All We Need is Love

Song - Have I Told You Lately That I Love You by Van Morrison

When my oldest son and daughter-in-law were married in our garden several years ago, we had these little paper floats that had a candle in them and at dusk we asked everyone to write a wish for the married couple and then float it in our pool.  It was lovely.....and it feels like people are showing more kindness and love to their neighbors and even strangers right now.  A nod of the head or wave from a stranger with gloves and a mask on says "We are in this together and I hope you are safe".

Stand By Me

Song -  And I Love Her by The Beatles

Thirty nine years ago Mr. B and I said "I Do!" 

We look so serious during our outdoor vows. 

I love the twinkle in my dad's eyes as he hands me off to Mr B. 

I'm thinking that he is wondering if we "kids" know what we are getting into.

We all look a bit more relaxed now that the service was over and the party was about to begin!

Mr. B's brother Bob (in gray) was a classically trained French chef 

and he graciously agreed to cater our reception.

The usual cast of friends (Mr. B and his friends from Chico) were there ready to cheer us on....

My mom and Mr. B dancing with his white man's overbite!!!

Me with my niece Katie and my two brothers Tim and Dave.

Cake cutting time and as I remember we had a carrot cake, a chocolate cake and a vanilla cake 

(guess we couldn't make up our minds).  

Our cake knife was given to us by Mr. B's sister Kristy.

Then Mr. B did the unthinkable.....

I can still hear my mother yelling "Don't you Dare" from across the room!

Time to gather up your bride Mr. B.....

A quick change of clothes and we are off on our honeymoon!

Driving off into the sunset in our chariot......

 err I mean our Toyota Corolla!

Thanks Mr B for 39 years of magic and love! 

"Before you marry a person you should first make them use a computer with slow Internet to see who they really are." 

—Will Ferrell

Queen of Hearts

Song - Mother and Child Reunion by Paul Simon

Mother's Day
 

 

Some photo's of mom's and their daughters.....from our family.

Mamma Mia.....
it's both a love story and a struggle for independence kinda relationship.

Above is a photo of my grandmother and my mom on her wedding day.

(I need to say that Grandma never dressed like this....she was always in an apron & cooking!)

I often wonder if there were ever  struggles in their relationship?

Grandma Sophie had four beautiful daughters.
And all the sisters were great friends.

My mom's mom - Grandma Sophie and her mom - Grandma Mary.

I was very fortunate to be able to spend time with both my Grandmother 

and Great Grandmother on my mom's side of the family.

Grandma Mary and my mom in Los Angeles c1980

Grandma Mary lived until she was 98 years old!

Need I say.....she was a pistol!

 My mom and her mother-in-law.....Grandma Violet.

(That's Duchess in between them at the beach in Santa Cruz)

 My daughter-in-law, Ashley and myself last year at her wedding shower.

Mom and myself at my wedding to Mr. B.

 Grandma Mary and me in Los Angeles.  She called me "Jeanettie"

Mom and I at the Giant's World Series game in 2010.

Very special time.

Love you mom and all the love your bring to our family!


 "God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers"
 - Jewish proverb

iknowyouarebutwhatami?

Song - The Laughing Song by Dan Hicks

Mr. B keeps me laughing....

He borrowed the tie from the "photo booth" during the wedding.

Now he will keep our new daughter-in-law laughing too!

Did I share with you that the wedding was magical?

Well, it was!

"Sexiness wears thin after a while and beauty fades, 

but to be married to a man who makes you laugh every day, 

ah, now that's a real treat." 

--Joanne Woodward

Peace

Song - Going To The Chapel Of Love by The Dixie Cups

I have to tell you first and most importantly - we just had a wedding!!! 

Do you remember the children's rhyme about the old lady who swallowed a fly? That keeps going through my mind lately as I have been unusually busy for the last few months. So like the old lady who continues to swallow larger & larger animals to catch the fly, I have been embracing one event after another, after another!

In July we had a family trip to Montana....where I proceeded to get a bronchial/sinus infection for several months! Never went to the doctors as I have this little stubborn side of me that Mr. B knows ahhh so well....

 I also had a solo art show at Chow restaurant in Danville.

And a large solo show in Benicia during the month of August that took me months to prepare for. I then needed to plan for a reception and the show needed to come down after Labor Day and be stored somewhere.

"My Little Helper"

Also during the month of August we cleaned out our garage and remodeled/redecorated our downstairs bedroom & family room! 

