These days right now it seems like everyone I know knows someone who is pregnant or has just given birth....or is about to!
My best friend, Kathleen, and her husband Charlie have gone through multiple resources trying to get pregnant. Kathleen has PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and has been steadily losing weight on her own for the last year in the hopes it would have a drastically good effect on her fertility.
This month, in precisely 10 days, she *should* begin to ovulate with the assistance of Femara.
And the bitch won't tell me if she does or doesn't ovulate until mid July. ARRRGHHHH! Seriously, I am THE WORST PERSON to wait for surprises!
According to one study she and I found online, nearly 3/4 of all women placed on Femara to encourage fertility conceive within 3 months and carry to term. Wow. Considering this is the first real infertility medication that her new doc has prescribed, I'm astounded and can't WAIT for the outcome! :) As I keep telling her, now that she has a doc that will actually listen to her and work with her on how to conceive, this medication is just the first step in a long line of many that she can try before ever having to touch artificial insemination or in vitro.
So everyone... cross your fingers and toes for Kas & Charlie. They've been married 6 years and trying that entire time. If anyone would be awesome parents it'd be them for sure!
And speaking of my own baby front.... Yeah? See that ticker up there? It says 2 months. Really, it's fibbing a bit. I decided to go with 6 cycles - because by the end of the 6th cycle I have a doc appt with my Hematologist, Dr. Weinshel, and he can give me the all clear-go ahead when I see him July 19th (I think!). Yay.
The other night Kathleen and I were kidding around... imagining having a wedding with both the bride - myself - and the matron attendant - Kathleen - totally prego and with bellies out a foot from our bodies. We laughed ourselves silly. Then I told her that it would serve me right if she delivered on the day of our celebration - just like I was in the hospital having Alli when I was supposed to be her Matron of Honor when they got married. *L* Luckily, our friend Megan stepped up and they quickly altered the hulacious gown for her small stick figure for the wedding instead. Sigh. Always a bride and never a Matron.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Monday, June 11, 2007
Weekend of Joy and Pain
Friday night, Beckah came over to hang out and make deeeeelicious pizza burgers. Definitely a keeper of a recipe! We proceeded to gossip until our eyelids grew heavy and we gave up the fight with the Sandman (around 11:30pm). I know. We're sad and pathetic.
Saturday morning I woke up bright and early, packed up Alli and our wonderful Candy Land treats that Miss Beckah has been so sweet to pick up when she drives through St. Paul. Their all-nut bridge mix is my biggest downfall...so far. And they have these cool, sweet-tart like blocks that look like Legos(!!) of all things and get this: they actually DO lock together. A little frosting between the blocks and viola! One awesome, edible decoration. Hmmmm...something to think about.
Anyways, we headed out to Hinckley to meet Charlie and Kathleen to see Pirates 3.
If you get the chance. SEE IT. It's cute - even though it made me cry. SERIOUSLY. And please, WAIT until after all the credits to see what happens "TEN YEARS LATER...". It was bittersweet. But I have to say, because of the last shot of Orlando Bloom, I now think he's kinda cute...of course not as cute as my Dave...but really, it's not like there's any comparison there. ;)
After the movie, having stuffed ourselves with popcorn and candy, we decided to head back to Kathleen & Charlie's house and begin the garden. Oh boy. Muscles I didn't know I had ache! I'm either waddling like a duck or walking like a zombie to compensate for the shooting pain into my legs and behind my thighs. Apparently I need to do more hard labor; walking on the treadmill doesn't make me feel like this!
We of course ended up making the obligatory Wallyworld run around 9pm Saturday and spent far too much time in there looking for things that Alli needs for her summer daycare. Waterproof bag, reusable lunch box - preferred insulated, the cooler blocks, towels for days they spend at the pool....
The next morning was Sunday. We were scheduled to meet with Sue, one of the owners of the Country Garden Retreat at 11:30am.
Kathleen, Alli, and I made it to the location by 11:27am. And waited. And waited some more.
