tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-251025292024-03-18T05:08:49.255-06:00~ Wind Lost ~Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.comBlogger535125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-73890109364402012862016-03-04T15:08:00.003-07:002016-03-04T16:49:51.636-07:00Thoughts on life (my 10th Blog Anniversary!)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>s mid-March approaches, I will be celebrating both my birthday and the 10th anniversary of this blog!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Like everyone (it seems) I've been spending more time on Instagram (<b>windlost1</b>) than on the blog this past year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I've really missed the ritual of writing. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Writing was so very cathartic. I often wrote to help dissect what I was feeling. And it was emotionally-focussing, to distill your thoughts to create a coherent essay. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So while I love the spontaneity of Instagram, I do miss the discipline and clarity of the longer format.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Having said that, Instagram has rekindled my love for photography! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Over the past year on IG, I challenged myself to shoot more carefully and thoughfully and set myself some photo assignments, like this flower series:</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XwYAZmIkwjg/VtoCwxQENgI/AAAAAAAAKfQ/vrArs2x1mfM/s1600/IMG_7328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XwYAZmIkwjg/VtoCwxQENgI/AAAAAAAAKfQ/vrArs2x1mfM/s640/IMG_7328.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Freesia No.1 in Creamer</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lbte2AW_2og/VtoDMn_K1II/AAAAAAAAKfY/I_8HjvOvmgI/s1600/IMG_7347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lbte2AW_2og/VtoDMn_K1II/AAAAAAAAKfY/I_8HjvOvmgI/s640/IMG_7347.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Freesia No.2 in Pitcher</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g586Wngz3EI/VtoDjxNcoeI/AAAAAAAAKfg/JEViFhUWqVI/s1600/IMG_7204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g586Wngz3EI/VtoDjxNcoeI/AAAAAAAAKfg/JEViFhUWqVI/s640/IMG_7204.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Flowers </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">in the</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> sink awaiting their vase</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I had such fun with this series, shot entirely with my old iPhone4 (which I have only just today replaced).</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JpKlwRIpfd8/VtoNlcy4eyI/AAAAAAAAKgc/n_3_o2RC7HE/s1600/IMG_7092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JpKlwRIpfd8/VtoNlcy4eyI/AAAAAAAAKgc/n_3_o2RC7HE/s640/IMG_7092.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Apple blossoms from our tree</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Snapdragons and urn</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Apple blossoms on porcelain</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Who would think that learning to edit my photography style would help me to begin editing my thoughts and even my home?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> I have lived for 18 years with chronic pain (bad headaches and myofascial neck and back pain) after a horseback riding accident. And I work as a senior engineer in a collaborative but very challenging research environment. So I often find my world very, very overstimulating!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So I began to adopt a sort of serene (#aquietstyle) photography style that is echoing a pull toward serenity in my daily life.</span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o50T5pAMC4U/Vtn-XUq4qQI/AAAAAAAAKe0/YVnwa-mUXkQ/s1600/IMG_1536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o50T5pAMC4U/Vtn-XUq4qQI/AAAAAAAAKe0/YVnwa-mUXkQ/s640/IMG_1536.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Each day, I am trying to be just a little more quiet, a little more grateful, to take things just a little bit slower (this doesn't always work), and operate a bit more mindfully. I am finally acknowledging my limitations, after 18 years of chronic pain, for the first time...as a chance to be more present and less grasping. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I can't do all the things I used to, nor can I do them in the same quantity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have spent years trying though, and have suffered immensely with the loss of my former identity. I still grieve for the person I was.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In the past, I was far more fit (who wouldn't be, exercising 6 days a week...well, I can't do that any more), more achievement-oriented (I was constantly taking evening classes), more caught up in the chaos of the world (trying to help everyone at work, do everything for everyone in my personal life, attend every event I was invited to, and always always staying late at work to polish all the details, etc.).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now I am choosing to listen to my body more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To be quiet more. To rest more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To reflect more. To distill my life down to what really matters. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To still be engaged <u>but to say No more often, and say Yes only to those things that really please me</u>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I listen to the quiet more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And quietly and slowly, I am finding more kindred spirits who see the world a bit like me. And I'm worrying less about being interesting and charming to everyone. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I worry less if everyone likes me or finds me interesting. What a relief!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Many years ago, I saw a psychologist to deal with an emotional struggle with a former boyfriend. After several sessions of trying to convince myself that this relationship just needed more work (by me mainly), the psychologist said, "I think you already know the answer." I talked some more and she said again "I think you already know the answer". I think she said it five more times before I realized what she was saying. I did know the answer but was trying to make myself fit into the situation, which didn't fit me. The answer was that things really were not working...FOR ME.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A light came on. I could suddenly see what I needed, what I knew all along. I ended the relationship.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Oftentimes I think we're spinning so fast that we don't take time to listen any more and see what we really need, at a minimum, to survive and be content. To distill what really brings pleasure, what makes our hearts most happy. We take on too much out of obligation and also out of confusion - we see so much possibility in the world and we want to try and to be everything. We see other people's accomplishments and think that we need to do those things too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But not everything is meant for you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Not everything is meant for you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Not everything is meant for you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Not everything is meant for you.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-16KKyYPV0gY/VtoLT8dYjTI/AAAAAAAAKgQ/-Jm0Xr3aKac/s1600/letting-go-quotes-buddha-hashtaglines-1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-16KKyYPV0gY/VtoLT8dYjTI/AAAAAAAAKgQ/-Jm0Xr3aKac/s640/letting-go-quotes-buddha-hashtaglines-1024x1024.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(I am not perfect at this yet)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am trying to let go of the things not meant for me. The things I think I should want, or that other people have (which seems to make them happy and popular). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> And I am listening more to the things that make me joyful inside, that propel me towards the life that I envision for myself...</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GBXPV_t8tbk/Vtn98GTAn9I/AAAAAAAAKew/hUNkNzx8u5c/s1600/IMG_7379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GBXPV_t8tbk/Vtn98GTAn9I/AAAAAAAAKew/hUNkNzx8u5c/s640/IMG_7379.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A pretty Provencal painting in my office</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I may not be as accomplished, or as slim or as exciting or as fashionably-dressed (or whatever we strive after and call success nowadays) as I once was, or thought I should be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But I care much less what people think. And I have accomplished a great deal already in my life that makes me proud. I have come farther than I thought I would based on my challenging beginnings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And I know now that I don't have to attract or please everyone, or appeal to everyone. My success doesn't have to be valued by everyone. I am a great daughter, wife, friend, colleague, and a damn good engineer. And that is not even a tenth of it. It isn't a tenth of any of us who go so much deeper and have grown and learned so much more than others could imagine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I just want to hear my own thoughts now, in the quiet spaces of the day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And after hearing them, I want to let them go and stop clinging to definitions of myself. It's hard work. I am trying to shed a complex identity that we all create for ourselves and be left with something simpler and easier to manage. I am tired of being hostage to wants and not-enoughs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am starting to feel more clear and content and much more </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">sure of myself than when I was going 100 miles an hour trying to be everything to everyone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy 10th Anniversary to me and especially to you, my dear and faithful Readers!!</span></div>
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Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com70tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-67659851253327921872015-03-29T23:36:00.000-06:002015-03-29T23:50:41.586-06:00My Affair with Instagram<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">H</span></b>ello dear Readers!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've been feeling awfully guilty lately, as I've been cheating on you with a new beau.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yes, I'm having an affair with Instagram. I feel bad about it.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3jVWdvMSY3g/VRi_ByAje5I/AAAAAAAAKc8/RG_jQRdNucM/s1600/IMG_5754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3jVWdvMSY3g/VRi_ByAje5I/AAAAAAAAKc8/RG_jQRdNucM/s1600/IMG_5754.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>You would have seen this photo of Finn if you follow me on Instagram</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">About a month ago, I was suffering terribly from Fear of Missing Out. Everyone seemed to be on Instagram, but I was holding out. Suddenly, it felt like </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">everyone was hanging with the new girl except me. I had ignored her and now she was really popular. Suddenly I was 15 and hanging with the wrong crowd.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">My daily walk, also documented on Instagram</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When I first started using Instagram, I was thoroughly confused. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>How does it work?</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">How do I find my friends? How does this thing work? What is a hashtag and how do I use it? But being possessed of a working brain, I quickly figured it out. And suddenly there was Loi from Tone on Tone saying hello and Steve from Urban Cottage, and Lauren Liess and Stefan from ArchitectDesign. Hey, all my friends are here! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Who do I follow?</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Every designer you know and love is on Instagram. Bunny Williams is there (although I think she has an intern do her posts). And so is Charlotte Moss. I follow them both, and Windsor Smith, and Michael Smith and Mary McDonald and anyone else you can think of that you love. I love Matthew Patrick Smyth and follow his great photography. And Jeffrey Alan Marks posts a lot of photos of himself (which is okay by me). And I've found amazing new designers to follow, like Amy Vermillion, whose work I already love.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I follow a lot of random people. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The only criteria is that they *make me happy* - that I love their photos, or I admire their view of the world (who knew that looking at an Instagram feed was like staring into someone's soul?)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">That means I mostly follow people who post photos of their cats, flowers, their travels, and a lot of interior design. I also have a thing for coffee drinkers and readers and people who live in cottages in England and have a lot of cats and boxwood (my fantasy life also includes a Range Rover, rubber boots, a country estate, horses and dogs). </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am a humble and easily-satisfied soul. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Finn gets a lot of exposure on Instagram</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The only celeb I really follow is Lena Dunham because she has a beautiful mind (but sadly a rather boring Instagram feed...I'm giving her a couple more days before I unfollow her). </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>What do I post?</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Posting a spontaneous photo says "here I am...I exist...here me roar!" It feels fun and empowering to share your life, the little things that make you happy. Let's face it, s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ome days, it's important to have a witness to our lives, even if it is a bunch of strangers. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Some people maintain a very tightly edited Instagram feed, while </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">others see it as a place to let their hair down, a little "behind the scenes" look at their lives. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I haven't quite decided which camp I fall into, but I know that I love the photography aspect, the little </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">mini-project of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">composing a photo a day in my environment. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Objets d'Easter. What's on my coffee table might just make it onto Instagram.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Some days I take it seriously and try to post something eye-catching, while other days I post whatever strikes my fancy at the moment.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Stuff I might not post on the blog, like what I'm reading, finds its way onto Instagram!</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Instagram is spontaneous and liberating. And it can be rather addictive. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You keep checking to see if anyone liked your photo. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One of my favorite designers, the lovely and amazing Matthew Patrick Smyth, seems to know I exist and visits me regularly to <i>like</i> my photos. I feel so loved (sadly, he still hasn't started to follow me).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And Windsor Smith even talks to me:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">See how important I am? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But as good as it feels to be acknowledged by our *heros*, Instagram can suck you into a black hole of <i>liking and wanting to be liked</i>. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thanks to b</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">eing strong-willed and stubborn as an ox, I quickly decided that I would enjoy Instagram most if I </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>stopped attaching to the outcome</i>. T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">hank you Buddha. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've decided to post whatever I feel like and follow people who make me happy and engage with me. I've stopped following many of the hugely successful people who never comment back (unless I am simply engrossed by their photos and their work and don't mind stalking them in silence).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am here for the beauty. And the relationships. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>My Blog</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Which brings me back to my blog. I've been posting here for 9 years and I will continue. After all, my 10th anniversary is next March!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I love the long form of a blog post. I like the process of gathering and distilling my thoughts and composing a story to share with my readers. I am so grateful that someone wants to read what I say, that there are kindred spirits out there who love some of the same things I do.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In the next year or two, David and I are hoping to renovate our house a little and I can't wait to share that here. I will need your help! We are going to take it slow, and save the money first. And I've been making a lot of small life changes I want to share too. And my blog is going to get a face lift too (it needs it!).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So please stay tuned a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">nd consider joining me on Instagram. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you're already there, please come find me and say hello!!! If you aren't, what are you waiting for? You will love it (trust me, said the spider to the fly).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On Instagram, you can find me by searching for:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>windlost1</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">See you there?!</span></div>
Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-88868623400199269782015-02-23T00:06:00.001-07:002015-02-23T00:06:11.430-07:00Victorian Idyll<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">L</span>ast weekend, David and I spent 5 delightful days in Victoria, our favorite Canadian city. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was a perfect romantic and refreshing Valentine's getaway.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Victoria is on the lush west coast, the only part of Canada that stays green all winter! Enough said. It was even warmer than usual when we visited, with hardly any winter rain. Perfection!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">First stop, <a href="http://rookandrose.com/">Rook & Rose</a>, my favorite flower shop downtown. These girls are just great stylists, besides knowing their way around flowers:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After the flower shop, you must grab a coffee at <a href="https://instagram.com/heyhappycoffee/">Hey Happy</a> (my favorite new coffee joint). I will admit, I am a discriminating coffee enthusiast (ahem, not snob). THIS is the place for a great cup:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After your coffee, drop by Munro's (our favorite bookstore) for a marathon visit. It will take you at least an hour to look around here (maybe two). They have lovely greeting cards and a great collection of foreign magazines. I always pick up the very English House & Garden here:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Next stop, Oak Bay Village for lunch and shopping!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our first stop is always at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://faithgrantantiques.com/">Faith Grant Antiques</a> (they aren't on Instagram, sorry kids), where we love to visit with our friend Forrest, who owns the business with his sister Heather. These two are the real McCoy and seriously know their antiques (their grandmother started the business). They love to know the provenance of all their pieces so stop by for a look and a great conversation (you need at least an hour).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I just grabbed only one photo this time, of these great Chippendale chairs (a set of four for $1200). The back is classic Chippendale, but the leg is very plain, so these pieces would adapt beautifully to a modern room. If I had a better house, I would have bought these:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Next stop...<a href="http://afrenchtouchfurniture.com/">A French Touch</a>, on Oak Bay Ave. The proprietor Debra Boeyenga, is a wonderful stylist and a lovely person. You can tell, as her shop is inviting and warm, like her:</span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">moi</span></i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We also like to visit Cook Street Village. Maybe grab a slice of pizza at <a href="http://pizzeriaprimastrada.com/">Prima Strada</a>, and then peruse the charming vintage and antique finds at <a href="http://www.surroundingsathome.ca/home">Surroundings</a>, where I always covet something like this fabulous little inlaid wood chair:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And last but not least, we come back home to our little apartment! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lately we've been renting little apartments downtown, this time in an old house. We want to get a feel for living here, as we plan to retire here eventually.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here was the view from our living room, overlooking a charming private garden:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I bought some tulips and pussy willows for our living room, and displayed some finds including this this blue candy tin (identical to one my grandmother kept her buttons in), a white vase and a little candle holder:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And lest you think Victoria is all about shopping, we also spend lots of time with family and visiting our beloved friend, the ocean.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's a view for my American friends, of Mount Baker in Washington state, visible across the ocean on a clear day in Victoria:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A panorama of David, sitting in our favorite spot, watching the world (fish, birds) go by:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Have a great week ahead!</span></div>
