25 Days!

A year of planning will culminate in 25 days.  It's crazy that you spend this much time bringing it all together, but there really is a reason for the length.  As parents, Mr. Golfer and I have pretty much insisted on a year engagement because planning a wedding brings out positive and negative issues when families come together.  It is impossible not to coordinate this huge of an event and not have differences of opinions between bride and groom and their families.  I'm not speaking of huge fights or that sort of silly misbehavior. I'm just aware that people have varying opinions on how things should be done and the problem solving in those areas are initial insights for the bride and groom.  Seeing how their families work or not work together is a priceless experience before marriage. This stems from a horrible situation our oldest daughter experienced in her first engagement.  Eight weeks before her wedding it was cancelled. The emotion tied to that will have life long effects, but the cancellation was the best thing for her.  The families were so vastly different that making any decision was exhausting.  The stress of it finally broke the couple apart.  A devastating ending.

We have also in our experience of wedding planning ( this is our 4th) stressed that etiquette and hospitality of our guests is primary in wedding planning.  We don't use phrases like," it's all about the bride", or " it's ( insert name) wedding".  Although the focus is on the couple and the sacrament, what we center our planning around is our guests.  This is the largest event most brides will plan and it is the perfect opportunity as mother to show them how to express hospitality.  I  have always worked closely with my girls to teach them this virtue.  There is time built into the reception for both parents and the couple to greet each table of guests.  This is of primary importance.  In this day, attending a wedding can be an all day event and if you have traveled a distance for the event, it may mean an entire weekend.  Gratitude and thankfulness need to be expressed for this sacrifice.

Selecting wedding dates is also a tricky issue.  When one of our daughters become engaged she asked if we would mind if they married on our anniversary.  As sweet as the thought was, I discouraged them.  May is a complicated month to celebrate.  As parents, we never found time to honor our anniversary because of school calendars, church celebrations such as First Communions and graduations.  If it was difficult for us it would also be difficult for others, especially if they were traveling .  Another month we discourage is August.  In Texas it is just too hot.  You can't use outdoor spaces or enjoy any of the beauty of this area because most day are 100 degrees or higher.  School is starting back again and that makes it difficult again for families.  We do our best to avoid a date that falls on a family birthday and stay away from holidays.  And also an important consideration is another wedding of someone close. If at all possible, brides need to give other brides space, especially if they are close friends.  That can be a very frustrating experience.

We were fortunate in the beginning of our wedding days to be introduced to a fabulous wedding planner.  She has become a family friend and there is no way I would plan a wedding without her.  Although I'm pretty confident at this point, she makes the day happen while the girls and I enjoy some special times.  It is the best spent money.

Many prayers would be appreciated as we navigate these last days.  I'll share pictures as soon as I can. We've had to be fairly hush hush due to some other issues.  It won't be long before I can break the silence and share!!!

Being Showered......

We had another little gathering this past weekend.  The bridesmaids, a few family members, myself and the mother of the groom, gathered to gift the bride-to-be with " delicate" items.  There was much laughter and a little blushing.  We ate from a delightful spread of food and sipped champagne while guessing favorite movies and songs of the guest of honor.

Then the " young" ladies excused themselves for an afternoon, evening, and night of enjoyment.  I stayed behind to tidy up and visit with the grandchildren.

68 days.

A Meadow and a Pillow

As much as I planned this summer to spend time in the back garden, the wedding plans have overtaken that time and now I have to admit the garden has become more of a meadow.  Despite all the rain we had, which should have made the ground soft enough to weed, I lost the time and now the clay ground is hard again.  Getting anything pulled requires back breaking strength. I'm not ready to give up, but I am going to have to turn those back sprinklers on and give it some artificial help.

I removed tons of coneflowers last year as they were taking over everything.  I had no idea when  I planted them they were so prolific.  Take some words of wisdom and make sure you put them in a contained area!  But I do have to admit that mixed with he daylillies the colors are stunning.

This was my first year to put in alliums.  We had some in our first house just outside the back door and I loved that aroma. Yes it took me 27 years to plant them here, but its done.  And that Bee Balm was transplanted from the front garden where it just refused to bloom. Here in the sun it has taken off!

The lemons are growing at a very slow pace. I guess I thought I would be enjoying them by now, but again there is a learning curve.

I'm not sure whether the pumpkins will produce this year, but I am seeing blooms.  What a nice surprise that would be in the fall after the festivities are complete.  Dreaming of walking out to the garden after the wedding and seeing pumpkins on the vine.  A little reverse Cinderella?

