News From The Nest

Phfffft!

The weekend came and the weekend went!  Where in the world did it go??  I think I've moaned and groaned about this before.  This whole year ...... phfffft!

Anyway, today Andy finished his trivet today.  He did a couple new things on this project -- he upset the legs (made them fatter), used mortise and tenon joints, and pickled it to get the scale off.  The pickling in an acid - vinegar, in this case - worked very well.  As a final touch, he rubbed it with black stove polish.  I said in yesterday's post that Andy was making the trivet to auction and the proceeds would go to the farrier school in Martinsville, VA.  I was wrong -- the meeting and the auction will be held at the farrier school but the proceeds will go to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. 

Here are the kitties!  I was standing in the kitchen doorway.  There are no steps to the kitchen door (we took them down and they haven't been replaced) so I'm standing in the doorway about 8 feet (maybe) off the ground.  The kitties can't figure this out.  It drives George (white) crazy because he can't figure out how to scale the brick wall up to me in the doorway.  While Earl Gray and George are contemplating their (and my) positions, Gracie kitty is peeping around the corner at us.  I think George had just chased her around the corner of the house - that's what prompted me to be in the doorway to begin with - to reprimand George.  Gracie is soooo tiny!  Look at that face!  She is sooo sweet!  Hard to believe that she and George are siblings. 

I'm still working on the Mystery Shawl 5!  I'm on Row 170 and have 22 more to go!  I plan to do at least a couple tonight after posting. 

Thanks for reading and stay tuned!

Today was a lazy day!  I surfed around and placed an order at Knit Picks.  Finally, gave in and ordered the Knit Picks needles and some of their yarn.  Great sales on their yarn today!  Andy worked on the forge today.  He made a trivette to take in a couple of weeks to his blacksmith's meeting as an auction item.  The proceeds will go to the farrier school in Martinsville, VA.  It's soaking in vinegar overnight and then he's going to paint it.  I'll be sure to take a picture of it when it's finished.

Samantha, my Knitters Tea Swap Pal, included catnip kitty toys for George, Gracie, and Earl Gray in her package to me.  Here are George and Gracie playing with them.  Needless to say, they had a great time!!  Thanks, Samantha, for thinking about my kitties!

I worked on the Mystery Shawl 5.  Finished Clue 4 last night and moved on to Clue 5 - the final clue.  I have 27 - yes that's TWENTY-SEVEN - stitch markers on this project!  The pattern is so pretty!  It's really fancy looking with all the markers! 

My motto: Life is short - accessorize your knitting! 

Hopefully, I'll have a finished shawl to show you soon.  I leave next Saturday for a week in GA and would like to take it with me. 

This project has taken ALL my knitting attention, I won't know what to do after finishing it.  I will be eagerly waiting Mystery Shawl 6!!!

Cathy, her blog - TiNKerbelle, tagged me for 8 Random Things.  Once tagged, you must link to the person who tagged you. Then post the rules before your list, and list 8 random things about yourself. At the end of the post, you must tag and link to 8 other people, visit their sites, and leave a comment letting them know they've been tagged.

I've never been tagged for anything before and feel kind of funny passing it on / tagging others because you don't know how receptive they'll be or if they'll mind.  I'll play this time and see what happens.  Here are 8 quick and random things about me ------

1) I have size WOW (size 10 1/2) feet.  2) I'm an only child.  3) If I want something, I usually learn how to make it myself.  4) I do not understand when others say "I wish I could do that but I just don't have the time."  I believe you have to make time for what you want to do.  5) I'm a night owl.  6) I'm an animal lover.  7) I don't know how NOT to be busy.  8) My life has been richer because I'm an adoptive parent.

OK, now to tag 8 other people.  Maia, Marcia, Anne, Tanya, Robin, Kim, Jessie, and Jane.  I really hope they don't disown me as a friend! 

Tea Swap Surprise!