I ended up calling Dave after 10 minutes of sitting there and wandering outside in the beautiful porch/deck areas around the house to get the phone number. Then I called.
Ring Ring....
Voice: Thank you for calling the Dakota Lodge. How may I help you?
Me: Hi, is Sue available?
Sue: This is Sue.
Me: Hi Sue! This is Witchy Andrews....
Sue: Hi Witchy.... OH CRAP! I'm SO SORRY! You're there at the house! OHMYGOD! I'll be there in 10 minutes!
And then she hung up the phone. Kas and I laughed so hard. This poor woman, who had to 'ave been so busy this weekend because of the MS Bikethon was so harried and just stretched so thin.
Never fear dear reader: Sue was a wonderful guide and apologized profusely while we toured the inside of the house. So many bedrooms and other rooms... incredible lighting and deck space. Just a beautiful, wonderful house. I gave her $500 for the deposit, even though they only ask for $250 - just so we can start paying down on the nearly $2k location fee. But it's SO totally WORTH it.
I have to say, we were cracking up. Alli kept going around and sniffing the closets.
When we had visited Schwyzer Lodge at the Audubon Center, she had talked about how they had "stinky closets" and asked if this place had more stinky closets -- to which we responded "no"...but she kept opening doors and sniffing inside them! She was proud to report to Sue that they had "no stinky closets!"
So we are officially getting hitched as of November 1st, 2008. Rehearsal dinner and Halloween Party will be held the night before on Friday October 31st. Convenient, huh? Party and candy one night, party, candy, and cake with alcohol the next night.... we've got it all planned. And what with 20 beds available at the retreat, anyone too drunk will still be hoofing it back to their own hotel room, but the other, more responsible members of the party and friends may stay at the retreat. Yes, that's me sticking my nose up in the air. I'm going to be hoity toity when I think of the possibilities of people puking on the carpet. *L*
I have a ton more pictures of the inside of the house, but it's mostly bedrooms and bathrooms - pretty much to show Dave how many bathrooms their are, and how I checked the toilets to make sure they were clean. (And yes you can DRINK this water. Neat trick, huh? No, no, no! You purposely misunderstood me... I didn't mean you could drink the toilet water. Just the tap water, in general. And it doesn't smell! Yay!)
I am now going to bed. Forsooth I am tired. No, I have no idea where that word came from. Leave me alone. I'm going to bed. :p
Saturday morning I woke up bright and early, packed up Alli and our wonderful Candy Land treats that Miss Beckah has been so sweet to pick up when she drives through St. Paul. Their all-nut bridge mix is my biggest downfall...so far. And they have these cool, sweet-tart like blocks that look like Legos(!!) of all things and get this: they actually DO lock together. A little frosting between the blocks and viola! One awesome, edible decoration. Hmmmm...something to think about.
Anyways, we headed out to Hinckley to meet Charlie and Kathleen to see Pirates 3.
If you get the chance. SEE IT. It's cute - even though it made me cry. SERIOUSLY. And please, WAIT until after all the credits to see what happens "TEN YEARS LATER...". It was bittersweet. But I have to say, because of the last shot of Orlando Bloom, I now think he's kinda cute...of course not as cute as my Dave...but really, it's not like there's any comparison there. ;)
After the movie, having stuffed ourselves with popcorn and candy, we decided to head back to Kathleen & Charlie's house and begin the garden. Oh boy. Muscles I didn't know I had ache! I'm either waddling like a duck or walking like a zombie to compensate for the shooting pain into my legs and behind my thighs. Apparently I need to do more hard labor; walking on the treadmill doesn't make me feel like this!
We of course ended up making the obligatory Wallyworld run around 9pm Saturday and spent far too much time in there looking for things that Alli needs for her summer daycare. Waterproof bag, reusable lunch box - preferred insulated, the cooler blocks, towels for days they spend at the pool....
