Countdown to May 1: April 2006

Day 1

8:48 a.m. - (almost) packed & ready to go...

See you next week!

Day 2

Well, I never thought today would arrive! As I mentioned in earlier entries, everything is done (here in PA, that is!) so this week I was feeling a little adrift...with nothing major to do - related to the wedding, of course. At work, it's been busy with Administrative Professional Day on Wednesday (we celebrated with hotdogs and brownies) and yesterday, we went out to lunch to celebrate Don's 50th. Today I have a lunch meeting and then afterwards, I'll be picking up the rentals. Tonight, I'll be packing the car and then we'll head out in the morning for Rachael's softball games and then on to NH. The next time I blog may not be until next Tuesday, when we return.

Yesterday, I connected with a fellow MOB blogger from Illinois and we talked about how mothers of brides are often overlooked. Some may find that troublesome or frustrating, considering all the the behind-the-scenes work we do, but I am looking forward to sitting back, relaxing, and enjoying the festivities. I know that a lot of people have contributed to the beauty of the day and I don't need accolades or public declarations of thanks from anyone. All I want is to see the smiles on the faces of my oldest daughter and her new husband. Only then will I know that everything we planned and prepared was more than worth the time and effort. Enjoy the day, J & D. But it is only the beginning of a lifetime of wonderful days. All my love to you both...I'll see you tomorrow.

Day 3

Only a few more days until May 1, the day that Jacquie and Dan will get married. At first, they chose April 10. But wise New Hampshirites advised them that the lake would probably be still frozen, and standing at the shore of a frosty body of water was not what they had envisioned. So the wedding date became May 1...May Day. Jacquie had always wanted to carry lily-of-the-valley (along with lilacs) at her wedding - and we soon discovered that these flowers are associated with a lovely tradition. In France, May 1 is La Fête du Muguet, and the tradition is to give the ones you love a little bouquet of lily-of-the-valley, for good luck and to celebrate the arrival of spring. So...each wedding guest will find a little bunch of these sweet-smelling blooms at their place at their reception table.

Can you guess where these 'Benders' will be?

(I'll let you know next week!)

new blog

This blog will offically come to an end next week with the update of the wedding and photos...lots and lots of photos!
I have already started a new blog in which I will continue to document my days...
Email me for the address...so you know where to find me...

...and thank you, too, Stacey!!

(sorry, honey!)

mission accomplished....

This week has been a little strange. The mental list of chores is complete. All of the big projects have been finished, all of the details taken care of, everything is in place, boxed up, and ready to go on Saturday. I'll be picking up the table linens, chair covers & napkins, the china & glassware on Friday from the rental shop. Jacquie & Dan will have the seating charts finalized by Friday so I can print them, as well as the descriptions of the place names they chose for the reception tables.

I'm done. I'm ready...

196 days ago, I wrote:

Wednesday, October 12, 2005
200 days to go...
Yes, the date of the wedding is in 200 days. In 200 days, I WILL have made an unforgettable wedding gown, an equally beautiful dress for Stacey, original invitations using cards that were made in Egypt (thank you, Stacey!), coordinated the decorating for the reception - the tables, the tulle, the twinkling lights, helped with the seating arrangements...I WILL have completed all of my assigned tasks...including making myself a dress. I will do this all in 200 days....yes, I will!

Yes, I have done all of these things, but certainly not by myself! Many, many people helped me get to this point...the most important ones are Steve, Rachael, Sharon, Bernadette, Norma, and, of course, Jacquie & Dan...I have received so many wonderful suggestions and ideas from friends and words of support from everyone who read this blog faithfully. I appreciated all of the advice and, especially, the understanding of all who may have been influenced by my preoccupation with this event. Thank you.

Day 4

Keep your fingers crossed! Forecast for Monday: Partly sunny. Winds from the WNW at 13 mph. High: 63° F RealFeel®: 59° F

Dan & Jacquie had a date last night - they were going out for a seafood dinner. Jacquie had a hair appointment earlier in the day - she got her hair highlighted & cut, and they also stopped at the jeweler to get her ring cleaned. They also made a stop at the bookstore to pick up a couple of guidebooks on Hawaii and Acadia National Park in Maine, their destinations for their extended honeymoon. They will be traveling for almost the entire month of May! Enjoy yourselves, kids! And take lots of pictures!

