Miss Austen says it well

"What dreadful, hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance."

-Jane Austen

amid the gerber daisies

From my point of view eating outside is what makes summertime purr with deliciousness, the sort that makes things come together like a jigsaw puzzle just fitted with that last piece. So one Sunday after church we gathered together with our friends and dined in the back yard. The gerber daisies popped amid us.

I guess I will be sharing from time to time, yes?

Mark's gift

Exceedingly desiring to post a couple of wedding photos.


Giving thanks for dear friends such as Mark that came and took candid shots on cameras and cell phones. Of course, they then took the time to email pictures while we breathlessly wait on the professional photographer's booty.

I chose these two because I adore the looks on my oldest and youngest faces. They were beholding two entirely different attractions, but their expressions were out of this world fetching. Oh, it does a mother's heart good.

Now, I want to invite you to my summer abode. If you do not know about listography.com then it just might stir a wee bit of piquancy. I am piquantly stirred on these luscious summer days.

Until later

Here you may read my very first post, written two years ago(lacking two days). I'd hoped beyond hope and back that I would get the chance to do a post yesterday commemorating the very first time I actually pushed the Publish Post button. Instead I spent the day with my parents gratefully serving them in very real ways.

It is my exceeding intent to do a post on the wedding. "It was a thing of beauty ... a joy forever:"*; what I expected and yet over the hill from any of the wildest dreams I could ever imagine. It was so Witt and Claire. A solemn covenant of their marriage vows witnessed and a wonderful celebration of their special day with all whom attended.

Summer break beckons me like it has at no other time in my life. It is a time...a season, to regroup. I shall leave this little blogging universe of mine. The lightening bugs are once more tempting me with their annual dance and I am planning to breathe deeply from all the wealth that surrounds my life,to listen more closely to the Holy Spirit and to those that I love, and to waltz into each new day with its long list of quotidian duties yet fully expecting the serendipitous charm that awaits me there too.

Keats says it well, so to finish the first lines of Endymion

*"Its loveliness increases; it will never

Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep

Full of sweet dreams, and health and quiet breathing."

so until later

Pink and Orange Rehearsal Dinner Memories

Justice is never done on a whim, therefore, to adequately share how the rehearsal dinner went is more than I have to give at the present. But I do want to share with you all, so I will allow the photos to tell the story for the most part. Not exactly wordless though.

Hors d'oeuvres were served in the rose garden.

The backs of the bride and groom, even if Witt looked rather like he was wiping his face on his sleeve.

We celebrated under a lighted tent with dangling globes of orange

Most of the guests joined in with the silly photo session

Gladsome toasts were given to honor the bride and groom.

And when the rains came, the sides of the tent were lowered and the magic continued.

But I must say I was very thankful for type A personalities that insisted in getting the side flaps delivered that morning...just in case.

Bridesmaids' Luncheon

For the past two years I have hosted a Bridesmaids' Luncheon in my home. But this year I attended one hosted by an aunt of Claire's with my two bridesmaid daughters.

The enchantment of blue hydrangeas only added to the moments

of smiling, hugging and talking of the upcoming events.

my family of daughters...they enchant me.

apron string conversation

It was late by most people's standards, unless you were a night owl. It had been a fun but long evening of team effort as we prepared the venue for tonight's affair.

He came into my bedroom and leaned against my dresser. We talked. There was a glimpse of similarity to this scene, but it was suspended in that moment of conversation. But after he left, it all came to the top like cream that rises on those milk bottles of my childhood. This was the last time that he would do this and my mind was flooded with the countless times of years past that this was a normal occurrence. Coming into my bedroom late at night , to talk, mother and son.

Those apron strings that have been stretching taut these past years snapped last night. But they snapped with gladsome tunes of, "Thank you for all you have done," and a delightful conversation, mother and son.

ordinary,simple and rich

The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest.

-Thomas Moore

The green- potted herbs flourishing on my back porch remind me of how rich and green my home life is these days.

Garden Performance

The threatening rain clouds held off for Charlotte's Ballet Garden Performance.

Behind the charming old train depot, under stately oak trees, beside a bright red caboose

our little blue-skirted ballerina danced prettily.

Witt and Claire joined us on the blankets

And brought fresh-cut roses from the garden, tied with white satin ribbons

I enjoy these things that life are made of.

Rose plays with new camera

If you're happy and you know it then your face should surely show it...

Lemon-Herb Dressing

Experimenting with fresh herbs to make salad dressings for upcoming dinner to be served on a bed of fresh greens.

This simple dressing was declared a winner.

1/3 cup olive oil, or canola oil if that is your taste preference
1 Tablespoon honey mustard
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
1-2 Tablespoon fresh basil

Whisk all ingredients together until well blended.

Try substituting other fresh herbs: mint, tarragon, chives