Wedding Celebration in Michigan

 

This is the summer of delayed wedding celebrations and there is something about the wait that makes everything a little more special.  Already married, but given that extra dose of love by friends and family who couldn’t lend that support last year.

My sister planned a beautiful event in her back yard amidst a rainy week in Michigan with flooded streets and an actual tornado warning that could not keep us from having a great time.  I was especially happy to see my family that I have not seen in person since Christmas 2019.  

The day started with a golf outing for the guys, a bridal brunch for the bridesmaids and me helping my sister pull everything together. She wanted to do a lot herself and while a lot of work, it was done with love and that shined through every detail.  Luckily she planned a huge tent with a lot of room for the guests to be comfortable when it rained and when all the phones started going off with tornado warning alerts, we simply paused to take cover and then pick up where we left off when the all clear siren was heard.  Definitely memorable for all and par for the course in a Michigan summer.

My nephew and his beautiful bride are truly married now with all our best wishes and their Michigan and Massachusetts love story continues.

Happy Tuesday!

Day Tripping #2

There are so many things to do and see in this little slice of paradise we live in and we are taking advantage of the summer’s easy going pace by doing a few day trips.  Saturday, we went to Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota and enjoyed visiting the fish and turtles up close and personal.  

It is a small aquarium, but the attraction is that it is also a research center.  Mote is very important to this part of the gulf coast by keeping us informed of red tide levels.  Also, they supervise the sea turtle nests on the beaches and rescue the baby turtles that do not make it to the water.  They track the dolphin population and rehabilitate any aquatic life that may be injured by boats.

A new aquarium is being built a few miles away from the current facility and I look forward to visiting that as well when it opens.

We spent about an hour or so there seeing many kinds of fish, but the highlights were the great views of the sharks and manatees.  It’s crazy to think what is lurking under that pretty blue gulf coast water we enjoy so much.

The perfect ending to the day, was lunch at our favorite Italian restaurant on St. Armands Circle, including a glass (or two) of the best sangria.  More adventures to come.

New Mote Aquarium coming soon

Day Tripping #1

Hostessing

 

I hosted a dinner party on Thursday night and it got me thinking how much I have missed the simple joys of hostessing.  I love all the preparation involved; menu making, shopping lists, putting together a pretty table (I found peonies in Florida) and picking just the right serving dish for what I prepare.  I love those last few minutes before the doorbell rings and everything is done.  You light a few candles, pour yourself a cocktail and know you are ready to welcome friends into your home and that a pleasant evening is ahead.

Bringing people together is one of my favorite things.  I love inviting people who don’t normally socialize with each other and see new friendships form. The neighbors we hosted did not know each other well, when I first put them together and now we are approaching two years of alternating houses for dinner every other month.  Everyone is a good cook and it has been fun to keep it going.

Another simple party I love to host is a martini party for women friends.  Again, I bring different social groups together, serve a fun martini and the ice is broken quickly.  This type of party was something I really missed during covid, because we still socialized, but not with large groups. I’m looking forward to hosting something like this in the holiday season this year.

More than anything, covid robbed us of time spent with friends and all the connections we so enjoy.  I say, let’s make up for lost time.

Have a wonderful weekend.