Say I Do

Another Wedding

It's been a busy Summer. A reunion, a wedding, the big lobster bake and yesterday evening, another wedding.  It was an absolutely gorgeous evening for Andrew, our neighbor's son, and Dayna. Couldn't have been more perfect. The setting for the ceremony was amazing. Hamilton House, and historic property just over the border in South Berwick, Maine.  What a lovely way to celebrate the start of a new life together.

The groom and his father, neighborhoodlum Tom.  Looking dapper.

We went with neighborhoodlums Gerry.............

...and Sandee.  We all wandered the grounds checking out the place and wondered how we'd all missed it until now.

A new direction for Dayna and Andrew.

The best man and brother Nick making sure he's got the rings. Check.

The groom. Waiting.

And so it begins. The best man and the Mother of the Groom, Joanie.

The bridesmaid. Beautiful dresses.

Maid of honor. They looked like Greek Goddesses in Magenta.

Are you ready Andrew?

Here comes the bride.

Father and daughter.

I do.

I take your hand in mine.

With this ring.

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Gough.

Our 'neighbor-in-laws, Emile, Carol and Kenny.

Then came the reception and the first dance as husband and wife.

Mother and son dance.

Everybody dance!

And we did.

All. Night. Long.

The Bride even did the slide.

By the end of the night we were seeing double.

Not really, but it was a good segue for Joanie and Janey.  We couldn't have been seeing double, think we nearly drank them out of water. That's what happens when you dance your sweet patootie off.

Congratulations Andrew and Dayna. It was a beautiful day and ton of fun. We were very happy to celebrate with you.

That's it from here folks. It's Tom's birthday today, and there is sure to be a 'little' more celebrating. Happy Birthday Tom!

Ciao for now,

Weekend Roundup

She's Making a List, Checking it Twice....No It's Not Christmas

I thoroughly enjoyed my birthday weekend. We don't do just birth'days' round these parts. We milk it for as long as we can.

Friday was great all around, including the pretty new cosmo glasses sister Di gave me- love 'em. After we got home from my parents and the birthday celebration there, we cut a rug or two to some fun youtube selections including a little Cee Lo green and Tony Bennet.  We do enjoy a dance around the living room and kitchen, at some point during most weekends. 

The rest of the weekend went just as well. Here's some things that made for a good birthday weekend: 

• Gar built a table for my new printer. I will be painting is shortly. It's pretty basic, but that's all I need.

• Weather was nice so he got to work outside and I got to have the campfire I wanted on Saturday night.

• Neighborhoodlums Sandee and Gerry swung by the fire.

• Sandee made Stratford on a Crouton, one of my all time favorite appetizers, and brought me a gift. I'll share the Straford recipe the next time I make it.

• Neighborhoodlums Tom and Joanie had our neighbors-in-law Carol and Emile (Joanie's brother and his wife) over for dinner and they all popped by the campfire.  Not only that, but Joanie and Tom brought me a Carvel Ice Cream Cake for my bday. YUM.

• This was big for Carol and Emile, because they're about ready to head back to Florida for the Winter, and though I thought it was a perfect fall day, others thought it was freezing! So cold, they had to warm their tushes by the fire.

• I thought that it was a glorious night for a campfire with friends.  Lucan enjoyed too.

• When we went in, we caught the rest of the Bruins game. They took care of business and beat Toronto 7-0, and our 'kid' Tyler Sequin scored his first hat-trick. This made me very happy.

• Sunday morning we decided to go out for some breakfast and headed to Portsmouth.  When we got there it was such a beautiful day we decided to enjoy the day and take a walk, knowing our favorite little irish place would be open for lunch by the time we were done.

• We met the lovliest man, Adrienne, while were enjoying the views from the bridge. He'd grown up in Kittery, Maine, just on the other side of the river, but had been living in Texas for years. He'd just moved back to be closer to his family. The three of us must have talked about the Seacoast and traveling for nearly 30 minutes. 

• Our favorite table at RiRa was just waiting for us in the corner when we got there, and so was a our favorite server, Michael- a lovely Irish lad.  Check this link out for nice interior pictures of the fantastic dome at RiRa from a previous visit. Back to this weekend's visit.......Michael brought me a big pot of tea, and once I'd promptly finished that I went for the gusto. Look at those biggo honkin' olives! Briny and delicious and just what I wanted.

• I don't know who the guy is behind me, but he's not getting my bloody mary or my irish paper. Gar and I love sitting down at RiRa and reading the Irish paper. 