Lookee at what I got in the mail today!!!!  All of these goodies are from Samantha, my partner in Knitters Tea Swap 4.  Samantha is from Kent, UK and she packed the box full of surprises.  There's candy and cookies - some with names I can't decipher - from Germany and the UK.  The tea she sent sounds delicious - Chocolate Chai and she couldn't resist sending me some Earl Grey (in honor of my feline, Earl Gray!).  Samantha included a precious little tea pot infuser (see picture) and two sheep stitch markers from Yarnimals!! AND, then there are two skeins of silk yarn in my favorite color -- GREEN!  She said the yarn is from a UK hand-dyer called HipKnits and the name of the colorway is "Eat Your Greens".  Cute!  Samantha, this yarn is destined for a scarf for ME!  Thank you, thank you for EVERYTHING!  I love it all and have really enjoyed getting to know you and visiting your blog.  Now, hurry up and get my box to you so I can see how you like everything!

It is raining here, finally!  Yesterday morning, it was 72 degrees and HUMID.  Then, the thunder and lightening began with the rain.  Some places got as much as 4 inches.  This morning, it was 52 degrees.  What a difference a day makes!  It rained today and is supposed to rain again tomorrow.  It's not enough but we'll take all we can get! 

When I returned home yesterday from my work appointments, I wanted to finish reading something.  So, I sat in the car in the driveway.  George didn't like it.  He hopped up on the car and got on the windshield.  He kept biting at it, pouncing on it, and rubbing it with his paws.  He was trying his very best to get inside the car with me.  Here he is - couldn't get some of the funniest pictures -- he would pounce and sprawl on the window!  He finally gave up and became my hood ornament with the cattitude that no one saw him trying to get through a glass window!  Too funny!

Andy and I went to Danville this afternoon and ran by Mom and Dad's house.  A friend of theirs brought  Lily her Halloween outfit!  She's going as the Good Witch of the Canines.  As you can probably tell, she's not totally thrilled with this whole costume thing.  She's really not into dress-up.  She'd much rather just get the treats!

Mystery Shawl 5 -- I knit all the way to Danville.  I have 10 more rows and then it's on to the final clue - Clue 5.  OH, I can hardly wait to finish this!!!  I saw Issy's Tuesday night and it was just beautiful! Also, have to finish because Mystery Shawl 6 will start in November or December and then there's the Spring Shawl Surprise on Ravelry starting January 1, 2008!  I'm all tangled up in this lace knitting!

Later!  Going to knit and sip some tea!

Assorted Stuff

I returned from Richmond, VA tonight at a little after 11:00 PM.  It was 72 degrees and it was finally raining some with a little thunder and lightening.  Isn't this a little odd for October 23rd??  It is so humid outside.  Maybe this little bit of  rain will bring us a break in the weather. 

In Richmond, I went to TNK.  We have a very pregnant member and wanted to wish her well with a baby shower.  So, in the cafe area of Barnes & Noble, we did just that!  With cake and all!  What a fun time!  Amy is very ready for this baby to enter the world.  This will be her third child and I bet the other two are ready also!   Here's Amy unwrapping some of her goodies while Robin and Sherri look on.  

Here's a great picture of Jon.  He was putting the edging on his afghan tonight.  Not just one edging - a double edging! 

Jon is a knitting trick!  Sweaters, hats, stuffed bears, this afghan, etc.  He really turns out the FO's!  Now, if only we could get some cooler weather so Jon can get some use out of this beautiful afghan.   

Issy very proudly showed off her finished Mystery Shawl 5.  It is gorgeous!!!  What a beautiful design pattern!  Seeing Issy's makes me even more anxious to complete mine.  Issy has signed up for the Halloween Mystery Shawl now.  That one incorporates beads.  Can't wait to see it!  You can still sign up - check out the link!

There will also be another Mystery Shawl offered this year with a winter theme.  I'm going to sign up for that and I bet Issy will, too.  I am totally hooked on lace knitting!

Here's Rita - about to get eaten up by a 'gator!  Isn't this the cutest thing!?!?!!  This is the alligator scarf by Morehouse Farm.  I was amazed at how the stitch pattern REALLY resembles the bumps, nostrils, and eyes of an alligator.  What a super cute child's scarf.   

Today, I received another set of stitch markers from The Stitch Marker Exchange.  These were from Rachel in Indiana.  So pretty!  The light plays on them and they just shimmer.  Thank you, Rachel!  I will enjoy them!

Robyn is looking for a new hostess for The Stitch Marker Exchange.  It's a fun swap so I hope someone will take it over.