Twenty-one years ago my sister -in-law stitched this ring bearer pillow when the first of our children's generation married.  Each name since then has been added to the back as a family record.  My two oldest daughters are there and now I am about to record another of my girls.  It is a very personal time when I stitch these names on.  I won't hide the fact that tears fall gently as I do.  It seems to be a parting as the needle pulls through the linen.  A gradual release of these daughters from our family into their new one.  It is very difficult that for me...releasing these girls.  Not a day goes by that I don't spend time wishing I had those days back.  But, since that won't happen, I make sure there is love coating the tears as I add names and dates to this piece of family history.

Yarn Along

I so wanted to show you great progress and there probably is about a new inch, but this past weekend shoved me to the curb.  Four events ( not all wedding related) pretty much did me in.  Lots of details to be worked out on Monday along with having two grands here.

Oh well you don't want to hear complaining.  Love this picture of three of the girls and myself and of course the one with the bride to be.  It was a lovely shower.

Monday. my friend Betsie and I, really got down to business with the flower girl dresses.  They are now all together sans buttonholes and hems.  Buttonholes tomorrow and then I will slowly get the hems end.  I want to save that small detail until as close to the wedding as possible in anticipation of any growth spurts.  But there are 4 saves to monogram and put together, so that is next on my plate.

Linking up with Ginny!

Yarn Along...In Between

* please excuse the lighting of all photos.  I had to take these in the evening with very dark clouds outside.

I ran out of yarn.  I knew I would.  Have you ever just kept knitting even though you knew it wouldn't be enough?  Well, I've ordered more, but hands cannot stay idle.  I've had this Araucania yarn for several years.  It is 100% sugar cane! That in itself made me want to knit with it. This yarn feels so good in your hands and just slides through the fingers.

I decided to do an easy knit; a shawl I have knit before and even as a full circle blanket.  The Elizabeth Zimmerman Pi Shawl can be knit as a full or half circle.  I have knit the full as a baby blanket and then the half as a gift.  It is a quick knit with easy lace stitches.

Finally, a book I want to read.  I found several in this series last summer and put them on my list for the future.  While in Half Price Books recently I found the first one written by Beverley Nichols.  You find out rather quickly that Beverley is a man.  Maybe a common male name in England?  Like Francis?  Such a great story and witty writing.  If you like reading garden lore you will love these.

The rain and severe weather continue here in Texas.  Many we know have been affected in the Austin and Houston area.  Prayers please?

The calligrapher completed the envelopes.  We are waiting for one more enclosure card to arrive and then we can begin the task of putting these sweet papers together. 123 days!

The stack of monogramed napkins continues to grow.  Only 25 more to go:))))

Linking up with Ginny!

Yarn Along

I know I have been absent a lot from this space.  Wedding plans are keeping me very busy.  We had bridal portraits yesterday and although I can't post any pictures of my daughter, I can give you this one little sneak.

We are also moving rooms around in our house in preparation for company this summer and you know you can never move or clean out just one room.  It always multiplies!

So my knitting has been sitting in this space for most of the week.  I have picked it up and worked on it, but not much progress.

Mr. Golfer leaves tomorrow on his annual men's golf trip.  The days he is gone are very quiet, but I do get a lot accomplished when I'm not having to plan meals and such:)))

Linking up with Ginny

It's All in the Details

These 4 daughters of mine. The've been bitten or the genes are just strong.  We all have that creative energy that drives us in one way or another.  For some it is the home, others the wardrobe.  Jobs are given attention or the garden is flourishing.  Each of us expresses it in a different way, but when it comes to big events...all bets are off!

This youngest daughter must have inherited the gene in every area of her life.  Oh My Goodness!  The details.  It is no secret there is a wedding in 137 days.  We are not counting. It is no secret either that I love planning a party and making little things a special.  I'm doomed this time.

My sewing room has taken on a life of its own.  It is a disaster to say the least, but it is filled with projects for this wedding.  I was working full time when the older girls married and the details were given over to others.  This wedding it's all on me.

There are 4 flower girls dresses to complete and sashes to monogram.  The shirts for the bridesmaids are hanging and ready for their own design when the bride decides.  And then those napkins..... it started out as a simple suggestion to appease the " I'm not renting 200 chargers at $12 a piece" rant.  Maybe the chargers would have been a better idea.  These napkins will grace the head table of 34 and then the new couple will have a beautiful set for their home.  The design chosen though has a color change and means that every single napkin has to go through a re-threading of the machine.

I'm really not complaining.  I love being a part of making their dreams come true. But last night I did have to ask my sweet youngest to be a little more aware of others.  We all have those moments you know:)))