The Wedding Party

After a summer of drought, Issac brought the rain. Rain, rain, and more rain. So much of a good thing...

Today was the gathering for flower arranging for tomorrow's wedding. It sounded like fun and was a huge push for me to move beyond my home and socialize with new and interesting people. Besides, my friend is getting married. Let's go see...

Fresh picked organic flowers from the farm and neighbors

The table of completed center pieces with an artist still at work.

The musicians and officiates for tomorrow's ceremony

My creation. You're going to see a lot of this as I posit ideas about the arrangement.

Another table of arrangements.

After we finished, we had the flower parade and took photo with our creations

We were given the greenery, clippers, and thousands of flowers to create our master/mistress pieces. There were refreshments available - beer, sparkling water, cheese, hummus, crackers and pita chips. The musicians played as we worked, talked and socialized. It was a fabulous way for family and friends to met and share time and space.

However, because of all the rain, there was even more work to get ready for a farm wedding...

Inside the tent we spread straw to cover the muddy ground. Later we set up the tables. Tomorrow, we will arrive early to hang decorations, set the tables and prepare for guest. I was not actually planning to return before the wedding, but if you had seen the sad look on this guy's face when I said that you would understand why I will.

This is good for me. I am strong, capable, and competent. I may as well get out of bed and go help all the other people who showed up have a fabulous day. They came from Iowa. Me, I'm just thirty minutes down the road.

I Must Be Having Fun!

Time is racing along. It seems I am just up and going and it is time to retire again. DA, my grand, has been with me the past two nights. After daycare, we play, have dinner, bathe, read, and get her back to sleep. She is slow to rise in the morning. Today she told me, "I'm not done sleeping, GG." Me, either, but we have to get breakfast and head back to the daycare.

I stopped to talk to my neighbor this morning. They have put their house up for sale. So besides the heat keeping her inside (and me as well) she is not invested in the neighborhood anymore - or so it seems. I do understand. She has packed away her things and works on "curb appeal". Otherwise she wouldn't be out at all.

This morning we talked about children who blame their parents for the state of their lives. While I generally hold that we are each responsible for how we live and the choices we make, there is validity to the experiences we had as children and direct correlation between those events and the beliefs we held about family, choices, society, freedom and love - to name a few.

Some people live in compliance with the values they were taught while others live in opposition. Even where we claim we will never follow a particular pattern of distress, without deep searching and clearing of the hurt we are likely to find ourselves in the very situations we disdain. While I might disagree with the ridiculous choices people make, I understand. I understand how blame is easier than facing the moments when we felt helpless and hopeless as children. Rather than judge, we must offer compassion.

Early evening pollinators

 

Great buys for DA - 3 pants, 2 tops, 1 dress, and a cover-up $3.50

Ingredients for a Rusty Nail. I have enough!

My day is full!

I found reasonably priced local produce, played the evening at the spray park with my grand. Wandered along the rocky ledges. Watched her dance with joy.

Every day seems to pass so quickly. I occupy a few moments each day with call backs on my job search, or prayers for a job, or a second of angst. Then I acknowledge that I have enough of everything. Why should I feel discouraged?

This is the blessing. Following behind that dancing climbing singing playing child. Following. She happily leads and I watch the path for safety.

Time flies when you're having fun!