Taking My Rain Sunny Side Up

There are many noted benefits of gardening.  Relaxation, exercise, fresh air, an instant bond with fellow dirt-diggers, and, if you are sprouting some veggies, knowing where your food comes from. Powerful stuff.  Also on the "pro" list-- a changed relationship with the weather. 

Saturday's overcast start was an incentive to hurry home and get in zinnias and other green goodies purchased at a yard sale from The Tomato Man (more on him later).  The rain, then humidity, then rain that followed? Victory!  My plants were ready and waiting to soak it all in.  Instead of scowling at the clouds, which I often do, I did a little happy dance knowing this meant less watering work for me and a better chance of flourishing for my growables.

Don't get me wrong, I still hit snooze an extra time for each rain drop.  But it was nice to feel CONNECTED to the rain, to be able to recognize all the good stuff it brought along, frizzy hair be damned.  That's what pony-tails are for! 

Ah, and The Tomato Man, he is one of my best yard sale discoveries ever.  First of all, he was selling great plants, organically grown for super low prices.  A snow-related collapse of his greenhouse meant his plants were smaller and there were discounts to be had.  As we chatted and I told of him my goal to grow wedding flowers, he not only recommended ones that would be perfect for cutting and would bloom well into the fall (thus, the zinnia purchase), but gave me his card and offered his greenhouse for starting more flowers for my project.  He even gave me tips on some of the flowers I am already growing. 

Ok, so bond with fellow growers--- pro.  Being able to enjoy the rain--- pro.  Nervously checking and rechecking frost warnings for tonight--- well, I said a CHANGED relationship with the weather. Not a perfect one. ;-) 

Wedding Wire...Final Destination

I am the Goldilocks of finding the wedding website that fits "just right."  I started no fewer than 5 sites for us, and looked at features of 10 others.  Yes, I am a bit OCD.  Yes, I could have created a site from scratch using a blog site or weebly in all that time.  In fact, I started those too. :)

I thought my requirement list was simple enough:

• Cool templates (um, duh)
• Ability to hyperlink
• Option to edit in HTML
• Collect online RSVPs (I know could use an outside tool, but really wanted one-stop shop)
• Flexiblity to lay out pics where I want, change fonts as needed, etc
• FREE, FREE, FREE. 

Sadly, when you google "best wedding website," you get sponsor articles.  Wedding message boards were more of a help, but a perfect site for one person could be a disaster for another.  I am at a dangerous stage in my web knowledge-- I know too much to be satisfied with filling out a data form that autopopulates my site, but not enough to start from scratch on a cool template.  I wanted to be in control, but have somebody else do the grunt work.

After MUCH searching, I'm rebuilding our site for the last time.  No, really.  I swear.  Our wedding info can now be found on www.weddingwire.com/KevEm.  It is free.  It lets me manipulate code if I actually feel like it.  It has RSVP functionalities, will post RSS feeds from my blog, has photo albums, lets guests make song requests...you can pick and choose which of these apps to utilize.  A great cross between simplicity and flexibility.  Would definitely recommend.

Mission: Wedding Recon

Yes indeedy, looks like a perfect weekend to do some wedding recon down at the lake!  I'll pack up my laser measuring tape, a list of restaurants that cater and a handful of Claritin.  Should be all set! 

I'm looking forward to filling in some blanks.  It will be good to get a better idea of the yard layout and  parking.  Plus, we can look at restaurants, lodging, etc online as much as we want, but some things just need to be seen. Or in some cases, tasted.  Plus, this wknd marks the 3rd anniversary of our 1st date (I forgot...K sent me flowers. Aww:-), so the trip will double as a romantic get away.  Heck, maybe we'll just elope while we are down there.  Then I will never have to decide what to do about bridesmaids dresses or playlists.  Kidding, I can't WAIT to do the playlist.  I write it in my head all the time as I'm driving down the road.  Looking very forward to starting The Music Project.  More on that one later!

In the meantime, must decide between rustic camping cabin or B&B for Saturday night.  Looking for a place to stay this weekend has been a bit of a wake up call.  For my non-camper guests, lodging options will be limited.  Hopefully people will heed my warning to book early & often.       

Picture Perfect

So  happy right now!  Another huge check off the list, and in just the right way!

Through work, I have become friends with the couple that runs a graphic arts company, ImageWerks.  The wife, Kathy, is an amazing photographer.  Of course, I had immediately thought of her for our photos, but...I wanted her to have the option to just CHILL on our big day.  So while I wanted to ask her, I did not want to create any sense of obligation by doing so.  Ah, the politics of wedding planning. :)  Tonight the stars aligned, when Kathy made the offer to be our photog.  Lots of hugs and me almost crying with joy (literally) later, we have a photographer, and I couldn't be happier! 

I can breathe easy, knowing that our memories are in safe hands.  I already know that she has a fantastic perspective and will pick up the meaningful little moments in our ceremony and reception.  Better yet...I have another ally, another person I trust and love who will be on the wedding journey with us.  Who knew me "BK" (before K) and has the history to know that he really IS the best man I have ever known.  She is somebody who truly appreciates our love story.  Kathy has been asking me when we will get married almost since she met him.  As she puts it, "He's your soul mate."  (She says it in this very no-nonsense, all-knowing way that makes the statement an irrefutable fact.  Love it!)   THAT is exactly the energy I want to be surrounded by on our wedding day.  :-)