin as I unwrapped it and hung it on the tree. The little thread is frayed now, but I love it just the same.

Here is a pretty feather-angel that I've always loved, even before Scotland became my heartland-after-America. :)

Relics of the years when Dad and Mama taught music in the public schools...there's an entire marching band of these fellows. Actually, we have a rather musical tree with a quantity of trombones, tubas, and other paraphenalia on it, though I suspicion the youngest kids haven't the foggiest idea why. 

The ice-cube man I bought Mama. Isn't he stinkin' cute? 

A little bit of retro-ness to brighten the tree. :)

 Ah. And who could forget the Christmas Pickle? It's a Victorian Tradition that we started with Daniel partly as a joke because he loves pickles so much. You're s'posed to hide the pickle in the tree and whoever finds it has...good luck or something. Anyway, it's now a family favorite.

These little hand-print reindeer and the like crowd our tree like fall-leaves. :D

Before Cracker Barrel stopped giving out free biscuits, it was one of our favorite family restaurants. :P

This little musical-note has a rather Gift-Of-The-Magi-Christmas-Miracle story behind it. ;) It was made by a very poor little girl Dad taught in band who wanted to give him a Christmas present but couldn't afford anything, so she made him this ornament. Dad always gets to hang it up and get sentimental.

And last but not least we have the little dove glass-ball. It has its own midnight blue velvet box, and we always handle it extremely carefully like we did as children, even though I routinely handle things just as delicate now. It's almost a sacred duty, hanging it on the tree. ;) There are many many more ornaments that are just as beloved, but I didn't want to bore you. :) I hope you enjoyed this first peep in our Christmasing. :) 

~Rachel

P.S. Thanks for your patience as we give our blog a beautifying treatment. :P

Where In the World Have We Been?

Hello Guys! Sorry our posts have been few and far between. I cannot believe it's already December 3rd! Anyhow, I thought I'd show you a cool thing I did recently. I really love this verse, Romans 8:38-39, so I decided to take an artsy twist on it. ;) It was real fun to try to figure out different fonts that corresponded to the words, and all the colors and stuff. :) 

How'd you like 'em? :)  

Oh, and for all of you who have been wondering why in the world there haven't been any "normal life" posts. I though I'd let you know what's been going on over here real quick:

Both Rachel and I have become busy starting into this holiday season, with baking for Coastal. 

Last week we started selling candy (think peppermint bark, norweigian crunch, etc) along with some pies, holiday-ish cookies, and the like. It's been fun to have some more variety in our baking days. ;) 

Also, school's been keeping me busy. I'm in the midst of Latin II, Biology, Algebra 2, etc. Fun stuff, eh? :D And we've also been kept busy making/preparing Christmas presents! (Yes. It really is time to start thinking about those things, isn't it?;)

We went out as a family and picked a nice, big tree yesterday, and today was spent decking the halls with boughs of holly. (and other greenery, decor, wreaths, candles...:) **sigh** Don't you absolutely love this season?! 

Till Next Time!

~Sarah