LOL

Mostly cloudy, chance of a little rain. Winds from the N at 8 mph. High: 65° F RealFeel: 64° F

Day 5

For the past couple of days, I have been conducting a low-key search for nail polish. Low-key...yes. I won't be devastated if I can't find that right shade of pinkish-purplish-mauvish

polish - but it would be nice if I could. And who am I conducting this search with? Why, my sort-of color-blind husband, of course! He has been extra-ordinarily patient about this, too. Although I have spent maybe a total of 10 minutes looking at polish colors, every minute is like an hour to a man trapped in the aisles of beauty products. First, we looked in the 88-cent itsy-bitsy bottle section, thinking that it should be easy to find...but, alas, we found the shiniest, sparkliest, radioactive-glow polish (targeted for the 14 and under crowd, I assume), so we moved on to the more expensive line-up of 'diamond tough,' super-longlasting colors and tints. Not a good idea. We were left trying to decide if a polish was too sheer, too shiny, too purple, too pink.
Finally, I said, "This one will do," and we left.
If I ever want to fry an egg on my nails, at least I know it won't stick...

what a tease!

This morning, Accuweather reported that it would RAIN and be in the low 50s on Monday. Now, it is saying: Partly sunny. Winds from the N at 8 mph. High: 65° F

The local TV station in New Hampshire, http://www.wmur.com, has an "Ask your Meteorologist" column. Guess what the very first FAQ is???

QUESTION: I've heard people say that New Hampshire is one of the most difficult places to forecast the weather. Why is that?

ANSWER: You're right, it IS very difficult for several reasons.
1. New Hampshire is a tall state, meaning that the weather can be very different between its northern and southern zones. Temperature differences of 40 degrees or more are often seen from top to bottom.
2. New Hampshire's hilly terrain and mountains actually change the weather! The weather charts we use operate on a larger scale and often don't pick up on these changes. Mountains can create clouds or dissipate them. The same can be said about rain and snow, as well. This is because as air rushes up a mountainside, it cools and condenses moisture and can form clouds and precipitation if there is enough moisture in the air. Likewise, as air rushes down a hill, it warms and dries. Also, as you go higher in altitude, often times (but not always) the temperature is colder.
3. The ocean. Since New Hampshire also has the Atlantic Ocean nearby, that ALSO changes the weather. Oceans take longer to warm up than the air, yet once they do heat up, they hold that warmth longer. Therefore, oceans are often cooler than the air in the summer (sometimes creating a seabreeze if the winds are right) and warmer than the air in the winter (often changing snow to rain).
Add all these factors up, and you get all kinds of weather -- weather that can often be very hard to predict because our weather charts and computer models can't account for what these variables will do.
Thanks for the question!
-Josh Judge, meteorologist

Day 6

More shopping! Rachael & her mom went out yesterday to pick up a few things for the outfit she's wearing ...love the new earrings & necklace!

(Have you noticed that I am ignoring the weather forecast? "Rain, rain, go away...come again another day!")

Day 7

It seems that everyone is doing some last-minute shopping! Yesterday, Steve & I ventured over to the Selinsgrove Mall and picked up a tie for him to wear (I never thought he'd consent to wearing a tie with pink in it! He always wears Jerry Garcia-designed ties http://www.thesilktiefactory.com/jergarnecmet.html!).

Day 8

Forecast for Monday, May 1 - Sunny. Winds from the NNW at 2 mph. High: 58° F RealFeel: 67° F (Now, we're talkin'!)

This morning, I folded the sewing machine down into its cabinet and closed the top, folded the patterns, put away the white satin covered buttons (I had a couple left over), pack away the scraps of fabric, and vacuumed the floor of Rachael's bedroom. This is where all of the dress-making took place over the last 6 months. Hard to believe it is all finished.

weather watch...continued

Courtesy of http://wwwa.accuweather.com - local forecast for Hebron, NH - For Monday, May 1st: Turning warmer with times of clouds and sun. Winds from the ESE at 6 mph. High: 59° F RealFeel®: 57° F

Day 9 ~ flat shoes! don't forget your flat shoes!

