Afterglow

Two weeks ago this afternoon, the wedding weekend concluded. Nina, Charlie and Evie left here around 1:00 to catch a flight from the local airport. After the beautiful brunch that my siblings/spouses put on, Eddie and Kelly hung around for much of the afternoon and finally left around 5:30 to head to the cottage on the Chesapeake Bay they had rented for an abbreviated honeymoon. Once they have accrued more vacation time at work, this summer, they plan to take a real honeymoon trip.

Their wedding was perfect and I have just been so full of emotion it has been difficult to put it all into words. I will try to share bits and pieces in a few posts to come.

Brad and I have a running joke about purchasing the last "____________" we will ever own. For instance, this has been said about certain tools, this home, and hair clippers. He's said that about the last two lawn mowers he purchased, and I am sure there are yet more lawn mower purchases in his future if he lives to the ripe old age we hope for.  This past Christmas I gave him the last school backpack he will ever need, since he should retire before this one wears out. So, anyway, when Nina was here for the wedding, one day I was making biscuits. I pulled out my ancient, rusty-screened, flour sifter and made the comment about how badly I need a new one. The thing is roughly 35-40 years old and probably came from Woolworth's or G. C. Murphy's. I declared that I need to buy a new one, and when I do it should last for the remainder of my baking years.

Well, so cute of Nina, I opened a package from her today to find this beautiful stainless steel flour sifter that will in all likelihood still be in good condition when I hang up my kitchen apron for the last time.  I love it!

So with great ceremony the one that has brought me thus far in life bit the dust this afternoon. It served us well!

Time to let it go!

And another nice gift that came my way today was a beautiful photo of Brad's and my nuclear family with descendents. He visited the professional photographer from the family wedding and was able to pry loose from them this wonderful shot. It's just a matter of days, or maybe only even hours, before we are able to see the full complement of photos from the wedding, but this one is a good beginning!