The next morning was Sunday. We were scheduled to meet with Sue, one of the owners of the Country Garden Retreat at 11:30am.
Kathleen, Alli, and I made it to the location by 11:27am. And waited. And waited some more.
I ended up calling Dave after 10 minutes of sitting there and wandering outside in the beautiful porch/deck areas around the house to get the phone number. Then I called.
Ring Ring....
Voice: Thank you for calling the Dakota Lodge. How may I help you?
Me: Hi, is Sue available?
Sue: This is Sue.
Me: Hi Sue! This is Witchy Andrews....
Sue: Hi Witchy.... OH CRAP! I'm SO SORRY! You're there at the house! OHMYGOD! I'll be there in 10 minutes!
And then she hung up the phone. Kas and I laughed so hard. This poor woman, who had to 'ave been so busy this weekend because of the MS Bikethon was so harried and just stretched so thin.
Never fear dear reader: Sue was a wonderful guide and apologized profusely while we toured the inside of the house. So many bedrooms and other rooms... incredible lighting and deck space. Just a beautiful, wonderful house. I gave her $500 for the deposit, even though they only ask for $250 - just so we can start paying down on the nearly $2k location fee. But it's SO totally WORTH it.
I have to say, we were cracking up. Alli kept going around and sniffing the closets.
When we had visited Schwyzer Lodge at the Audubon Center, she had talked about how they had "stinky closets" and asked if this place had more stinky closets -- to which we responded "no"...but she kept opening doors and sniffing inside them! She was proud to report to Sue that they had "no stinky closets!"
So we are officially getting hitched as of November 1st, 2008. Rehearsal dinner and Halloween Party will be held the night before on Friday October 31st. Convenient, huh? Party and candy one night, party, candy, and cake with alcohol the next night.... we've got it all planned. And what with 20 beds available at the retreat, anyone too drunk will still be hoofing it back to their own hotel room, but the other, more responsible members of the party and friends may stay at the retreat. Yes, that's me sticking my nose up in the air. I'm going to be hoity toity when I think of the possibilities of people puking on the carpet. *L*
I have a ton more pictures of the inside of the house, but it's mostly bedrooms and bathrooms - pretty much to show Dave how many bathrooms their are, and how I checked the toilets to make sure they were clean. (And yes you can DRINK this water. Neat trick, huh? No, no, no! You purposely misunderstood me... I didn't mean you could drink the toilet water. Just the tap water, in general. And it doesn't smell! Yay!)
I am now going to bed. Forsooth I am tired. No, I have no idea where that word came from. Leave me alone. I'm going to bed. :p
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Hopes and Dreams
I've had my share of hopes and potential dreams being dashed. I'm certainly no stranger to disappointment.
However, I was absolutely CRUSHED when Dave, Alli, Kathleen, and Kathleen's mom Linda went with me to Schwyzer Lodge and we saw up close and personal what it was like.
The outside is well kept and charming in a rustic way - just what we wanted. The grounds themselves, not so much.
Rotted logs that had once been used as camp 'chairs' for the visitors sat on the side of the house, while more rotted picnic tables were available for use a bit further down the side. No room for a tent. And the mosquitoes. Have I told you how they loved us?
From the first opening of the door, the musty, damp smell assailed me and made me want to vomit for a second. Then I took a deep breath and thought of candles. Lots and lots of scented candles and opening all the windows to let them air out for a very VERY long time. I was giving myself a pep talk in my head, "I can do this! WE can do this!" as I would glance furtively over at Dave every so often to try and catch his expression.
The downstairs was fine - just smelly. Nice large living room and dining room, and three season porch. We could have worked with that. The kitchen was clean, but small, the bathroom generally clean and a nice big shower with a fold down corner seat. I was all OVER that.
Then we toured upstairs.
No lights in the main entry. The three showers upstairs are DISGUSTING. There was some serious orange shite on the bottom of the stall showers. Rust? Residue of some kind? Who knows. I do remember seeing a sign that went on talking about how the water was fine to wash with, bathe in, but please don't drink... oh yeah, and don't mind the smell.
