Words and Wool

It's Wednesday and time for Words and Wool. Of course I can't go far from wedding excitement, so I need to share the wedding knitting all done by my talented sister Christina Wall. These are all original patterns and if we beg hard enough, perhaps she will write them up!

BTW, the honeymooners are not going to be able to go to Ireland at this time but have found a lovely island off the Carolinas to spend the rest of their time away at. We hope they are able to relax and enjoy themselves!!!

So first for the bridal shawl -- isn't it beautiful!!!!! It went so perfectly with the wedding colors!

Christina also knitted three gray bolero sweaters for the flower girls. They were perfect!!!! Don't you love the lace edging?? We added felt flowers as a decoration.

Emily borrowed Christina's cream Garter Leaves Shawl to add extra warmth on the wedding evening.

A view of the back of the baby sweaters:

We also had our last fall "official" meeting of the Homeschool Knit Clubs. One member took my suggestion of a knitted beard for her cousin seriously!!! I LOVED it! I want to make them for my boys:

Another member started and completed a sweater for her dog over the last 6 weeks. She did a great job and I just wish I could have seen it on the dog!

And another member was knitting donuts on the last day of class.

I am continuing on with my Tiny Tea Leaves Cardi in gray. It is adorable!!!

As for reading, I finished several books this past week:


God King: A Story in the Days of King Hezekiah (Living History Library) by Joanne Williamson was something I read aloud to the kids as part of our Ancient History. It is historical fiction, based mostly in Egypt but moving northeast to Palestine and ending with the seige of Jerusalem by Sennacherib. I thought it was well-written and kept our attention. We all enjoyed it.

Boundaries: When to Say YES, When to Say NO, To Take Control of Your Life by Henry Cloud and John Townsend has been the perfect book for me to read just now. I know I read it years ago but I felt I was reading the information for the first time. It all made so much sense to me, especially taking control for my own emotions and emotional well-being. I hope to skim through it again and take better notes.

The Real Life Downton Abbey: How Life Was Really Lived in Stately Homes a Century Ago by Jacky Hyams is a very readable, informative book about how life was lived in the early part of the 20th century. I feel as though it is a little handbook you would want to keep close if you were writing a novel on the period, just to make sure that you minded your p's and q's and had everyone acting just as would be proper. You will read about dress, food, sports, servant relationships, and many other aspects of daily life.

We are having a week off of school next week and I have a stack of books that I can't wait to dive into -- namely a few by my favorite author Alison Weir and the next installment in the Irish Country Doctor series as well as a new Rosamund Pilcher. I can't wait to tell you how they are!!!

For more ideas on words and wool, hop over to Ginny's Yarn Along.

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The Wedding

I cannot imagine a more joyous day than the one we had on Saturday! Everything went so well and we had the time of our lives! I can't stop thanking God for every blessing!

Today our thoughts are filled with everyone out East and the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. We continue to pray for lives to be spared and for the damage to be dealt with as quickly as possible. Several wedding guests were stranded here and saddest of all, the honeymooners were stuck in DC and unable to get to their honeymoon in Ireland. We shall see what happens.......

Here are some photos from the day! I have more of the events surrounding the wedding which I will post on another day:

Getting ready at Christina's house:

The bride fixing Aunt Nina's hair! We had the best time with the "Aunties" this weekend: Mom's two cousins, a dear family friend, and our own Aunt Georgie.

Getting ready is almost half the fun!

Rachel was transformed before our eyes into someone who was too grownup!!!

With Grandma:

The beautiful bride:

Time to get the dress on:

Which took plenty of work since there was a bodice to lace up:

Rachel had the wish of her life -- to be in Em's wedding.

 The flower girls were too cute!

Sarah and Christina:

 

The amazing bride!!!!!

Couldn't be prettier!!! (And she made her own bouquet!)

Waiting for the ceremony:

A few minutes to rest:

We all loved how the flowers turned out!!!! There were ornamental cabbages, "Kate" (as in Middleton) David Austin roses, spray garden roses, dahlias, hanging amaranthus, and a whole selection of greens and berries (including sage).

Mom and Mrs. Sanders had beautiful outifits!!! They both looked gorgeous!!!

 Here I am:

The cake at the barn reception.

David being his cheeky self:

Friends. The barn reception (at the farm where Craig works and where he and Emily met) was amazing! It was everything we all hoped it would be!

Craig organized and prepared two cheese and meat tables for everyone. Can you tell that he belongs in the family?! The food at the reception and the rehearsal dinner was such a treat for us all! 

There was a cocktail hour in which to enjoy the cheese and the tiny shots of butternut squash soup which were served. The bridal photos were over quickly enough for us all to enjoy it too!

Craig and Emily are so happy!

You can not imagine the joy it was to have out of town family here for the wedding. The last time we saw the Winslow side was four years ago. Being such kindred spirits, it is such a shame we don't see each other more.

John had fun!

Kids love these kinds of things!

Cake time! We had so many friends share their talents. A family friend, who had catered both Christina's and my wedding, cooked the sides for this wedding and another friend made the cake.

Watching the aunts laugh and talk and enjoy themselves all weekend was just marvelous!

And it was my job to give one of the toasts. :)

Laura got many people to dance with her over the evening:

Second cousins:

New buddies: one of the aunts

Rachel and Laura:

Bouquet throwing:

And it goes to the oldest flower girl! yay!

Dancing.......

Happy times!

More aunts in a row:

Another little touch:

Dancing:

This was the only little boy I could convince to dance with me. Thanks James!

Yay! for a wonderful day!

PS: I have Andrew to thank for most of the reception photos. He was willing to take around my big camera and snap shots.