Wickedly Warm Wonderful Weekend

The reason we were all together was to offer our love and support to my dear nephew Dane and his new wife Callie.  They were married this past Saturday, in temperatures reaching 106 degrees.  A beautiful wedding which was reflective of  Dane and Callie.  A ceremony outside, in the woods, next to a creek, surrounded by the people who love them the most.  My mom would have loved  how beautiful and simple it all was. 

It was the first time many of us had met any of Callie's family but it sure didn't seem that way.  I think the extreme heat made everyone just a little bit easier to get to know.  We were all sweating terribly and joking about the heat which seemed to just relax everyone a bit.  Southern Hospitality was at an all time high as Callie's parents opened up their home to all of us..  A beautiful home in the woods, with gorgeous gardens, a wonderful wrap around front porch, and my favorite, SHEEP!!! 

Spending time with my brother and sister-in-law was extra special.  They had prepared a lovely brunch for us once we had made the 3 1/2 hour drive to their home, before the wedding.  Country Ham biscuits, fresh fruit salad, cinnamon buns and of course sweet tea.  There was such a difference in the stress levels between my brother Stephen and my brother Danny, whose daughter was married in April.  I have decided I am truly the lucky one to have 4 sons and not any daughters.  The parents of the groom have it much easier that's for certain.  Mary and Stephen were so calm and just needed to make sure they showed up on time and that was it.  Quite a contrast to Danny who had a house full of girls trying to get ready minutes before the wedding, at his house in April.  However, both of my brothers handled their situations with grace and style.

One of the best parts of this wedding weekend was that my niece, Kristina, came to stay for the weekend so she could go to the wedding with us.  She arrived on Friday and the fun began.  It is a well known fact that I have 4 sons, no sisters and not a lot of female friends around.  So when I get a girl in the house with me for a weekend, it is promising to be a stellar weekend.  We cooked, we crafted, we sewed, we played with baby calves and we did some chicken therapy.  It was a PERFECT visit.  I taught Kristina to make my version of Lemonade, Shrimp Scampi, Cucumber Salad and homemade laundry detergent.  She in turn taught me how to make Milk Chocolate brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting and Envelope Pillow Covers and gave me a few other sewing secrets which will make my future projects much easier to accomplish.  She also has promised to teach me how to make my unruly curly hair straight, by just using a blow dryer and a brush rather than a flat iron.  If she can manage that, I owe her my life.  This week, when I am not in the veggie garden trying to salvage what the lack of rain and record breaking heat has not destroyed, I will be making pillow covers over and over again until I have it completely mastered.  I have an entire bolt of fabric I paid a ridiculously high price for 20 some years ago which I no longer like, so I will use that to perfect my skills.  Then I will go buy material I DO like, and start sewing pillow covers for my sofa, chairs and anything else that would look better with a  new pillow on it.



I hope you all had a great weekend and that the week ahead brings everyone cooler temps and maybe some rain:)  Enjoy these snapshots of the wonderful weekend we had.

Time to feed the Mamas and the Papa

Sylvester and Kristina bonding.

  Kristina letting Limpy nurse on her fingers.

Yes, calves need binkies too.

The reason the young always look so gorgeous.

They grab beauty sleep at every opportunity.

Our 3 1/2 hour drive to North Carolina for the wedding.

A last minute family snap shot before Dane leaves to go get dressed for the wedding.

One last hug before he is a married man:)

Beanie and I trying to stay cool on our way to the wedding..

My dream front porch.

This is Callie's parents home and it is amazing.

So homey and comfy and welcoming.

My new niece and my handsome nephew.

What was left of the Milk Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting Brownies.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Our crafting weekend.

My pillow I made, the Cricut and the homemade card I made.

Beaning copying down my recipes and  next to her,

another 15 quarts of green beans Robby canned.

Oh how I hate goodbyes. 

We both agreed to have our picture taken even though we have

messy up-do hair.

I LOVE this kid!!!!!!!!!