Smell? Smell?! Water isn't supposed to have a smell!
The bunk beds were another joke on me. Dave and Kathleen barely touched one set of them and they WIGGLED so bad I thought they were going to dismantle right then and there! Cobwebs were abundant in the dark rooms of the dorms. A singular fan sat by it's lonesome on a 60's table. A mattress was missing from the top of one of the bunk beds.
It's the creature comforts I can't give up, ya know? Like a MATTRESS.
So, so, SO disappointing. So disappointing I haven't posted pics. It's just too depressing.
The one bright spot in the tour is the lady who showed us the Lodge, Sandy, let us know that while she wasn't trying to dissuade us, if we wanted something a bit newer, we could always check out the Country Garden Retreat just down the road a few miles.
We all looked at one another, thanked Sandy, and off to Hinckley we jaunted.
Country Garden Retreat is a hundred times BETTER than Schwyzer - even if you're just looking at the pictures on the website alone. It's amazing! Dave and I recalculated. It would be $600 more than Schwyzer, sleep more people, and is a much newer building with manicured lawns and enormous space. Dude, we were sold.
I've been in contact with the proprietors Sue and Steve and will be meeting them on Sunday at 11:30 to view the site. Cross your fingers and toes for us. I don't think I could handle getting let down again after falling in love with a location.
However, I was absolutely CRUSHED when Dave, Alli, Kathleen, and Kathleen's mom Linda went with me to Schwyzer Lodge and we saw up close and personal what it was like.
The outside is well kept and charming in a rustic way - just what we wanted. The grounds themselves, not so much.
Rotted logs that had once been used as camp 'chairs' for the visitors sat on the side of the house, while more rotted picnic tables were available for use a bit further down the side. No room for a tent. And the mosquitoes. Have I told you how they loved us?
From the first opening of the door, the musty, damp smell assailed me and made me want to vomit for a second. Then I took a deep breath and thought of candles. Lots and lots of scented candles and opening all the windows to let them air out for a very VERY long time. I was giving myself a pep talk in my head, "I can do this! WE can do this!" as I would glance furtively over at Dave every so often to try and catch his expression.
The downstairs was fine - just smelly. Nice large living room and dining room, and three season porch. We could have worked with that. The kitchen was clean, but small, the bathroom generally clean and a nice big shower with a fold down corner seat. I was all OVER that.
Then we toured upstairs.
No lights in the main entry. The three showers upstairs are DISGUSTING. There was some serious orange shite on the bottom of the stall showers. Rust? Residue of some kind? Who knows. I do remember seeing a sign that went on talking about how the water was fine to wash with, bathe in, but please don't drink... oh yeah, and don't mind the smell.
Smell? Smell?! Water isn't supposed to have a smell!
The bunk beds were another joke on me. Dave and Kathleen barely touched one set of them and they WIGGLED so bad I thought they were going to dismantle right then and there! Cobwebs were abundant in the dark rooms of the dorms. A singular fan sat by it's lonesome on a 60's table. A mattress was missing from the top of one of the bunk beds.
It's the creature comforts I can't give up, ya know? Like a MATTRESS.
So, so, SO disappointing. So disappointing I haven't posted pics. It's just too depressing.
The one bright spot in the tour is the lady who showed us the Lodge, Sandy, let us know that while she wasn't trying to dissuade us, if we wanted something a bit newer, we could always check out the Country Garden Retreat just down the road a few miles.
We all looked at one another, thanked Sandy, and off to Hinckley we jaunted.
Country Garden Retreat is a hundred times BETTER than Schwyzer - even if you're just looking at the pictures on the website alone. It's amazing! Dave and I recalculated. It would be $600 more than Schwyzer, sleep more people, and is a much newer building with manicured lawns and enormous space. Dude, we were sold.
