A Flood of Emotions!!

Felt the need to post some art of my own, since it has been a long time since I have.
These are all old ones and the colors are more vivid in real life. They will have to do for now until I get the chance to create something new. Hope I am getting closer to that time.

Last month we had a natural disaster at our home with the all the rain coming one weekend. It surrounded our house so that it looked like a blue island and our poor basement was flooded.
It has taken an incredible amount of work! Had to replace the hot water heater and furnace. Still ripping out all the drywall and are getting a dumpster this week.

It has been a good opportunity to clear out what we really don't need. We carried tons of stuff up from the basement, the weekend of the storm and have been slowly either finding new homes for it or donating it to a local charity. It has kept me quite busy including a weekly visit to the Laundromat. My nerves are still a little jangled when I think back on it all. There were many bright sides, as friends and neighbors have been so kind and did what they could to help and we really appreciate them all. So slowly bringing my house back to normal - whatever that is = ]

In the meantime I am also looking into finding a part-time job. It has been 4 years since I worked so that will be a change. I know myself well enough to know that changes are hard on me. I tend to do all my worrying up front while trying to keep a positive attitude. A warring mix of emotions. "I am sure it will all work out in the end. " " But what about ?????"

I am thinking of applying at an local art supply store soon. Have the application filled out and need to drop it off. My daughter texted me today and said to drop it like it's hot, which made me laugh. She said it would be a cool place to work at. So steeling my nerves to go in and smile and act confident. Maybe tomorrow.

It certainly would motivate me to create art.
I always feel better when I get started creating and the flood memories may be a good starting place. Lots of blue and things floating...... yes it may be good therapy for me.

Wedding and more wedding!!

Nat carrying Ellen to the bridge after the ceremony.
Lighting the unity candle.
The path the guests took to the meadow was marked by tiki lamps.
Nat placing the ring on her finger.
Dark clouds at the very beginning, but then the sun came shining thru!
The part in the ceremony where the parents came forward and I vowed to love Nat as a son, which is a very easy thing to do! They are so happy together.

I am posting this for everyone who is not on Facebook and can't see the great pics there.
What can I say? She is my only daughter, so Mother of the Bride this once.

Art is coming around the corner.

A note to self - start creating art again!
I am really looking forward to getting back into painting and collage. Hoping that this long break will give me a fresh outlook and some new ideas.

I realize this blog has turned into a gardening /wedding journal . I hereby promise that the next entry ( or maybe the third ) will be about art again.
This is mostly to myself that I am talking here.

Joined Facebook and have found that to be really fun and a great way to see photo's.
Boys first full week of school so back to lunches and homework.
Garden still needs attention. Labor Day and Hubbies B-day coming up.
Ellen will be home to finish packing up stuff.
Thinking of having a garage sale to clear out the basement.

Yep a few things to keep me busy. Somewhere in there though, art will be done!
Ok - good! Got that off my chest.
Now I need to go and make dinner.

Wedding Decorations

OK - I admit it - the wedding is still one of my favorite subjects. Pictures are coming in that I haven't seen before and it's fun to relive the day. This is the cake, which was 6 layers, each a different flavor and was delicious. It was made by a friend and he did a great job. Thanks Peter!

The green hydrangea's and apples looked cool around it. The apples were a surprise from Tim for Ellen. Way back, when she first started planning the wedding, she had thought of using them as place markers at each of the tables. They were to have a burgundy ribbon tied to the stem, with a tag that had their names and date on it. Then when she realized that we would need 300 of them, that idea was sadly dropped. She liked the surprise.

The blue vase is one of the 30 made by Diane, me, Wendy and Luanne ( the mother of the groom). She had stopped by when they got into town, the day before the wedding and was very excited to come and help make some of the arrangements. At the end of the wedding, we gave away bouquets of flowers. Luanne brought back the blue vases to Minnesota to use at the reception they had for Nat & Ellen there and to my great delight, tied on the 20 tags I had made to each one.

Just saw the newlyweds this weekend, at the last wedding of the season. We had 5 to go to this summer. This one was for her Maid of honor and she was the Matron of Honor at hers on Sunday. So funny to hear her called that name. Married 2 weeks, they are so fun to watch together. They get such joy from being together.

The boys started school this week and I am going to help Diane with organizing her art room. I decided that since she and Wendy were so great in helping me with the wedding, that they should each pick a project we can help each other with. So tomorrow, it's the art room. A fun place to be - so will enjoy it.

