Best Wedding Ever!!! The Kids Did A Thing Round Two!

It was a glorious day!  The Wedding Day had finally arrived! The dress, the shoes, the hair -all perfect!

Reedo so handsome in his wedding threads!  This is a preview picture from a few days before the actual event.

Here he is without the jacket - still so handsome, just a little more casual for the reception maybe....

The full on reception attire!  Remember this - it will be funny later!

Hubby trying on his finery - yes it is Camo - the kids said we could because it matched my dress!

So we got ready to go - Early!  I looked in the mirror as I brushed my hair and I painted the last coat of polish on my toes - not a perfect match for the dress but with my fancy shoes - perfect for the day!

In case you missed it - those are the fancy shoes and the fancy hair!

Out the door we went..... got 5 miles away and hubby realized he forgot his wallet at home!  "Will I need it?"  "I dont know!  Why would you?"  "I dont know!  We better go get it just in case!"  So much for being on time for everything!  So we went back and got the wallet and when he went in the house, Naughty Ike was so excited that he was back that he smudged Hubby right in the crotch with a giant drool of goo as only a Mastiff can do!  Ugh!  Cleanup on aisle 1!

After the cleanup and getting the boys back in the house - of course they escaped - we hit the road again - only a little but late and I texted the kids that we were running late but on our way!  I was frustrated but not panicked - we would make it before everything started!

Until...... Road Construction!!!!!  Road construction with a pilot car on our One way in, One way out road!  20 minutes stopped the first time, them moved about 500 feet and 20 more minutes wait!  Horrors!

By now I am in panic mode!  It is 80 degrees and the car has no AC and I can feel my perfect hairdo soaking up the heat and frizzing completely!  Im wearing a faux velvet dress with a silk liner and Im sweating where ladies don't mention!  Hubby is also not happy - heat, sweat, wait & late....not a good combo for any man!

We just breathe......hold on and just breathe!

 Then we race to the wedding....as fast as the jalopy will go - and the law!

We were on time!  The beautiful kids had some hiccups too and so we were all able to be there for all the things!  Whew!

They started out by saying their personal vows to each other in a private ceremony before all the guests got there.  It was so beautiful and heartfelt!  I only cried a little, but I was so proud of them for making this choice and for the words of love that they said to each other!  It was truly a personal and deeply loving ceremony!

We also got some pictures taken before the ceremony too.  

Here they are in front of all the friends and family saying almost traditional vows.  It was humor, love and blessings all rolled into a truly beautiful ceremony - with a few comedy skits in it!  I laughed and cried - I think all the grown ups in the area who know us and Reed did!  Keyona's people too!

The happy couple after the wedding part was done and now onto the party part!

Me with Keyona after the wedding!  That is her reception outfit - mine is the green dress that I will wear again for another something!  Its comfortable and really wasnt too hot until.....

It is now 82 degrees! I am once again sweating where ladies shouldnt sweat! I am on the porch in the shade with one of my best girls Tyra Bogert!  She is amazing and beautiful and was willing to hold my hand and cry like we planned it like two old ladies at the wedding should the need arise - thankfully it didn't - we did good!

Note Reeds current reception outfit!  Way too hot for the Humphreys today!  NO pants!

After changing to my reception outfit (much cooler and air circulating) the mother son dance with my sweet son to the song he chose for us!  "I Thought You Should Know"  by Morgan Wallen 

Its the perfect song for us - lots of meanings and memories in that song!  I never thought the prayers were wasted - ever - and she is a lot like me.....  I love them both!

Hubby with our neice RaeRae.  Not sure if they are Captain Morgan or ??? They were enjoying the day - it had poured down rain for almost the whole week and we prayed for just one day of sun for the wedding!  We got the best day of the year!  Side note - Hubby did throw his back out a bit after this dancing with the best man Logan - and maybe running from the Groomsmen who wanted him to ride the mechanical Salmon!

Beautiful table settings for the reception!  They had such amazing settings and decorations, and the food was the bomb!  Keyonas stepdad and family made smoked brisket that was so delicious along with beans and potato salad like a big bar b que! They also had a Charcuterie Table!  It was amazing! I forgot to get a picture of the awesome spread!