I've been in contact with the proprietors Sue and Steve and will be meeting them on Sunday at 11:30 to view the site. Cross your fingers and toes for us. I don't think I could handle getting let down again after falling in love with a location.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Engagement... Ring? Laptop? PDA?
As Dave has seen the exchange rate from US to Ireland hit the toilet and circle the bowl a few times, he has been having second thoughts about my engagement ring. It's now more than $2k US dollars just for the ring, alone. It was around $1400 about 6 months ago, but did he buy it then? NoOOOooOOOooooo... of course not.
About 3 weeks ago, I killed the 6 year old PDA that Dave had given me for my eBooks. Have I mentioned lately how much I love eBooks? You pay $5.99 more or less, and you can download the newest bestseller using Mobipocket (LOVE!) and read it the same day without leaving the comfort of your home, or ordering the physical book online and then paying for shipping&handling. That's just annoying. When I order a book, I want to read it NOW.
I was packing up the PDA to take it home and it seriously just slipped from my hands and it's protective case and slammed to the floor, hitting the metal foot under my work desk. Ow. I knew it wasn't going to be pretty. Sure enough, the screen was sliced diagonally in half. I brought it home, depressed, distressed, and wholly miserable and sorry. Kindly enough, Dave was glad I was okay - apparently the liquid inside the LCD screen is poisonous and could have leaked out. Ew.
So since then, I've been PDA-less.
Yesterday he brought up the idea of possibly getting me a lesser engagement sparkly ring and also giving me a tricked out PDA. I seriously considered it. If they can engrave the words "Will you marry me?" on it, why the heck not? I took the old one everywhere with me... so I'm certain the new one would follow me, too. What a way to announce you're engaged, eh.
Tonight it was the "Honey, we could always get you a brand new lappy...." line. Now that has me in it's grips, too. I would SO LOVE a new laptop - something less heavy, and with more memory that doesn't freak out on me every time I try to play something from YouTube on here. Again, I told him I would still require a small sparkly ring with the tricked out laptop. And again, the laptop would have to have the words "Will you marry me?" engraved on it somewhere noticeable. Talk about a technology heirloom.
The fact that I would consider any of the items and down grade my ring should speak volumes.
About 3 weeks ago, I killed the 6 year old PDA that Dave had given me for my eBooks. Have I mentioned lately how much I love eBooks? You pay $5.99 more or less, and you can download the newest bestseller using Mobipocket (LOVE!) and read it the same day without leaving the comfort of your home, or ordering the physical book online and then paying for shipping&handling. That's just annoying. When I order a book, I want to read it NOW.
I was packing up the PDA to take it home and it seriously just slipped from my hands and it's protective case and slammed to the floor, hitting the metal foot under my work desk. Ow. I knew it wasn't going to be pretty. Sure enough, the screen was sliced diagonally in half. I brought it home, depressed, distressed, and wholly miserable and sorry. Kindly enough, Dave was glad I was okay - apparently the liquid inside the LCD screen is poisonous and could have leaked out. Ew.
So since then, I've been PDA-less.
Yesterday he brought up the idea of possibly getting me a lesser engagement sparkly ring and also giving me a tricked out PDA. I seriously considered it. If they can engrave the words "Will you marry me?" on it, why the heck not? I took the old one everywhere with me... so I'm certain the new one would follow me, too. What a way to announce you're engaged, eh.
Tonight it was the "Honey, we could always get you a brand new lappy...." line. Now that has me in it's grips, too. I would SO LOVE a new laptop - something less heavy, and with more memory that doesn't freak out on me every time I try to play something from YouTube on here. Again, I told him I would still require a small sparkly ring with the tricked out laptop. And again, the laptop would have to have the words "Will you marry me?" engraved on it somewhere noticeable. Talk about a technology heirloom.
The fact that I would consider any of the items and down grade my ring should speak volumes.
We are geeks.
I think....
We may have found our officiant.
Since Dave and I are not active members of any coven(s), and preferred to be solitary eclectic as unattached people, we wondered who would be able to officiate at our ceremony who would possibly understand where we were at in our lives.
