Maine Island Wedding-Part One

I did the flowers for a wedding on Peaks Island over Columbus Day weekend-with some of my favorite flowers and colors. It was a Quaker wedding ceremony and the Meeting house needed a few bittersweet wreaths for the doors, tied with grosgrain sage green ribbon. Here they are waiting on my "hand made" wreath holder during assembly. Okay, it was more like, "Where can I possibly put these while I finish the other floral arrangements!?!"My "workshop"-otherwise known as the garage, was a bit full. Well it is always full, I had to carve out a strip of workspace among the zillion other things going on in there...

The groom's boutonniere turned out just right, hypericum berries, a sprig of juniper and seeded eucalyptus. The bride's bouquet was the stunner of all the flowers, and the one thing I didn't get a picture of...perhaps someone else got a good one and will send it along to me?!? It had cockscomb in cranberry color, juniper with blue berries, green and red variegated begonia leaves, red roses, bittersweet, dahlias, mums and seeded eucalyptus, so pretty, textural and unusual. I grew the begonia plants all summer to make sure we would have just the leaves the bride wanted.Ava wasn't too thrilled about the ferry ride to the island on Friday to deliver the flowers, but we made it. It was her first ferry ride, but does it count if you are in the car?!? We had to stay in our car, perhaps she would have rather been out in the salty air...

I was able to cut the quince from my yard and use in the centerpieces, luckily, I was able to cut a lot of things, bittersweet, hydrangeas, rose hips, ornamental grass (thanks to my garden, my neighbor's garden and her assistance on a commando bittersweet run!), crab apple branches, choke berries and apple branches.

The centerpieces were in vintage ironstone soup tureens the bride gathered at flea markets, antique shops and yard sales all summer. They were sumptuous, spriggy, wild and so fun to make.

Once on the tables, under the tent on the island, the flowers really made an impact, I was so pleased with how they came out. Best of all, the bride was elated, and that is always my main goal, to surprise and delight the client. They were just what she wanted, she told me-and a happy bride makes me happy. Each table was named after a different beer that is made by the brewery where the groom is a master brewer-clever!

Ava was a sweet trooper, riding on my back for 5 hours (interrupted by diaper changes, tasty meals and play breaks), squealing with delight and "singing" while I ironed table cloths, set out candles and centerpieces and put favors on tables.

I was a bit unclear on just how I was going to accomplish this delivery and set up day with a baby...It boosts my mama confidence when I figure it out and it goes really well...a little confirmation that I can be my old self and be a mommy too. A very good thing indeed. Did I mention that life is sweet!?!

Fryeburg Fair Adventure

We recently took Ava to the Fryeburg Fair-we usually miss it because we are in Quebec for our anniversary. This year we opted to stay closer to home, what with a mobile baby and all. The cobble stone streets and hilly landscape of Quebec is so endearing to us, but logistically not so compatible with a trying to walk (all the time) baby and a stroller. I don't think either of us is up to carrying around a 22 pound human in a backpack or front pack for 8 hours a day either. (I admire those who hike the Appalachian Trail with babes in tow-I know, it can be done...)

After this outing, when asked what a sheep says, Ava does her best rendition of, "Baaa" which sounds a bit more like "Ahhh" or a coffee maker finishing it's brewing. We of course, think it is just perfect.

Really we knew our little owl would love the livestock at the fair more than the steak and frite in Quebec, so we geared up for a day in western Maine, some old stomping grounds from when we were just the two of us.

Behold! A smorgasbord of delight!

I love the view, the smell of this place-look at their pumpkins! My former visual merchandising self loves the way they are displayed, all stacked by type-I usually don't see them so organized. My crazy self likes boundaries, tidiness, definition-this pumpkin display soothed my soul!

A few sweet goats, all snuggled up-reminds me that we are 3 now too.

This little lonely dollop of a piglet reminded me of how small Ava still is and how big a world this is for her...