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Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-25684910434344474602015-02-03T20:06:00.001-07:002015-02-03T20:46:13.261-07:00Our Honeymoon, Part 2: Fripp Island, Beaufort and Savannah<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">A</span>fter leaving Charleston we headed south to Fripp Island for 10 days at a beach house!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Fripp Island</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Fripp Island is about 95 miles southwest of Charleston and 65 miles east of Savannah. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Fripp is one in a chain of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">barrier islands off the southern coast of South Carolina. Some readers of this blog are familiar with other barrier islands like Kiawah, Edisto, and Hilton Head Islands (thank you for your emails!). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It is a private <i>gated</i> vacation community (members only) - there are many beautiful permanent homes on the island and some condos and townhouses. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After reaching the lovely town of <b>Beaufort SC</b> on Port Royal Island (more on Beaufort later!), you must cross <i>three more islands</i> to get to Fripp - Lady's Island, St. Helena Island, Hunting Island, and then you arrive at Fripp.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So Fripp feels remote and very special. It was lovely and quiet when we arrived in October (but apparently it's a zoo in the summer!)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">David researched and rented an amazing two-story townhouse condo with 270 degree ocean views, right at the most seaward tip of the island:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Wow. We stayed in the most seaward location possible on Fripp Island!</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here is me dancing after we arrived on the beach late in the evening:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>(One in a series of dance moves I will spare you viewing more of...)</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Our Home on Fripp</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Views from our townhouse were amazing, with o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">cean views from almost every room in the house (just not the bathrooms)! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This was the view from our kitchen and dining room window, facing west (high tide):</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is our cute little kitchen with a vast 180 degree ocean view from the breakfast table:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is the living room with its eastern ocean view:</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0NslDcg-3Q/VM8EfHE2WqI/AAAAAAAAKQQ/1mC29F04eZ8/s1600/IMG_3938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0NslDcg-3Q/VM8EfHE2WqI/AAAAAAAAKQQ/1mC29F04eZ8/s1600/IMG_3938.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And from the living room balcony - more ocean:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jQW5Zuys7hc/VKtg3VzmGqI/AAAAAAAAKNQ/bCkfyw9AVu0/s1600/IMG_3939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jQW5Zuys7hc/VKtg3VzmGqI/AAAAAAAAKNQ/bCkfyw9AVu0/s1600/IMG_3939.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And from the upstairs master bedroom - unlimited ocean:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--AczqT37Gn8/VKthdG4JdvI/AAAAAAAAKNY/-FOuElT1ZR0/s1600/IMG_3934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--AczqT37Gn8/VKthdG4JdvI/AAAAAAAAKNY/-FOuElT1ZR0/s1600/IMG_3934.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />Fripp was a dream - so peaceful and relaxing.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I quickly grew very well-adapted to <i>oceanfront retirement living</i>:</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sleep late, walk on the beach, make lunch, have a nap, take the golf cart to get ice cream, walk again, read your novel, make supper, drink wine, sit and talk, take an evening swim, sleep. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ahhh...heaven. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Each day we went for a long walk on the beach at low tide. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This photo, taken at low tide, shows our place, the very last most seaward building on the right:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lr4gQzlW7ec/VM8Gz7-dknI/AAAAAAAAKQc/N9exslj2Dzs/s1600/IMG_4184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lr4gQzlW7ec/VM8Gz7-dknI/AAAAAAAAKQc/N9exslj2Dzs/s1600/IMG_4184.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We walked and walked every day.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was so hot, high 80's to mid-90's most days (25-35C) and I needed a lot of sunscreen. And it was so bright, it was quite hard to take good photos!</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6WR4w1eREjY/VKtij3QCwvI/AAAAAAAAKNo/FslUvoZG4Jg/s1600/IMG_3998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6WR4w1eREjY/VKtij3QCwvI/AAAAAAAAKNo/FslUvoZG4Jg/s1600/IMG_3998.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There was plenty to do on Fripp, including countless swimming pools, boating, tennis, bike and golf cart rentals. We had a blast just hanging out and got up to lots of fun.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Beaufort, SC</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />Every second day we left Fripp and went to Beaufort for some civilization (i.e. a proper latte), shopping and some groceries. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Beaufort </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(pronounced Beu-fert, i.e. not the French way)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> is a charming, old town of 12,000 people. It has many charming shops, lovely art galleries and restaurants and seems to be a going concern. The houses are stunning.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here is the garden of a private home in Beaufort: </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uxxUnhxhv7E/VKtkDybw-iI/AAAAAAAAKN0/caF3UeVcTHE/s1600/IMG_4190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uxxUnhxhv7E/VKtkDybw-iI/AAAAAAAAKN0/caF3UeVcTHE/s1600/IMG_4190.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Spanish moss hanging from the Live Oaks</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another Beaufort home with Spanish moss hanging from the trees, a very common sight in these parts:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m8rxtwbPPAg/VKtlOSG0jOI/AAAAAAAAKN8/rLJm3La7Jr4/s1600/IMG_4037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m8rxtwbPPAg/VKtlOSG0jOI/AAAAAAAAKN8/rLJm3La7Jr4/s1600/IMG_4037.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another Beaufort home, a common design with upper and lower verandas:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a4wc4h6AFx4/VKtoFt3cmII/AAAAAAAAKOI/l_JPNmyB5NI/s1600/IMG_4036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a4wc4h6AFx4/VKtoFt3cmII/AAAAAAAAKOI/l_JPNmyB5NI/s1600/IMG_4036.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Shrimp Festival!</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On one of our first days in Beaufort, there was a shrimp festival, if you can believe our luck. We ate a lot of shrimp and tried varied southern fare.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here is David testing a hush puppy:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pjtN9kcOuVk/VNFuuDBvZoI/AAAAAAAAKVc/qDwC6ggPqeU/s1600/IMG_4069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pjtN9kcOuVk/VNFuuDBvZoI/AAAAAAAAKVc/qDwC6ggPqeU/s1600/IMG_4069.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The shops in Beaufort were also charming. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.scoutsouthernmarket.com/">Scout Southern Market</a> was the main decor shop in town, so I'm sharing some photos for my fellow decor junkies:</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gb6d5beLC9s/VKtok3O5CJI/AAAAAAAAKOQ/8xxr0C7VfhA/s1600/IMG_4062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gb6d5beLC9s/VKtok3O5CJI/AAAAAAAAKOQ/8xxr0C7VfhA/s1600/IMG_4062.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This pretty blue and white vignette suits Beaufort's traditional elegance and its waterfront location:</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mq9t-Uv-ytU/VKtqxIhEAuI/AAAAAAAAKOc/FFtdUYnRvz4/s1600/IMG_4051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mq9t-Uv-ytU/VKtqxIhEAuI/AAAAAAAAKOc/FFtdUYnRvz4/s1600/IMG_4051.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Love this settee and coffee table and the bamboo chairs. Love it all...</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I loved this great <i>State of South Carolina</i> wooden wall hanging. Beaufort's location is marked with the star!</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s2hksnZh0KI/VKtrkHIVU_I/AAAAAAAAKOk/36CAzkiLpEQ/s1600/IMG_4046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s2hksnZh0KI/VKtrkHIVU_I/AAAAAAAAKOk/36CAzkiLpEQ/s1600/IMG_4046.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">While in Beaufort, David and I enjoyed walking around the old town centre admiring the great homes:</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Xmy8-7PcHY/VNFPz5wuwYI/AAAAAAAAKRw/8Gghv8ani80/s1600/IMG_4041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Xmy8-7PcHY/VNFPz5wuwYI/AAAAAAAAKRw/8Gghv8ani80/s1600/IMG_4041.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And we visited some local historical sites, including the Baptist Church of Beaufort, where we got a wonderful tour from a retired local fellow who regaled us with tales of the olden days. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The church was built in the 1840's in the Greek Revival style and was <i>very similar</i> to the First Baptist Church of Charleston (ca 1822) that we'd just visited on the Charleston Fall Tour of Homes, so it was quite a coincidence to stumble across the one in Beaufort:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Floors are "heart pine" (also called heart of pine) and are original.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IHzX2ys2zbQ/VNFSckBywoI/AAAAAAAAKSY/5kn7uqiGLgI/s1600/IMG_4255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IHzX2ys2zbQ/VNFSckBywoI/AAAAAAAAKSY/5kn7uqiGLgI/s1600/IMG_4255.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We also really enjoyed the Beaufort art galleries.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In particular we loved the <a href="http://www.ipsgallery.com/">I. Pinckney Simons Gallery</a>, where we talked to the friendly and interesting owner, Irene, who shared a wealth of local information. She told us the history of many of the artists and places displayed in her wonderful collection of (mainly local) paintings:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CzBmxl3rrls/VNFHH9R0b9I/AAAAAAAAKQs/QVbAaD0BNzM/s1600/IMG_4267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CzBmxl3rrls/VNFHH9R0b9I/AAAAAAAAKQs/QVbAaD0BNzM/s1600/IMG_4267.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>This wall of paintings really capture the local lush "Lowcountry" landscapes.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I took this photo while driving, to try to capture the beautiful local landscape, made up of these ubiquitous low tidal marshes. The entire land mass is very low, essentially at sea level, and it makes such a unique and lovely landscape (particularly if you don't mind snakes and alligators): </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Low tidal marshes leading to the ocean, an ever-changing and beautiful landscape.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Civil War & Colonial Relics</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Speaking of the countryside, David decided to do a little relic hunting after making a connection through his Civil War community (he loves American Civil War history). They toured an old Civil War battleground near a long-gone plantation. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was a hot and laborious day of metal detecting and digging but he</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> found some very interesting old things which I would like to frame and display.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Some are Colonial and some are Civil War era:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UGjrG25Zl9g/VNFK35jA3hI/AAAAAAAAKRI/HM8W9-5R_vU/s1600/IMG_3965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UGjrG25Zl9g/VNFK35jA3hI/AAAAAAAAKRI/HM8W9-5R_vU/s1600/IMG_3965.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>From left to right: a small button, a shoe buckle, an old Colonial coin, the top from a gunpowder horn, and a beautiful sterling silver belt buckle(!!!) that I really want to clean up. All these things were dug from very hard ground over the course of several hours of relic hunting. </i></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bx26sLUwlGo/VNFMc3Ex82I/AAAAAAAAKRU/ZHYOw4swRRM/s1600/IMG_3963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bx26sLUwlGo/VNFMc3Ex82I/AAAAAAAAKRU/ZHYOw4swRRM/s1600/IMG_3963.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>From left to right: a piece of tile, a plug of lead for making bullets, part of the reed from a harmonica, a bullet casing, and a bullet. </i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Savannah & Its 22 Squares</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Towards the end of our trip, David and I took a day trip to Savannah and I regret that we didn't spend longer there. We loved Savannah!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I didn't take many photos as we arrived late morning and the day was blazing hot with not a cloud in the sky. And the heavy tree cover in many of Savannah's beautiful squares made for some tough lighting for iPhone photography:</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4zhRa3g0t1o/VNFVI0fQaOI/AAAAAAAAKSk/_rlT-M5F8b0/s1600/IMG_4220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4zhRa3g0t1o/VNFVI0fQaOI/AAAAAAAAKSk/_rlT-M5F8b0/s1600/IMG_4220.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Savannah's downtown has 22 heavily treed "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squares_of_Savannah,_Georgia">squares</a>", each with a historic monument and park benches for resting in the shade.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Historic Savannah feels somehow more <i>run-down </i>than historic Charleston (which feels rather posh and aristocratic) as it has some abandoned historic homes (that are slowly being renovated). But I would say Savannah downtown somehow feels more <i>relaxed. </i>It is very leafy with its lovely shaded squares, so there's a relaxed feeling created by having a place to sit and watch the world go by. Historic Charleston, to me, is much more aesthetically beautiful but there are few parks and places to sit and really enjoy it (other than a busy restaurant)! Savannah seems to have more character and openness, if that makes any sense. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Savannah Architecture</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I didn't take many photos of Savannah architecture, but it has a totally different look and feel than Charleston. Ironwork is heavily used for decoration and the historic homes often have more elevated entrances: </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t7dJ1bjzZWY/VNFbkSQaHNI/AAAAAAAAKTc/ewyCnY1QSaQ/s1600/IMG_4205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t7dJ1bjzZWY/VNFbkSQaHNI/AAAAAAAAKTc/ewyCnY1QSaQ/s1600/IMG_4205.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is the Wm Kehoe house (a famous and famously haunted house), now a charming inn. It was built by a famous industrialist who owned the Ironworks in Savannah. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>All the white detail on this house is actually iron, painted white!</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img src="http://ghosttoursinsavannah.com/images/haunted-savannah/kehoe-house-front-large.jpg" height="425" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="640" /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo courtesy <a href="http://ghosttoursinsavannah.com/haunted-savannah/hauntings-at-the-kehoe-house/">Ghost city tours Savannah</a></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Shopping on Whitaker Street</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I had a long list of shops to visit but there was so much to see in Savannah that we only hit a few on my list.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I also had an impatient husband on my hands, so that curbed my shop time considerably. To maximize my ratio of shops per minute, we hit Whitaker Street which had some neat shops I'd researched in advance.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I had 10 hurried minutes inside </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.onefishstore.com/">One Fish Two Fish</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">:</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--10GRK0bF1U/VNFWPahCw6I/AAAAAAAAKSs/0Bpp8WIPUGY/s1600/IMG_4210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--10GRK0bF1U/VNFWPahCw6I/AAAAAAAAKSs/0Bpp8WIPUGY/s1600/IMG_4210.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Like a stealthy hunter, I saw my prey at once: I bought a small starburst mirror from the wall but should have come home with a whole lot more.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Also on Whitaker Street, we visited <a href="http://www.numberfoureleven.com/">NumberFourEleven</a> (a monogram shop), which I really loved:</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pNoDPI4miSg/VNFXYnkHc9I/AAAAAAAAKS0/17-6QZpAeXM/s1600/IMG_4218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pNoDPI4miSg/VNFXYnkHc9I/AAAAAAAAKS0/17-6QZpAeXM/s1600/IMG_4218.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am still kicking myself for not buying a John Robshaw duvet cover I saw on sale there.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Next was </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://lapaperiesavannah.com/">LaPaperie</a>, which had a beautiful selection of cards and stationary:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v6zLio6-04M/VNFX6dXrQsI/AAAAAAAAKS8/Gvh4Wogt0rU/s1600/IMG_4214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v6zLio6-04M/VNFX6dXrQsI/AAAAAAAAKS8/Gvh4Wogt0rU/s1600/IMG_4214.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And of course, I hit <a href="http://www.circalighting.com/">Circa Lighting</a>. The Savannah store is larger than the one in Charleston! And fortunately they have a "husband station" at the back (sofa and TV), so I had a little more time to look here:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x_VH5lJi8Pg/VNFZkxtO0jI/AAAAAAAAKTI/G-diBEsc0fs/s1600/IMG_4213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x_VH5lJi8Pg/VNFZkxtO0jI/AAAAAAAAKTI/G-diBEsc0fs/s1600/IMG_4213.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The staff at both Circa Lighting stores I visited were so friendly! I was impressed. And I do regret that I didn't buy another fixture. I do love my Dauphine lamp that I bought in Charleston and blogged about <a href="http://windlost.blogspot.ca/2014/12/our-honeymoon-part-one-charleston-south.html">here</a>. I will have to post about it soon, as it's now sitting on my sideboard at home and I totally love it!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We also visited ShopSCAD, the Savannah College of Art and Design shop downtown:</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LZ6ZnBusLno/VNFbDvQh8wI/AAAAAAAAKTU/hCk1uzMeSpc/s1600/IMG_4203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LZ6ZnBusLno/VNFbDvQh8wI/AAAAAAAAKTU/hCk1uzMeSpc/s1600/IMG_4203.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">SCAD has purchased and renovated many historic buildings in Savannah and has a very large and positive presence in the city!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Lunch at Collins Quarter</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It sounds crazy, but our favorite part of Savannah was eating an amazing late lunch at <a href="http://www.thecollinsquarter.com/">Collins Quarter</a>, a very busy local spot with a <i>fabulous</i> simple menu.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xsM7hFlIP1U/VNFhGIkRAlI/AAAAAAAAKTw/nVcyokqQOLk/s1600/IMG_4228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xsM7hFlIP1U/VNFhGIkRAlI/AAAAAAAAKTw/nVcyokqQOLk/s1600/IMG_4228.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We had an awesome meal and my first ever <i>almond milk latte</i>, which was divine!</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W8VIVY0d0FY/VNFgKHOKk5I/AAAAAAAAKTo/rggpZcxN9b0/s1600/IMG_4224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W8VIVY0d0FY/VNFgKHOKk5I/AAAAAAAAKTo/rggpZcxN9b0/s1600/IMG_4224.