All the groomsmen!  Not one bird (Rye Sign) showing here!  Aren't they all so handsome and appropriate!  We flipped the bird way less today than usual at gatherings, not sure why or maybe we just missed getting them in pictures today?  Sadly (lol) there was also no naked at this wedding or reception!  Word got around that Nana (Reeds Gramma) forbade it - and the streakers wife may have too..... only the streak knows!

The memorial table.... I always have mixed feelings about these at weddings, but I have come to understand that it is a way to have the physical presence there... even if in pictures.  We always have them in spirit - dragonflies abounded all day throughout the ceremony too.... and

They were with us today.  All of our people.

The happy couple on the mechanical salmon!  This was so fun to watch - I did not ride it as I currenlty have a hip that needs replacing - this was what Hubby was running from the Groomsmen to avoid riding!  The video is hilarious!  It wont load here so you will just have to believe me!  It was Reeds one request for the reception - a mechanical Salmon!  

We are anxiously awaiting the professional photos from the day - might see the bird more in those!  I will update when we ge them...

I hope you have sun, love, and great memories for all of your events..... Blessed Be!

A New Do and the Wedding Shoes

This is a long one but it makes up for the month since my last post... it will be worth it!

So...... There was to be a wedding!  A wedding that would have my son getting married!   To  very special young lady!  I had the dress ordered, and as the date drew near I talked with my mom about what to do with my darn hair!  It's just weird - it never does what I'd like it to do! I slso do not really try very hard to do things with it - I most of the time do not care about my hair!

 

Above is my usual hair!  Hot mess not quite a brown football helmet!

She said "I am giving a "Love You Gift" card for you at The Hair and Color Bar in Wasilla.  You will go and get your hair done before the wedding!"

In theory, this is so awesome it brought me to tears!  In reality, I also cried a little with anxiety about going to the hairdresser!  I have some issues!  I also had to go shoe shopping at some point in time and get just the right shoes to go with said dress!  I also do not love shopping unless it is at a fabric store!

But Mom said she had seen a lot of ladies coming out of there when she was waiting for one of my neices (pre driver status days) to get done working and there "was never anyone who came out of there who wasn't beautiful!"

The dress arrived and I made the hair appointment and prepped to go shoe shopping too!  The making of the appointment was interesting - I use pretty generic shampoo and conditioner and I dont own a blow dryer, straightener, or curling iron and I have not had my hair professionally done for about 20 years!  I have been cutting my own hair for most of that time - literally when Im sewing and hair falls and is in my way - I grab those paper scissors and cut it off and in the garbage it goes!  Totally not kidding! The appointment application asks lots of questions about your "hair regimen".  I do not have one!

I know one of the hair professionals at the Hair and Color Bar but of course she was to be out of town until after the wedding so I messaged her and asked who I should go to as an anxiety ridden self hair cutter?  She said - Stephanie all day long!  So I booked with Stephanie.....

Day of the appointment - I did some housework and then went and visited my father in law for a bit and then I went shoe shopping - had the day all planned out so I couldnt freak out and cancel any of the things!  Famous Footwear has Birkenstocks and that is what I wanted for the wedding shoes - they can be kind of fancy but still work at work too!  Double win!

Shoe shopping took a little longer than I thought it would, there was a young lady trying to find her perfect pair of Crocs, and a couple who were beach shoe shopping and I couldnt find exactly the right thing either until I only had about 15 minutes to get across traffic, through a few stoplights and up a hill to the hair appointment.  So ..... I rushed us - me and the shoe clerk.  She opened the box, said "left, right, 41, 41 and same color!  Great!" Rang me up and away I went - with the reciept in the box.  (Make note that we opened the box during this transaction at least twice - it will be important later).

I made it to the place - Hair and Color Bar - tucked into the mall in between the Geico offices and the Northern Knives store.  Took a few minutes to get ready to go in - "everything will be ok- everything will be ok!"

And Im in!  Smiling and greeted kindly by a very lovely receptionist.  Checked in and told Stephanie will be right with me.  "Everything will be OK!"  

The before picture - in the chair and ready to do the hard thing that is also very exciting!