And the mama pig with her other babes just nearby, makes me proud of that little pig on it's own. It reminded me that it is really important to strike out on your own, break away from the pack and follow your heart. This pigpen of life is our oyster, we only have to harness the bravery to crack it open to get the treasure.

Missoula on My Mind...

I have been missing Missoula, Montana lately. Missing the feel, the smell, the way the sky looks.

Perhaps it is because I have recently exchanged greetings with an old friend who lives there. My younger sister lived there for years and recently moved back east. While she was there, I would go visit for a few weeks and it is the only place over the years where I really felt as though I was getting away from it all. Maybe it is so different from Maine. Maybe it is just so far away. Maybe the people really are so different...

Maybe I am different when I am there...

Some of my favorite places I recall in my mind:Hell Gate Canyon, the Bitterroot National Forest, Crazy Horse House of Mystery (don't ask, you had to be there), Garnet Ghost Town (always to be visited at nightfall-I dare you to get out of the car!) Glacier National Park-the Going to the Sun Road...my sister showed me my first Grizzly bear there. And my first mountain goat. I saw my first elk and bison...and gazelle in Montana. I mean real ones, not in a zoo, or animal refuge. Not that those in captivity (poor things) aren't real, but there is just something different about a creature in the wild, you know?!?

I miss my sister's little house, with the lilacs, big back yard and Hobo spiders...I yearn for fries and a burger at Nap's (R.I.P) and the Big Sky Drive-In. I miss the Safeway grocery store. (" I just love Safeway, it is a wonderful grocery store"-Linda Smith) ( Again, don't ask, you really just had to be there) Some of my favorite adventures, memories and times were with my sister in Montana.

The House of Mystery-many hours of research went into my husband and sister attempting to crack the mystery...the mystery of the vortex...

I am so proud of my sister for forging her own path and going west to sow her oats. How brave, how wild and how important for her. She was able to come into herself out there I think, break away from her old life and start anew-she was in the wild, with horses, elk and bears-in her element I believe. She took me to visit the horses she rode and cared for on a ranch-I felt honored to be privy to her far away life.

I always yearned to have her back in my clutches, and would tease her about this constantly on our many -hours- long phone conversations every week. Okay, maybe it was more like almost every day! Thank goodness for nationwide free long distance calling plans. So many times, one of our cell phone's batteries would run out and that would end our call. Sweet times, ones that I treasure, though I am so grateful that she is actually back in Maine now, officially back in my clutches. How I missed her! I am delighted that she brought her sense of wonder and appreciation for the wild back with her, she is working for an environmental consulting firm, writing wildlife articles for Vermont Main Streets and Backroads magazine (scroll down to page 10 for her article), adding new bird species to her life list to see and still her crazed and perfect self.

I miss just being there. It is funny because my friend in Missoula, who I just heard from, told me she misses Maine in autumn, the smell of the leaves, the colors, the pumpkins. I guess anywhere you go, there you are. I like to believe that everywhere we go, we collect a bit of the place, and it goes into the weaving of the fabric of who you are, as a life experience. It changes you a bit, the hand of your cloth, the texture of your weaving.

The texture of my cloth has been altered by visiting Montana, lately I have had Missoula on my mind...

Cute Mushrooms Make Good Neighbors

I have had this thing with mushrooms for the past, oh, 13 months or so. I love the way they look-I don't eat them, just adore them from afar. Baby clothes with mushrooms, deer and owls have been of particular interest to me. I haven't actually worn a mushroom garment myself.

Until now! My good neighbor was crocheting these slippers, to felt and turn into a Christmas gift. They turned out a bit too large and the felted slippers just fit my big wicked step-sister feet, so I became the unintended, fortunate recipient. The slippers were delivered to me with 2 little mushrooms hand embroidered on the toes-my very own mushrooms! So now I am puttering around the house in my oh so cozy wool slippers, full of sheer delight with every glance at my toes. (I mean it,real delight-I actually smile as I put them on!)

And look what I happened upon whilst stacking wood! What a little treat-I don't think I can bear to burn this piece of wood, until after the frost.