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And then we just sat and people-watched for a while!</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kWnR6BhMAVk/VNFiaDqE_mI/AAAAAAAAKT8/mNIKbIS_lYY/s1600/IMG_4223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kWnR6BhMAVk/VNFiaDqE_mI/AAAAAAAAKT8/mNIKbIS_lYY/s1600/IMG_4223.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Hilton Head Island</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The day after Savannah we went on a short country drive and ended up on Hilton Head Island. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We drove around and saw a lot of trees and gated communities (called "Plantations") and not much else. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So it is not for the casual traveller who arrives unannounced! There seemed to be nothing to do! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We didn't do our research to realize that you can't visit the charming Harbour Town on Hilton Head without parking your car and taking a bus. We were too late in the day for that, so instead we visited the public beach, which was lovely!</span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kSCNTyuE3Pg/VNFpVioyQVI/AAAAAAAAKUc/DBtkXqfg0PA/s1600/IMG_4011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kSCNTyuE3Pg/VNFpVioyQVI/AAAAAAAAKUc/DBtkXqfg0PA/s1600/IMG_4011.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mz2V3eDdvng/VNFlj2T57ZI/AAAAAAAAKUI/L7ddlEo4kBI/s1600/IMG_4005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mz2V3eDdvng/VNFlj2T57ZI/AAAAAAAAKUI/L7ddlEo4kBI/s1600/IMG_4005.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Naturally we took some selfies:</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IveIHyHoQkk/VNFo9FT5W8I/AAAAAAAAKUU/0-DJlL3CaDA/s1600/IMG_4008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IveIHyHoQkk/VNFo9FT5W8I/AAAAAAAAKUU/0-DJlL3CaDA/s1600/IMG_4008.jpg" height="640" width="524" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On the way home we got some groceries and noticed this cake:</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QfKl3E046Mk/VNFpqaOLw-I/AAAAAAAAKUk/aOw9ngHRNpQ/s1600/IMG_4029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QfKl3E046Mk/VNFpqaOLw-I/AAAAAAAAKUk/aOw9ngHRNpQ/s1600/IMG_4029.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Happy Fall Y'All. Everyone calls you "y'all" in the south!</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Hunting Island Lighthouse</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On our last day, we visited Hunting Island State Park (which we'd been driving by every day as it's right near Fripp) and toured the lovely lighthouse:</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kQLpKRy16wc/VNFqCE8gFII/AAAAAAAAKUs/1yvJI-GUVMg/s1600/IMG_4292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kQLpKRy16wc/VNFqCE8gFII/AAAAAAAAKUs/1yvJI-GUVMg/s1600/IMG_4292.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gJQr6W8Nrns/VNFsEiuE3cI/AAAAAAAAKU4/PUWCTAs239E/s1600/IMG_4291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gJQr6W8Nrns/VNFsEiuE3cI/AAAAAAAAKU4/PUWCTAs239E/s1600/IMG_4291.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Fabulous views after a long walk up:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--_rwu6B0zpQ/VNFs7p1WHXI/AAAAAAAAKVI/DvtwioBijko/s1600/IMG_1577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--_rwu6B0zpQ/VNFs7p1WHXI/AAAAAAAAKVI/DvtwioBijko/s1600/IMG_1577.jpg" height="488" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>I really, really hate heights.</i></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kfQKL5uNFoE/VNFsTf1rPEI/AAAAAAAAKVA/Ww_8FinMaus/s1600/IMG_4296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kfQKL5uNFoE/VNFsTf1rPEI/AAAAAAAAKVA/Ww_8FinMaus/s1600/IMG_4296.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And that, my friends, is the end.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sunrise on Fripp Island, early in the morning as we were leaving for the airport:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MTu3KzLohsY/VNFthzBDOVI/AAAAAAAAKVU/sDJaVJP6VPo/s1600/IMG_4317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MTu3KzLohsY/VNFthzBDOVI/AAAAAAAAKVU/sDJaVJP6VPo/s1600/IMG_4317.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">All in all it was a wonderful, relaxing and interesting honeymoon!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We can't wait to go back!</span></div>
Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-44231114360294192262015-01-24T22:42:00.002-07:002015-01-24T22:42:46.611-07:00Introducing Finn (our new kitty)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">H</span></b>ello all, I have happy news to share!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Last week we welcomed home a lovely little kitty who is 8 months old. We named him Finn (although he is often called Finley):</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wfXPXmMIroE/VMR8ZRpQXGI/AAAAAAAAKPE/RrwPwVURhC0/s1600/photo%2B3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wfXPXmMIroE/VMR8ZRpQXGI/AAAAAAAAKPE/RrwPwVURhC0/s1600/photo%2B3.PNG" height="640" width="606" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>When I saw this photo on ARF's website, it was love...! He was called Peter but we have re-named him Finn.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was feeling rather blue over Christmas as I missed having a cat in the house for the second Christmas in a row. While I still miss my last wonderful cat (Biscuit) terribly, I </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">realized I was <i>finally ready to have a new kitty</i> in the house.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Thank You ARF</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Finn was adopted from <a href="http://www.arf.ab.ca/">ARF</a>, the Animal Rescue Foundation, here in Calgary. They rescue animals from rural areas around the city, in particular from the Tsuu T'ina Indian reserve (where Finn came from). All their animals are fostered out to wonderful families, so we went to visit Finn at his foster home. I knew he was our cat from the second I saw him. He looked like a little fox and had such a sweet disposition! We got to bring him home a week later.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Finn was the last of his litter to be adopted as he had a problem with his back legs that they were watching. His back legs have shorter tendons and so he walks a little pigeon-toed, but he loves to run and jump and it hasn't slowed him down a bit!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Finn is such a wonderful cat. He is loving and sweet and funny and never in a bad mood. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He meowed a little bit the first day as he missed his foster sister kitty and dog. Here he is meowing the first day:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But within the first hour he explored the whole house. He is super friendly and confident.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But before we knew it, he was in love with us and we are now inseparable. He follows me everywhere. Here he is sleeping on me last night:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ahhh happy!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hope you are all well. I still have to post the second half of our honeymoon and dying to get back to the blog. I have so much to talk about, but I've been laid up with bad headaches and some house projects needing my attention, so I've been neglecting the blog.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I hope you're all well and I miss you!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">More very soon, xo Terri</span></div>
Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-79170151930123019352014-12-24T13:35:00.002-07:002014-12-24T13:36:48.627-07:00Merry Christmas 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></b>ishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Banff Springs Hotel, December 2014</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Wouldn't you know it, I've come down with the flu. I was so achy and feverish in the night I was sure I was dying. Just up for a bit today and wanted to wish you all a very happy Christmas. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I think my Christmas Eve plans will involve a blanket, chicken soup and perhaps a dose of Nyquil while David enjoys the festivities at his mother's house. What impeccably bad timing these bugs have. Hopefully I will feel a bit better tomorrow. It seems to not be as bad as it first appeared.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A big hug to you!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">xo Terri</span></div>
<br />Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-7219592674170809382014-12-22T00:23:00.001-07:002017-03-31T10:48:55.694-06:00Our Honeymoon - Part One: Charleston, South Carolina<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b> can't believe it's the week before Christmas and I'm just blogging about our (Sept/October) honeymoon. My sincere apologies for the delay. I have so much to share with you, but w</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ithout further ado...the honeymoon:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Charleston, late September</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our honeymoon started with a fire at the Chicago airport, which almost grounded us. We arrived in Charleston much later than we planned (but at least it was the same day!) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We had </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">four days in downtown Charleston. Unfortunately for us the weather was uncooperative, so didn't initially show Charleston at its best. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The first two days were as hot as Dante's inferno (we thought October would be a little cooler), with each day in the high nineties and extremely humid. Definitely not ideal for walking and sightseeing. I felt sweaty, steamy and grouchy most of the time, but we put on a happy face! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When we weren't experiencing heat stroke, it POURED rain - I mean torrential rain, with gale-force winds. It rained for hours and hours until the streets were flooded (Charleston is only a dozen feet above sea level, so it doesn't take much to flood the storm sewers and then the streets). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Luckily it cleared a little each day (though it remained gray and gloomy). So I grabbed a few photos when I could (my apologies for the rather bland lighting in many of these shots).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Where We Stayed</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We stayed in a lovely carriage house (researched and selected by David!), tucked into a closed courtyard behind a larger (main) house. It was nice and quiet, away from the hustle and bustle of our busy downtown Charleston neighborhood:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The perfect home-away-from-home! And thankfully...very well air conditioned. </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The house was tastefully decorated, quiet and peaceful, and had a lovely airiness due to the high ceilings and abundant natural light. The kitchen was lovely and classic, with honed marble countertops, white subway tile and gray cabinets. I couldn't have designed it better myself:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There was also a little living room on the main floor, with vintage furniture pieces and a a few nautical elements:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-518VAU_b1UE/VJeNFl5kRQI/AAAAAAAAKDs/YpREfF_ZCIw/s1600/P1170613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-518VAU_b1UE/VJeNFl5kRQI/AAAAAAAAKDs/YpREfF_ZCIw/s1600/P1170613.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The house had a handsome tall stairwell, leading to the two second floor bedrooms and bathroom:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Tall vintage doors lead to a little patio where we had our breakfast:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On the second floor, one bedroom was more quiet and peaceful:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">With a pretty gallery wall of personal art:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">While the other bedroom was more cheery and bright (I took these photos the day we left, when it was ironically sunny with a blue sky):</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>The owner painted many of the colourful paintings herself</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So our little house was a lovely oasis. David made a great choice!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We started our adventure with breakfast at the nearby, and very famous, Hominy Grill:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MlwZ4XBv8Jw/VJeOi5kcrBI/AAAAAAAAKEA/IeIHMdo8FiQ/s1600/IMG_3759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MlwZ4XBv8Jw/VJeOi5kcrBI/AAAAAAAAKEA/IeIHMdo8FiQ/s1600/IMG_3759.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Fried green tomatoes, in progress...gooood.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GOOZkwhHTks/VJeO1Afsw_I/AAAAAAAAKEI/jZhjgsom2lU/s1600/IMG_3755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GOOZkwhHTks/VJeO1Afsw_I/AAAAAAAAKEI/jZhjgsom2lU/s1600/IMG_3755.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The first day, since it wasn't raining (only 100 degF), we walked around downtown and visited the historic district. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Downtown Charleston & The Historic District</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Downtown Charleston consists of many blocks of old homes and streets lined with interesting shops. King Street (running north-south) is the main shopping street. As you travel south through downtown, you eventually find yourself in the "historic" district, which occupies the southern part of the peninsula, south of Broad Street all the way to The Battery (waterfront). </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Map graciously provided by <a href="http://www.travelerofcharleston.com/" target="_blank">travelerofcharleston</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J99qzBF47Co/VJeUhjN6NaI/AAAAAAAAKE8/8os-PL2Dl_k/s1600/Picture%2B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J99qzBF47Co/VJeUhjN6NaI/AAAAAAAAKE8/8os-PL2Dl_k/s1600/Picture%2B8.jpg" width="630" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Charleston is a small city, with a population of only 128,000 (the wider Charleston district has about 700,000), but its downtown historic district is dense with beautiful architecture, and a very rich history as a merchant colony of Great Britain (it was named Charles Towne in 1670, after King Charles II of England).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I took about a billion photos. Here are a few...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A blue painted ceiling on the veranda, a common detail we observed in old Charleston homes:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T579cscyyEc/VJeSFMTxC7I/AAAAAAAAKEo/ea2qNPV-Odo/s1600/P1170457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T579cscyyEc/VJeSFMTxC7I/AAAAAAAAKEo/ea2qNPV-Odo/s1600/P1170457.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Elegant entryways are de rigeur:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e4kJhRQS6NM/VJeSar2QLRI/AAAAAAAAKEw/ZpmvWLJAgTU/s1600/P1170459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e4kJhRQS6NM/VJeSar2QLRI/AAAAAAAAKEw/ZpmvWLJAgTU/s1600/P1170459.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Everywhere you look, there is a lush secret garden:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4TxvMHjDQHc/VJeW7O-jE1I/AAAAAAAAKFI/MeGwj13W_Bc/s1600/P1170467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4TxvMHjDQHc/VJeW7O-jE1I/AAAAAAAAKFI/MeGwj13W_Bc/s1600/P1170467.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Or an inviting veranda:</span> </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GWjlpuGoQGk/VJeXvTcdVsI/AAAAAAAAKFY/v_H6P-ODYZw/s1600/P1170474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GWjlpuGoQGk/VJeXvTcdVsI/AAAAAAAAKFY/v_H6P-ODYZw/s1600/P1170474.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I fell in love with the greenery and immediately chose a favorite tree, the exquisite Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) (also spelled Crape Myrtle), which has fine curling branches and tiny pink flowers, delicately positioned on the branches:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The trunk of the crepe myrtle is very unusual as it sheds its bark throughout the year</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5xnp-Vc7ENk/VJeaP5Zl0BI/AAAAAAAAKFw/fV1KEWWdC7s/s1600/P1170577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5xnp-Vc7ENk/VJeaP5Zl0BI/AAAAAAAAKFw/fV1KEWWdC7s/s1600/P1170577.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>I had a wonderful conversation with a gardener at the historic Nathaniel Russell house, where I photographed this crepe myrtle tree. He helped me identify many of the trees I had seen that day and was admiring!</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Everything is inviting about the architecture. Many of the homes are very old and elegant, dating back to the 1700's, as Charleston was a very wealthy merchant colony:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g2rBeBQe6NA/VJebNgtz6nI/AAAAAAAAKF8/sshxtsglay0/s1600/P1170476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g2rBeBQe6NA/VJebNgtz6nI/AAAAAAAAKF8/sshxtsglay0/s1600/P1170476.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Notice the periwinkle blue painted ceiling of the portico. No detail is missed!</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Many of the homes were brightly but tastefully painted:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_wQ4PddxmlU/VJecE3WlndI/AAAAAAAAKGE/5dtz5GCsYuo/s1600/P1170480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_wQ4PddxmlU/VJecE3WlndI/AAAAAAAAKGE/5dtz5GCsYuo/s1600/P1170480.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Notice the shutters of the neighboring house, which are a matching green! Another crepe myrtle makes its way into my shot.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Each house is unique and eye-catching. I love this olive green door with the pale sage green facade:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UZ4b5RAA5eo/VJec9CGIT_I/AAAAAAAAKGQ/aZw1YILS-cw/s1600/P1170481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UZ4b5RAA5eo/VJec9CGIT_I/AAAAAAAAKGQ/aZw1YILS-cw/s1600/P1170481.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Striking blue-green shutters:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IiIRuvfTZyg/VJeddYF4RmI/AAAAAAAAKGY/VYnKgw_hBnM/s1600/P1170495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IiIRuvfTZyg/VJeddYF4RmI/AAAAAAAAKGY/VYnKgw_hBnM/s1600/P1170495.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And overflowing window boxes:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A perfect small front parterre garden:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Very green thanks to lots of rain!</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There were lots of secluded gardens behind red brick walls:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And lots of secluded homes behind iron gates, making for a very enticing and mysterious aura:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And vines grow like weeds, making their home everywhere:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The photo below shows a famous local architectural style, exclusive to Charleston, called the "Single House". The single house is a "single width" (one room wide) house with a side door facing the street. The street door enters onto a long side veranda, which they call a "piazza". The actual door/entrance to the house is from the center of the piazza. The side veranda takes advantage of the shade, as it creates a shaded wall of side windows, but its history is a little unclear (someone told us the narrow, deep houses were designed to minimize taxes by minimizing street frontage but I could not confirm that): </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Som7gPhwqFE/VJegPUJNSsI/AAAAAAAAKHI/rrF2SeeJ1Ns/s1600/P1170506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Som7gPhwqFE/VJegPUJNSsI/AAAAAAAAKHI/rrF2SeeJ1Ns/s1600/P1170506.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There is also a "Double House", which looks like this, sitting with its "wide" side to the street and featuring a double entrance stairwell:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This circular iron medallion (below) was prominent throughout Charleston, but I was unable to determine its provenance:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A walk along The Battery (Charleston Harbor) on a very rainy afternoon. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As you can see, these waterfront homes are basically below sea level! </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-loD7cCjca5g/VJek9lecOvI/AAAAAAAAKHo/0fz4WqiFOEE/s1600/P1170537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-loD7cCjca5g/VJek9lecOvI/AAAAAAAAKHo/0fz4WqiFOEE/s1600/P1170537.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These homes face Fort Sumter, which sits about a mile out in the harbor. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In 1861, Confederate forces in Charleston fired on Union forces stationed at Fort Sumter (below), starting the American Civil War:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SuD41iQ6KJ0/VJem158Fb-I/AAAAAAAAKH0/SWNuQ67b9s8/s1600/IMG_1433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SuD41iQ6KJ0/VJem158Fb-I/AAAAAAAAKH0/SWNuQ67b9s8/s1600/IMG_1433.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">David toured Fort Sumter: </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_-8-UyenLV4/VJenELgGwyI/AAAAAAAAKH8/4ABNJ00D-6E/s1600/IMG_1457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_-8-UyenLV4/VJenELgGwyI/AAAAAAAAKH8/4ABNJ00D-6E/s1600/IMG_1457.