Looking Back at those who made it happen!

Zina, Wendy and Diane who used every last flower and they were beautiful!
Tim on the left who coordinated the whole wedding and did a spectacular job decorating! Just look at the bridal table behind him. Cheryl on the right who along with her husband worked so hard to get everything done. It is days after the wedding and I am still so thankful to them all. I told Cheryl that when one of her other daughter's gets married I will be there, she laughed and said we are going to tell them to elope! Her daughter had a wedding at this exact spot 2 months earlier and Tim also helped with that. He is quite simply super-man!

Diane, Wendy and Zina stayed at my house while we went to the rehearsal and the dinner afterwards working on the flowers. When I came home they were just finishing the last ones. It was a wonderful sight and I can't brag about them enough!

I asked someone " how do you thank someone for being so good to you? " She replied that they don't expect anything in return, they are just doing it because they care for you.
I am feeling very cared for at this moment - it is a nice warm fuzzy feeling!

Oh what a Day !!!

It is the day after my daughter's wedding and I am feeling so happy that I can't stop smiling. I can't wait to see all the pictures from it.
Am sharing this one from the rehearsal. Pastor Judy, standing to the left had come to the part where she would say "you can now kiss your bride" and said they could practice if they wanted. This was how Nat responded and we all whooped. Ellen was fanning her face when she was standing again... woooh.. think this will be a good marriage!

The wedding was wonderful!! So many special moments.
The ceremony took place in a meadow and when I walked down before it was to start, it was wonderful to see all the smiling faces of friends and family gathering there.
It had rained cats and dogs 3 hours before so the woods smelled so green and fresh

The music was playing, a violin and piano and it was just magical.
Bryan escorted me down the aisle and then the parents went up and lit two candles under a wooden trellis that was draped with gauzy fabric blowing in the breeze and had branches interwoven on the top.

The bridesmaids were met at the bridge by each groomsmen and came down the grassy aisle carrying the bouquets my cousins had made and parted at the kneeling bench and stood on either side of the trellis.

Gary did a great job carrying the ring pillow and looked so handsome in his little suit with Elsa the flower girl (who is 3 ) scattering the rose petals from her basket. When they came to the front, she started to follow Gary as he sat down by me and I whispered to her to go and sit with her family. She turned and saw her smiling Mom beckoning to her and spread the flowers all the way to her seat - it was so sweet.

Then I rose to lead everyone in singing "Seek ye first". Ellen has always wanted that sung at her wedding. We turned and saw her come across the bridge where Dan was waiting for her. She looked so beautiful with flowers in her hair and I was so proud of them both as they came down.

They stopped just in front of Pastor Judy and stayed with arms linked as Grandpa Seis read and Grandpa Eldon led us in singing. These would be her last moments with just our family before she began a new family with her husband. It was very meaningful to me. I was looking at them and feeling a mixture of love and sadness that she was leaving us. Then I looked over at Nat and felt secure in the knowledge that he would take good care of our girl.

The bride was then given away and Dan shook his hand and put Ellen's hand in his and came and sat down beside me.

When Nat was saying his vows to Ellen, his face was shining with love and the sound of his voice when he came to the part where he said he would never leave her, made me cry happy tears.

Yes it was a wonderful wedding! Afterwards I followed the bridal party down and went across the bridge and up the steps and there they all were all lined up. I felt so thankful to them all for making this such a special, special day that I said I have to hug you all . I was smiling and crying and feeling oh so happy for Nat and Ellen.

3 Days and Counting !!

Diane, Wendy, Me and Ellen in our basement turned flower shop!
Woke up early and was at the Farmer's Market, 15 minutes after they opened. Hoping there would be lots of flowers and Cathy from Tidey Farms came through for me. There were these big beautiful bouquets and I went crazy and bought tons!! I had to call Dan to bring the VW camping van to bring them all home.
My cousins Diane and Wendy came over and we spent the day separating them all by color into buckets. Wendy very nicely ran to the dollar store to get us some more buckets, as we had every available one filled and there were still more bouquets. Now have 30 buckets of flowers.
My basement has never looked prettier.

Nat and Ellen stopped by and loved them so we took some pictures. We are so excited! It looks like the weather is going to cooperate this weekend - so Hooray!

Tomorrow bouquets, corsages, boots, Friday centerpieces and Rehearsal. Saturday - Wedding!! They look so happy!!