Yes, this is what the bride is wearing, so please...if you are going to the wedding...feel free to wear your flat shoes. In fact, we encourage you to do so! There will be sand, dirt, hills to climb, loose pebbles and other assorted naturally occurring phenomena to maneuver, so bring shoes that are comfortable!

my worst nightmare

I had this dream last night. Well, actually, it was one of those semi-conscious thoughts that seemed like a dream, but was more like a nightmare...the nightmare of all nightmares. I've been having these terrible "what if this happened....oh, what an awful thing if that happened" kind of thoughts - like what if I forgot my dress - or Stacey's dress - or any of the programs or rocks, or I forgot to pick up the table linens & napkins & dinner plates from the rental place? OK - those are awful things that probably wouldn't happen - but the most awful thing that could happen would be if the iron is too hot when I press any of the dresses and I scorched a spot in the front or melted the lace or some awful thing??!? That's what made me break out into a cold sweat last night. Now that I have time to sit back & relax a little, these fears are intruding into my mind....they are most unwelcome, believe me! MOST unwelcome!

Day 10 ~ the ball begins to drop!

(I feel like Dick Clark is lurking around the corner, ready to start his famous countdown, "10, 9, 8...") Ten days to go? Yes - and if you have realized that I have been counting the day before the wedding as day 'zero' - very good! I figured that if we didn't have everything done by the day before the wedding, it was probably too late!
And the weather? Ha! Now it's back to "Partly sunny...and a high of 68." Need I say more?

Dee Dee is going home today...

I could NEVER have made any of the dresses for this wedding if I didn't have Dee Dee standing in for all of us - in our many shapes and sizes. Thank you again, Bernadette!

Day 11 ~ LOL

What a joke! It is impossible to predict weather that will happen more than a week away! I don't know why I am torturing myself like this! As you know, I have been monitoring accuweather.com's 15-day forecast. Yesterday, the forecast was for sun and temps in the 60s for next weekend. This morning, it nows says: Cloudy, chance of rain or snow showers - SNOW SHOWERS?! - and in the low 50s. How ridiculous!

just in case...

Here is one of the $2 wraps...

Day 12 ~ weather watch...and wraps for the girls

I do realize that predicting the weather is part science and part luck...but come on now! Can you guess what they are predicting for the weekend of April 29, 30, and May 1st (the day)? Now it's supposed to be sunny and in the high 50s and low 60s - all three days!

And - just to be prepared...I have been on the lookout for an inexpensive wrap for Anna and Stacey to have - in case there is a chill in the air. Last week Anna, one of the ladies here in the office, announced that she was going on a shopping trip to Ikea, an outlet in South Philadelphia that carries home furnishings & decor http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/. She had come across a fleece throw when she was browsing online and asked if I wanted one...for $3.99! What a deal! But the closer I looked, I thought that it might work as a wrap for the girls - maybe. I asked her to get 2 of them for me. Anna brought them in today and they are perfect! I will cut them in half, thread a skinny sage green ribbon through the punched holes near the fringe...and ta-da! So here's a picture on the throw...later on tonight, I'll post a picture of it with the decorative ribbon - with Stacey's dress. Imagine...a wrap for two bucks! You can't beat that!

weather watch

OK - I checked Accuweather yesterday. It predicted rain for the weekend in question with cloudy skies on Monday. Today, it changed to clouds for the weekend with rain on Monday (high temp 61 - at least it's not cold!). Obviously, changes will occur in the forecast...updates will be forthcoming...

Day 13 ~ packing up & making lists

My goal for next weekend is to be prepared: An unexpected guest? No problem! Let me rub your name on a stone for your place at the table. A split seam? No problem! I have a sewing kit right here. A headache? Heartburn? Wait! I have Tylenol...I have Tums. But in order to be prepared, I have to think about these possible scenarios...and pack accordingly. So I am in the midst of making lists, packing, and making more lists. Will I forget anything? Oh, probably! Oh well, at least I will make the attempt...

Day 14 ~ mom's struggle

I was looking forward to seeing my mom today. She wanted me to go with her to the afternoon church services at the nursing facility. I had asked her what she wanted the Easter Bunny to bring her...she wanted some cashews and some chocolate. So I went to the local grocery that sells nuts in bulk and I was able to mix some salted cashews with unsalted ones and I found some of the chocolate covered shortcake cookies that she likes. I left my house, anticipating a pleasant afternoon visiting with mom. When I arrived, however, she wasn't in her room. Not a good sign. Then I saw the bloody washcloth, the rubber gloves, and the gauze pad wrappers on the bed. I went out to the nurse's station to talk to someone.
As I suspected, mom had gotten another nosebleed that couldn't be stopped and she was taken over to the ER. The nurse and I talked about the "catch-22" that my mom is caught in: she has A-fib which means that her heart does not pump properly; blood clots can form, travel to the brain and cause stroke. So to prevent the blood clots from forming, she takes a blood thinner medication. However, thinning the blood can result in frequent nosebleeds...and, in my mom's case, nosebleeds that are even more frequent because of the dry air in her room and the oxygen she is on. When I say nosebleeds, I mean nosebleeds! They are intense, frightening things and the episode drains you physically and emotionally. My mom has had them at least once a week during the past month - and these are ones that require a speedy trip down the hallway to the ER.
You may ask: What is the solution? There's gotta be a solution! Well, no, not really. The solution right now is to eliminate all blood thinning meds. That may (or may not) eliminate the frequent nosebleeds but this also would increase her risk of a stroke. Not a good solution...obviously.