Andy and I were headed to nearby Clarksville last Thursday night when we hit a deer.  A HUGE buck.  A lot of you will remember that not two months ago, I was run over by a tractor trailer truck and my car was in the shop for repair.  Well, the paint had hardly dried and it's headed back into the shop again.  Hitting the buck cracked my bumper and front grill.  Andy had slowed down as the two large deer were right on the side of the road.  Then, he tooted the horn and spooked them.  One took off right in front of us.  We bumped him and he got up and took off.  The back of the deer was higher than the front of my car (Toyota Highlander) and WOW the rack!  Hope he was OK.  Didn't see any blood so I prefer to think that he is just fine. 

Sunday night we tried again to go to Clarksville for a quick bite to eat.  We were successful this time and enjoyed the sunset as we ate.  This is what the sky looked like over the lake.  Beautiful!  Notice how low the lake has gotten.  We desperately need lots and lots or rain! 

As always, thanks for reading!

Foliage (aka Tree On Fire!)

ANNOUNCEMENT:  To any VA/NC area knitters (and knitter/spinners) or those who want to travel -- KNTTIN' AT THE LAKE 2008 will be held in January 18th - 20th in Clarksville, VA.  We had a blast last year and can hardly wait for January 18th to get here!  If you are interested - leave a comment here and I'll email you more information or email me directly.  Space is limited so act quickly!

I truly LOVE the colors of Fall.  Orange, rust, green, burgundy, gold.  Just love them! 

I was traveling to Lynchburg, VA last week for a work appointment.  When I drive from home, I take 501 North through Halifax and Campbell Counties.  As I passed through Brookneal, my eyes were accosted - yes accosted - by the most beautiful tree I think I've ever seen. 

The color of this tree was absolutely breathtaking. 

Yes, I had my camera with me but didn't have time to stop.  Mental note to self - be sure to stop on the way home. 

And stop, I did.   

I pulled over into the gas station and started snapping pictures. 

If I never see another tree's leaves change color, that'll be OK.  I think I've seen the most stunning one. 

How could another tree top this one???

It's magical.  This summer has just been brutal here - abnomally high temperatures and NO rain.  Trees are dying all over the place - big oaks, pines, etc.  While this tree is raging with color, there are so many other trees whose leaves are just turning brown and crunchy. 

While I love the orange leaves, I also love the contrast between the leaves and the very dark branches.  AND, having been so totally sucked in by lace knitting, I love the lacy pattern of the whole picture - the shapes, the light peeping through, the pattern that the dark branches make, etc. 

The color I've see so far this Fall has pretty much only been in the maple trees.  They, and this one in particular, should win some kind of prize!!!  A prize for hanging in there through this hotter than hell summer with no water and a prize for their pure beauty.

I grant thee the "most-beautiful-tree-I've-ever-seen" award!   

Now, on the knitty front - I got a little behind in knitting The Mystery Shawl.  I'm back at it and am a little more than half finished with Clue #4.  I'm so anxious to get to and through Clue #5.  I'm in a hurry to see the end product.

The yarn (Schaefer Champagne - Indira Ghandi) also, contains autumn colors and I absolutely love it!  I can hardly wait until it's finished and blocked! 

The Mystery Shawl-a-long has been more fun than a barrel of monkeys!  She's going to offer another one this year and you can bet I'll be signing up!

I've never been tagged before but I've recently been tagged by two different people for two different  things.  With the wedding, I am still playing catch-up.  I also have a wonderful post with pictures that my friend, Jackie, submitted to me about her trip to the Taos Wool Festival. 

So stay tuned!

(I couldn't resist just one more picture of this award winning tree!)

Wait! Go Back!

I forgot something!  We have to go back across the ferry to Yorktown! 

After the wedding reception on the 13th, we rode around Yorktown and MAN! has it changed since Andy and I were there a couple of years ago.  They have torn down the old Greek restaurant (that had been there forever) on the waterfront and have built Riverwalk Landing.  Riverwalk Landing is really nice - check out this link.  I checked the Calendar of Events and see I missed a Sheep-To-Shawl (sponsored by Colonial Fiber Arts) that was held yesterday. 

