It's All About The (Wedding) Flowers

Yesterday was such a fun day. Our friends, Timme and John's son, Alden is getting married in another week in Idaho. So they had a "pre-ception" for them here in CA at their beautiful home last night. It could not have been a more lovely evening! The weather was gorgeous, the dinner delicious and the company outstanding. They had the dinner catered and we dined outside by the pool~ it was heavenly!

Timme asked me to decorate the mantel in her living room with something nice. I was delighted to help out. A mantel is simple enough but I wanted to ask my friend, Maureen, to help me. She, you may remember, use to help me stage homes and she is also a floral designer.

Neither one of us had ever made a live garland we confessed when we sat down to do it! Ah, the pressure...but we decided to give it a go. Actually it was remarkable easy and a lot of fun. The hardest part is keeping it fresh looking for a few hours. We started out tramping through our yard just cutting various greenery and then we brought it all in, layered it and wired the seven foot garland together. The heartier the green the better they held up!


I bought two beautiful hurricane candle holders, some white sparkly sand and some light yellow candles to blend in with her Tuscan wall treatment. I ♥ her walls, all mottled looking and so Italian! Scrumptious! Look at the detail below.


The bride had selected a dove gray and white as her wedding colors so since there are no gray flowers we were aware of, we decided to complement the room with a little touch of saffron yellow. We also used some little white flowers and some baby's breath pompom thingies ( my highly technical description since I have no clue what they are called) that made up the bouquets for the tables. We grabbed some white lights and a couple rolls of wired, delicate, white ribbon with a little shimmer and this is what we came up with for the party. They seemed pleased and it made a nice focal point being the first thing you saw when you entered the room from the foyer. The fireplace is just fabulous with the granite surround and hearth and the beautiful carved wood detailing.

Most of the evening they had a video
of the bride and groom playing on the
flat screen above the mantel.
For this shot it was music.

Maureen and I had a lot of fun doing it!
We are constantly laughing when we are together...
so it was a win/win for us all!

(NOT) The Lost Generation

These Gazanias are in Jim's Mom's yard~Aren't they beautiful?

A palindrome reads the same backwards as forward.

This video reads the exact opposite backwards as forward.

Not only does it read the opposite, the meaning is the exact opposite.

This is only a 1 minute, 44 second video and it is brilliant!

Make sure you read as well as listen...forward and backward.

This is a video that was submitted in a contest by a 20-year old.

The contest was titled "u @ 50" by AARP. This video won second place.

When they showed it, everyone in the room was awe-struck and broke

into spontaneous applause. So simple and yet so brilliant.

Take a minute and watch it.

See yesterday's post to see why this is important to me!

Random Cuteness

Rossie cramming himself into the
grocery store car one last time!
Not really made for big kid 7-year-olds!

There are always just some fun random photos of the kids and their busyness playing and having fun. These are a bunch of photos posted by Laura daily on her My Life in Pictures blog and some that the other kids have sent electronically.

This is one of the most wonderful ways they can make Gramma and Grampa feel a part of the kids' lives. I am so thankful for digital cameras, scanners, and computers. They literally shrink the world to a manageable size. Oh and not to forget the telephones...They have saved us from dying of loneliness for these little people and their precious parents that we love more than life itself.

Spencer and Rossie~Italian Coolness

These grandkids are on the go. Spencer and Ross will be coming back to America to live on July 15th. Piper and Julia are going to Scotland on Tuesday. Connor, Anyslee, Zach and Owen are all in Oklahoma right now. The only two staying put are Chloe and Hazie! It sure is a different world they are growing up in compared to when we were kids. There is so much mobility and so many opportunities to be had. We love their parents for giving these little ones so many memories.

Zach in the dog house.

Chloe Jane's...Yummy chocolate residue?

Piper and Julia complete today's art projects.
For the full story on this go here! It is really cool!

Connor leading out on an end of the year activity.

Piper going off the school~She is so Jen!

Spencer with the thing he'll
miss most about Italy.
Marguerita Pizza

Julia in one of her funky hats! Love it!

Chloe~Dog Sitting
Her Mommy's favorite way to
have a dog. This is today!

Julia and Chloe in the first two Jacuzzi tubs
with their friends! Simple pleasures!

Computer Time for Owie at the Library!

Packing Out of Italy~they have to live
for eight weeks without their stuff as
it makes its slow boat trip to Rhode Island.

Hazie with her baby kitten!

Julia~Parachute Dance at the end of school year.

Rossie with his short cast!

Rossie getting it off
If only it was that fast!

Sleeping Beauty~Miss Chloe!

Piper on the right with her friend Mitrian.
Love her new bob. She started the year
with waist length hair!

Hazie tries the slide!

Whee!
Looks like a hit!
I can just hear her saying "AGAIN!"

Spencer in the middle of what

looks like The Scrambler with his friends.