Recently, we've been discussing going to services at the Lake Harriet Spiritual Community Center (hey, any place that has a Psychic Fair has got to be down wi' da Wiccans), not only for us and our growth, but also so Alli can experience other children in families just like ours. It's something we'll be looking into further.
Anyways, I had emailed a few different officiants last week to see if anyone would respond - including the current officiant for Lake Harriet. Nothing. Not a peep nor a phone call.
Monday morning at about 2am I sent a message on one officiant's web page requesting consultation information, giving Dave's and my spiritual path; thinking "Heck, it's probably another dead end."
Lo and behold, Reverend Leslie contacted me back with:
"Dear Dave & Witchy,
Greetings! Thank you for contacting me about your ceremony, and congratulations! It is always an honor for me when people of kindred spirituality allow me to assist in creating their celebration. I would love to hear what you have in mind as far as a variation on handfasting. Let's talk soon...I have some nice material that I have written for other Wiccan and Druidic ceremonies and I would love to share ideas. November 1st...how exciting!
As far as the Tarot readings for your guests, this added invitation makes your email to me twice as sweet. I love the tarot. The cost for having me there would depend on what sort of readings you are interested in and how many of your friends & family you think would want a reading. I find it difficult to do any sort of real reading in less than twenty minutes. I have on a few occasions done very short "mini-readings" which are,of necessity, more light and entertaining (usually for fundraising festivals). So if you want to offer people a serious reading it might just come down to time...I would be able to read for three people maximum each hour, so for half of your guests it would take seven hours.
It may be easier to discuss these ideas live!
Will you give me a call? I look forward to hearing from you!
Leslie (XXX)XXX-XXXX"
Okay, now seriously, how warm and welcoming is THAT to open in your email inbox??
I just responded back to her about an hour ago letting her know our story, and giving some other information, asking when was a good time to call her. I hate feeling like I'm intruding on a person when I call after 7pm. Especially one you'd like to hire.
I'm sure she'll mail back soon... I would love to have her do mini-readings for those who would like one. Now all I need is a psychic and/or mayhaps a palm reader.
I know, I know. We're not all that normal. Who cares. :)
Since Dave and I are not active members of any coven(s), and preferred to be solitary eclectic as unattached people, we wondered who would be able to officiate at our ceremony who would possibly understand where we were at in our lives.
Recently, we've been discussing going to services at the Lake Harriet Spiritual Community Center (hey, any place that has a Psychic Fair has got to be down wi' da Wiccans), not only for us and our growth, but also so Alli can experience other children in families just like ours. It's something we'll be looking into further.
Anyways, I had emailed a few different officiants last week to see if anyone would respond - including the current officiant for Lake Harriet. Nothing. Not a peep nor a phone call.
Monday morning at about 2am I sent a message on one officiant's web page requesting consultation information, giving Dave's and my spiritual path; thinking "Heck, it's probably another dead end."
Lo and behold, Reverend Leslie contacted me back with:
"Dear Dave & Witchy,
Greetings! Thank you for contacting me about your ceremony, and congratulations! It is always an honor for me when people of kindred spirituality allow me to assist in creating their celebration. I would love to hear what you have in mind as far as a variation on handfasting. Let's talk soon...I have some nice material that I have written for other Wiccan and Druidic ceremonies and I would love to share ideas. November 1st...how exciting!
As far as the Tarot readings for your guests, this added invitation makes your email to me twice as sweet. I love the tarot. The cost for having me there would depend on what sort of readings you are interested in and how many of your friends & family you think would want a reading. I find it difficult to do any sort of real reading in less than twenty minutes. I have on a few occasions done very short "mini-readings" which are,of necessity, more light and entertaining (usually for fundraising festivals). So if you want to offer people a serious reading it might just come down to time...I would be able to read for three people maximum each hour, so for half of your guests it would take seven hours.
It may be easier to discuss these ideas live!