I didn't know the hours but when the wedding reception ended before 5:00 PM, I figured it would be worth driving around to try and find the fiber shop I have heard about in Yorktown. If you visit Riverwalk Landing, you'll find Colonial Fiber Arts.  If you need directions or hours, call Nettie at 757-243-2275 or email her at [email protected] .   

After stopping twice for direction help, I found it!  Since I had the husband and in-laws in the car, I didn't get to spend as much time as I would have liked but it was enough to find a couple of goodies.   I found a bag of soysilk roving that I'll save to spin up in the Spring since the colors remind me of Spring flowers.  I also couldn't resist this little clutch. The stitching is embroidered and the sheep is wool-on-wool appliqued.  I can't wait to go back to Colonial Fiber Arts when I have more time to visit.

Now, let's take that drive home again!!  You can see from this photo what I worked on ALL the way home!  My Mystery Shawl!

Now, back to this weekend.  I was lucky enough to get a seat in the Edie Eckman "Top 10 Tips" knitting workshop.  The workshop was held by the Hanover Knitting Guild in the Mechanicsville, VA area.  They invited me to bring my soaps so I packed a crate of soaps, creams, butters, and soap decks for the trip.

Edie is a taskmaster!  We had homework to get ready for class.  We had to knit the parts of a cardigan sweater!!  However, it wasn't that bad since the sweater was to fit a good size doll or teddy bear.   Bloggers also in the class were Mary and Cate and I sat beside Renny, from the Tuesday Night Knitters in Richmond. 

It was a very good class - very hands-on.  Don't know if I can name all 10 tips we learned but here goes -- provisional cast on, applied I-cord border, I-cord bind-off, duplicate stitch for designs, grafting sleeve to the body of the sweater, mattress stitch, 3-needle bind-off, short rows to shape the shoulders, duplicate stitch to attach a pocket, braiding the loose ends on the inside of the sweater.  That's 10 but I'm not sure it's HER 10.  Oh well, close enough! 

To the right is my sweater in progress.  (Please ignore the old bench with the peeling paint!)  In class, I attached the right sleeve by grafting it to the body of the sweater.  I attached the pocket but using the duplicate stitch along the  bottom edge and then whipping up the sides.  You can see I'm working on the applied I-cord border.  To the right of the sweater, you can see little braids sticking out.  Edie's tip for lots of loose ends -- braid them for about an inch and do an overhand knot at the end.  These will just hang on the inside of the sweater and will prevent the thickness you'd have if you wove all of them in.  The doll or teddy bear won't mind the dangling braids on the inside of the sweater.  For the left sleeve, I used the provisional cast-on and then picked up the stitches and learned to work an I-cord border.  I pulled it out because I wanted to do ribbing like the other sleeve.  I really liked the I-cord border and can certainly see doing that on the bottom edge of a sweater. 

It was a lot of fun seeing all the different little sweaters being worked-up around the room.  I loved seeing all the color combinations.  From patriotic themes to baby pastels to jewel tones.  Lots of fun!  These two sweaters on the  left are samples that Edie brought.

It was fun and very educational day.  We each received a hand-out with our homework instructions for knitting the sweater parts ahead of time and then another hand-out in class with additional instructions.  The hands-on aspect of the class was excellent and Edie was very accessible for help. 

So, thanks to the Hanover Knitting Guild for letting me join them.  The price was very reasonable and the lunches were delicious!   

Well, I just couldn't be THAT close to The Yarn Lounge without stopping in for a visit.  Melanie was   there with Homer (the YL puppy dog) and customers.  Courtney mentioned she had received some of my soap last Christmas.  I told her I had a crate of soap in the car and found myself going to get it and bringing it in.  Melanie purchased all I had of the Mayan Gold (her signature scent!) and Courtney put together Christmas gifts for 6 people on her list.  With all this excitement, I didn't take a single picture at The Yarn Lounge.  I really wanted to show you the little sweaters they knit up of the new yarns.  Too cute! and great to show you how the yarn looks made up.  I did get some patterns, Knitting Lace Triangles by Evelyn Clark, Knitting Socks by Ann Budd, and some new magazine issues.   

