"Redneck Wedding" down on the Farm

On Friday, Sept. 24, my "little" brother, Steve, was married to his sweetheart, Rena, down on the farm. Rena loves the family farm in Carleton and decided that is where she and Steve should be married. So, I flew in early and helped my mom with some cleaning, organizing and moral support before the big day.

So, we had to have a dress rehearsal. I found a couple of items in my mom's bedroom that were "perfect" for the "redneck" (as Rena said it would be) portion of this special event. The hat was given to my mom by some organization that she just couldn't bear to throw away. So, I decided it could be the head dress of the bride. We also found some flowers that were "perfect' for a bridal bouquet.

Well, Steve didn't have anything so we decided to change the attire and include a few more items that were necessary for the event.

The head dress went to Steve, the new bonnet went to Rena and Mom found these neck ties in the "cold room" that were perfect. Ok, so they weren't really going to happen, but we did have a great laugh.
We then needed to have a rehearsal of the "first dance" of the Texans. I think Steve is trying to figure out how he got out of the garage with tractor number one.
Here they are trying to get back into the garage to put the tractors to bed before the big day.
Ok. That was all fun but now for the serious event. Here are Steve and Rena walking down the "aisle" to the archway to get married. They almost went the other way, but cousin Dave steered them right and they went to where the guests were waiting for them.
So serious listening to Preacher Gil perform the ceremony.
They are husband and wife!!! YIPEE!!! If you look carefully in the next picture, you will see a small John Deere Tractor hanging down in the middle of the trellis. That is their version of a mistletoe.
Ok, already. You said it was going to be short and sweet so we could all go and eat!!!!
They did dance on the mini tractors to the "Big Green Machine", a country western song.
We had to get a few more wedding pics with some family.
The Groom, Mother of the Groom and Bride, what a great picture.
Family together again - all of my Mom's children in one place.
Children and daughters/sons-in-law pose with Mom before we eat.
The "feast"...chicken, Golabki (cabbage rolls), Pierogis, sauerkraut/sausage, potato salad, pasta salads, fresh veggies, fresh fruit, jello dessert, chocolate truffle. Yummy!!!
A great tasting cake - notice the mini tractors in the field...yep, they are stuck!!

I missed the cutting of the cake, but got the after picture which was probably better anyway.
Since Rena didn't carry flowers, this centerpiece on the chocolate fountain table made a great background for showing off the rings.
The bride at the end of the night. She was tired.
After a trip to Niagara Falls, they stopped by Mom's to open their gifts. Steve did a great job of reading the cards - what a hoot.

I made them a Dale Earnhardt lap quilt with pillow shams. They were quilted by my friend, Donna with flames and #3 over the entire quilt. Had to have a little red, nascar and #3 somewhere near the ceremony - couldn't be all John Deere green.

What a wonderful weekend. We are so happy that Rena is a part of our family. She is so sweet and funny and fits in perfectly. Congratulations, Steve and Rena....may you have a wonderful life together.

And, Mom, we made it. Got it all done and it was the perfect place. Thanks for putting up with all the changes and cleaning. We all love you!!!

Whirlwind Trip to MI

I have just returned from another whirlwind trip to Michigan. My little brother was getting married on the farm so I helped my mom with lots of cleaning at her house in preparation for the big day. But, before then, Mom and I spent the weekend in Lansing visiting with Caleb and, of course, his parents, Nick and Julie. We so enjoyed our time.

Caleb had a bad cough and was slightly off course but we enjoyed our time with him anyway. He tried so hard to smile and be happy. The vaporizer helped him sleep at night and he did much better the next day when Julie and Nick went to the movies and out shopping.
Julie found this bouncy swing at a sale and Caleb loved it. Once he got going, look out, you saw him kicking away with smiles galore.
While Julie and Nick were gone, Gram and I got to babysit and enjoy some time with him. He liked this 24"worm and the crackle noise the purple section made.
He just loved hanging out with Gram. He so enjoys her and she him.
He decided that her finger was something he needed to try. He is drooling lots, thus the constant bibs on him. Hoping some teeth will start coming in soon.
He loves his momma. Julie just started a new job as an ER nurse and had six days off in a row. So, there was lots of quality time with Momma.
Just hanging with his Great Gram.
I got down on the floor with him and we played horsey. He loves being bounced.
Just us Grandmas and our little man!!!
Had to get an updated pic of Nick/Julie and Caleb. He is changing so fast that you have to have lots of pics of this handsome little guy.
Nick and Caleb came to Grams the day before the wedding so I could spend more time with him. They had gotten up early, took Julie to work and then came to Carleton around 7:15. When Caleb got tired, both he and daddy took a nap on Gram's couch.
He loves his daddy and really likes him to blow on his belly. Laughs and giggles at this.
He is fascinated now with his feet and toes. Didn't get them to his mouth but he does love to roll around with them in his hands. He is growing way too fast. Thanks, Nick and Julie for sharing him with us so much while I was in MI,.

