Thursday, December 24, 2009

New Category: Wedding!

Two weeks ago Miss Greta accepted Daniel's proposal of marriage. We are so excited! And we immediately jumped right into the planning and preparation for their May 22 wedding.

I realized I should start a new category for my blog, called "Wedding," so I can chronicle our preparations.

So, what have we accomplished in two weeks? Several major decisions are made: First off, she reserved her reception site of choice, a historic place she had visited in the fall. It's cute and old and white. It has nooks and big multi-paned windows and wood floors. It comes with plenty of tables and chairs and a full kitchen. It has a stage for the band. But I won't post a photo of it to keep it a surprise.

Surprisingly, next door to the reception site we discovered a cute little country church, the exact sort of church Greta dreamed of being married in. Our home church won't do for Greta; it is much too contemporary for her taste. The church was happy to host the ceremony, and the groom's Dad is a pastor, also happy to perform the ceremony.

She found her dress in just two sessions of looking and trying on. I can't post a photo because the shop doesn't allow customers to take photos. Instead, here is a snippet from the manufacturer's catalog:She has pulled many inspiration pages out of magazines. She chose her wedding colors (sage green and creams) and her main flowers (hydrangeas). She has looked at bridesmaid's dresses and MOB dresses. MOB (that's me) has tried on dozens of fancy gowns!

The happy couple completed their bridal registries. We surveyed and brainstormed food. She hired her photographer. They planned the dance music and musicians. We looked at invitations and wrote the preliminary wording. And there is lots more to come. Whew!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

20 Little Things I Treasure at Christmas

I'm sitting in the dark at 6:00 am, unable to sleep. My mind wanders from subject to subject; I wonder why I can't fall asleep. I tell myself, "Perhaps I could think about the wonderful-ness of the season." What makes it special to me? I borrow this title from another blogger:
20 Little Things I Treasure at Christmas
1. Our tree ornaments, collected over many years, marking the seasons of our life. Some were gifts, some I purchased for our children.
2. Hanging that favorite ornament on the tree: the TP tube and paper angel Greta made so many years ago. And now she tells us she's going to take it with her when she gets married this spring. Our tree will be naked forever after.
3. Beginning our Christmas season by filling shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child.
4. Twinkling white lights on our tree.
5. Watching Luke run in and out of the trees on the Christmas tree lot.
6. Celebrating our Swedish heritage with our Santa Lucia dinner: meatballs in cream sauce, lingonberries, flatbread, and all the other dishes we look forward to every year.
7. Frost on the grass and the cars.
8. Wearing warm jammies late into the morning.
9. Sipping hot chocolate from my yellow "Chocolat" mug from France.
10. The candlelight service at church on Christmas Eve.
11. Singing "Silent Night/Peace, Peace" at the candlelight service.
12. "O Come All Ye Faithful"
13. Listening to the radio broadcast of "Lessons and Carols" from King's College at Cambridge on Christmas Eve morning.
14. Taking corny family pictures on the hearth after we hang our stockings on Christmas Eve.
15. Green wreaths with red bows hung on windows.
16. Reading family letters that come with Christmas cards. Yes, I really do love them. I like having the updates from distant family and friends.
17. Homemade cookies. My own recipes.
18. Seeing the line of bulging stockings, each with a candy cane poking out of the top, hanging from the mantel on Christmas morning.
19. Wrapping up in a neck scarf and mittens first thing in the morning.
20. A real fire with real logs when it's frosty out.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Christmas at our House

A sudden trip home for a week in early December and Dad's passing away has put my usual Christmas season plans far behind. We did get our tree up, and a few decorations out, but this year my decorating will remain sparse. I'm focusing on purchasing gifts right now. And baking? So far, the count stands at zero.Our Swedish Santa Lucia display sits in its traditional spot on a high cabinet in the dining room.

After my gift shopping is done, we will schedule our Santa Lucia dinner. That, of course, will require a bit of buttery baking, and by then it will be Christmas.