When I got home yesterday, I found that Andy had a productive day, also.  He had been at the forge and had two hooks and a pair of box tongs to show for his time.  I love the swirly hook and have claimed it for ME!  The heart hook might go to the newlyweds.  Andy will get lots of use out of the box tongs.  Do you see the little box??  See the "lips" of the tongs - one side is flat and solid while the other side is open and box shaped.  This will enable him to firmly hold the rod he is forging while he turns it in the fire.  Andy is really enjoying the blacksmithing.  I glad he FINALLY got started in it after talking about it for 20+ years! 

Gracie kitty is doing a kitty dance as she plays with my dangling camera strap.  She's so sweet!  Not nearly as shy as she used to be.  She's especially playful when George is not around.  She has the sweetest tiniest little "mew" - not a ful meow - just a little faint mew. 

She's so tiny when compared to George and big'un Earl Gray.  Earl is just getting plumper and plumper.  I swear I supervise the eating.  However, if I have to slip inside for half a second or if Andy has to do the feeding in my absence, Earl scoots right over to George and Gracie's bowls of kitten chow.  He LOVES it!

Well, enough for today.  Whew!!  Tomorrow, the most beautiful Fall tree I've ever seen!

Way Down South

With the wedding over and the newlyweds off to their honeymoon destination, it was time to return  home.   

We took the ferry back across the James River to Surry, VA.  It was  packed and we were next to the last vehicle allowed to board. 

The seagulls knew the ferry was loaded - there were so many!  They don't allow people to feed the seagulls from the front of the ferry.  They wouldn't be able to see throught the birds to drive. 

This seagull was hunkered down and seemed to be very content just watching the water, people, and the ferries passing back and forth.

Now, what fibery goodness did I find growing alongside the backroads of Virginia??? 

We passed several cotton fields.  They always remind me of fields filled with popcorn! 

Several of the fields had already been picked but they still had lots of cotton clinging to the  plants and on the ground. 

This close-up looks really cool!  The cotton is packed so tightly.  I would love to see them doing this.  I didn't see anyone around to ask questions. 

The cotton spinning class I took at John C. Campbell Folk School last May was really interesting.  Cotton consists of almost pure cellulose, a natural polymer.  We learned how to spin the cotton off from around the seeds.  Very cool!

So, even though Virginia's not Way Down South like in the song, we still have cotton! 

Let Them Eat Cake!

The wedding is done and we're headed to the reception. 

The reception was held at Port of York at the US Coast Guard Training Center in Yorktown, VA.  The ride took us down the Colonial Parkway and it was a beautifully scenic ride. 

The reception site in the building, Port of York, overlooked the York River.  The side of the room where  the reception was held was all glass so there was a wonderful view of the water. 

When we arrived, we sampled fruit and veggie platters.  Later, followed a yummy buffet - chicken, carved beef, shrimp, vegetables, etc. 

Eryn had planned and decorated for the reception using lanterns with sage green candles and coffee beans to continue the sage and brown color theme.  She placed the soaps I made for favors in little "bags" on the tables at each person's place.

A computer was hooked up through room speakers and played a collection of Brian and Eryn's favorite songs.  Their first dance was to Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World". 

There was a table for the cake.  Again, the wedding cake was just so simple and elegant.  It was three delicious layers - red velvet, mocha, and almond.  I had a piece of the mocha layer and it was sooo moist.  The satiny beaded look continued throughout the whole event - from the wedding invitations, to Eryn's dress, to the wedding cake.  The icing was very smooth with sage green band and beads of chocolate icing at the base of each layer.  The cake was topped with their initials (B & E) and their was their engagement photo (which I took not knowing it would become their engagement photo) was displayed.

There was also a table set up for Brian and Eryn to sit and enjoy a plate of food.  Their table was decorated with the flowers from the chapel's altar and a picture of the two of them. 

After helping clean up from the reception, we headed back to the Hospitality House Inn in Williamsburg, VA.  It felt good to change clothes and just hang out in the hotel's lobby.  I really enjoyed visiting with Sally.  I also uploaded all the weekend's photos to the computer and we enjoyed seeing the photographic review of the events.  Brian and Eryn headed to The Green Leafe Cafe with their friends and they had a blast!