Connor practicing his music.
He likes to do this for fun!
That = Success!

Owen's wheels

Pizza for our little Pirate!

Spencer with one of the Campbell
boys in Laura's seminary class!
What a great role model for the boys!

Julia and Aynslee playing with the new kittens!
Sleeping over to celebrate the end of school!
We just love having these sweet cousins
living so close to each other!
They are such good friends!

Miss Aynslee!

Zachary James Flyin' High!

William F. Reese 1938-2010

William F. Reese

On Saturday my sweet cousin, Bill Reese passed away. The world has lost a wonderful man! His dad was my mom's older brother, Harold. We will all miss him so much and I am so thankful he has left his brilliant art for us to enjoy and a legacy of hard work and following his dreams. He found a pot of gold at the end of his rainbow. He raised two wonderful kids and has a wonderful wife. I wish I could just wrap my arms around her right now and give her some comfort and support.

Here is a post I did about him and his art a year or so ago.

My Favorite Cousins

A few posts back I shared the experience of going to our mini-Reese family reunion and crab feed at my cousins Bob & Beth's house. Well, both my cousin Bob and our mutual cousin, Bill have inspired me greatly as I have pursued my career in Interior Decorating. What both of them have taught me is ~ to do what you love and then your work will be enjoyable and fulfilling. Having fun with your work does not mean you have it easy. It still requires very hard work but the rewards are many. For years I worked at a job for a paycheck. Now I work because I love what I do and the paycheck is a bonus.

I cannot stress enough that if you are stressed out, burned out, bummed out and feeling under valued and overworked...no amount of money can compensate for that. Get out..move on, begin again. Don't just keep doing it! Do not delay...act today and find your happiness in what you love. This is what I learned from my cousins, albeit it took a while, I know their path was correct for them and now mine is for me.

Bob & Bill

My cousin,Bob, (left) always wanted to be a fisherman! He did not want a desk job some place or to be couped up inside. He always enjoyed the great outdoors, hunting and fishing with his Dad and brother and it is just what he wanted to do.

Gloucester Railway

I think a lot of people did not really think he would follow his dream, build his own first boat, or make money fishing, but he did! I remember when he started to build his boat after he got out of school and it took a very, very long time.

Talapia

But he set a goal, envisioned what he wanted and accomplished it. He has been a commercial fisherman all his life and has enjoyed the work he chose for himself and is still at it. We grew up near each other and I adore this cousin. I have so many wonderful memories of being with him and his brother, Billy, their parents, Aunt Wilma and Uncle Bill, and their dog, Perky. I remember their cows and chickens, their grandpa, Ken, and his apartment over their garage and much more. I am so glad we have a special relationship to this day. He is a happy, gentle man and I believe part of what makes him happy is doing what he loves. The other part of his happiness is one awesome woman; his wife Beth and their family and his beautiful 'other favorite girl', Misty, his black lab.

My cousin, Bill Reese, is on the right in the above photo. Bill grew up in Washington. My Uncle Harold had an apple farm and several times our family went up to visit them and they also came to visit us as we were growing up. Bill is the oldest of Aunt Margaret and Uncle Harold's five kids and so I always thought he was smart and grown up and the fact that he paid the least mind to me (a little kid by his standards I'm sure) impressed me. Bill has only one sister and her name is Bonnie too. We are closer in age so we hung out and followed the big kids all over the farm. I remember Bill and Tom scaring me with rattler tails and taking us littler kids on rides in their car on the irrigation ditches or whatever they call them. And if I am not mistaken, a calf was born one time when we were there too. I have such fond memories of going there, sleeping on their porch in the summer, eating cherries by the buckets full and just having a grand old-fashioned time with them. My worst memory there was when I stepped on a piece of glass. It started to fester and my poor Dad had to get it out of my heel. I pitched a huge fit and I am sure embarrassed my parents plenty on the front lawn that mournful day!

Bill always loved to draw and paint. I remember he always had a sketch pad with him if there was a dull moment ~he was drawing. He wanted to be a painter when he grew up and again I think people didn't think it would really happen. Well, it did! Bill is actually a world famous, highly acclaimed artist. He is amazingly talented and the paintings above in Bob's section of the post were painted by Bill. He doesn't just paint either, he does sculpting, etchings, and he has now taken up carving leather as well. I am sure there are mediums I have left out. Here are a few of his pieces that I love.

Foxgloves and Chinese Porcelain

Maria

Bill has every right to be a very proud individual, but he is as humble as they come. He is just a sweet family man enjoying life with his wonderful wife, Fran and their kids and grandchildren. Fran is an artist in her own right and made the beautiful crab quilt you saw in the Crab Feed post. She makes several quilts each year. I feel so blessed to have them as cousins, friends and wonderful examples!

Love you all..Bob & Beth~ Bill & Fran!