• We both ordered fish and chips........SO good. 

• As if the beer battered fish and chips weren't enough, they give you both tartar sauce and rose marie sauce. It's an Irish thing and it's good for dippin' your fries.

• Happy husband = happy wife. Don't come between a man and his pint of Guinness.

• After we finished lunch, we stopped at McKinnon's and talked to the Rick the Butcher.  It was Gar's first time to the store and he was impressed. We left with lots of good stuff, including the pork roast I cooked last night.  We followed up dinner with the aforementioned Carvel Ice Cream Cake- a very tasty ending.

As I said, a pretty darn good weekend all in all. Thanks to all who made it special, including my online pals and well wishers. 

Sunset Meadows

Just as we were starting the campfire Saturday evening, the sun was going down.  The focus is a little off, but the color makes it worth posting this picture anways.

I hope your weekends were just as good. Did you get to do anything special or out of the ordinary? Did you at least get to kick back and relax? Please say yes.

Have a fantastic Monday.  I'm going to do some painting.  Hopefully it dries quick so I can work on setting up the new printer a little later.

Yard Sale-in' By Foot, Deer Me

Not Everyone Can Pull Off a Tu Tu At a Yard Sale

Our neighbors Lauren and Jay, and Lauren's mom Carol had a yard sale yesterday. Right next door. Woohoo! Put my flip flops on and brought them all some Irish sausage we'd cooked up. In return, they offered me a mimosa. Don't you love this yard sale already?

It was a beautiful day and we (Gar, Carol, Kate ....she's Lauren's sister and that's her above, Jay, friends Mary Paige, Dan, and baby Collette) all enjoyed sitting there chatting while the bold and the thrifty tried to talk Carol down on designer shoes that were already next to nothing. 

Sandee (Dee Dee) and her brood of gals (sans one hillary), came over after church to see what they had to have.

Carolyn, was sporting a tu tu, as bright pink as the day was sunny and blue.

Dee Dee and her girls all found something, but that yard sale-in' can be exhausting.

Though Carolyn didn't seem too phased.

Seriously, how cute is this hand?



Here's my favorite finds from the yard sale........

LOVE these ship bookends. Got a deal from Carol and had to have 'em.

And, this architectural column top from Lauren.  OK, it's really Styrofoam and I could lift it with my pinkie, but who would know? It was a freebie to boot. What's not to love?

We got home from the yard sale and Mom stopped by with another bunch of goodies......some more tatting thread she used to use to edge hankies (can you stand it?), a lamp, and some old McClure's magazines. 

Not a bad haul for a Sunday when I only walked next door and came home.

Walked Mom to her car, and when I was going back into the house, I noticed this guy.  He looked a little worse for wear, but he was still doing his praying mantis thing.

In the Field

Gar, Lucan and I took a walk over to the field at the end of the day. Gar got to the crest of the hill first and signaled that there were deer. He kept Lucan in one spot and quiet while I got the camera out.  I was still pretty far away, so as not to disturb them.

I think there was six total.

I tried to keep quiet, but they finally spied me.

And then they were off.............white tails bobbing.

Sorry so fuzzy, as I said, I wasn't as close as I would have liked. And obviously I wasn't holding the camera as steady as I'd like either.

Sunset Meadows

The sunset was casting a pretty pink glow to the East and the Moon was looking large.

Tomorrow, will be the first in the Muse's new Be Our Guest Series. First up is Kristen from By The Book Paper.  She is quite the crafty wizard when it comes to things made with paper, besides being super nice. Kristen is sharing a tutorial on how to make a paper heart garland. We're talking cute people, so stick around and learn something.  Be sure to check out her store to see all the wonderful things she makes with paper. 

Next week's Be Our Guest poster, will be Daena from BadRabbitVintage who will be sharing a how-to that involves a transfer and a tray with a wonderful vintage feel. Love it, and I know you will too.

Be sure to keep your eyes open for future Be Our Guest posters including:

• Stacey from Maggie Jane's Vintage, who is currently recovering from the big barn show at Na-Da Farm she participated in this weekend. 
• Courtney Jo from Milk and Honey Naturals. Her soap is out of this world! 
• Jaime at Crafty, Scrappy, Happy, if here new scheduled ever lets up! 

There's lots happening at The Muse, so share a link with a friend. The more the merrier.

Oh yeah, if you are an artist, crafter, or vintage maniac who would like to be a featured Be Our Guest poster, shoot me an email.

I do hope your Monday is as glorious as ours is in Stratham.

See you on the flip side.