July 25, 2009

It seems like a blur, but the wedding was spectacular, if I must say so myself. There was so much LOVE in the tent and garden... no one wanted the evening to end.... so it went on until 3 A.M. The band quit at 11 after a touching rendition of "Goodnight Irene". Hannah and Ian danced while the rest of us swayed arm in arm in a circle around them. Then the party continued around the firepit where Phil, Claire, Benny and Carl serenaded us with astonishing guitars and a ukelele. Phil played the entire Beatles White album as we sang along. From there it was Paul Simon, Greg Brown and after Terry and I went inside at 2, Janis Joplin. I wish I had some pictures from the campfire, but I don't. (Laura does - maybe she will add them to her blog: www.lbinsb.blogspot.com. She has such a way with words and pictures.

In these pictures you can see Liz and Anne picking beets for the salad (Ken was such a good sport to use our LOCAL produce), Ian and his Dad building the dance floor and platform for the band, Laura and Anne making the centerpieces from our flowers in the garden, and of course, the bride, just before the ceremony. That is when I put my camera down for the evening and just enjoyed the party. If I can figure out how to use others' photos here, I will include some from the reception. A wonderful time was had by all.

Angel's Trumpets

These pots of Brugmansia, also known as Angel's Trumpets, will be used near the wedding arch that Mark and Patty Jenks will build for the ceremony. They bloom for a week, rest, re-group and bloom again. I am showing you them here just in case their timing is off on July 25. We could possibly be looking at urns of green leaves that day.

Ten Days to Go......

Hard to believe the wedding day is fast approaching. Terry spread the mulch all by himself as I twisted my back spreading the first filled wheel barrel. Besides having the worst year ever for Japanese beetles and mosquitoes, the flowers are coming along nicely. This will most likely be my last posting until after the wedding as I feel I am moving into fast forward mode.

The flowers are coming along nicely in spite of the beetles. I am out there every evening with my yogurt container filled with soapy water, flicking them into their last bath. They are even defoliating the rhubarb. It will fun to see the combinations that Anne will use on the tables.

Buds on the wedding flowers!

This week we finally have some progress on the flowers. The sunflowers and zinnias have buds and the ageratum and asters have already begun to flower. Anne should be inspired with this news! I'm hoping that in 5 weeks there will be much for her to work with. Are they flowering too soon? Can they keep this up until July 25? Can we keep the weeds from overtaking?

The beets for the wedding salad are looking good. I sent some pictures to Ken, the chef. As requested by Hannah, he will pair the beets with goat cheese from a local creamery in Hiram and drizzle with some balsamic vinaigrette.

Something from the kitchen...finally!

This week I was forced into doing something with our tiny harvest of sour cherries. Liz's ultimate frisbee friends came last weekend for their tournament and just could not resist picking the sour cherries from our two new trees. They proudly came in with about 2 cups of little cherries which I put in the fridge until this morning. Having just seen a recipe for cherry crumble in this month's Cooking Light which called for 2 pounds of cherries, I attempted it anyway with my 2 cups. the result was amazing. I took a piece over to Connie Thomas while it was still warm. I think she ate it before I was out of the driveway. It reminded me of my very first sour cherry pie which was baked by her former neighbor, Kathy McLean, many years ago... let's just say it was before Hannah was born. Anyway, although it lacks height, it doesn't lack flavor.

Hannah & Ian's Wedding Shower

Last Saturday was the beginning of our celebrations this summer. Twenty-five friends and relatives came together to "shower" Hannah and Ian with good wishes and gifts. The weather was perfect (could we be so lucky again in July?). Janet and John were in town to help with "Parade the Circle" as they do every year, so the timing of the shower had everything to do with that. My wonderful sisters-in-law, Sandi, Ivette, and Joy took over the kitchen and I truly enjoyed the party. Terry proudly led tours of the gardens, as did Hannah, and we all had a good time visiting. Grandma met Ian's parents for the first time and John promised to dance a polka with her at the wedding. She is looking forward to it very much.

What's in Bloom

This week was full of beautiful blooms that you will not see in July so I couldn't help but show them to you now..... the rhododendron along the front walk, honeysuckle on the porch trellis and a clematis on the rose arbor.