Will you give me a call? I look forward to hearing from you!
Leslie (XXX)XXX-XXXX"
Okay, now seriously, how warm and welcoming is THAT to open in your email inbox??
I just responded back to her about an hour ago letting her know our story, and giving some other information, asking when was a good time to call her. I hate feeling like I'm intruding on a person when I call after 7pm. Especially one you'd like to hire.
I'm sure she'll mail back soon... I would love to have her do mini-readings for those who would like one. Now all I need is a psychic and/or mayhaps a palm reader.
I know, I know. We're not all that normal. Who cares. :)
Monday, May 28, 2007
Wedding/Handfasting Update
As some of you who read my blog know, I have found the place that I think we should unite. It's a nice little lodge/house situated off the Audubon Preservation Center between Sandstone and Hinckley, MN.
Good ol' Schwyzer Lodge.
To quote:
"Schwyzer Lodge
The historic Schwyzer Lodge is available for rental for your seasonal family fun. Situated on the shores of Grindstone Lake, this beautiful, charming lodge is an ideal property for a quiet getaway for family and friends. The Lodge has four bedrooms and can sleep up to 14 people. A fully equipped kitchen, fireplace in the living room, three bathrooms and a large screened porch facing the lake make up some of the amenities of this secluded retreat. Plus, you have access to over 530 acres of Wildlife Sanctuary."
I don't know...I just saw it online, and it felt right. I can't wait to see it in person this coming weekend.
Yep. Dave is even going to take some time off this weekend to go and see it with us. Of course I've asked Kathleen and Charlie to come along too - Kathleen is one of the attendants to call quarters for us.
I also asked Beckah if she would so honor us to call quarter; I would love to have my brother Alex call a third quarter, but well...we'll see if our parents will allow him. That leaves a fourth quarter personless. Hm.
Josh, my buddy from work who has a partner with him in a catering business, suggested that he, his girlfriend, Janan his partner, myself and Dave all sit down to dinner and hammer out some details for the cuisine. Dave and I are thinking hearty, down to earth food - lamb stew, veggie stew, artesian breads & cheeses,and possibly a roast for the main meal with the typical vegetable accoutrement, followed by....cake.
Now, the cake has been interesting. When Beckah came over to visit Friday night, Dave and I finally hammered out what we *think* we want. Waning, Full, and waxing moons. The two half moons will be two layer chocolate cake with strawberry filling? Maybe? While the full moon we'd like to be three layers: top layer vanilla, followed by pumpkin butter filling, then spice cake layer, more pumpkin butter, and another layer of vanilla cake. Butter cream frosting as an allover? Yum.
The groom's cake will be shaped like a jack o'lantern and we'd discussed it being carrot cake (without raisins) and cream cheese frosting. Mmmmmmmm....
We shall see. There's just an incredible amount of work to yet go into this. I don't think the planning will seem real until we start paying for things... when money disappears out of your pocket, then things become MUCH more real.
I still haven't had much luck with the gown portion, or what the attendants will wear. I'm not too concerned at the moment. Kathleen might be pregnant or just have had a little one by November 2008 (Gods willing!). I might be in the same boat myself (also, Gods willing!) and would rather wait a bit to see what is going on closer to the wedding.
Mind you, when I was prego with Alli, I didn't gain a pound of fat. But when she was born, I lost 20 in water weight I didn't know I had!
Good ol' Schwyzer Lodge.
To quote:
"Schwyzer Lodge
The historic Schwyzer Lodge is available for rental for your seasonal family fun. Situated on the shores of Grindstone Lake, this beautiful, charming lodge is an ideal property for a quiet getaway for family and friends. The Lodge has four bedrooms and can sleep up to 14 people. A fully equipped kitchen, fireplace in the living room, three bathrooms and a large screened porch facing the lake make up some of the amenities of this secluded retreat. Plus, you have access to over 530 acres of Wildlife Sanctuary."