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Fort Sumter. Flags and a lot of stone walls, from what I can tell. David enjoyed his visit anyway.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Shopping on King Street</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">David toured Fort Sumter while I focussed on more pressing needs, like shopping on King Street. I didn't take that many photos in stores as I only had a few hours to cover a lot of miles.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Inside Alexandra French Antiques:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x_xOhPkDf7E/VJeoEMLWWeI/AAAAAAAAKIM/oVgM8GC-Eqk/s1600/IMG_3809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x_xOhPkDf7E/VJeoEMLWWeI/AAAAAAAAKIM/oVgM8GC-Eqk/s1600/IMG_3809.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Inside Vieuxtemps, which sells a beautiful selection of fine china. This was a creative display of registry china, selected by brides for their upcoming weddings. Each card in front of the set gave the name of the bride and groom and their wedding date. It was so fun looking over the sets to see what each young lady had chosen: </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KZao6UcZoVo/VJepSGDaAxI/AAAAAAAAKIU/C26wg3BQwBs/s1600/IMG_3824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KZao6UcZoVo/VJepSGDaAxI/AAAAAAAAKIU/C26wg3BQwBs/s1600/IMG_3824.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>The owner told me that some young southern brides still delight in selecting fine china, while others are dragged in kicking and screaming by their (more traditional) mothers.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For me, the highlight of King Street was my visit to Circa Lighting, where I must have spent two hours. I was so very smitten!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-olpBreGjztA/VJeqY-UqsoI/AAAAAAAAKIc/FCuf8VUN0nQ/s1600/IMG_3895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-olpBreGjztA/VJeqY-UqsoI/AAAAAAAAKIc/FCuf8VUN0nQ/s1600/IMG_3895.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The very large but lovely <i>Cannes</i> table lamps by Aerin Lauder:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2oThjtQW2n4/VJeq_H3ih2I/AAAAAAAAKIk/WrhykTHC9Lo/s1600/IMG_3894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2oThjtQW2n4/VJeq_H3ih2I/AAAAAAAAKIk/WrhykTHC9Lo/s1600/IMG_3894.jpg" width="550" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A smaller scale bedside lamp (Marseille), also by Aerin:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rWYtaNCEKxg/VJerVFRqImI/AAAAAAAAKIs/gsrPKr58GlA/s1600/IMG_3827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rWYtaNCEKxg/VJerVFRqImI/AAAAAAAAKIs/gsrPKr58GlA/s1600/IMG_3827.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A very pretty sconce, smaller scale:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kvFD2_OEgus/VJesQPOaxAI/AAAAAAAAKI4/TiMQfFhf_hs/s1600/IMG_3892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kvFD2_OEgus/VJesQPOaxAI/AAAAAAAAKI4/TiMQfFhf_hs/s1600/IMG_3892.jpg" width="466" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The lovely and restrained Dauphine small table lamp, <i>which came home with me</i> (I went in specifically looking for it!):</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K9sWV9LsLlw/VJesfGDc1MI/AAAAAAAAKJA/aGmAKSiswTg/s1600/IMG_3832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K9sWV9LsLlw/VJesfGDc1MI/AAAAAAAAKJA/aGmAKSiswTg/s1600/IMG_3832.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>This was one of only three things (yes three) that I bought for our house while on our honeymoon.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>An Historic Home Tour</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The next day, I visited the historic Nathaniel Russell house, which was a dream. I adored this elegant Federal home, built in 1809. Sadly I could not take photographs on the tour, so a look at the facade is all you get (my second home decor purchase was a gold Christmas ornament of this facade)!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c3l6mB6llSw/VJenrabyCvI/AAAAAAAAKIE/OflCcvyA7y4/s1600/P1170570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c3l6mB6llSw/VJenrabyCvI/AAAAAAAAKIE/OflCcvyA7y4/s1600/P1170570.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>The huge tree to the left is a Magnolia, which I had never seen in person before! The gardener told me these trees are a mess to have in your garden, as they dump massive carpets of huge leaves when winter comes.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The original homeowner, Nathaniel Russell, was a wealthy merchant, but wasn't yet a member of the elite upper class - that honor was saved for wealthy plantation owners who owned vast country plantations out of town, as well as stunning "town" houses. This was Mr. Russell's "nouveau riche" attempt at fitting in with society. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The famous cantilevered stairwell inside the house, first designed in England and copied here in America. This design was cutting edge:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img alt="File:Nathaniel Russell House (Stair).jpg" data-file-height="316" data-file-width="250" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/73/Nathaniel_Russell_House_%28Stair%29.jpg" height="316" width="250" /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We also learned a lot above slaves on this tour, and I did a lot of reading on the subject before, during and after my visit. All the owners of these historic homes owned slaves, who lived in separate quarters in the back yards of these homes.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Charleston Fall Tour of Homes</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After leaving Charleston a week earlier, David and I returned to Charleston on a beautiful, cool, sunny day (I am forever grateful) for the <a href="http://www.thefalltours.org/">Charleston Fall Tour of Homes</a>, organized by the Preservation Society of Charleston. The lovely weather allowed us a second chance to savour historic Charleston.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On the tour, we</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> visited six private homes, dating from 1746 to 1890, including Georgian (my favorite), Greek Revival, Colonial Revival, and Victorian styles. I was thrilled with the tour and wish I could have seen a hundred more homes.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Photography was prohibited, since these are private homes. But I asked and was kindly granted permission to take one photo. This photo shows an <i>old slave kitchen</i> (where all food was prepared for the main house). This kitchen was originally a separate building, detached from the main house (due to fire risk) that was later renovated and attached to the main house. Above the kitchen, there would have been a second level (you can see the ledge for the second floor) where slaves would have slept (hence the second story hearths and window openings:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ENrgyjA5bdM/VJeyKbZ9u4I/AAAAAAAAKJY/LC2fEamYUtA/s1600/IMG_4125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ENrgyjA5bdM/VJeyKbZ9u4I/AAAAAAAAKJY/LC2fEamYUtA/s1600/IMG_4125.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Once a slave kitchen and second-storey sleeping quarters. This is a private home, so please don't pin this image.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Although I'd read a lot on the subject, I never saw any physical evidence of slavery except inside this home. So it seemed especially poignant and important to share. This is a beautiful renovation and a striking room, but what a dark history it represents.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Continuing on the tour, this is a shot of the exterior of another Adamesque (Federal c.1804) house. I shot this photo as it shows the original brick construction peeking out from underneath chipped stucco, which would have been added later.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Another example of Single House architecture on our home tour. Built before 1800.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mry-nQUOTs/VJe5zSJF6gI/AAAAAAAAKKw/Tg-6Pnz9dA0/s1600/IMG_4137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mry-nQUOTs/VJe5zSJF6gI/AAAAAAAAKKw/Tg-6Pnz9dA0/s1600/IMG_4137.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">While touring our last home, the Victorian Carrington-Carr House (c. 1890), now a popular inn, we came across the answer to a Charleston riddle that had been plaguing us for days! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Throughout our walks (when it wasn't raining), we'd noticed the most beautiful scent in the air but could not identify the source. That is until we discovered this, the gracious Tea Olive shrub (Osmanthus Fragrans), which emanates the most lovely scent.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hzdF0cXPNcg/VJe6X78blXI/AAAAAAAAKK4/2BGwypBgeNQ/s1600/IMG_4160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hzdF0cXPNcg/VJe6X78blXI/AAAAAAAAKK4/2BGwypBgeNQ/s1600/IMG_4160.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks to a tour guide at the Carrington-Carr House, who identified the fragrant Tea Olive for us! We were told it blooms only briefly, so we felt blessed that we got to experience its lovely scent.</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Other Sights around Charleston</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">David and I did a bus tour on a rainy day. This photo show the Citadel, a military college, in the distance:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">David visited an aircraft carrier, the USS Norfolk:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And went inside a submarine:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">David made a new friend at the harbor. This white bird with bright yellow feet casts a mean silhouette against that black submarine (do you know what this bird is?):</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Wentworth Mansion</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One evening we toured historic Wentworth Mansion (now an upscale inn) after eating dinner at its posh restaurant, Circa 1886 (ranked in the Top 3 of restaurants in Charleston):</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>We had an exquisite honeymoon dinner at the very posh Circa 1886 at Wentworth Mansion, on a very rainy night</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The mansion was once a private residence. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It has a famous, very ornate stairwell:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EDCUtnTq084/VJe5GbZ8-MI/AAAAAAAAKKg/GKUmAN0jYvg/s1600/IMG_3871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EDCUtnTq084/VJe5GbZ8-MI/AAAAAAAAKKg/GKUmAN0jYvg/s1600/IMG_3871.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And it's chock full of inviting details, like this elaborate door knob.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Anyone fancy a glass of Port before bed (guests only)?:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On our last day in Charleston we walked in the rain, discovering many gardens, churches and mysterious pathways:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'd also like to make a shout out to Black Tap Coffee (70 1/2 Beaufain Street), an airy and chic gourmet coffee shop, for making me a wicked iced decaf latte on more than one occasion!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>David catches up on his reading, while fake smiling for the camera, at Black Tap Coffee in Charleston. Besides amazing coffee, the cookies were great too.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After four days, we said goodbye to our little house:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Good-bye Charleston house. We loved you and your air conditioning.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Final Thoughts & Recommendations</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Charleston is an inviting city! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The people were lovely and polite and we were made to feel very welcome. I hope you will get to visit one day! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It is, however, a smaller city than I realized. There were far fewer (affordable) antiques than I'd hoped and a lot less home decor shops in general. But the city itself is full of grace, charm and history and there are many amazing restaurants (it's a real foodie paradise). We also heard there are lots of cool things to do in Mount Pleasant, across the bridge from the Charleston peninsula.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'd suggest if you go (and you like houses), you should plan your trip around the Fall Tour of Homes (which occurs for 3 weeks in October!), organized by the Preservation Society of Charleston. If you can't make the tour, at least stop by their shop (Lower King Street) as they have a wealth of knowledge about historic Charleston and tons of great books. I'd become a member of their society in a hot second if I lived there! The tour I attended, though only one day, was a highlight of the trip for me.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In my next installment, I will report the second leg of our honeymoon - Savannah and Fripp Island! I hope you've enjoyed this post!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(And I wish you and yours a very </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Merry Christmas as I likely won't get a chance to post again before that)</span></div>
Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-25063765057849856402014-11-09T21:58:00.001-07:002014-11-09T21:58:03.945-07:00Honeymoon...Soon!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">D</span>avid and I went on our honeymoon in early October and I'm overdue for a post about it! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As Steve was just saying on <i>his</i> last <a href="http://anurbancottage.blogspot.ca/2014/11/around-house-kitchen-update.html">post</a>, I concur that I don't know how I posted so regularly for so many years! I think this year has just been a blur with the wedding and honeymoon planning. And we've started a house hunt, which isn't going so great, and it's looking instead like perhaps a renovation of our current home. So with all that - I'm feeling a bit spent!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Oh well, it's all been "<i>such fun"</i>, as Lady Mary said on Downton Abbey, but I do long to get back to my blog writing and sharing this record of my favorite things with you, my kindred spirits...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So in lieu of a post tonight, here's a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">squinty-eyed photo from our honeymoon, and a promise that I will share many more photos so very soon...!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Terri & David, nautical attire. Hilton Head Island, October 2014.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Happy Winter!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just think, there are only 42 days until the December solstice, when the days start getting longer again!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Soon, Terri </span></div>
Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-6221490097940859202014-10-12T13:53:00.001-06:002014-10-12T14:15:45.025-06:00Official Wedding Photos: Part 2 (Formals & Reception)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">H</span></b>ello all!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Before I post our <i>honeymoon</i> photos (we just got back), </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm terribly overdue posting the <i>second installment</i> of our June wedding photos. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I took the summer off blogging and have some serious catching up to do!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our wedding day was perfection - we couldn't have ordered better weather and everything went delightfully well. It was such a joyful day. I feel so blessed. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After our gorgeous outdoor ceremony, we cut our wedding cake and celebrated with champagne and hor d'oeuvres (see my first post </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.windlost.blogspot.ca/2014/07/official-wedding-photos-part-i-ceremony.html">here</a>) on the veranda. Then we quickly dashed away with our families to do some formal wedding photos.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>~ Formals~ </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here we are with our beloved, wonderful mothers:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">David with his grandmother who turns 90 this week and is a charming firecracker of a lady in perfect health:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">With the mothers and grandma:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here we are with David's parents and our <i>very small</i> wedding party!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And here we are with the mothers and wedding party:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After about a million more family photos, we went off to do photos of me and David.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I felt like the Queen posing for this one:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I love this series of photos of us walking down a garden path:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>~ The Dinner Reception ~</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My favorite part of wedding planning was the reception tablescapes! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our event stylist, Alexandra, and I had such fun developing the aesthetic. In the end, w</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">e chose to do all-white table linens and warm brass candlesticks, with gold chiavari chairs.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I searched for months to find enough brass candlesticks to fill the tables. Most came from thrift shops, with a few of the finer ones purchased from antique stores. We added pink water glasses from Anthropologie to provide a dash of brightness to our softly-coloured tablescapes:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I designed all our paper goods, including place cards and menus, with the amazing calligrapher Jenna Rainey of <i>Monvoir</i>. Check out her work beautiful work <a href="http://www.monvoir.com/">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our central floral arrangements were created in footed brass bowls I sourced from both antique and thrift shops. Our flatware was fluted with gold-tipped ends:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We also had tiny floral arrangements in glass bowls (Anthropologie) at the end of each table. Since we couldn't repaint the room, we worked lots of foliage into the little arrangements to relate to the (green!) walls. And the gold tones of the brass worked well with the golden woodwork on the walls. This is the only problem working in a reception space that isn't painted a neutral - you have to work with the palette you've been given!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our wedding favours were beautifully wrapped in white paper boxes with hand-dyed (in France) rose silk ribbon from the <i>utterly exquisite</i> ribbon collection at <a href="http://froufrouchic.myshopify.com/">Froufrou Chic</a>:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our selected favours were bottle openers (Wm Sonoma) for the men and porcelain rose bottle toppers (Anthropologie) for the ladies. Since we only had 22 guests, we splurged a little on these!:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We also had a charming stuffed wool lion favour for our baby guest:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our reception dinner was gourmet perfection, created by the Reader Garden Cafe executive chef Merritt Gordon. We started with a lovely asparagus soup followed by a green salad with candied pecans:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The dinner was fun and lively as we celebrated and visited with our happy guests:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Don't forget to say hello to small guests:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The meal was amazing - Alberta AAA organic braised beef short ribs with crispy onions. potato puree, and sauteed greens. Perfection!: </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LycLCg-LhO8/VDrK3tDz-wI/AAAAAAAAJ_M/L8Tui3YE554/s1600/412A1926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LycLCg-LhO8/VDrK3tDz-wI/AAAAAAAAJ_M/L8Tui3YE554/s1600/412A1926.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dessert was a divine chocolate cremeaux (like a mousse cake) with shortbread and fruit preserves, and edible flowers to garnish:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">During dinner, our photographer captured a few more details, including our invitation suite and gifts table:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As sunset neared, around 9:30pm, David and I escaped for a few more photos:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Luckily the garden still had some lovely late spring blooms:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was such a wonderful day!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>~ The End ~</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Making our day perfect were all our amazing vendors, whom I cannot thank enough:</i></span></div>
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location <a href="http://www.readersgardencafe.ca/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cab4b4; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: lowercase; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">reader rock garden</a> & reader garden cafe (proprietor katherine moore)</div>
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photography: genevieve renee</div>