Labor Day Weekend

This last weekend, Phil and I went to the Doels home in Ocean Park, WA and spent the weekend with them at the beach. I picked Phil up at noon on Friday, and we made our great escape. As you can see, the weather was just beautiful. We spent three hours walking the beach, checking out garage sales and meeting new friends. Enjoy our latest escape.

It was a little cool, so Phil had to keep me warm while posing for pics on the Long Beach Peninsula.
We bought some tuna and Bill and Becky helped us can it. We put a sprig of rosemary and some garlic in the bottom of a half-pint jar and then filled with tuna.
Phil helped by holding the jars while I stuffed them.
We ended up with 12 half-pints and one quart. Going to be good stuff!!!
Becky had gotten a dehydrator at a local garage sale. So we decided to try drying some grapes, a peach, nectarine, apple and orange.
After approximately two days of drying, we got some semi-dried apples and the rest was a bust. This dryer is going to the goodwill.
We had some local friends drop in to see us as well.
This little buck had some mini horns on his head. Do you see them???? Well, they were there.
We decided to have lunch at the new restaurant in Long Beach on Sunday while we did an excursion to the quilt shops looking for a specific brown fabric. It was called the Lost Roo and it had an Australian theme. So, the guys had to visit with the greeter in the lobby.
On the way back to the beach house, we stopped in Tapestry Rose - part ice cream parlor and part knitting shop. Phil found a kindred spirit friend, Kalani. She didn't like ice cream and was just as bored as Phil was while he waited for his. Thanks, Kalani for being a good sport and posing for us. Hope you enjoyed your trip to the beach.
Becky didn't have enough in her waffle cone so she tried to get some of Phil's chocolate ice cream. As you can see, a sunny day at the beach.

We walked about three 1/2 miles on the beach. Bill and Phil stomped occasionally at the water's edge to see if there were any clam "shows".
Phil says" I found one. I found one!!!"
Yep, that is what we look for. So, we took this pic to remind ourselves of what to look for when clamming starts in a month. Look out clams, we will be licensed and armed !!!
Later in the day, Bill went out to surf fish and Phil tried to see more clam shows. This little pesty fish was on the hook and wouldn't let go.
Don't know what kind he was, but he had horns, not much meat to him and kinda vicious looking. Well, if he was bigger, maybe vicious looking. :-)
We were also able to get some quilting in. Bill put up the rack and we rehung Becky's beach quilt in the great room.
I worked on Village Kids quilt tops. This was a "fire teddy bear" quilt, some little boy will love.
A little Mary Englebright for a little girl.
We found this panel at the Boardwalk Quilt shop in Long Beach. Becky put hers together for a baby shower, and mine will go to Caleb who has a book with these characters in it. Let's see, there is Eleanor the Elephant, Geri the Giraffe, Timmy the Tiger, Larry the Lion and Mary the Monkey. Do you think I read the book to Caleb very much??? He will love it either on the wall or playing on it on the floor.

Hope you enjoyed our recent journey. I do have lots more pics that I need to put on of my summer trip back to MI - two months worth. But they will have to wait until I can get a little more time. Between computer troubles and a busy schedule, well....look forward to the future for more from us northwest LaVoys. Have a great week.

Update

So, I have been in Michigan helping Nick and Julie with Caleb while Julie works and Nick attends OCS. As you can see, there are no pictures. I don't know how to load my pics from the cd to the computer and Julie is too busy to help. Besides, her sister came to town from Florida and she is meeting her new niece and showing off Caleb. So, you will have to do with my visit in words only and use your imagination.

