Wedding Planning on the Brain

I can see why people hire other people as event planners.  i can also see why event planners is an actual full time job.  so many little details, so many things to think about....all to throw a nice party.

we got the caterer!  or shall i say...retained!  Mountain Magic Catering will be working the event.  They were highly recommended and after talking to the owner/head chef, we discovered that we shared similar philosophies on sustainability, good food, recycle-reuse, and the fondness of composting.

We got a Photographer!!!  Sara (her blog is linked from mine) has a really cool and unique take on photographing people, places, and things.  I like her style (and does she have style.....you should see her collection of crazy retro shirts).

We got the invitations made and emailed out.  in this day and age of the interweb and design programs that make designing things easy for the non-design savvy, it's really easy to go tasteful and paperless.  no need to waste paper on something that will just get recycled (hopefully).  this feeds into the philosophy of having minimal impact, treading lightly on the planet and being as sustainable as possible.  it's also something we want to make a point of in the whole event.  use and reuse.

we got the attire, now we just have to start working on the other details.  lots of other details....like...centerpieces, place settings, location setup, time line, etc.  yeah, that much more.....what the heck!

little steps....

Victor and Rose....

 a little something, sumting from their wedding....

i was in the wedding party so the opportunity of taking photographs was left to the wedding photographers and other folks with camera.   may 8, 2010.....i wish i had the time and energy to take more....

but i did get a little something during the prep time....

Rose's hair....

same

spring!

Time for the Yummies

The Book:  A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick

No...it’s not an manual on how to get a reliable wife nor is it a manual on how to be a reliable wife.   It’s a book about a woman who answers an ad to go from chicago to BFE Wisconsin.  it’s about a lonely man who puts out an ad for a reliable wife.  he doesn’t ask for love, just a partner for companionship and life.  but there is a twist.....there is always a twist......

it’s a good read.  quick.  i read it on my trip to the Kokanee Glacier Cabin.  it was a rest day and i pretty much powered through this book.  i did get some flak for the title of the book. 

the food:  Midwestern Fare

Bets and Rog are hosting....it’ll be midwesterner’s fare of meat and potatoes.  of course, the rest os us will be bring things that are relates to the book.  the occasional blue bottle, the oysters and champagne, beets....

i however will be bringing...Drum Roll!!!  Pumpkin Cupcakes, made from a recipe that i scoured off the web.  Since monday was Bets’ 29th birthday, i asked Rog what her favorite cake flavor is.  Pumpkin was the reply.  hopefully these will turn out okay. 


i always love testing recipes on my friends.  ha!  i did learn one thing after this recipe, i really like the stand mixer.  :D  i used sara's 70s chic stand mixer and it was rad.  i made the batter and frosting in almost no time.     i really wished i had photos to post....but one will have to wait....

Pumpkin Cupcakes from Smitten Kitchen
[http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/11/pumpkin-cupcakes]

Pumpkin Cupcakes With Maple–Cream Cheese Frosting
Adapted from David Leite (http://leitesculinaria.com/)

Yield: 17 to 18 cupcakes

1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for greasing pans
1 cup firmly packed dark-brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 large eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk mixed with 1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups canned solid-pack pumpkin

Frosting
Two (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup


Make the cupcakes:
1. Preheat the oven to 350° (175°C). Line a cupcake pan with 18 liners.
2. In a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugars on medium speed until fluffy, about 5
minutes. Meanwhile, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg,
cloves, salt, and pepper into a medium bowl.
3. Add the eggs 1 at a time to the mixer, scraping down the sides after each addition.
Alternate adding the flour and milk mixtures, beginning and ending with the flour. Beat in
the pumpkin until smooth. Scoop the batter among the cupcake liners — you’re looking to
get them 3/4 full. Rap the filled pans once on the counter to release any air bubbles. Bake
the cakes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 to 25
minutes. Cool the cupcakes on racks completely.

Make the frosting:

In a stand mixer beat all the ingredients on medium until fluffy. To assemble the cake,
frost the top of one cake, place the other cake on top. Frost the sides and top, swirling
decoratively. Refrigerate the cake for 30 minutes to set up frosting.

The Art of Doing Nothing

Really?  There is an art to idleness?  Well, i'm not so sure about that.  This weekend was filled with planned activities.  Well, actually only for Saturday.  We had planned to go climbing on sunday, but.....didn't really happen.  What did happen was a whole lot of lounging in the sunny patch of our living room.  


The day before was filled with activity.  We did a lot of garden work around the house.  I cleaned (which really means wiping the crumbs of the countertop and then vacuuming) and did laundry while ed was outside digging holes.  I figured out that yard work is really just moving piles of dirt around.  We are in the process of putting in the ground four varieties of grapes, three varieties of raspberries, and two mulberry trees.  the holes were for the mulberry trees.   The grapes and the raspberries are going in the terrace we built last summer.  we finished this year with a six foot tall deer fence.  hopefully the thing will work and keep the deer out.  

our terrace and deer fence

We'll see if it actually work. i wanted to put a mesh roof on it, but ed said it may not be necessary. like i said...we'll see.


And then there's Sunday......we had planned to go climbing. Ed said that his back was jacked. I suggested having a morning soak. that may have been the death of activity. After ed had his morning soak, he was not motivated to do anything beyond lounging in the sunny spots of our living room. for me, the most i did all day was learn how to layer "through the viewfinder" layers onto my photos to fake a TTY photo. super fun. that, of course, required me to get some shots from around the yard. *gasp* activity!  


here's a few to gander at.....i'm not by far good at this, so i borrowed ideas from others. the TTY layers came from flickr members OceanT, yarnattacks, and Cosi!.

the last one standing

Don't trip....

What you lookin' at, foo?

What an awesome sunday.  I don't know if i'll do that again.  i can see why cats get all pissy when they've been idle for too long.  

on another note....just for fun......this is why i heart dogs....especially Rainman.

Entries in a dog's journal:

8:00 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!9:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
9:40 am - OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!
10:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
11:30 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
12:00 noon - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
1:00 PM - OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!
1:30 PM - ooooooo. bath. bummer.
4:00 PM - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
5:00 PM - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
5:30 PM - OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE!

Entries in a cat's journal:

DAY 752 - My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another house plant.DAY 761 - Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair...must try this on their bed.
DAY 765 - Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was...Hmmm. Not working according to plan.
DAY 768 - I am finally aware of how sadistic they are. For no good reason I was chosen for the water torture. This time, however, it included a burning foamy chemical called "shampoo." What sick minds could invent such a liquid? My only consolation is the piece of thumb still stuck between my teeth.
DAY 771 - There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise. More importantly I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of "allergies." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage.
DAY 774 - I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird, on the other hand, has got to be an informant, and speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room his safety is assured. But I can wait; it is only a matter of time......

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