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decor styling by alexandra of <a href="http://pinkandhoney.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cab4b4; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: lowercase; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">pink and honey</a> (and a very involved bride!)</div>
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florals by <a href="http://www.bluehydrangea.ca/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cab4b4; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: lowercase; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">blue hydrangea</a></div>
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paper goods by <a href="http://www.monvoir.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cab4b4; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: lowercase; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">mon voir</a></div>
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wedding cake by <a href="http://www.cravecupcakes.ca/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cab4b4; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: lowercase; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">crave</a></div>
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vintage furniture rentals by <a href="http://vintageloved.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cab4b4; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: lowercase; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">vintage loved</a></div>
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reception dinnerware, flatware and chair rentals by special event rentals</div>
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officiant <a href="http://weddingsbytamara.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cab4b4; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: lowercase; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">tamara jones</a></div>
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guitarist jason delaney</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c5baba; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 19px; text-transform: lowercase;">bride's dress: sonia's bridal, customized by bride's dressmaker </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c5baba; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 19px; text-transform: lowercase;">bride's veil: david's bridal</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c5baba; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 19px; text-transform: lowercase;">bride's shoes: nine west</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c5baba; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 19px; text-transform: lowercase;">bride's earrings: adorn boutique</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c5baba; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 19px; text-transform: lowercase;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">groom's attire: henry singer (suit and cufflinks hugo boss)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c5baba; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 19px; text-transform: lowercase;">matron-of-honour's dress: the bridal centre</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c5baba; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 19px; text-transform: lowercase;">bride's hair: jennifer mcfarlane</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">bride's makeup: ashley gill</span></div>
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Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-39935873621216442512014-09-14T22:02:00.001-06:002014-09-14T22:06:01.354-06:00An Update & Our Upcoming Trip to Charleston & Savannah<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">H</span></b>ello dear friends,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As you may have noticed, <i>post-wedding</i> I took the rest of the summer off from blogging! I am happy to report m</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">y indolence has been without equal. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have missed you. But not enough to raise my head from the pillow to say hello.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was truly exhausted after the wedding. It took me a while to stop looking at wedding magazines and Pinterest boards, to be honest. But once I gave up that, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I felt completely spent. I almost felt like I'd borne some sort of wedding baby and then given it up for adoption. I </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">longed for it daily. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm sure plenty of brides feel like this post-wedding, when they are suddenly <i>sans</i> purpose. There is so much </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">energy and intellect invested in the planning. I'm sure that others feel the same sort of void after any long project of passion, which culminates in a single day of celebration. There's this existential "who am I" that creeps in after all that passion is laid down and your soul is poured out. Or maybe only introverts feel like this...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I did visit my Mom briefly but kept the trip very quiet so I didn't have to visit all over town. I just needed mental space, privacy, and to turn completely <i>off</i> and be with my Mom. I wanted no commitments, no plans. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I did visit a charming little antique shop when I was home and found these divine dinner plates (Furnivals), a set of 11. A few are quite dark while the rest are a lighter blue:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>These will work great with all my white and gold Limoges china.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My Mom was in the midst of a little renovation work when I was home, installing some new windows in her little 1940's house. Four new windows went in on the west side along with two new front dormers in front (not shown). </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">All the new windows are <i>double-hung</i> which means both the top and bottom panes are moveable (up and down) and also can be tilted into the room (hinged at the bottom) for easy cleaning. Gorgeous windows with lovely trim work and nice sills inside.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The bathroom window (the horizontal one) is an awning style (opens out like an awning, so you can leave it open in the rain). They have a very heavy winter out east, and the windows will really help with energy efficiency this winter. She burns wood mostly, but also oil. You can see the spot awaiting her new (beige) oil tank, with its new cement pad. I didn't think of it, but oil tanks need to be replaced every 10-15 years as they can corrode inside and then you have an environmental mess on your hands (not to mention no heating oil!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Shortly after returning to Calgary, this happened on September 10th: </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We may be winter-hardy Canadians but we were all utterly appalled to have snow in September. Since all our trees were still covered in leaves, the soft wet snow weighed the trees down heavily and caused mass destruction around the city. People lost power for hours, and there were numerous small fires and damage to homes as trees weighed down with snow fell atop hydro wires and homes:</span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Our apple tree. Not impressed. After this photo I went out and knocked snow off branches for half an hour, saving our tree from damage as many trees lost branches from the weight of snow. Our power was out for 9 hours. The house was 15C (60F) when the power came back on as the furnace was off all day. It was around freezing outside. Some people were without power for days.</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After the snow debacle, it warmed up to summertime temperatures again, thank heaven.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For our next adventure, we will soon leave for our honeymoon in </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">South Carolina!</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you have any </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">suggestions for decor, dining and sightseeing in Charleston, Savannah, Fripp Island, or neighboring towns, please send them! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It looks like foodie heaven, and we already have home and plantation tours planned for Charleston, as well as some historic sites (Fort Sumter) and a list of shops to visit in historic downtown Charleston and Savannah.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Please send your suggestions!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">xo Terri</span></div>
Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-38444867575215198342014-07-27T02:43:00.003-06:002014-07-27T14:29:58.596-06:00Official Wedding Photos: Part I (The Ceremony)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></b>e (excitedly) received the photos from our June 21 wedding yesterday!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our venue was the idyllic Reader Rock Garden and Reader Garden Cafe in central Calgary.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our photographer, the lovely and amazing <a href="http://www.genevieverenee.com/">Genevieve Renee</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, captured our dreamy day so beautifully. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our wedding day was perfection - I could not have ordered more perfect weather. The temperature was mild, neither hot nor cold (around 21C/70F), and the light was gorgeous after several days of rain (and light rain the morning of the wedding).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So without further ado, here are the photos of our ceremony and the champagne toast that followed (we cut our cake right after the ceremony, and had champagne and hors d'oeuvres before our formal photos and our dinner reception)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>~ Before the Wedding ~</b></span></h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My dearest Mom and me, in the bride's room, before the ceremony:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7rKpoR6EUdo/U9R8-l2fLAI/AAAAAAAAJFc/1BhTieK1Meo/s1600/412A0540+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7rKpoR6EUdo/U9R8-l2fLAI/AAAAAAAAJFc/1BhTieK1Meo/s1600/412A0540+copy.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My bridal bouquet, a soft composition of white and blush peonies, pink garden roses, ivory claire du lune spray roses, sahara roses, pink astilbe, blushing bride flower, jasmine vine, scabiosa and sweet peas:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zMbS5dPyqXU/U9SW77OL-WI/AAAAAAAAJIw/EJ-Gh1_KGxE/s1600/412A0509+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zMbS5dPyqXU/U9SW77OL-WI/AAAAAAAAJIw/EJ-Gh1_KGxE/s1600/412A0509+copy.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My dress and veil, with fine satin edging:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O4yYFIUELPg/U9Sp8eWIFNI/AAAAAAAAJLk/KJYq4jfqfhY/s1600/412A0555+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O4yYFIUELPg/U9Sp8eWIFNI/AAAAAAAAJLk/KJYq4jfqfhY/s1600/412A0555+copy.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pale pink patent shoes:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Meanwhile outside, David waits for the festivities to begin:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>The little box in his hand (with an orange kitty on the wrapping paper) is </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>a little gift for me...</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">David having his lovely boutonniere pinned:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VxmXe-4NtGc/U9R-Yuv-pCI/AAAAAAAAJFk/CiY67SJlSbw/s1600/412A0628+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VxmXe-4NtGc/U9R-Yuv-pCI/AAAAAAAAJFk/CiY67SJlSbw/s1600/412A0628+copy.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I wanted a slightly overscale boutonniere - ivory spray roses accented with pale pink miniature wax flower and dark foliage, all wrapped in muslin:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>David's tie is a pale ivory, to match to my dress - but it appears lighter in the photos</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We're ready to get married! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I chose a simple lace dress for it's heirloom/vintage quality, which suited our historic venue, my traditional tastes, and our "warm garden elegance" theme. Also the 3/4 (or half) sleeve look is a bit of a signature in my wardrobe:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>I liked how the clean, slightly more modern lines of the veil created a counterpoint to the detail of the lace. I think I needed simplicity in the veil for 'balance'.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The entrance to our garden ceremony, with a charming small vintage sideboard, tall floral arrangement in a footed urn, and a pale pink velvet guest book to welcome guests:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Velvet guest book: Anthropologie</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The ceremony site, with our classical guitarist Jason Delaney getting ready in the background:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our stylist, Alexandra, draped our focal tree with panache in stunning white fabric. The gentle breeze made it flowy and dreamy:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ceremony chairs with wedding programs for arriving guests:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Roses, for our mothers. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We included a "mother honoring" part in our ceremony, to honor the amazing women who raised us and enrich our lives every day:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Ceremony Begins</span></h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">David's brother and his wife - o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ur best man and matron-of-honour:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qJSf7JqDEI0/U9SEpDvh1YI/AAAAAAAAJGg/Lkxy83cCBN0/s1600/412A0712+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qJSf7JqDEI0/U9SEpDvh1YI/AAAAAAAAJGg/Lkxy83cCBN0/s1600/412A0712+copy.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>I. wears a champagne satin A-line dress, nude pumps, and gold and glass earrings from Anthropologie</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">David and I arrive together </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(our processional was The Beatles,"In My Life"):</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The ceremony begins:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I thee wed (the ring exchange):</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">With the power vested in me, I now pronounce thee:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Husband & Wife!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(Our recessional was to the Beatles "Here Comes the Sun", which was sooo pretty!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">~ Champagne & Wedding Cake ~</span></h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After the ceremony, we returned to the veranda of the Reader Garden Cafe for champagne, wedding cake and hors d'oeuvres:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oP4aSf4GN0g/U9SbpaSHDzI/AAAAAAAAJJc/jOeTAbD_8g0/s1600/412A0421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oP4aSf4GN0g/U9SbpaSHDzI/AAAAAAAAJJc/jOeTAbD_8g0/s1600/412A0421.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our wedding cake, a gift from my mother, was a stunning confection of lemon (3 layers) and chocolate cake (4 layers), filled with vanilla and chocolate buttercream respectively. The outside was frosted with vanilla buttercream and decorated with tiny white sugar flowers. It was delicious, as well as delightful to behold:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The charming veranda was so prettily styled with a gorgeous vintage white sideboard we found, perfectly framed and backlit by an archway overlooking the garden:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Champagne for everyone!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A toast to us, by David's brother:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A variety of gorgeous (and delicious!) gourmet hors d'oeuvres arrive, courtesy of the venue's amazing new chef, Merritt Gordon:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Visiting with guests:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And now time to relax with a little cake:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Mmmmm cake!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">*</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Making our day perfect were all our amazing vendors, who I cannot thank enough:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c5baba; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 19px; text-transform: lowercase;"></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c5baba; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.75em; margin-bottom: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: lowercase; vertical-align: baseline;">
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location <a href="http://www.readersgardencafe.ca/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cab4b4; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: lowercase; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">reader rock garden</a> & reader garden cafe (proprietor katherine moore)<br />
photography: genevieve renee<br />
decor styling by alexandra of <a href="http://pinkandhoney.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cab4b4; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: lowercase; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">pink and honey</a> (and a very involved bride!)<br />
florals by <a href="http://www.bluehydrangea.ca/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cab4b4; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: lowercase; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">blue hydrangea</a><br />
paper goods by <a href="http://www.monvoir.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cab4b4; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: lowercase; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">mon voir</a><br />
wedding cake by <a href="http://www.cravecupcakes.ca/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cab4b4; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: lowercase; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">crave</a><br />
vintage furniture rentals by <a href="http://vintageloved.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cab4b4; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: lowercase; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">vintage loved</a><br />
ceremony chair rentals by special event rentals<br />
officiant <a href="http://weddingsbytamara.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cab4b4; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: lowercase; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">tamara jones</a><br />
guitarist jason delaney</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c5baba; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 19px; text-transform: lowercase;">bride's dress: sonia's bridal </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c5baba; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 19px; text-transform: lowercase;">bride's veil: david's bridal</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c5baba; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 19px; text-transform: lowercase;">bride's shoes: Nine west</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c5baba; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 19px; text-transform: lowercase;">bride's earrings: Adorn boutique</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c5baba; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 19px; text-transform: lowercase;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">groom's suit, shoes, shirt, tie, cufflinks: all henry singer (suit and cufflinks hugo boss)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c5baba; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 19px; text-transform: lowercase;">matron-of-honour's dress: the bridal centre</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c5baba; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 19px; text-transform: lowercase;">bride's hair: jennifer mcfarlane</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">bride's makeup: ashley gill</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I hope you've enjoyed the photos from our ceremony! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Please stay tuned for my next post, where I'll share some of our formal photos and also our dinner reception photos!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>xo Terri</i></span></div>
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Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-57142642899276299232014-07-10T21:17:00.001-06:002014-07-10T21:25:32.910-06:00Wedding Favors for Boys<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">hile we </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">wait for our photographer's <i>official</i> photos of our wedding, I thought I'd post a few more small details.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Since we were planning a small wedding, we decided to splurge on favors for our guests.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The men received these handsome bone bottle openers from Wm Sonoma (<a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/brown-bone-bottle-opener/">here</a>):</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ctS4QpXblIw/U79ZHMAvLdI/AAAAAAAAJE8/wDTZRb4BzZI/s1600/photo+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ctS4QpXblIw/U79ZHMAvLdI/AAAAAAAAJE8/wDTZRb4BzZI/s1600/photo+copy.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We really loved the variety in the color of the bone, which varied beautifully from a pale cream to a very dark walnut. David kept one for posterity too!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We also had a small boy (almost two years old) guest at the wedding, and he received this small woolen lion (which was a big hit at the reception - I think everyone wanted one):</span><br />