The next morning, it was back to normal with the kids dressed in their jeans and T-shirts.  Their dogs, Darby and Bailey, had been boarded in Williamsburg since Friday, so Taylor and Kerrin picked them up Sunday morning.  Yes, the dogs were going on the honeymoon, too!  Lots of people were, in fact.  The newlyweds were off to Carova Beach at the northern part of the Outer Banks of NC and only accessible by 4-wheel drive.  Taylor, Kelly and Kerrin, and Mia joined Brian, Eryn, Darby, and Bailey on their post-wedding getaway.  That is until Tuesday when the friends and brother had to leave so the serious honeymooning could begin.  Taylor is now back at home in Charlotte, NC and said that everyone really had a lot of fun.

The adventure continues tomorrow with my trip back home!  I'll show you something fibery that I found along the roadside.  Stay tuned!

The Big Day - 10/13/07

Saturday morning, things sped right along.  Our family, the groomsmen, and the ushers had to be at the Wren Chapel to take pictures at 11:00 AM before the 12:00 Noon wedding.  It helped getting pictures that didn't have the bride in them over with before the wedding.  We stayed at the Hospitality House Inn across from the entrance to William & Mary's football field.  Many people were able to walk to the chapel from the hotel.  This picture to the right looks like a scene from the movie, Men In Black, but it's Brian, Taylor, and Tom as they leave the hotel for the chapel.

I think this is a great picture of Brian and Taylor with my Mom and Dad.  Not really the best of them because they didn't know their picture was being taken but I just love the angle.  The old buildings and archways of the Wren Building were wonderful for shooting pictures. 

Taylor was Brian's best man.  Then, there were two groomsmen, Matt  and Tom, who were friends from college.  Eryn's step-brother, Richard, and Tim, a mutual friend of Brian and Eryn's were ushers. 

They wore black suits with matching shirts and ties.  Brian's tie was just a little different in color but blended right in.  They all looked so handsome!  (Brian is in the front in the middle and Taylor is on the far right.)

Next, the girls!  Missy, Eryn's sister (on the right in this picture) was her maid of honor.  Mia and Kelly, were her bridesmaids.  Jessica, a friend of Eryn's from nursing school, was the reader.

My favorite color is green and I LOVE this particular shade of green.  Their dresses were just beautiful.  So simple and so elegant.  But, then, that was kind of the whole wedding!  The dresses had a sage green satin sash and bottom edge.  Each bridesmaid carried a bouquet of white hydrangea with the stems wrapped with ribbon.   

Before we knew it, the morning was gone and it was time!  12:00 Noon at The Chapel of the Sir Christopher Wren Building (otherwise known as the Wren Chapel) on the campus of The College of William & Mary (and here).  Talk about historical!  We were knee-deep in it!  Built between 1695 and 1699, the Wren Building is the oldest college building in the United States.  Recently, there has been a HUGE controversy re: the cross that was on the altar.  The W&M president removed it from the chapel and there was a HUGE uproar.  Now, the cross is kept in a glass case.  The keeper of the cross donned white gloves to remove the cross and place it on the altar for display during the wedding ceremony.

Eryn was simply lovely.  Her gown was creamy white with simple folds on the bodice and covered buttons down the back.  She carried a bouquet of  white, pink, and green hydrangea with ribbon wrapped stems. 

What a good looking group of young people!!   What a happy bride and groom!  The ceremony was lovely.  Being one that gets teary-eyed or cries at all weddings, I knew I didn't stand a chance.  When Brian and Taylor became teary, that was all she wrote!  Bring out the mop!

Join me tomorrow -- you're all invited to the reception!

Where Do I Begin?

I'll begin on Friday, October 12th -- the first day of the big wedding weekend!

I set off for Williamsburg, VA on Friday, October 12th.  I took the route where I would take the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry.  The ferry crosses from Surry County to Jamestown.  The approximately 30 minute ride crosses the James River and is always a nice respite is the almost 3 hour trip.

I headed straight to Knitting Sisters to deliver their soap order - Ewe Love Lavender, Loop-de-Lemon, Knit 'n Bloom, Mitered Mint, and a new fragrance for them - Orange Ewe Knitting?  They seemed tickled. 