I arrived on July 4 at my Moms and many family members came over to see Caleb. Nick would be attending OCS in VA and I arrived early to help with Caleb and to sew some items for him to take with him. So, on Friday, July 9, I went on Caleb duty at 6am. Whew...that is 3am Oregon time and I was not yet used to EDT. But after Julie went to work and Caleb was ready for his nap, this Mimi took a nap with him....actually for two weeks, every day until I got used to the time difference.

He is a joy. I don't know how else to put it. He is so adorable, cute, handsome, precious, etc., etc., etc. Night times are Julies although I have offered enough that if she needs me, I can take care of him. Weekends we sleep in. When Momma comes home from work, Caleb is hers, I fix dinner, clean up, prepare bottles, fix Julie's lunch, etc. Yes, I am trying to spoil her as well as Caleb. I think she likes it. :-)

Caleb is 4 months old tomorrow (Aug. 5), and a schedule is starting to happen. There are a few habits that are starting to change as well - like sleeping in his crib. He has outgrown the bassinet and is starting to take good naps in the crib during the day. He is sleeping through the night, a bit restless sometimes, but no feedings after 9 pm and before 6 am. Makes for good rest.

He has not begun to roll over but is trying. That darn left arm just gets in the way though. He sits up well in his bumbo seat (will share pictures of this later - when I figure it out), smiles and giggles alot. He is such a happy boy, changing before my eyes. He has a bouncer seat and gets going to town in that thing. That right hand makes a fist and those feet just kick and kick. A few weeks ago he made a noise and scared himself. Now that noise is just habit and he doesn't even flinch.

Phil was able to come to MI a few weeks ago for five days. We went to Paradise, MI - past the Soo Locks in the Upper Peninsula. An eventful trip to MI via Minneapolis - not a good eating schedule, but all turned out well. We left on Friday and stayed at the Paradise Inn - no outdoor camping for us. Had a great visit with his brother Lou from CA; sister Susan from Florida; sister-in-law Dianne, her granddaughter Stephanie and nephew Aaron from Wisconsin; sister Ann and her granddaughters from Ohio; plus brother Chuck, wife Ruth; brother Gil, wife Nancy; brother Tim, his daughter Jan & her fiance, Steve; nephew Luc, wife Kadren & Amelia, Cora, Suzanne and Emmit, all from Mi along with his nephew Chris whose house we were at. It was great visiting, sharing memories and making new ones. Phil also went to my Moms and helped clear out her garage with Mary Ann and Jerome. Having a big party in September so we are starting early to get things ready.

I have not been doing as much sewing as I thought I would. I have finished a table runner, binding a Redwork Quilt for my niece and have material for an apron but that is about it. I am also meeting up with the Home of the Brave Coordinator for Michigan tomorrow so we will see how much more sewing I will be able to do. Also going to see friends, Sue, Sandy and Kris for dinner. I am also going to my second Livingston Lakes Chapter EGA meeting next week and plan to see my nieces the following before I return home on the 25th.

Nick is doing well at school and has had a few phone calls to Julie and Caleb. Caleb lights up when he hears his daddy's voice. He sounds good and is accomplishing what he has set out for well. We are all anxious to see him on the 21st.

All in all, it has been a wonderful trip. Yes, I do miss Phil very much and I know he has been whining and fussing but he is actually doing well in OR. Just a few more weeks and I will return to my sewing, quilting friends and my household. I can't believe it is coming to an end soon. But, ,I would not change it for anything. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Julie and Caleb and am so grateful to Our Lord for being in a position to be able to help as well as for having a very understanding hubby.

Gotta run. I have much to do before the little guy gets home. I will try and get pics up soon...just haven't had the time I thought I would. I know...you told me so. :-)

Wooly Wednesday

Last week was our Wooly Wednesday class. We never know in advance what we are going to make and teacher, Debbie Busby, of Wooden Spoons Designs, comes up with more ideas than we can think of. So this month we did doing flags for the upcoming July 4th Holiday.
They are all so nicely done and we had a great time picking out buttons, trying to do stars, getting the word "Liberty" straight. These are Debbie's examples from the class.

Here we are with our finished designs - as you can see, Marilyn, Donna and I have one finished, but we had fun doing it. Thanks again, Debbie, for a fun wooly day.