initially i intended to divide this up into multiple posts, poetically narrated, but instead i'll give you an option.
the short story:
we have spent the last few weeks celebrating our booties off for so many reasons! (now skip to photos)
the longer story: (you might want to grab a refreshing beverage first)
- we spent a weekend with the treenware gang at folklife, spearheaded by the legendary nancy lou webster (our summer initiation ritual)
- we packed up the airstream/kid/dog/hamster and hit the road for wedding #1, taking the long way and checking out lake pontchartrain and fontainebleau state park, abita springs, and the gulf coast of florida
- spent five days soaking up wedding shenanigans/commune life (vineyard style) in virginia at rassawek, where kids ran in packs freely exploring, the moon was full, folks danced their tookuses off till 4am (in the rain), moonshine was passed, front porches were sung upon, and there was much toasting and breaking of bread (huzzah!)
- the journey home was uneventful, thank goodness, as the mr decided to drive straight through, only stopping for coffee and fuel
- back to the hill country to party it up for my FIL's retirement...
- (and i should mention the passing of 'my' kitty zoot who was almost 20 years old, who stayed home with my mama when i moved out. much props to mom for caring for her all these years, and to her other care angels as well.)
- then back to the city to fly out for wedding #2 in vegas!! my little bro jake (who is really j's bro but i've known him since he was 4 so i make the claim) almost caused me to mess up my makeup when he teared up the moment his beautiful bride walked thru the chapel door. so sweet. and thus more celebrating...
- it being our first time to vegas, and a whirlwind trip at that, we were a little overwhelmed, but managed to check out some cool stuff. started the next day at the neon museum (which i had read about on this blog about a cross-country adventure in a printing press truck). holy crap this place was neat, even at 115 degrees and with not much shade. my camera stopped working because the batteries got too hot, and i kinda stopped working too...so afterwards we drove around and i took photos from the air conditioned comfort of the car. (i highly recommend the museum tour, (which is only at certain times, check online). it's very informative and i love that they are working to preserve some history...and it is a font and photo paradise!)
- we ate at the peppermill diner, hit the hay early so we could fly out the next morning...
- and home! the mr and boy head back to the farm for the kid to learn some excavating skills for our septic system (and the house has a roof! and some paint! and some windows!)
- i stay to play with friends visiting in town, which included my getting to tag along for multiple feasts of goodness prepared by other people, and a day of swimming at a crystal clear watering hole with my sweet niece-o. (she's another one i claim. and she likes to put 'o' on the ends of words.)
um, yeah, that's about it. ha! we did manage believe it or not to do all this pretty slow family style. and as usual, thanks to my man for doing all the heavy lifting.
i feel pretty darn blessed.