 This meant picking out paint, molding, carpeting, light fixtures & furniture. And we also  helped to move our middle son from LA to Monterey!

 

Concrete color choices that don't match - let's see - do I really want a PINK patio....NO?

Garland making on the new patio

We had a new patio poured around our pool and a lot of yard work was done all in preparation for our eldest sons wedding in our backyard! (Insert a big smile here!) 

Lighting was strung up all over the yard.....above is the father of the bride working with two of our sons on the hanging of lights.

...and it turned our yard into lovely magic in the evenings.

I took endless trips to the nursery to purchase more and more plants - just because I did know what else to do with all of my excitement!

Boutonnieres were done with backyard flowers & succulents.

Two of the brides best friends came over the day before the wedding and we all worked on making the flowers for the wedding.  I just loved, loved, loved having women in my house!!!  (Just to remind you - I came from a family of 2 brothers and had 3 sons - that's a lot a guy energy!) 

The wedding took place on the evening of September 17th and it was simply beautiful. The lighting, food, ceremony, dancing, friends & family were all wonderful.....as were the bride & groom!

  

Several days after the wedding, Mr. B and I headed up to Tahoe for a much needed time to relax.

However..... 

We have had bears, Yellow-jackets and loggers around our cabin.

Not as peaceful as we were hoping for....but we are grateful for it all.

Peace

Tis not in seeking 

Tis not in endless searching

They quest is found

Be still and listen

Be still and drink the quiet all around

--Engraved on the back of Edward Rowland Sill's chair at The Greek Theater in Berkeley

Home Sweet Home

Song - Our House by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

As some of you may know, a wedding will be taking place in our backyard in September!  Our oldest son and his wonderful girlfriend have asked to be wed in our yard.

 


So I have been strolling around the yard for the last several weeks, pouring over plant catalogs, making garden plans and taking a few visits to local nurseries to see what my options are for beautiful blooms that time of year. I have a few idea's up my sleeve!

As I was walking around, I noticed the bird house that Andy placed up in an Oak tree in our shade garden.  I saw a pair of Black-Capped Chickadee's on the tree beside it last week.

Then several days ago I noticed something inside the hole but I couldn't quite make it out. When I got out my zoom lens, it just looked like a blur inside.

But today I noticed something move!

When I zoomed in on the hole, it looked like a lot of fuzz and maybe a few feathers!!! Not sure what to make of it but I am hopeful!  Even though I have fed the birds for years, this is the first bird house we have ever put up.

Other than our ladder on the side of the house which is inhabited again this year!  No sign of babies yet but mom & dad are taking their turns sitting on the nest. If you need to borrow a ladder, you'll have to wait a few more weeks!

 This is where the sweethearts are planning on having their ceremony - the side lawn. It is in need of some tender loving care as last year we had to let it die because of the California drought.  Right now it's green because of the recent rains but it's mostly weeds.....

Mika is hoping to be the flower girl or at least be invited!!!

"Weddings are important because they celebrate 

life and possibility."  -- Anne Hathaway

Weddings are important because they celebrate life and possibility.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_wedding.html

Weddings are important because they celebrate life and possibility.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_wedding.

Surrounded by Color

Song - At Last by Etta James


So much has happened in the last few weeks......

It was Mr. B's birthday on Valentines Day and we had several friends over for Paella and laughter! Mr. B cooked the yummy Paella since I had carried this lovely copper pan from Paris as a gift for him 5 years ago and it's never been used!  Until NOW........

My nephew and his wife have been on a trip and my son volunteered to watch their dog for them while they are gone.  But my son and his fiancee both work full time so I volunteered to take Canonball for a few days.  What a sweet, loving doggie!  I remember her as a youngster and she was a bit on the wild side but not any more.  Very mellow.....and just the right height to pet when you pass her in the house!

Did you notice that "special" word that I casually inserted in the above paragraph?

YES!!!  Andy asked Ashley to marry him last weekend and she said YES!!!  I cried for 3 days with tears of joy! Mr. B and I both adore her and we couldn't be happier!  Heck, I'm crying right now just telling you about it............

I think my son has good taste in a wife and a ring......bling!

And on a final note, my momma Mourning Dove is back.  She and her partner built a nest in a day and that evening she was sitting on it.  So sweet.

So you can see how much color has been in my life recently and I'm loving it!!!
 


"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be." --Douglas Adams