<img alt="Small Lion, soft wool nursery friend" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/032/1/5230297/il_570xN.555480663_4txo.jpg" width="570" /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Our charming hand-made lion was purchased on Etsy from a lovely seller (<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/pogoshop">here</a>) who makes beautiful toys from repurposed materials.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(I'll show you the lady favors later, when I have better photos!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hope you're having a lovely summer... </span></div>
Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-563594799361253282014-06-27T16:01:00.001-06:002014-06-27T16:06:02.808-06:00The Best Shoes Ever (Eileen Fisher Linen)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></b>e interrupt my series of wedding posts to bring you...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Best Shoes Ever!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">While photographing some of my remaining wedding flowers (which are all on their last legs), I noticed my new favorite shoes sitting there on one of my fabric props.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They looked so handsome, I decided to make a shoe portrait:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y1NKoakpI6w/U63jW5a9XsI/AAAAAAAAJDs/o3ScAL-PXlg/s1600/IMG_2670+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y1NKoakpI6w/U63jW5a9XsI/AAAAAAAAJDs/o3ScAL-PXlg/s1600/IMG_2670+copy.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I bought these shoes about a month ago, after first deciding they were too expensive (over $200). I adore </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Eileen Fisher clothes, but they can be expensive here (especially with the Canadian exchange and customs - we pay much more than Americans, as usual). Her clothes are so versatile and last forever, but the initial investment can be a bit high. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Hello lovely shoes...</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Usually I go straight to the sale rack at the back of the store, but this time, I spied the shoes and they had me at hello. But I couldn't justify spending over $200 for <i>fabric shoes</i>. So I walked away.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Later in the week, after getting a 15% sale flyer by email, I went back and discovered they were marked down (I'm never this lucky). They were $165 with 15% off, so I bit the bullet and bought them.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am in (shoe) love:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iBgv4A1SLBk/U63hWlF7MuI/AAAAAAAAJDg/IbEVcfF3FR4/s1600/IMG_2641+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iBgv4A1SLBk/U63hWlF7MuI/AAAAAAAAJDg/IbEVcfF3FR4/s1600/IMG_2641+copy.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I don't consider myself to be a shoe person, but I've been trying to streamline and simplify my wardrobe, and these just seemed to fit in with the new aesthetic.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The uppers are done in a gorgeous greige linen fabric with a slight sheen/sparkle, while the sole is leather (not good for rain, as I was advised by an Italian shoe salesman in Paris!) with rubber heel and foot grips. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here they are with a pair of my favorite Eileen Fisher slim ankle pant/leggings:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_t3q8S-heec/U63kWYqjgKI/AAAAAAAAJD0/HGQjMD9rLWc/s1600/IMG_2656+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_t3q8S-heec/U63kWYqjgKI/AAAAAAAAJD0/HGQjMD9rLWc/s1600/IMG_2656+copy.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The shoes have a little leather contrasting detail in the back, which seems to give them a homemade quality. And they also have a hidden 1/2" wedge, which gives the look of a flat with a bit of support. They are only lightly cushioned.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Scpftjue4pY/U63nS1eIgiI/AAAAAAAAJEA/HWrIC5Cux74/s1600/IMG_2646+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Scpftjue4pY/U63nS1eIgiI/AAAAAAAAJEA/HWrIC5Cux74/s1600/IMG_2646+copy.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here they are again, comically styled with a remaining rose from my wedding bouquet. I think they look great together (like a fabulous pair of children's shoes or perhaps bedroom slippers - feel free to give me a call Eileen, if you need help designing shoes):</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VvM2EpjJ27A/U63oKPGhcjI/AAAAAAAAJEI/uemAwrJ0xvE/s1600/IMG_2666+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VvM2EpjJ27A/U63oKPGhcjI/AAAAAAAAJEI/uemAwrJ0xvE/s1600/IMG_2666+copy.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I noticed that these shoes are no longer for sale online (sorry), but there is a similar black pair (<a href="http://www.eileenfisher.com/EileenFisher/collection/ShopByCategory/Shoes/PRD_EF34041F/Quilt+Ballet+Flat+in+Italian+Stretch+Grosgrain+Fabric.jsp?bmLocale=en_US">here</a>) that I'm coveting. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you haven't sent me a wedding gift, feel free to send me these (size 8) - (only sorta joking). Haha. ;)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Happy happy weekend!</span></div>
Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-1036816708132128672014-06-25T00:18:00.000-06:002014-06-25T00:24:43.533-06:00Our Wedding ~ A Photo Preview!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">H</span></b>ello dear readers!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's a little wedding photo preview, sent to me by our <i>lovely and amazing</i> wedding photographer, <a href="http://genevieverenee.com/blog/">Genevieve Renee</a>. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Genevieve was soooo easy and lovely to work with. And </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">her work is enchantingly beautiful, so w</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">e were very </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">excited to receive her preview, which captured our dreamy June 21 wedding day!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I can't wait to share more...!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jaJOIzJx72c/U6pkxooCEbI/AAAAAAAAJDQ/YrdwjVVC2r8/s1600/Elegant+Reader+Rock+Garden+Wedding+%7C+Calgary+Wedding+Photographer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jaJOIzJx72c/U6pkxooCEbI/AAAAAAAAJDQ/YrdwjVVC2r8/s1600/Elegant+Reader+Rock+Garden+Wedding+%7C+Calgary+Wedding+Photographer.jpg" height="640" width="572" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Genevieve blogged about our wedding <a href="http://genevieverenee.com/blog/?p=3096">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In a future post, I'll describe the photos and all the amazing vendors I worked with - who did what and how it worked out, what I learned about the process of planning a wedding, including what I'd do again and what I'd skip!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">~ Please stay tuned! ~</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Although I had a very heavy hand in the creative direction, sourcing and decision-making for our wedding, it would not have been possible to execute without these amazing providers and vendors. They made it all complete:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Location: <a href="http://www.readerrock.com/">Reader Rock Garden</a> & <a href="http://www.readersgardencafe.ca/">Reader's Garden Cafe</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Event Styling & Creative Editor: <a href="http://pinkandhoney.com/">Pink & Honey</a> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Photography: <a href="http://genevieverenee.com/blog/">Genevieve Renee Photographie</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Florals: <a href="http://www.bluehydrangea.ca/">Blue Hydrangea</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Paper Goods: <a href="http://www.monvoir.com/">Mon Voir</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Wedding Cake: <a href="http://www.cravecupcakes.ca/">Crave</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">China, Flatware, Chairs Etc. Rental: <a href="http://www.specialeventrentals.com/?gclid=CMaEtfevlL8CFeI7MgodfFIAaQ">Special Event Rentals</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Vintage Furniture Rentals: <a href="http://vintageloved.com/">Vintage Loved</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Officiant: <a href="http://www.weddingsbytamara.com/Weddings_by_Tamara/HOME_-_Weddings_by_Tamara_Calgary_Alberta_Marriage_Commissioner.html">Tamara Jones</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Guitarist: <a href="http://musicaconbrio.com/">Jason Delaney</a></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c5baba; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 19px; text-transform: lowercase;"></span>Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-375706473389103072014-06-24T00:20:00.004-06:002014-06-24T00:21:09.664-06:00A Wedding Snap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thought I'd share a quick, funny wedding candid as a teaser for you...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">More photos soon!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-evUheTVGmXE/U6kYawQFiaI/AAAAAAAAJDA/BBKqV6M5fe4/s1600/P1040340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-evUheTVGmXE/U6kYawQFiaI/AAAAAAAAJDA/BBKqV6M5fe4/s1600/P1040340.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The wedding was perfection...perfect weather too!</span></div>
Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-22723849870578112442014-06-12T23:35:00.002-06:002014-06-12T23:50:01.227-06:00Our Wedding: Last Minute Details<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></b>ith our wedding just over a week away, there are lots of last minute details popping up. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I thought I had it all settled, but some small things are coming undone...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Absent Guests</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For example, out of 22 guests, my cousin found out <i>today</i> she cannot come (a last minute work trip)! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So now we have a gaping void to fill at the table (and I'm also so sad she won't be here). My aunt's also not coming, so we now have space for two! Want to come to a wedding?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And as the day approaches I am increasingly sad that my (previously...) best friend won't be there. She has dumped me completely since deciding not to come to my wedding a while back (informing me by email), and she didn't like that I was very hurt about it and said so. So that all feels painfully sad to me and disappointing, especially as I have so very little close family. You want your most beloved people around you at a time like this. And to feel rejected and dumped by someone you love (and who you thought loved you), well, it's just tragic. I've been dumped without an explanation for anything, including why I've been dumped. It's just so *<i>petulant child*</i> and so very, very cold. A ten year friendship tossed out with the trash, despite my repeated offers to remain friends and "get through this", etc. I have never been so disappointed with any person.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But I guess we must Keep Calm and Carry On, as that exhaustingly inescapable saying goes. For once, the phrase finally means something to me, and I think it's damned good advice.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So getting back to happier thoughts...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">final paper goods arrived today from California. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here is the program cover:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SNI9M4xQ6r4/U5qGa1jSwwI/AAAAAAAAJB8/PoYja1OSiBc/s1600/photo+1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SNI9M4xQ6r4/U5qGa1jSwwI/AAAAAAAAJB8/PoYja1OSiBc/s1600/photo+1+copy.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>* adore *</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And here are some gorgeous place cards:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgXbttAk-6o/U5qG2PzV6qI/AAAAAAAAJCE/155thwm-XKU/s1600/photo+3+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgXbttAk-6o/U5qG2PzV6qI/AAAAAAAAJCE/155thwm-XKU/s1600/photo+3+copy.jpg" height="640" width="596" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And we had these charming signs made for the ceremony chairs:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T5cgy6OU4B8/U5qKJnndvFI/AAAAAAAAJCs/_xcFEOR9grA/s1600/photo+4+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T5cgy6OU4B8/U5qKJnndvFI/AAAAAAAAJCs/_xcFEOR9grA/s1600/photo+4+copy.jpg" height="640" width="516" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I can't wait to see it all in place.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Florals</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today we</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> also had a final meeting with our florist. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Unfortunately, some of my most coveted flowers are not available at the last minute!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was so excited to have flowering pieris but she said the recent supply has looked bad, so we're dropping it!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T8kkGY9s5dY/U5qIdt0ktjI/AAAAAAAAJCQ/R35KecDaGds/s1600/pieris-wedding-bouquets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T8kkGY9s5dY/U5qIdt0ktjI/AAAAAAAAJCQ/R35KecDaGds/s1600/pieris-wedding-bouquets.jpg" height="570" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>*sorry - not available*</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We did find a charming and unexpected flower to add to the bouquet, which adds a vintage feel: "B</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">lushing Bride" (Serruria Florida), native to South Africa. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">These have an ancient feel, and are in the Protea family. We're also going to add some tiny wax flowers, as shown:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gryjWRILRQA/U5qI2TPThlI/AAAAAAAAJCY/6SY0jYc01oM/s1600/a79bcd1ecbf9c01593c787a9b0b8e45b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gryjWRILRQA/U5qI2TPThlI/AAAAAAAAJCY/6SY0jYc01oM/s1600/a79bcd1ecbf9c01593c787a9b0b8e45b.jpg" height="400" width="348" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My bouquet might look a little like this, with peonies and astilbe and white scabiosa and roses, but I've asked for more foliage and some ivory and lots of garden roses to be added.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tqQMP7N0mB8/U5qJpJq2BsI/AAAAAAAAJCg/bmiNcyJrj-A/s1600/79d1de47e087dc79de1d2ca01f1868a8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tqQMP7N0mB8/U5qJpJq2BsI/AAAAAAAAJCg/bmiNcyJrj-A/s1600/79d1de47e087dc79de1d2ca01f1868a8.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our final flowers will be a charming surprise!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Footwear</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After talking to my photographer, I realized I really should have a "wedge" shoe for the outdoor ceremony (otherwise you slowly sink into the ground wearing pointy heels). </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I thought I would rest and relax on Saturday (the first weekend I didn't have anything really "to do" for the wedding). Apparently now I will be shoe shopping (again). Ugh.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><img alt="Ladies Ivory Wedge espadrilles. Style 'Gypsy Queen by ForeverSoles, $189.95" class="pinImage" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/14/cf/6b/14cf6b4a0c385b00e383eb5d18100bfe.jpg" style="height: 550px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 40px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 40px; width: 570px;" /></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Lovely wedge bridal shoe via <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/185115239/ladies-wedge-espadrilles-can-order-with?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_campaign=Share">Etsy</a></span></i></span></div>
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My gorgeous pointy heels will be worn at the reception I guess, and magically appear in photos as though I had them on the entire time!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Rain Plan</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We even discussed a rain plan for the ceremony, so that's settled!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I love this photo</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--s1Z7KZqQIM/U5qLpUuxJUI/AAAAAAAAJC0/p3jOLt5GGgw/s1600/440c5db2523356d0330528624e2be8fc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--s1Z7KZqQIM/U5qLpUuxJUI/AAAAAAAAJC0/p3jOLt5GGgw/s1600/440c5db2523356d0330528624e2be8fc.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Photo: <a href="http://www.momentsbymelissamiller.com/">Melissa Miller</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Have a happy weekend, dear friends. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When you next hear from me, I'll be a (so very happily) married woman!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">xo Terri</span></div>
Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-67428529151643022062014-05-29T22:14:00.000-06:002014-05-29T22:45:26.143-06:00Wedding: Paper Goods<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">O</span>ne of the most time-consuming but delightful aspects of the wedding plan has been the creation of our signature paper goods.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We've been working with a calligrapher-illustrator in California whose work is positively lovely.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The artist is Jenna Rainey from <a href="http://www.monvoir.com/">Monvoir</a>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We will share proper photographs in full detail after the wedding, but here's a sneak peek of our invitation suite (from Jenna's website - where she was forced to cover up all the details):</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qxH-Tn1nq1M/U4gF4ArSg9I/AAAAAAAAI44/A8HEllZWC14/s1600/Picture+51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qxH-Tn1nq1M/U4gF4ArSg9I/AAAAAAAAI44/A8HEllZWC14/s1600/Picture+51.jpg" height="400" width="350" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo: Jenna Rainey</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The jumping-off point for the design was the pale <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;">pink</span> ampersand (on the invitation). I'd seen a watermark ampersand on another invitation and knew I wanted to start with this element. I also wanted a garden rose/floral motif, and a clean black & white design, with lots of white space. The entire suite developed from here. Early on, I'd also envisioned a gold-foil detail, but we quickly dropped this due to cost and extra time to print, and I felt it complicated things.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm so happy with the final outcome. E</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">veryone's loved receiving their soft and airy floral invitations, with beautiful white wax seals (suggested by Jenna) and pretty blush pink reply envelopes.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I even designed a personalized stamp for the invitations and reply cards, using Jenna's floral design from the invitation. It made such a nice touch on the envelopes and really was the icing on the cake:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WWlCQtrFbmM/U4gBXU6EQdI/AAAAAAAAI4o/6hDX2uYPpww/s1600/IMG_0730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WWlCQtrFbmM/U4gBXU6EQdI/AAAAAAAAI4o/6hDX2uYPpww/s1600/IMG_0730.jpg" height="640" width="588" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Several people asked how I got stamps to match my invitations. Why, the fairies at Canada Post made them!</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This week, we're rushing to finish the Wedding Program and Menu, as well as the place cards, which will be lettered in Jenna's beautiful cursive script.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've had such fun developing the wedding program with Jenna, who provided lots of little variations in the design for me to consider. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Since guests will be reading their programs in a flowery garden, we've made the programs a little cleaner and less floral. Here's a sneak peek of the cover:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tZ513v1rUJc/U4f99GnPTbI/AAAAAAAAI4M/pROixC5KKkA/s1600/Picture+48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tZ513v1rUJc/U4f99GnPTbI/AAAAAAAAI4M/pROixC5KKkA/s1600/Picture+48.jpg" height="640" width="386" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I can't wait for you to see the whole suite!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jenna did a wonderful job and has been working overtime to finish. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Please check out her beautiful website and blog <a href="http://www.monvoir.com/">here</a>. I wish I could meet her in person to thank her! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Her calligraphy and artistry are exquisite and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. It really takes a village to plan a wedding, and I've had simply the best helping me.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Have a happy weekend!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">xo Terri</span><br />
