Letting Him Lead

Texas weather is so fickle.  The temperatures are like a roller coaster. Thursday there was no green in sight.  Today, hardly no white in sight.  What you see is the shaded areas of my yard where small amounts of ice and snow remain, but those will likely be gone tomorrow as we are expecting a full day of rain and then temps rising to the 70s.

Today Mr. Golfer and I return to our beloved dance lessons.  It has been several years since we formally danced and when we are on the dance floor it shows.  If you "don't use it you loose it"is so true! With our youngest daughter's wedding fast approaching, we must take up our dancing shoes again. These are my favorite Capezio shoes.  I just feel like I'm  gliding when I have them on.  

I think every couple has one or two things they really love doing together.  Mr. Golfer and I have such varied interests, but ballroom dancing is something we love to do together. And in these years that we have not danced consistently we could tell a difference in how we related to each other.  Dancing tested our relationship.  Letting him lead.  You see that is always a condition with wives and mothers.  We tend to be the organizers, goal setters, and social planners. But in ballroom dancing you have to let that go and truly follow.  A sure challenge!

So today..... I let him lead!

Yarn Along

That Spider Lily is the last vestige of the garden.  The heat has done its damage and it will be time soon to put the garden to bed.  First though, Mr. Golfer and I are making a trip far north to Montana to see Caitlin.  May was our last visit before she moved. I am ready for a respite from the heat, but the weather reports say we may be driving into some frozen mix.  An adventure for sure.  We will also be traveling over to Idaho for a wedding before turning home.  Pray for safe travels?

I have made some progress on the Garden Cardigan.  The waist shaping is complete and now onto length before beginning the sleeves.  Mad Tosh is always a joy to knit with.  I am hoping there will be much progress in the car, but I am taking two other projects along as well.

The Jan Karon book has not disappointed.  In fact, I can't put it down.  I was hoping this would be my vacation book, but I think I will finish it before we leave.

Isn't that dance fabric sweet?  I just had to post a pic of this sweet bag.  I have about  2 1/2 yards of this left.  If you have any dancers in your life, this would make a great Christmas gift!

As always....joining with Ginny!

HDYDI: Wedding Planning

I have really neglected this space this week.  The heat here is just relentless and I am so tired after carpool each day ( the getting in and out of the car in the heat) that I just fall into the chair after dinner.

Enough complaining!  I thought since you will be hearing frequently about wedding plans from me that I would take this opportunity to let you follow along.  Most of my readers fall into one of the following categories:  early married, mothers with young children, or grandmothers like me who still have daughters that are not wed. In either category, you might be interested in how we do this.

This is the fourth wedding we have planned.  Our oldest daughter's first wedding was cancelled 8 weeks before the ceremony.  A real blessing!  But the planning and most of the paying was already done, so we are not novices when it comes to this.  That being said, each of our daughters and their grooms have wanted something different.  Some a little more than the others and sometimes a lot more.

We have always been pleased that each of our now son in laws have come to ask not just Mr. Golfer, but both of us if they could marry our daughters.  I think this really sets the tone for how the relationship between us will begin. We are giving away what is priceless to us.  It shouldn't be easy. :)

After the engagement is announced, we determine a date by first asking siblings about anything important they have on their calendars.  The groom to be does the same with his family.  We stay away from any holidays as well.  Cost for a holiday weekend wedding is usually double as the vendors and any help they hire will charge that.  I also think it is not very considerate to ask families to give up a holiday weekend.  For many, they may have traditional plans with their own families and you are not only asking them to choose, but the cost for getting to the wedding will be more.

Once the date is chosen, the first call goes to our wedding planner.  I know that many brides do not use this service, but I think it is the best spent money.  We do a lot of the initial legwork ourselves, because we are old pros at it, but once we get closer to the wedding date the planner takes over.  The week of the wedding and especially the day of she is in complete control.  The girls and I have fun with all the last minute activities and on the day of the wedding we are just as relaxed as can be.  No stress.  If something is not right and our planner feels like she needs input she will let me know.  Otherwise she handles it.  If something goes wrong, we just don't know about it and that is fine with me!

When a date is chosen, we first combine a guest list from both families and then reserve the church.  Our daughters have all known that they must be married in the Catholic Church. That is not negotiable with us. Once that is done, the search is on for a reception site. So far those sites for us have been very formal areas.  One was a country club, another a private club downtown, and presently an historic building downtown that used to be the Sante Fe train station.  It has been converted to a beautiful space ( see pics above).