They offer you tea and water and here I am with Stephanie behind me uptting the "fun Foil" in my hair to get me "sun kissed highlights" started! Notice that both of us are smiling!  I very much liked the idea of "sun kissed highlights"  I want something seriously low maintenance, and not trying to cover up my grey, but just to have it be a little brighter and look good for the wedding!  They ask you when you make the appointment if you will committ to having an "hair update" at least every 6 months - I said "I dont know when Ill be able to do this again so lets just see how today goes?"  She was good with that - having seen my level of anxiety coming in the door!

Drinking my tea and reading a real paper book while waiting fot the "fun Foil" to do its thing!

When Stephanie had started the whole process, she asked me what it looked like when I look in the mirror and brush my hair?  I know I had a confused look on my face and I said "I don't look in the mirror - I just brush my hair and go out the door!"  Stephanie is familiar with my story as the lady I know who works there is also a loss mother and had told her some of the things.  Apparently, not looking in the mirror is a trauma response - for various reasons - I had not realized that I didn't often look at myself in the mirror - rarely ever....

Stephanie gently said "I know you want to look good for your sons wedding, that is the whole reason you are here today.  Part of self care is looking in the mirror to brush your hair so that on the day of the wedding you will know what to d and how to make it look the way you want!  I need you to start looking in the mirror!"  Then she showed me how she was brushing it.

Done!  I love it!  Stephanie was amazing, gentle, kind and didn't berate me for the uneven levels in my hair from cuttin it myself.  She just fixed them, and showed me how great getting your hair done can be!  As I was leaving I said to her "Stephanie - I would do this again!"

Cool Mo Lis in the car headed home with a beautiful new do and some confidence (along with shampoo and conditioner) that I can manage my hair for the wedding and for all the days really!

Once I got home I was exhausted, but happy!  Until I opened th box with the shoes to make sure they really did go with the dress and.....

TaDa!  Two different shoes in the box!  Yes!  The box we opened at the counter twice!  Holy Crap!  I have to go back to the store!

The next morning I toodled back, and when the clerk asked if I was returning or exchanging I said "Neither, I just need two of the same shoes in my box please!?"

The clerk sort of freaked out - "What if the other pair of shoes got sold too and they dont return them in time for the wedding!?"  I did not freak out - "Then we will find another pair that will work for me!"

It took us 40 minutes and the clerk and the store manager and anyone else who would jump in to help - but finally..... 

TADA!  towo same shoes that fit me in the same box!  Yay! 

Here they are on - perfect with my dress and ready for the wedding!

Stay tuned for the wedding post - coming up sooner that I have been doing - its all a long story!

I hope you have people who love you enough to help you get your hair done when you are afraid to and shoe people who care to get you two shoes in one box!

Blessed Be!

Everything I need to save your life!

A few months ago I had occaision to have a little visit with my sister at her office- she runs the local homeless shelter - its really much more than that - its a training center, a gatering place and they have a daily supper that everyone is welcome to and the staff and the youth sit down and have dinner conversations "family style"! Its really amazing and they do so much more than I can include here without loosing sight of the jist of this post. Check out the program HERE AT MYHOUSE

Anyhoo.... I digress, and she rarely gets to have a spare minute so when I get to say hi to here there its a treat!  We started talking about purses and how I have a giant purse - Chelle only carries a wallet.  The roles used to be reversed and I only carried a wallet and she had a giant bag.  High school times.

This is my bag.  It is about 40 pounds worth and has everything from chargers and cough drops to water bottle, first aid kit and also a sewing kit, Narcan and some quarters for a load of laundry or a newspaper!  We laughed about it for a minute and she said - "I dont need a giant bag - I can get anything I need in about 5 minutes at a store or borrow from a neighbor!"  I said "Everything I need to save your life is in that bag!"

 

She paused for just a second and then asked "Why would you need to carry all that with you?  Whose life is in danger?"  I had not thought about it for a while but the life I want to save is the life I missed saving almost 8 years ago.  This giant bag of crap is a trauma response to the death of my son, Rye.  If I have everything I need to save a life, I wont miss it the next time around - no matter who it is!  There is a comfort in knowing that.  There is little comfort in carrying that much crap around though.  It can be painful!  It also has to have "enough" pens and paper!  I have no idea how much exactly "enough" is though!