Sally, my friend from Maine, met me there.  She and her husband, John, had traveled down for the wedding.  While there, my Mom and Dad arrived.  I fell in love with a skein of Helen's Lace in the Glenwood color.  Just beautiful!!!  The sun and shadow in this photo don't do the yarn color justice.  It's a mix of yellow, orange, and green.  I also purchased a fun orange knitting bag.  One can't have too many bags! 

The gals at Knitting Sisters wound my skein into a ball for me while I ran down the way to Taste - A Tea Salon.  There, I enjoyed choosing a few things to send to my Knitters Tea Swap 4 partner.  Samantha is my Knitters Tea Swap partner and she lives in the UK.  You can visit her blog here.  She and I have exchanged a few emails and as usual, I can't wait to send off my package!!!!  I hope she likes everything!

Next, on Friday, I ran by the florist to pay the bill and double-check any last minute details.  I arranged for the florist to decorate the tables at Food For Thought in a very Fallish theme.  There was a flower arrangement on the head table that contained sunflowers, berries, carnations, tulips, cat-tails, fall leaves, etc.  I didn't want anything very structured.  They also placed votive candles and vines down the middle of both side tables with little ornamental pumpkins and gourds.  The invitations I sent also had a Fall theme with a border of autumn leaves, berries, and acorns.

Mom wanted us to have the origami cranes for favors and we convinced Brian to fold enough for us.  This was perfect for two reasons.  1) The crane mates for life and is a symbol of fidelity and life-long love.  I've also heard the crane brings good luck and prosperity to a home.  2) When the boys first came from South Korea in 1988, they folded cranes.  In fact, they used to compete to see who could fold the smallest one.  I have one no bigger than the tip of my pinkie finger in a tiny folded paper box.  I'll have to take a picture of that for you.  So, fold cranes he did!  There was plenty for each person attending the rehearsal dinner to take one home.  Mom and Dad had threaded each crane so that they could be used to hang on a Christmas tree, rearview mirror, etc.  In the bags at the rear of the picture - Life Is Good T-shirts I gave to Brian and Eryn.  They say - "Just Married" and picture a jeep decorated with cans with a bridal veil flapping out of the passenger side and the groom's hand/arm sticking out of the driver's side.  Very cute!  (Follow the link and scroll down to see the shirt.)

The whole evening was very emotional.  The wedding rehearsal was held in the Wren Chapel on the campus of The College of William & Mary.  The minister kept the rehearsal very light.  He looked so young - couldn't have been older than 30 - if that old.  He was wonderful!!!  This picture is of Brian (left) and Taylor waiting for the rehearsal to start.

The dinner was delicious.  Everyone had salad and then had their choice of entree (prime rib, salmon stuffed with crabmeat, lime cilantro chicken, or portobello stack), and dessert (gourmet bread pudding or chocolate torte).  The toasts were a bit emotional.  Brian and Eryn presented gifts to those participating in the ceremony.  They also presented gifts to the parents - Eryn to her parents and Brian to Andy and me.  When Brian was presenting their gift to me and saying his bit about/to me, he cried and you all know I was worthless after that!  The two of them had picked out a pottery birdhouse for me.  The whole evening reminded me to stop by CVS on the way back to the hotel for a pocket pack of tissues! 

Over the years, it's always been very emotional thinking of the first picture we ever received of the boys from orphanage in Seoul --- standing straight as an arrow (because you know someone had just told them to) with their arms straight down by their sides and an identifying number across his chest.  Thinking of Brian in that picture and then of so many of his life's accomplishments - an Eagle Scout, a high school graduate, a college graduate, and now a groom and a new husband.  WOW!  TEARS and more TEARS!  So hard to believe the years have just flown by.  And what a great job he has done with  them.  Way to go, Brian!

Jessica, the scripture reader for the wedding ceremony, brought a wonderful gift to the rehearsal dinner.  AND, it was for ME!  A bottle of wine and THREE SKEINS OF ALPACA YARN!!!!!!  Her family owns/operates Crab Creek Farm in Christiansburg, VA and have alpaca.  Their yarn can be purchased at The Yarn Lounge in Richmond, VA.  These particular skeins were from Dewey!

Well, enough for now.  Stay tuned for wedding pictures!!