We are all on this earth for a finite number of days. None of us know exactly how many we are destined to have. The only thing we do know is that we have a choice about how we spend our days, the choices we make, the legacy we leave behind. My mom is leaving a wonderful legacy; she is a proud woman - a simple, wholesome housewife who led a simple, wholesome life...but it saddens me to see her struggling with these issues, which is leaving her depressed, exhausted, and hopeless. She is maintaining her sense of humor and takes delight in enjoying her days, however, however many she may have left....

Note to my friend Sam, who is going through a similar situation with her grandfather: I understand how sad you feel...it's hard to witness the decline of those we love...my thoughts and prayers are with you. (http://www.newsie96.com/ - entry for Sunday, April 16)

Day 15 ~ full bloom

A little planning...a little preparation...and (months later) you are rewarded with a beautiful display of color!

I spoke to Jacquie this morning. It seems that the planning and preparation we invested our time in is now rewarding us with a couple of weeks of relaxed anticipation. Everything is on track...all of the major chores have been accomplished and all we have to do is count down the days until next weekend.

...and Stacey's dress ... check

Day 16 ~ my dress ... check

The buttons are on, the hem(s) are finished, and I added a scalloped edge to the neckline of the jacket, as well as the top of the purse (see below). Now I am working on Stacey's hem & bag.....I see the end in sight! Woo hoo!

Day 17 ~ TGI (Good) F

I've been looking forward this long weekend for weeks now! (One full day at home is priceless now that I am working fulltime!)

We will be working on our taxes - the good news is that we have until Monday, the 17th, to mail them out.
I'll be working on the two dresses...my hem, buttons, adjustment to the collar; Stacey's hem, sash & bow... once I get the dresses finished, I am pretty much finished with everything except for the printed of the seating charts.
On Sunday afternoon, I'll be joining Mom for church services at the nursing home. She advised me that I should come early to get her over to the room that is used for the services in order to "find her a parking place" for her wheelchair! I guess they expect quite a crowd!
Last night, I finished up the "anti-place card" name stones for the tables...finished is a relative term, of course...more people can certainly decide to come...I'll just bring extra stones and the rub-on letters and I can make them on the spot!

Day 18 ~ the flamingo is happy

Yes, our pink friend is happy...he is no longer covered with snow...spring has sprung in central PA. Yesterday's high temp was a balmy 72 and today will be the same. Love it, love it, love it!

Day 19 ~ thank you, ladies!

Tonight (after a long day at a work-related workshop in Harrisburg), my friends Sharon and Bernadette came over to have dinner (recipe for a great Chinese salad follows) and a few laughs and then I put on my dress for the wedding and Bernadette pinned up the hem. We had a great time (the chocolate at the bottom of the parfait was the perfect touch, Sharon!) and I thank you both for coming over the mountain!
Here's the recipe: (it's crunchy and yummy)
Chinese Salad
1 head chinese cabbage (shredded)
1/2 bunch green onions/scallions (sliced thin)
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 package crunchy rice noodles (substituted for 2 pkgs. crushed beef flavored ramen noodles)
Mix together.
Dressing: 1 cup vegetable oil, 1/3 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup sugar, 3 or 4 Tbls. beef boullion powder (substituted for 2 packs beef ramen seasoning). Pour over salad.
(thanks to Anna W. for the recipe!)

summer at Berea

I was poking around Camp Berea's website www.berea.com and found this photo of Jacquie with a group of her 'charges' from one of last summer's week-long retreats. She doesn't look much older than the other girls - who are probably around 14-15 yrs. old. (She's on the extreme right...in case you couldn't pick her out!)