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Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-18036989965689450862014-05-03T19:14:00.002-06:002014-05-03T19:24:49.854-06:00Winter Garden, Sickness, Films, Etc.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><u>This Weekend</u></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This weekend, I am sick.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have a sinus infection, which explains why I've had an unrelenting sore throat for a month and a half. My throat was so sore and raw yesterday, I could hardly swallow. And I had a cough and such bad laryngitis, I thought I was dying. My head hurt so bad, so I went to a clinic and was diagnosed with a sinus infection, which explains everything (I thought it was just a persistent virus).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Since then I've been on strong antibiotics, which doesn't make me too happy because I worry about super bugs.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When I was not worrying about super bugs, I did spend some time today styling my new <i>old</i> table. David and I picked this up a week ago at a thrift shop, and it fits a corner of the living room which isn't very pretty (sort of the area behind an armchair that was too vacant).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This spot gets great light, which the chair blocks, so I am thinking of removing the chair so this space can be used for pretty little compositions, like this one:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1iYKLtArxYg/U2WQYq-2tBI/AAAAAAAAI2Y/KaLoOeFR7Vk/s1600/IMG_1754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1iYKLtArxYg/U2WQYq-2tBI/AAAAAAAAI2Y/KaLoOeFR7Vk/s1600/IMG_1754.jpg" height="640" width="456" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On Thursday after work, when I was beginning to get very sick and unwell, we went to our venue to discuss the menu with our chef. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The chef meeting went so well. We are super excited about the food at our wedding which will be the icing on the cake after a lovely ceremony.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We also walked around the gardens where we will be married, and it was interesting to see it in the barren cold light of spring:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V3niOSZL_cE/U2WSHNyHPlI/AAAAAAAAI2k/bgFeVMqOpIk/s1600/IMG_1703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V3niOSZL_cE/U2WSHNyHPlI/AAAAAAAAI2k/bgFeVMqOpIk/s1600/IMG_1703.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I liked seeing the bones of the garden, without greenery.</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">While looking at our ceremony location, I came across this little <i>Andy Goldsworthy</i> moment, high up in a tree. D</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">avid and I will be married in front of this tree: </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VpowFZXArLE/U2WTBGg6xAI/AAAAAAAAI2s/_qE-PkI2AQE/s1600/IMG_1696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VpowFZXArLE/U2WTBGg6xAI/AAAAAAAAI2s/_qE-PkI2AQE/s1600/IMG_1696.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>I hope the cones are still there in June</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was also cool to see the view from our hilltop garden towards the city before everything gets too grown in:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-beEu-1RCd6Y/U2WT8xx2R_I/AAAAAAAAI24/vrDdQY2j7vE/s1600/IMG_1710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-beEu-1RCd6Y/U2WT8xx2R_I/AAAAAAAAI24/vrDdQY2j7vE/s1600/IMG_1710.jpg" height="376" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I hope you are having a nice weekend. I am going to lay down now. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am half way through watching "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiny_Furniture">Tiny Furniture</a>", the Lena Dunham film that reminds me very much of her series "Girls", which I love. That girl is brilliant and the whole thing just feels like episodes from my 20's. I swear I have been at the same parties...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">xo Terri</span></div>
<br />Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-3050285520950589202014-04-30T21:51:00.000-06:002014-04-30T21:58:39.944-06:00Wedding: Lots of Details<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">W</span>ith our wedding only 7.5 weeks away, there are still so many details to finalize.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Recently, Monsieur and I went shopping for suits.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">David chose to wear black for our special day. He wears navy and grey dress pants and suits for work, so he thought a black suit felt more <i>special-occasion</i> to him<i>.</i> I love the crisp formality of black.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">David just turned 50, but he keeps himself in tip-top shape, so all the suits they showed us looked </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">*amazing* on him, thanks to their lean European styling:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LcaNNiV63WU/U2G_TV0ndpI/AAAAAAAAI1A/Wv3pjaGiGhQ/s1600/IMG_9964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LcaNNiV63WU/U2G_TV0ndpI/AAAAAAAAI1A/Wv3pjaGiGhQ/s1600/IMG_9964.jpg" height="640" width="438" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We also shopped for wedding rings. We both wanted simple wedding rings that look good on their own, but I needed mine to <i>sorta match</i> my engagement ring. Here I am trying on a platinum band with many small stones. I don't want something that will snag on things, so we didn't buy this one, but I liked the fineness of it:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BKX3qwfJ06c/U2HARCtxCiI/AAAAAAAAI1I/awWMOiFp9Y0/s1600/IMG_0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BKX3qwfJ06c/U2HARCtxCiI/AAAAAAAAI1I/awWMOiFp9Y0/s1600/IMG_0013.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I also needed to find shoes. I didn't buy these in the end, but almost. I wanted something simple, classic, and elegant that will work with my lace dress, and be stable for walking around a garden all afternoon. And I didn't want anything too cheesy or *bridal*:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q3YvQgH4KNk/U2HAup2Z2HI/AAAAAAAAI1U/EMirDn1EjZk/s1600/IMG_0822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q3YvQgH4KNk/U2HAup2Z2HI/AAAAAAAAI1U/EMirDn1EjZk/s1600/IMG_0822.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We looked for, and found, the most amazing silk ribbon for our favours. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They will be stunning! I'll leave you guessing as to which colour we chose:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WIrAZlmaC4o/U2HBWodga5I/AAAAAAAAI1c/BAqLsPG659E/s1600/froufrou-Recovered-Recovered1-1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WIrAZlmaC4o/U2HBWodga5I/AAAAAAAAI1c/BAqLsPG659E/s1600/froufrou-Recovered-Recovered1-1-2.jpg" height="526" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My event stylist wanted brown wooden chairs for our outdoor ceremony (I would have chosen white!), so I can't wait to see how these will look in the garden. I was surprised they were so comfortable as they sure don't look it. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(But I won't be sitting down - unless I faint!)</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NTQ3AcQp5uQ/U2HBv0f89zI/AAAAAAAAI1k/qdzhih6h9aU/s1600/IMG_9753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NTQ3AcQp5uQ/U2HBv0f89zI/AAAAAAAAI1k/qdzhih6h9aU/s1600/IMG_9753.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We admired, but did not buy, these cufflinks. Monsieur chose another set, as his groom gift, that he can wear forever. I would have chosen these, but what do I know? He selected something much more interesting.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wfG9ZeCsS7Y/U2HCNPojD0I/AAAAAAAAI1s/uH3hEe6RpgY/s1600/IMG_0993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wfG9ZeCsS7Y/U2HCNPojD0I/AAAAAAAAI1s/uH3hEe6RpgY/s1600/IMG_0993.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We also measured the veranda (and interior rooms) at the venue, to make sure all our set-up will fit. The interior rooms are small and oddly-shaped, but we've figured out a way to accomodate our small reception party.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The veranda will be used for our <i>champagne & wedding cake celebration</i>, right after the ceremony (the reception is a bit later)! We've rented some charming vintage furniture pieces, to create some lovely seating areas for this space, which has lovely views over the city and garden (this is also the back-up rain location for our ceremony)!:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WMxZjOSfO1k/U2HCo2N6E9I/AAAAAAAAI10/-sml7dgKHFg/s1600/IMG_9679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WMxZjOSfO1k/U2HCo2N6E9I/AAAAAAAAI10/-sml7dgKHFg/s1600/IMG_9679.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And last but not least:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I had a makeup trial! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Generally I don't wear a lot of makeup (I prefer the "no makeup" look - a little foundation, some lip gloss and a dash of mascara). But I got the full smoky eye for these photos. She applied the makeup <i>very</i> heavily, and these photos were taken <i>after</i> I got her to remove 75% of it and the false eyelashes!!!!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This seems like the right amount of makeup for wedding photos, but still felt unnaturally heavy to me:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pN8u2Lufbvs/U2HDuIUoh_I/AAAAAAAAI2I/0JeRQ1xv_A8/s1600/IMG_1356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pN8u2Lufbvs/U2HDuIUoh_I/AAAAAAAAI2I/0JeRQ1xv_A8/s1600/IMG_1356.jpg" height="640" width="356" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have soooo much I'd like to share but don't want to spoil any surprises!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am very bad at keeping secrets, so it's a wonder I haven't shown you my wedding dress yet.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">xo Terri</span></div>
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Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-47322768533506032902014-04-24T23:57:00.002-06:002014-04-25T00:10:09.183-06:00Wedding Details: Brass for Tablescapes<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></b>hen my event stylist and I first started discussing wedding decor, we had to settle on a primary metal colour.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Since my wedding dress is ivory and has a vintage look, I decided that <i>golden</i> colours would be the best complement. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So we chose to use brass for our tablescapes! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was not yet a fan of brass, but after I started searching for pieces, I rapidly became an adoring fan of this warm, beautiful metal which is an alloy (blend) of copper and zinc.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here are the first few pieces I got in March. All but one are un-lacquered brass (my preference), and had amazing patina:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KCsf1JblZOQ/U1nynh9i9kI/AAAAAAAAIzw/yFTielyc4KQ/s1600/IMG_1109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KCsf1JblZOQ/U1nynh9i9kI/AAAAAAAAIzw/yFTielyc4KQ/s1600/IMG_1109.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've searched mainly in charity and thrift shops and got most of the pieces above for a song (99 cents to $3.99 each). </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I did splurge for the etched Indian ones (with the white candles) at an antique store. They were around $18 I think.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's a close up:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aqK1KVvtk_I/U1n5_A3O4BI/AAAAAAAAI0w/fy8SrmIoeVU/s1600/IMG_0794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aqK1KVvtk_I/U1n5_A3O4BI/AAAAAAAAI0w/fy8SrmIoeVU/s1600/IMG_0794.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My next amazing find was this footed bowl, which was around $7.99 (from Value Village in Victoria). I love its simple classical sophistication (which reminded me of the seashell in the Birth of Venus - yes, I have an overactive imagination):</span><br />
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<a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTlQggZhKQ6IUml5COX8MgCdq9sHhFiH8ByYL4qJ6s1VIFyButb" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="rg_i" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTlQggZhKQ6IUml5COX8MgCdq9sHhFiH8ByYL4qJ6s1VIFyButb" data-src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTlQggZhKQ6IUml5COX8MgCdq9sHhFiH8ByYL4qJ6s1VIFyButb" data-sz="f" height="240" name="S2VBKXgWPehOsM:" style="height: 174px; margin-top: 0px; width: 290px;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TH7ZjsDRcLo/U1n0QpdfAQI/AAAAAAAAIz8/GFdu-GsQTeU/s1600/IMG_1112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TH7ZjsDRcLo/U1n0QpdfAQI/AAAAAAAAIz8/GFdu-GsQTeU/s1600/IMG_1112.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>We will use this on one of our Reception tables, full of garden roses and trailing foliage.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another piece came from Etsy and will look great overflowing with flowers on a Reception table:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sAkh_mkm_Fw/U1n1OEfVKVI/AAAAAAAAI0E/410Y_-NCuWo/s1600/IMG_1113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sAkh_mkm_Fw/U1n1OEfVKVI/AAAAAAAAI0E/410Y_-NCuWo/s1600/IMG_1113.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then I made the mistake of leaving all my finds out on the dining room table. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I came home one day only to discover that my cleaning lady had polished them all (she's a saint, but I almost had a stroke as I hadn't planned to polish them!). I had a really good laugh after I had a really good cry (well, almost...!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I guess that helped us make the decision about patina vs. polish. I think they're all still beautiful in their new shiny state:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1jAJMMFBq74/U1n2I9dH0qI/AAAAAAAAI0Q/Tibk-piRp4w/s1600/IMG_1140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1jAJMMFBq74/U1n2I9dH0qI/AAAAAAAAI0Q/Tibk-piRp4w/s1600/IMG_1140.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I also found some amazing tiny vessels which we'll use to create vignettes, perhaps on the welcome table where our guest book will sit:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IcvhingbSjU/U1n4YB6Ju0I/AAAAAAAAI0k/2S8SP-L8_5Q/s1600/IMG_0407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IcvhingbSjU/U1n4YB6Ju0I/AAAAAAAAI0k/2S8SP-L8_5Q/s1600/IMG_0407.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Cheap and dirty - how I like my vintage finds. ;)</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've also started collecting crystal and cut glass salt and pepper shakers for the tables. The two on the left were gifts in the last year or two. The three on the right were new finds from a favorite thrift shop in Victoria:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gfIA30SYa3I/U1n2s1dAfLI/AAAAAAAAI0Y/1dKvk_LLZ3o/s1600/IMG_1151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gfIA30SYa3I/U1n2s1dAfLI/AAAAAAAAI0Y/1dKvk_LLZ3o/s1600/IMG_1151.jpg" height="640" width="592" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hope you like the finds. And if you don't shop at thrift stores, you might be missing something charming which would love to come home with you!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Happy weekend...!</i></span></div>
Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-68442421336983873362014-04-15T21:26:00.003-06:002014-04-15T21:34:08.881-06:00Wedding Details: The Cake<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b>his weekend, we took care of one very *lovely* and highly-anticipated wedding detail:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Our wedding cake!</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On Saturday we met with our baker at <a href="http://www.cravecupcakes.ca/">Crave Cupcakes</a> to choose our wedding cake design and flavours. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">All cakes are made from scratch using quality ingredients (real flour, eggs and butter!), including butter made by a local creamery. All cakes are frosted with either <i>buttercream</i> or <i>cream cheese buttercream</i> rather than the more elaborate fondant-covered wedding cakes people may be accustomed to. So they are 100% delicious from start to finish...!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our baker </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">showed us a variety of beautiful icing styles to start. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We really loved the rosette design on this cake:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6qejo1AjY3w/U03uFlZmOJI/AAAAAAAAIyw/djLZ_gEzgXs/s1600/Picture+33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6qejo1AjY3w/U03uFlZmOJI/AAAAAAAAIyw/djLZ_gEzgXs/s1600/Picture+33.jpg" height="640" width="450" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I loved all the icing styles, from <i>rosettes</i> to <i>little ruffles</i> and <i>dots</i>:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TT3DPV9CAWo/U03yeC8NgpI/AAAAAAAAIy8/j5ez4X62fPY/s1600/Picture+33_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TT3DPV9CAWo/U03yeC8NgpI/AAAAAAAAIy8/j5ez4X62fPY/s1600/Picture+33_2.jpg" height="640" width="466" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And very smooth:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zGh9vvM4D0E/U030Pf_9zUI/AAAAAAAAIzI/0_P9oZVapwQ/s1600/Picture+34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zGh9vvM4D0E/U030Pf_9zUI/AAAAAAAAIzI/0_P9oZVapwQ/s1600/Picture+34.jpg" height="470" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sorry - I'm not showing you our final choice, but I will say we are getting a two-layer cake (we have a small guest list) in pure WHITE!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">All the cakes shown above are ivory, but the vanilla buttercream comes in a bright white:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NIrWnKBukKQ/U030xiqLpPI/AAAAAAAAIzQ/1VYE9iIFd1c/s1600/Picture+35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NIrWnKBukKQ/U030xiqLpPI/AAAAAAAAIzQ/1VYE9iIFd1c/s1600/Picture+35.jpg" height="640" width="454" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The wedding cake was an easy and delicious decision, especially since we got to bring home this </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">sample pack of cupcakes (in various cake and icing flavours) to help us choose:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f1-6aN-RicI/U032ccvseQI/AAAAAAAAIzc/WVBNtGh777Q/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f1-6aN-RicI/U032ccvseQI/AAAAAAAAIzc/WVBNtGh777Q/s1600/photo.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Chocolate and lemon cake scored highest on our taste test! The chocolate and coconut icings were my favorite. Regardless of what flavours we choose for cake and inter-layer fillings, the entire cake will be frosted in white vanilla buttercream. Mmmmm...</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Since each cake (top cake and bottom cake) actually consists of three <i>stacked</i> cakes each, we also got to choose filling flavours (between the layers).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I will tell you that David and I are going old school with the flavours. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The larger bottom cake will be our favorite - chocolate (with chocolate buttercream filling) - while the top cake will be lemon with either vanilla (David's choice) or strawberry (my choice) buttercream filling.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The whole thing will be frosted in white vanilla buttercream on the outside. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yum!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We plan to serve our cake right after the ceremony at our champagne toast, after hor d'oeuvres! That way guests will be happy and smiling when we head out to do photos before our reception. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And the cake gets to be enjoyed rather than neglected until the end of the evening.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I just hope someone saves a slice for me...</span></div>
Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-83285312783118148872014-04-12T22:13:00.004-06:002014-04-15T20:27:47.452-06:00The Politics of Weddings...(A Friend Who Disappoints)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>W</b></span>eddings are funny things.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They bring out the best in some and the worst in others.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Weddings can be very political</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. </span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Some are opposed to the w<i>edding industry</i>, which historically seems to have laid out some pretty rigid expectations </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(how a bride should look, for example) that seemed trapped in <i>the land that time forgot.</i> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Others reject the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">consumerism of the whole enterprise. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">While others are frustrated by the protocols and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">social expectations (who you should invite, for example...including those people you hate). </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Many people unthinkingly buy into the whole fiasco, spending money they don't have, while others reject bits and pieces of it, and adapt it to their lifestyles and ideals. Still others reject it outright.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Weddings can </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">also be reminders of our own success and failure at the relationship game. </span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A wise friend pointed out that many people who reject weddings so deeply are often the ones who've decided they'll never have one of their own. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Somehow they didn't <i>win</i> in the game of love and have developed contempt for the whole enterprise. They somehow don't fit into the LOVE world. I know because I was one of these people. For many years (mostly in my idealist 20's), I thought weddings were stupid, for nitwit girls who had nothing better to do than wear a stupid dress and bat their eyes at some equally stupid man who bestowed on them a stupid ring which is their pride and joy. Lame.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I thought those girls were boring and dull and I didn't want to be one of them. I wanted to be my own independent self and never need anyone. I can do it on my own! I don't need a man! I don't need anyone!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was a hater. And they were sheep!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="This picture is just too perfect with that sweet baby lamb. Perfect farm/barn wedding venue "accessory!" ... And can I just say how much I love the groom's kilt and the bride's red and white polka dot peep toe shoes?! Because they're awesome." class="pinImage" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/5a/b9/43/5ab94316d5376f4521b04c0b36a12252.jpg" height="426" style="height: 333px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 40px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 40px; width: 500px;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sheep lovers</i></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And then I grew up.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I learned:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's okay to fall in love and completely trust another person, even if that seems a little unrealistic in this messed-up modern world.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's okay to depend on someone. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's okay to want to be safe and secure. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's okay to say so.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's okay to be vulnerable.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's okay to want to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">spend your life with someone.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's okay to want to make every day easier and better for someone.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's okay to let yourself go and not have to control everything.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's okay, despite all the evidence to the contrary, to realize that you are lovable.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(And if you get your heart broken in the end...so what? By now you have lots of experience dealing with it).</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="You are MY Happy. From Luxe // Awe! Really like this quote. Using love quotes in your wedding design can really bring out the poet it you and they leave a lasting impression on every guest who reads them. Love, Luxe Full Service Wedding Coordination & Design luxenw.com" class="pinImage" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/3d/e5/75/3de57532bbf5829586a2f235c4ff7158.jpg" style="height: 600px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 40px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 40px; width: 399px;" /></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And it's even okay to put on a stupid dress - because at some point, the rest of the world doesn't matter and you just want to stand up and profess your love for this person who means the absolute world to you.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And it doesn't make you stupid or </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">dull or naive.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It makes you human (and maybe just a little insane). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And you don't need the dress if you don't want it.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="#Wedding #signage rustic ♡ Wedding Planning App … How to organise an entire wedding, within your budget https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-gold-wedding-planner/id498112599?ls=1=8 ♥ Weddings by Colour http://pinterest.com/groomsandbrides/boards/ ♥" class="pinImage" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/8f/3f/92/8f3f924e64066cc778714ee219c17f6b.jpg" height="640" style="height: 900px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 40px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 40px; width: 600px;" width="426" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Really? Somehow I doubt it. But there's nothing wrong with working on it with someone you really love and trust.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A few weeks ago, a <i>good</i> friend informed me that <i>she will not be attending my wedding</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. She didn't provide a reason. She just told me she "had a feeling" which grew and grew (no personal responsibility taken) that she "didn't want to attend any more weddings".</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><u>And she didn't want to attend mine</u>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was hurt and deeply disappointed. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We planned our wedding to share this day <i>specifically</i> with our dearest loved ones. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was deeply hurt that someone could be this uncaring, this hurtful. And I felt a month of grief and loss that someone so dear could abandon me on such a special day. It felt like a death. And a serious insult. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I still feel this way. Some days I feel compassion for her, but right now isn't that time for me to try to understand her politics and tell her it's okay...that I don't mind being dumped right now so you can go to Europe in June or not have to pretend you like David if you don't. Or whatever the issue is.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Her views right now just aren't my problem. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This person is putting a weight and a meaning onto weddings that isn't my business. And heaping them with her own bias. Her politics and her piled-on views are more important than my special occasion. And so it's her loss.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She won't be there for all the smiles and eating cake and picture taking. She won't be there to meet my family and enjoy the flowers and sunshine in the garden (or the rain) and she won't get to see my happiness as I make a vow to love my best friend.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And she won't be there to see that s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ometimes a thing is just a thing. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And that it's okay to be happy for once in your life and stop finding the negative in everything for 5 minutes and that everything isn't always about <i>your views</i>. And that the world won't end if you smile and act normal and have a glass of champagne and a goddamned piece of cake. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Many happy weddings to you!</span></div>
Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-40423830020659781492014-04-07T12:13:00.004-06:002014-04-07T12:21:33.276-06:00The Bateman Centre - Victoria<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">R</span></b>obert Bateman is a famous Canadian wildlife artist and naturalist who lives and paints on Salt Spring Island, off Canada's west coast. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He's now 83 and has painted since his teens. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NYOBSXOGkKA/U0Lc3YPkULI/AAAAAAAAIww/_17dzx7W-BU/s1600/bateman-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NYOBSXOGkKA/U0Lc3YPkULI/AAAAAAAAIww/_17dzx7W-BU/s1600/bateman-1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo: <a href="http://www.batemancentre.org/">Bateman Centre</a></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On a recent trip to Victoria, I was excited to visit the new<a href="http://www.batemancentre.org/"> Bateman Centre</a>, which houses a beautiful and varied collection of Robert Bateman paintings inside the beautifully-restored <a href="http://www.steamshipterminal.com/">Steamship Terminal</a> building on Victoria's inner harbour.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The dreamy, airy gallery does not disappoint. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It opens with a collection of serene, large-scale </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Canadian wildlife paintings, a subject and style that will be recognizable to many Canadians: </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WVTWexopnTw/U0LfSMwtzQI/AAAAAAAAIxE/WQnpERElI4s/s1600/IMG_0511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WVTWexopnTw/U0LfSMwtzQI/AAAAAAAAIxE/WQnpERElI4s/s1600/IMG_0511.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Polar Bear</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QKhZmpunfPk/U0LbWQxdICI/AAAAAAAAIwk/_glIioK0X5M/s1600/IMG_0549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QKhZmpunfPk/U0LbWQxdICI/AAAAAAAAIwk/_glIioK0X5M/s1600/IMG_0549.jpg" height="640" width="510" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Polar Bear</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_uJVTpCQQ9M/U0LfG95WMQI/AAAAAAAAIw8/hZPOO9ZHhRc/s1600/IMG_0501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_uJVTpCQQ9M/U0LfG95WMQI/AAAAAAAAIw8/hZPOO9ZHhRc/s1600/IMG_0501.jpg" height="434" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tj04GIC7b1c/U0LXLIaTZ7I/AAAAAAAAIwU/GI1EMzJKjC4/s1600/IMG_0509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tj04GIC7b1c/U0LXLIaTZ7I/AAAAAAAAIwU/GI1EMzJKjC4/s1600/IMG_0509.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMH8UZvscOA/U0Lh3laesAI/AAAAAAAAIxQ/lVikJ9VNBt0/s1600/IMG_0458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMH8UZvscOA/U0Lh3laesAI/AAAAAAAAIxQ/lVikJ9VNBt0/s1600/IMG_0458.jpg" height="640" width="638" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Bald Eagles</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Gulls</i></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2T0em-37GmU/U0LjYw02qGI/AAAAAAAAIxk/LdSfCOEixSM/s1600/IMG_0477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2T0em-37GmU/U0LjYw02qGI/AAAAAAAAIxk/LdSfCOEixSM/s1600/IMG_0477.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Red-Winged Blackbirds</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was expecting a gallery full of this type of painting, a style that I was previously most familiar with. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">However, I was pleasantly surprised to find a variety of other beautifully-depicted subjects. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The next room housed some lovely small paintings - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">charming vignettes of daily life (I found the style </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">reminiscent of Andrew Wyeth, which the gallery also noted):</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nqv4O2mdRz4/U0LjnVx20nI/AAAAAAAAIxs/z5IsF0TQbAg/s1600/IMG_0503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nqv4O2mdRz4/U0LjnVx20nI/AAAAAAAAIxs/z5IsF0TQbAg/s1600/IMG_0503.jpg" height="640" width="480" /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ld0ke5yQ_g/U0LkCDXPtEI/AAAAAAAAIx0/9EDbrL7dLPk/s1600/IMG_0488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ld0ke5yQ_g/U0LkCDXPtEI/AAAAAAAAIx0/9EDbrL7dLPk/s1600/IMG_0488.jpg" height="640" width="610" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dTLqESLNA00/U0Lk6Nj-7sI/AAAAAAAAIyE/JZ_i4VovCho/s1600/IMG_0536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dTLqESLNA00/U0Lk6Nj-7sI/AAAAAAAAIyE/JZ_i4VovCho/s1600/IMG_0536.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was also thrilled and charmed to see some of Bateman's <u>very</u> early work, done as a young teen. His naturalist eye and painstaking talent for detail is evident in this small painting done when he was only 12 or 13 years old!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This study of birds in their environment is so charming and impressive for such a young person (age 13 or 14):</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was also charmed by this small portrait and surprised to see his talent for such diverse subjects. He could easily make a career painting portraits if the wildlife ones didn't work out. ;)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you're in Victoria, be sure to make time for the Bateman Centre. It took me about 45 minutes to see the entire collection (and I lingered...). The gallery makes a short but very meditative and enriching break from sightseeing.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We also had an amazing dinner later that night (with impeccable service) downstairs at the <a href="http://www.steamshipterminal.com/stgrill.php">Steamship Terminal Grill & Taphouse</a>, located on the main floor.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Happy travels!</span></div>
Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-19206187770753755142014-03-30T22:02:00.000-06:002014-03-30T22:05:31.278-06:00Wedding & Honeymoon: Plans falling into place!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></b>ith our wedding coming in June, I've been busy with preparations! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>A Simple Little Wedding?</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I never knew there could be this many details for a simple, little wedding! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I didn't really think about it, but you have to make <i>the exact same decisions</i> whether you're planning a wedding for 25 or 250...the quantities are just smaller!! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You still need a dress (a tiring quest), a cake and a veil, shoes and a photographer. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You have to rent chairs and plan your flowers and create your invitations. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You have to find table linens you love (the rental ones are crap), as well as china and glassware (the rental ones are crap). And you have to get everyone else styled and dressed too - not just yourself. You need to buy rings! You need someone to do the ceremony. You need somewhere to <i>have</i> the ceremony! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You need something intelligent to say when the time comes. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Oh, and don't forget to plan the menu and get programs made and find the perfect vessels for flowers. And maybe some pretty jewelry to wear? And don't forget a second set of chairs for the ceremony, and a high chair for the baby at the reception, and writing your vows and...what about the menu? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Oh, and try to keep off the 5 of the 15 pounds you planned to lose...exercise is hard when you have chronic muscle pain and headaches, and you're getting tired of vegetables at every meal.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, what a wonderful project, but what a production! When it's all done, I can't wait to read a book and visit my blog friends and take a year off Pinterest.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Honeymoon!</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">While I've been doing all the art direction for the wedding, David's been planning our honeymoon! I think this is a great division of labour, particularly since we decided we wanted a low-key honeymoon and I didn't have to worry about doing a lot of research.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We'd originally planned for England, but with wedding expenses and general exhaustion, we thought a more <i>low-key and restful </i>vacation was just the ticket.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Charleston, SC</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So we decided to focus our holiday around a city we've always wanted to see...Charleston, South Carolina! We're going in early October, so it's a bit of a wait.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We'll spend two weeks on the South Carolina coast, centered around Charleston but with perhaps a trip to Savannah. Then we'll spend a week on the beach in a lovely rented condo. England will have to wait. I need some hot sand between my toes. And some good antique shops...</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XMOO0e7_1N4/UzjlsJfQghI/AAAAAAAAIvw/TgsfyYBBmDc/s1600/2bbeb15803399940c1e7bed62c4a7b27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XMOO0e7_1N4/UzjlsJfQghI/AAAAAAAAIvw/TgsfyYBBmDc/s1600/2bbeb15803399940c1e7bed62c4a7b27.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Folly Beach, SC</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(I just h</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ope they don't have a hurricane!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Suggestions Wanted!</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So...if you have any suggestions for things to see and do around Charleston and along the coast, we'd be thrilled to hear them!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Do you have any favorite antique stores, art galleries or restaurants? Any favorite inns or B&B's? What about favorite beaches or little towns we just have to visit?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Do tell! Send me your list!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">xo Terri</span></div>
Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25102529.post-21302455793362460692014-03-01T23:00:00.001-07:002014-03-01T23:09:15.080-07:00Invitation Sneak Peek<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b>'ve been working with an artist-calligrapher on the design of our invitations. This has taken <i>much</i> longer than I thought, and it was considerably harder to coordinate over email than I thought it would be. It's very hard to convey with words what you want an artist to create! No matter what you see in your mind, describing it to another person is quite another story.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So I decided to simplify the design and the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">results are lovely. Her calligraphy is just beautiful. The I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">nvitation suite is finished and has been sent to the printer!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here is our Reception card (I've removed the location name for privacy):</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7vUYK9tF-0E/UxLGmFMJXiI/AAAAAAAAIvE/wZ5dnK4txUA/s1600/Terri+&+David+Reception+Card_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7vUYK9tF-0E/UxLGmFMJXiI/AAAAAAAAIvE/wZ5dnK4txUA/s1600/Terri+&+David+Reception+Card_2.jpg" height="448" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The suite is all black and white, very simple and clean, with a tiny splash of colour on the invitation and RSVP card, and florals in b</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">lack ink.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>I will show you all the elements after the wedding and give the name of my artist-calligrapher.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For the invitation and RSVP card, I've designed a <b>custom postage stamp</b>. Did you know you can do this? Well you can...at least in Canada!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I created a custom stamp since none of the current offering of postage stamps is terribly attractive (or the wrong colour). And t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">his is a much more charming alternative than the Queen, or the flag, stamps (which are ubiquitous but uninspiring staples here in Canada):</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4bmQ-3VS2cA/UxLHw4x5KKI/AAAAAAAAIvM/Qx6NyrnPQbc/s1600/Picture+40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4bmQ-3VS2cA/UxLHw4x5KKI/AAAAAAAAIvM/Qx6NyrnPQbc/s1600/Picture+40.jpg" height="618" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>This design uses the florals from our Invitation</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm also considering pink florals for the stamp, for a bit of colour on the envelope:</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oAVUGAX22mU/UxLKyal3ftI/AAAAAAAAIvg/27WAufNzgUw/s1600/Picture+41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oAVUGAX22mU/UxLKyal3ftI/AAAAAAAAIvg/27WAufNzgUw/s1600/Picture+41.jpg" height="634" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>This photo was taken in Paris, the day we got engaged, so it's rather significant, even if no one knows the story and it isn't the greatest photo!</i></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c4xHeWT82sM/UxLItRJB3QI/AAAAAAAAIvU/pYD3oA9S-HQ/s1600/Picture+42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c4xHeWT82sM/UxLItRJB3QI/AAAAAAAAIvU/pYD3oA9S-HQ/s1600/Picture+42.jpg" height="640" width="638" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Roses in our garden last summer</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I will decide what works best once I see the entire suite in front of me.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I hope you're having a happy weekend!</span></div>
Windlosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17014227226507484798noreply@blogger.com14