Another kindly neighbor/ friend thing to do is share your baking. Look at this beauty-almost too scrumptious looking to eat...

Same talented, creative neighbor, different treat. Yes, she cooks too! Pulla bread-Finnish recipe I believe with cardamon, accompanied by pumpkin butter. Elegant tasting, a bit sweet, a bit savory. We ate it for all 3 meals and even as a late night snack.

This is from the person who introduced me to blogs and made me consider starting one myself. Lately, I've been trying to convince this smart, interesting, witty, design savvy gal to start a blog of her own, to share her creations. No luck so far, but stay tuned to see if I can win her over!

Who wouldn't be simply delighted to slip into a custom pair of felted slippers?!? I mean really. Her crochet hook would be working overtime...

All the Darkness of the World Cannot Put Out the Light of One Small Candle

It was the quote I used for the senior year book in high school. I haven't thought about that quote much since then-though I believe there is real evidence that it holds true. But you have to believe.

Last night we kept Ava up late to visit the Maine Pumpkin Festival, to benefit Camp Sunshine which provides retreats to kids with life threatening illnesses and their families. When I think about what our small donation contributed to, I felt overwhelmingly grateful that my child is perfectly healthy.

It made my heart hurt for those who are not so fortunate.

In 2006 this event broke the world record for the most Jack-O-Lanterns lit in one place in Boston. There was a record to be broken again this year, in the Guinness book of World Records. Unfortunately, the 23,000 + pumpkins lit last night fell short of the 30,128 goal.

23,000 lit pumpkins though!?! What a sight! Thousands of pumpkins lit and on display as the sky grew dark and the moon rose-the air was snappy and crisp and we bundled our little pumpkin up in a fleecy cocoon for the stroller ride through the field.

The tower of pumpkins was a big hit and the blue of the October sky against the gold light made me remember that all the darkness of the world really can't put out the light of one small candle.

If you believe.

8 Years

8 Years ago today, my father walked me down an aisle in our backyard garden to be married to the boy up the street. Today marks our 8 year wedding anniversary...Though I don't think of us as being married for only 8 years-I keep track in years been together, which is now up to 13. We have other anniversaries too- the year we bought our house, first went on certain trips, started a business, pregnancy, the birth of our daughter...

This one is a big one though. It marks for me, the start of a really big adventure with my husband. With my bestest friend in all the world. This adventure of marriage has been what all of our adventures are: challenging, funny, comforting, frustrating, fulfilling, draining, maddening, uplifting, sustaining, perfect, terrifying, exhausting, hilarious, unbelievable....we all have a big adventure or two in our lives, this marriage is one of mine.

Today when I think back to our wedding 8 years ago, to who I was, what I thought was important, relevant and real-I realize that I am a very different girl today. I am sure my husband is different too. I am thankful that we have become different together. We seem to have grown up and are still curious about the future changes the other will go through-curious enough to stay in the game, so to speak.

Today I want to thank my husband. I want to say thank you for so many things. Thank you for taking care of my crazed, unreasonable, frantic, obsessed, manic self, for always believing in my new projects, even when it means I tear the house apart for weeks, for always shaving shortly after growing a beard, for bringing me cereal in the middle of the night when I was pregnant, for being there for every second of my labor and Ava's birth and every day since then, for being a loving and involved father, for all the crazy things we have done, places we have been and experiences we have been through together, for every day that you have been there leading up to today, for the past 13 years, for being you, you have made me laugh, you have made sure I make it through, and I appreciate that you are still here every day when I wake up. I know it isn't easy and that I (often!) make you want to "poke your eyes out"...(I think that is how the quote goes!) Thank you. Thank you for making me want to (frequently) poke my eyes out too. What would life be without passion!?!

We never have a dull moment, never a boring day. That is how I like our life. Full, sometimes unbearable, usually exciting and hopeful, always ridiculously humorous and curiously magical. It's been a wonderous 8 years.