I don't know...I just saw it online, and it felt right. I can't wait to see it in person this coming weekend.
Yep. Dave is even going to take some time off this weekend to go and see it with us. Of course I've asked Kathleen and Charlie to come along too - Kathleen is one of the attendants to call quarters for us.
I also asked Beckah if she would so honor us to call quarter; I would love to have my brother Alex call a third quarter, but well...we'll see if our parents will allow him. That leaves a fourth quarter personless. Hm.
Josh, my buddy from work who has a partner with him in a catering business, suggested that he, his girlfriend, Janan his partner, myself and Dave all sit down to dinner and hammer out some details for the cuisine. Dave and I are thinking hearty, down to earth food - lamb stew, veggie stew, artesian breads & cheeses,and possibly a roast for the main meal with the typical vegetable accoutrement, followed by....cake.
Now, the cake has been interesting. When Beckah came over to visit Friday night, Dave and I finally hammered out what we *think* we want. Waning, Full, and waxing moons. The two half moons will be two layer chocolate cake with strawberry filling? Maybe? While the full moon we'd like to be three layers: top layer vanilla, followed by pumpkin butter filling, then spice cake layer, more pumpkin butter, and another layer of vanilla cake. Butter cream frosting as an allover? Yum.
The groom's cake will be shaped like a jack o'lantern and we'd discussed it being carrot cake (without raisins) and cream cheese frosting. Mmmmmmmm....
We shall see. There's just an incredible amount of work to yet go into this. I don't think the planning will seem real until we start paying for things... when money disappears out of your pocket, then things become MUCH more real.
I still haven't had much luck with the gown portion, or what the attendants will wear. I'm not too concerned at the moment. Kathleen might be pregnant or just have had a little one by November 2008 (Gods willing!). I might be in the same boat myself (also, Gods willing!) and would rather wait a bit to see what is going on closer to the wedding.
Mind you, when I was prego with Alli, I didn't gain a pound of fat. But when she was born, I lost 20 in water weight I didn't know I had!
Magick Points
Dave and I have implemented a system where Alli can earn "Magick Points" - it's basically trying to teach herself self-control, and internal checks and balances.
He's taught her breathing techniques to help her curb her attitude and the yelling that's been happening for the past few months that we were at a loss as to how to deal with it. It's been working, somewhat.
Each time Alli can tell us how she used her "magick" to calm herself, help someone out, etc, she earns a point towards a real magick lesson - a small ritual, a lesson on a few herbs, time spent casting and explaining a simple spell (a protection spell would be the first one we should be teaching her).
So far, she has earned and lost, and is currently at zero.
Eventually she will have to learn some self control if she wants to learn what we have to teach....
One can only hope!
And I will say this, for all that I don't discuss rituals and BoS information, I tend to be quite private in my practicing of the Craft. I am more than willing to share information with people face to face, but simply posting it online in a blog, I consider to be most reckless. Spells are spells are spells. All magick should be taught and created with great discretion and safety. So you will not find much in the way of me giving out spells and chants to raise the cone of power in this blog. Just a side note.
He's taught her breathing techniques to help her curb her attitude and the yelling that's been happening for the past few months that we were at a loss as to how to deal with it. It's been working, somewhat.
Each time Alli can tell us how she used her "magick" to calm herself, help someone out, etc, she earns a point towards a real magick lesson - a small ritual, a lesson on a few herbs, time spent casting and explaining a simple spell (a protection spell would be the first one we should be teaching her).
So far, she has earned and lost, and is currently at zero.
Eventually she will have to learn some self control if she wants to learn what we have to teach....
One can only hope!
And I will say this, for all that I don't discuss rituals and BoS information, I tend to be quite private in my practicing of the Craft. I am more than willing to share information with people face to face, but simply posting it online in a blog, I consider to be most reckless. Spells are spells are spells. All magick should be taught and created with great discretion and safety. So you will not find much in the way of me giving out spells and chants to raise the cone of power in this blog. Just a side note.
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