So at this point, we have a church reserved, a reception site booked, and tomorrow we go gown shopping!  This has to be the most fun of all!  The sisters that are here will join us and we will have a grand day!

Defeated But Determined!

I have given up.  Those cool days in July and  the beginning of August were a warning that the heat would one day arrive.  And it did.  Despite the care given throughout the summer, the "dog days of August" took my garden as they sauntered through Texas.  I should not be surprised.  It does this every year.  But every year I hope for a different outcome.  I'm so naive.

So until we have a respite, I have turned my focus indoors.  Orders for Drawstrings are at an all time high and I am sewing more than ever.  I am loving this!  Knowing that this gift I received is being passed on. My friend Elizabeth, my inspiration, is not doing well and things look dismal.  Would you offer up prayers for this sweet woman who loves her family more than her own life?

Inside I am also in wedding mode.  The church has been determined and now we are moving on to reception site.  Tomorrow we will look at a few places.  I want to get that nailed down before Mr. Golfer and I leave on our long trip.  I have enjoyed being the MOB with the older girls.  Guiding them into this new role in their lives, it has been my priviledge to walk along side them during this process.  To do it again with the youngest will be precious to me.

I hope all have a wounderful holiday weekend.  Stay safe and stay cool!

 

Yarn Along

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? 

The Ka'ana Shawlette is progressing well and I love the Lorna's Laces yarn.  A soft and squishy worsted weight.  But the Mad Tosh yarn was sitting in the basket next to my knitting chair and I just couldn't resist any longer.  I cast on the Garden Cardigan and haven't looked back.  I'm really not sure which one will be completed first.  But alas, it doesn't matter.  Process right, not product?

The knit shop in Dallas that has been ordering my bags just placed another order for 20 bags!  My own knit shop sold out today and needs more and 4 custom orders came in today, 2 of whom were in response to yesterday's post.  I couldn't be happier!

And why?  If you read here you will know that our youngest daughter became engaged over the weekend!  We are very happy and the wedding is now being planned for next fall.  Time to take it slow and make good decisions and time to add more funds to the pot!  ( buy bags..buy bags.....buy bags....:))))) This, however, is not our first rodeo.  She is the third of the four girls to marry so a lot of decisions will be easy ones.

My reading has turned to one of my favorite authors.  So far this is not disappointing.

The holiday weekend is approaching and Mr. Golfer and I are traveling back to my hometown for my 40th high school reunion.  I'm a little nervous and anxious.  I'm sure you will be reading about it next week!

Have a lovely Labor Day and as always linking with Ginny.

Ahhhh....

After the first two comments this morning I decided to go in and edit to add this picture.  Mr. Golfer is in the solid shirt and our dear friend in the print shirt.  The conversation must have been so funny!:)))

He is home and all is right with the world!  You would think after 8 years of taking these trips I would not be so antsy when he is gone, but I just don't like being alone.  Really alone.

I spent much of the time working on the latest blanket and watching a series I have been sucked into.  Netflix got me hooked on Monarch of the Glen and I am into season 4 already. I sat at either the computer or my iPad and knit.  Not too bad for the hot days we have had, but I should have been working on other things.  On a good note... I may have knit a blanket faster than ever.  Just a week into it and I have 3 color repeats to go and done!  Amazing!

I am laying out a calendar on the counter again in hopes that Mr. Golfer and I can coordinate the next few months.  Isn't it true that busyness comes in waves.  We have 3 weddings and a trip coming up that need to be coordinated.  Two of those weddings are out of town and one right in the center of a 6 day driving trip. Since I am the only one who coordinates digitally, I thought having the paper counterpart might help the other half?

I finally cut some mums from the garden.  The heat has been insufferable the last few days.  Even the heat loving plants were drooping. These ladies will just keep producing through the fall and I will see volunteers next years as well.

Mr. Golfer came through with yarn from Santa Fe.  A local dyer provides her brand to Yarn and Coffee.  Of course, not knowing the least bit about yarn, Mr. Golfer was able to identify items I knit and that helped the owner choose yarn.  I was quite impressed as he told the story. :))

Today is back to reality.  Wedding bags to complete, my car in the shop, and cooking for more than one!