A Bit Before & Way After The Festivites

Just sayin' hi! And showing you the two photos I took before we set everything up for the wedding.This was the welcome sign the kids got ready to greet guests.

The weather held out. And we were able to get the three toddlers out of the locked bathroom after the handle fell off on the inside of the door an hour before the wedding. 

But it's all over now. The lawn is beginning to recover, and the mounds of bedding and table linen have all been washed.

Besides the wedding, we got to the zoo, threw a fifteenth birthday party, and one day went for a swim. 

This is my quiet companion for a little while now as we smooth things out. I'm a little exhausted, exhilarated, and have a bit of a back ache and sore throat. 

Feelin' a bit rumpled.

But I've ironed just a few things for therapy. The small pieces.

And one or two favorites. 

There's a pile or two that will never get done. . . .

It's been a sweet and wonderful time. We would do it again next week if we could!

Thanks so much for all your wonderful well wishes!

 I'm looking forward to catching up to you all again!

Jacqueline

Bride's Dream Roses & Vintage French Limoges

Fittingly enough it was the Bride's Dream Austin roses that bloomed first this year. I couldn't help but give them a little show.

We had a kickoff pizza night last evening with the first family arrivals, and the bride and groom began the intertwining of their lives by stringing the twinkle lights for the wedding celebration. 

In the early quiet next morning I got a few shots of my luckiest recent find. A little stack of lovely vintage French plates perfect for small "pre-season" lead up celebrations. It's uncanny how your mental radar can zero in on the best stuff to support your current theme. 

Still some polishing up to do, but I love the winged heart motif on this silver serving fork.

Buckets of baby's breath standing by too.

One of the "borrowed" things will be a bag of bubble bottles that turned up from the last garden wedding that got overlooked under a table. (There are always a few glitches.)

They're for blowing sweet good wishes for the bride and groom in place of throwing rice.

A very dignified teenage Lucky Charms breakfast is going on while I write this up. A second wave of family members arrives in a few hours. Let the games begin!

Thanks so much for popping by for a visit, and for all the good wishes!

Jacqueline

French Country Cottage~Feathered Nest Friday

Between Naps on the Porch~Tablescape Thursday

My Romantic Home~Home Sweet Home

A White Bouquet for Mother's Day

I've been enjoying a few cut blooms from my snowball bush for the last few days. This is its first year after planting, and while the bush grew larger, it produced fewer flowers this spring. I wish I had planted more than one! What was I thinking? They only last a short time anyway.

They were so cheery that I got used to having a small bouquet close by. And when the flowers finally gave up I wanted another one to take its place.

Or maybe I was just influenced by the new Victoria Classics Magazine which has lots of gorgeous white in it.

At any rate, my choice for Mother's Day was another white bouquet. Stocks this time. Lovely and fragrant.

The scent fills the small sitting room and adds a special touch. I may have just started a new routine for cut flowers!

A little live bouquet just adds an extra something to a room. And I know the "sort of" rule that insists you need a pop of color in a white room which is often found in the flowers. But my rooms will soon be filled with plenty of liveliness with all the family home. I'd rather keep the tone quiet.

Thanks so much for all your warm wishes for the big reunion! It's a busy time of year and many of you have big events this month too. My best to you too! I hope you all enjoy a sweet Mother's Day!

Jacqueline