I also have some household hoarding that I am dealing with too (see above grocery bag that is half full of filled water bottles).  Books too - lots and lots of books!

I am working through it and have abandoned the giant bag for now in favor of a wallet that holds a lot of stuff but weighs only about 2 pounds!  It has been freeing and epiphanous all at the same time.  I am looking around at all the piles and begining to go through some of them - downsizing a lot of them and creating more manageable space.  Its a good thing and it might save a life anyway!

I hope that you have all that you need to save a life and that you can carry it all in a big heart and a small sack!

Blessed Be!

An Eggs-cellent Storage Plan - Water Glassed "Limed" eggs

Every once in a while a brilliant idea hits me and sticks! Such is the case with the plethora of eggs I ended up with during a spell in December!  I had asked for unwashed eggs from one of my "egg dealers" and they provided an 18 pack along with an 18 pack of washed ones for us to eat!

The unwashed ones I wanted so that I could try "Water Glassing Eggs" aka "Lime Eggs".  I had been hearing about it for a while and decided to check it out.

Lisa Bass at The Farm House On Boone has great directions and advice for this!

It takes Pickling lime, filtered water, a great glass jar and unwashed eggs!  Simple!  When I say unwashed eggs they are eggs that have not had the "bloom" taken off them by washing them in any solution - straight outta the chicken is what you want!  I did wipe off a few bits of feather or dirt with a tissue - very gently so as not to remove the bloom.  Seems to have worked fine but the cleaner the egg laying boxes are the cleaner your eggs will be - straight outta the chicken!

Mix 1 oz (6 tsp of my product) Mrs Wages Pickling lime with 1 quart of filtered water and stir it in to incorporate it.  It doesn't dissolve into the water - it will look cloudy or milky - no worries - still good!  I used filtered water out of my fridge filter - mind doesn't make cold water - its basically filtered room temp water - if yours makes cold water - let it warm up to room temperature before using!

Gently lower the eggs "pointy side down" into the lime water.  My eggs did not stay pointy side down and Im not sure it matters at all?  Just be gentle - I used a long handled wooden spoon to help me lower them into the jar and that worked well.

Once you have a dozen or so eggs in there (I put 18 in this jar to start and they all fit with about 2 inches of the water on top, Im sure it depends on the size of the eggs too) you can seal up the jar.  I just used a Ball lid and ring system for mine.

Here you can see the Mrs Wages Pickling lime bag - I got mine from Amazon but you might be able to find it local too.

Then store the jar in a cool dark place!  Easy peasy!  The label you see here is how I am doing my jars.  This way if something didn't work I can adjust and retry.  I just did another jar of this size today.

The lime on the bottom of the jar is normal and nothing to worry about!  There is still wnough lime inthe water to preserve the eggs!  DO NOT try to tip the jar and mix it in!  You might break one of the eggs and ruin the whole batch!  It wont dissolve in anyway!  The water takes all it needs and leaves the rest on the bottom!

Truuuusssssttttt Mmmmeeeeee! 

So - here we are 4 months later getting ready to use a couple of the glassed eggs to make cookies!  I took out the amount I needed - in this case two.  They smelled and looked fine and the shell didn't really feel "fragile" like I expected.

I started by cracking them into another bowl first just to make sure - didnt want yukky eggs in my batter if this process hadnt worked!

First one and the yolk didnt even break!  Beautiful!  Smells good and looks good!

Second egg - I broke the yolk on this one cracking it but still smelled like an good egg and looks good!

Into the batter bowl they went and made perfect cookies!  They didnt taste funny or make a different dough and no one who tasted one could tell that the eggs had been stored for 4 months in a jar of lime water!

I have not stored eggs for two years yet - I have heard that they can be stored for at least two years - I will keep you posted as I go!  I dont know if you can use the lime water again - I have not been able to discover that.  I have however added eggs to the startup jar and not had any problems with them!

May you be brave enough to try this and blessed enough to have eggs anytime you need them!

Blessed Be in All Things!