weather talk

Although we can't change the weather, we can prepare for it when planning an outdoor wedding - and we do have an alternative plan if there's snow or rain falling. Accuweather will forcast 15 days in advance so this Sunday, we can begin checking to see what's in store for us on May 1. On www.almanac.com there is an extended weather page which states:
Expect snow in early April, and very warm temperatures in early May. As I recall, NH got a snowstorm (as did most of the northeast) on April 4-5. OK - they've got my attention. Warm temperatures in early May? That sounds good...but then I scroll down the page and I see:
May 2006
May. 1-3: T-storms, warm
Well, that's just fine & dandy. Thunderstorms. So unpredictable. I know it's early...and there's nothing we can do to change the weather...so hakuna matada....
: )

Day 20 (20!? Where is the time going?!?)

Last week, I had mentioned that I wanted to look for pearl buttons for my dress. Well, yesterday, when I went to Walmart to get an ink cartridge for my printer (yes, the programs are finished!), I also looked for buttons. Alas, they had pink ones, white ones, maroon ones, and every other color in the rainbow, but nothing that looked halfway decent...until I came across the "make your own-cover your own buttons" kit. Seemed like the best solution - and it was very easy. Just cut the fabric, stick it into a cup-like plastic thingy, push in the button shell, tuck in the fabric, push in the back and I was done! Tonight, I'll be working on my dress (hemming the sleeves and adding the buttons), and figuring out what to serve my friends when they come over tomorrow after work. They will be measuring and pinning up the hem of my dress (which is kind of difficult to do by yourself!).

Day 21 ~ the ceremony programs ... (almost) check

Using paper that Stacey brought from Egypt, these are the programs...held together at the fold by some funky yarn that is similar to the threadlike design of the paper.

I am running low on black ink for the printer...guess I'll have to make a run to Walmart...I can look for buttons for my dress while I'm there....

Day 22 ~ reception table names

Instead of giving each reception table a number (how boring!), Jacquie & Dan are using names of special places - trails, falls, rock climbs - for their table names. To identify the tables, I found 25 cent wooden plaques at Joanne Fabric and then I glued triangular pieces of wood on the back of each one (so they will stand up), whitewashed them and then used (my wonderful) rub-on letters to print the names on the front. Can you picture these with the birch logs and tealights, the stones, and the sage green table covering?

Day 23 ~ my dress ... check

I think I'll look for some pink pearl bottons to close the jacket at the top.

...the shoes & bag.

Day 24 ~ a few more...

lunch at the max...

I am starting to go to a gym http://www.maxfitnesscenter.com/ across the street from work at lunchtime (I can make it maybe 3x a week). Marci talked me into going over a week ago...and it really felt good to do the treadmill. Today I did an 18-minute mile!! It's also nice to take a quick shower in the middle of the day! (LOL) But I have yet to see anyone who looks like this guy...

Day 25 ~ the colors of spring ...

... yellow daffodil, purple crocus (look closely - you'll see them!), pink flamingo, white snow (and it's STILL snowing this morning!)

the anti-place card

18 (oops...make that 19) done ... 41 to go ...

Day 26 ~ wedding rings picked up ... check

Last night, I spoke to Jacquie as she & Dan were returning from Maine, which is where they had ordered their wedding bands. I know that wasn't on MY list of chores, but it's one less thing to worry about...

I also spoke to Dan's mom about the dress that is being made for Anna...one that matches Stacey's dress. Norma was repeating the "Mothers of the Bride and Groom Mantra": IT WILL ALL WORK OUT... or, as Timon sang in The Lion King, "Hakuna Matata...no worries for the rest of your days!"
Last week, there were some worries about the condition of Anna's dress...but it seems to be all working out...hakuna matata....hakuna matata...hakuna matata...

Day 27 ~ tablecloths, napkins, chair covers ... check

Yesterday after breakfast, Jacquie and I discussed the setup of the tables for the reception...positions and sizes of the tables...and the linens required for each one. We also had to think about where the piano was going to be, how many chairs to put at each table and even the rug that would be necessary to place over the open grate leading to the door into the dining hall! (The grate is great {LOL} for eliminating mud and grime from little campers' feet, but it might be problematic for wedding guests sporting high heels...which we hope won't be too many since they are also going to be schlepping around in sand along the shore of the lake...)
Anyway, my goal for the day was to place the order for the table linens and chair covers...
And, that mission is ACCOMPLISHED....thank you very much!