Click here to see Bill's website and more of his art work.

Wordless Wednesday

A Simple Woman's Daybook~June 7, 2010

To join in focusing on the simple things and pleasures of your daily life or to read other people's entries, you can click here.

So, For Today...Monday, June 7, 2010

Outside my window...The sun is already up and it is only 5:25 am. In just a few weeks it will be the longest day of the year. That seems so odd considering we are barely over winter.

I am thinking...the next few weeks are going to be crazy busy~searching for the energy I will need to get it all done.

I am thankful for...past experiences I have that pretty much assure me we will get everything done...one little thing at a time.

From the learning room...going the extra mile is a good thing.

I am reading...Book 3 in the Zion Covenant Series by Bodie Theone. Munich Signature, still. Last week was very busy and I didn't have much opportunity to read it.

From the kitchen...I have some cooking to do and lots of shopping for the frig and the pantry. Jim cooked this fabulous dinner last night while I was doing my church work and preparing for a presidency meeting this morning for Relief Society. So I will have to dream up something good for tonight. I will do that later...cannot think about dinner this early in the day.

I am wondering...how we can ease the burdens of a couple in the ward. Our friend is dying of cancer soon and her husband is beside himself. Just hate that when you want to do something to help and nothing seems to ease it for them. She is an amazing lady and comes to church every Sunday but is in so much pain. She is very close to not being able to walk anymore but I think she will find a way to come as long as she possibly can. She is so inspiring but it is so hard to watch her suffering, and him too.

I am hearing...Crazy by Patsy Cline.

Today if I could change one thing...it is that there would a cure for cancer.

I am quoting..."He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same; If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger: I should not seem a part of it." E Bronte Wuthering Heights. ♥ it!

My spiritual thoughts include..thoughts about repentance and forgiveness stemming from the lesson I taught about it in church yesterday. What a miracle God's grace is!

Around the house..I have to fly around to each room and pick up stuff before my meeting this morning at 8:00 and get dressed...what am I doing sitting here writing? I can really dash when I need to do it. Don't like to miss doing my daybook if possible.

I am missing...all of the kids and grandkids. Time for some kind of a family reunion. Not possible now but it would be so great.

I am hoping....Lowell is enjoying his time working in Edinburgh for a few weeks and that Jen will be able to handle the home front all by herself. The big sisters will meet Daddy there on June 14th for a fun filled week before he returns. Piper was born there and has been looking forward to going to Scotland since she was a tiny girl. Sure wish we could all be with her when she has that experience. They have hired a special flight attendant to accompany the girls to their destination and will hand them over to Lowell and Uncle Paul when they arrive. The girls are excited and Julia is a little nervous. I must say I will be happy when that part is over! What an experience for them.

One of my guilty pleasures...calling Italy to talk to Laura and the rest of their family. I am needing to do that this morning too. I should have done more prep stuff last night for this morning instead of lounging around.

One of my favorite things...a foot massage.

An enjoyable movie I have watched lately...Leap Year. Very enjoyable.

I am curious about...the fact that Leap Year is filmed in Ireland and that is seems to have some similar things in common with P.S. I Love You. Especially curious to me is that Jeffrey Dean Morgan the incredible eye candy man from PS and Matthew Goode from Leap Year look remarkably alike. Double cuteness along with gorgeous scenery from Ireland. 2 thumbs up!

A few plans for the rest of the week...today, 2 meetings this morning and then lunch with 3 friends, shopping for a few essentials and hopefully a nap. Tomorrow lots of paperwork sitting on my desk and some garden type shopping for the party on the 19th, got to get all my flowers planted by Saturday. There is a big baby shower for a sweet friend on Thursday night that adopted a little girl after years of trying. I am in charge of decorating a mantel for a wedding on Friday so that should be fun. Date night Friday and then passing up a graduation party for Jim's cousin's daughter to do the last minute stuff for the retirement party. Ahh...never a dull moment.

Here are some pictures and a thought or two I am sharing with you~


Last year sometime Jim and I went to San Francisco and thought it would be fun to go to some garage sales. Ladies, garage sales in SF are truly an adventure like no other. We were in this cheery little neighborhood and this little house was so cute. They are braver than I would be on the paint selection but it really was pretty. In the not too distant future Jim and I are going to spend a lot more time in The City, there is never a moment of boredom in this, our favorite city of all. We feel so blessed to live so close. We can visit it anytime for the price of a five dollar bridge toll and a few gallons of gas. Life is good!

During the same trip we saw this...

This is not a very beautiful photo but we found it rather interesting. Our oldest, Jen, served her 18 month mission for Jesus Christ in Edinburgh and our son, Chris served his 2 year mission on the Amazon River. What is the likelihood of that happening on a street corner? Not that great I'm guessing.

♥ to you...

Andrea Bocelli and The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

The Lord's Prayer

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