Here Comes the Bride.

Only kidding.
  
I was a bridesmaid in the wedding of a friend on Thursday. My friend Lily and I took the train down to Baton Rouge on Monday. Tuesday there was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, Wednesday, the Bachelorette Party, Thursday, The Wedding, and we took the train home Friday afternoon. (Is there such a thing as "train lag"? ) I slept for eleven hours between Friday night and Saturday afternoon when My Mr.Cham charmingly whispered in my ear "It's Saturday. Aren't we having French Toast?" And yes, we had French Toast, made with Texas Toast, for a late lunch.

I asked what he had eaten for breakfast while I was away. He went to the coffee shop. That man! I think it is high time that I taught him to cook.

When I received the invitation to the bridal shower (which I was unable to attend due to a prior commitment) there was a personal note enclosed asking if I would be one of the bridesmaids (her sister was her Matron of Honour). The bride and I grew up together and we have stayed in touch, even though I am rarely in Louisiana, so I was touched to be included. Unfortunately, the wedding date conflicted with one of My Mr.Cham's social obligations but we discussed it at length and since he is not a especially fond of weddings and did not know the bride or groom, and the party he was invited to was not of as great importance as a wedding (my opinion) and my presence was not mandatory (he said, doing a perfect imitation of my infamous pout), we agreed that I would attend the wedding without him (as long as I took my traveling companion and watchdog, Lily ) and he would attend his party......alone. (Again the pout.)

I thought for a moment and then suggested that he also take a friend (he does not need a watchdog. Although, it never fails to surprise me how bold and brazen women have become! Especially, the already engaged and married ones!) He said he knew someone who might like to go. (Only one? I think there must be a sign up sheet somewhere!)

So that settled that. On Tuesday morning after a teary parting at the train station, Lily and I were on our way to Baton Rouge. All of the bride's attendants were staying at her parent's home, but since I was not traveling alone, Lily and I checked into a lovely  Bed and Breakfast nearby and a car retrieved us for the planned activities. That evening the ladies had a bachelorette party and the gentlemen had their own festivities. Ours was a Broadway Karaoke Party (the bride is a musical theater graduate as are several of the other bridesmaids. Now, like most of us I am a bathtub singer and I sing in the kitchen when I am cooking, but as My Mr.Cham has mentioned, I have no artistic inclinations so after watching impromptu performances from the scores of The Phantom of the Opera, The Little Mermaid, Oklahoma, Dreamgirls, The Color Purple and Funny Girl, Beauty and the Beast. and Frozen.........it was my turn.

I offered to make the brownie sundaes instead.

I pleaded a sore throat, I said it was past my bedtime, I had to call My Mr.Cham to say goodnight......That did not work. Three of them literally picked me up off of the sofa and set me on the "stage", handed me the microphone and waited. I could have tried to run, but I am not athletic. So I picked the least painful song that I hoped I could get through without too much trouble. (Luckily, some of the ladies (myself, Lily, and the flower girls excepted) were a but tipsy from the punch. Only a bit though, because we had a nice Chinese dinner earlier in the evening - I had nothing to do with the catering, thank goodness- and it was delicious. My Mr. Cham would have loved it. I hoped he was eating well in my absence.) I received much the same enthusiastic applause as everyone else and returned to my place on the sofa with a sigh of relief. And then they started up again. Knowing they would not get to me for a while (there were eleven bridesmaids, the Matron of Honour and two flower girls ahead of me) I sneaked downstairs to telephone Mr.Cham and say goodnight. He sounded lonely. I knew how he felt. I told him we were having a Broadway Karaoke Party. 

Mr.Cham: What did you sing?
Me: Oh, something from Little Shop of Horrors.
Mr.Cham: Which song?  
Me: I'm a Mean Green Mother From Outer Space.
Mr.Cham: YOU DID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Me: (laughing) No. Something Wonderful from The King and I.
Mr.Cham: You never sing for me. (Big sigh)
Me: Yes, I do. All the time. But only when you are not around.
Mr.Cham : Oh.
(That made me feel guilty.)
Me: How was your party?
Mr.Cham: Alright. The music was good but loud. You wouldn't have liked it. 
Me: True. Did you have a nice dinner?
Mr.Cham: Hot dogs, pretzels and ice cream sundaes.
Me: I thought it was a Gala?
Mr.Cham: So did I, but that was the theme.
Me: How odd.
Mr.Cham: Oh, there was a lot of caviar.
Me: I would rather have cake.
Mr.Cham: There was birthday cake too.
Me: Well, that was nice.
Mr.Cham: I miss you, Baby.
Me: I miss you too, Honey. I will be on the first train on Friday.
Mr.Cham: You better be.


Back upstairs, they took a break from singing and came downstairs for the sundaes.

When we were finished,Lily and I said our goodnights and returned to the B&B.
The others may not have needed their beauty sleep, but we did.

There was tea at the house before we were to have our hair, makeup and nails done for the wedding.
(In my defense, I was not told about this beforehand) and arrived already made up, coiffed and manicured by Lily.

For the early evening wedding we were all wearing long white dresses and each bridesmaid, the flower girl and Matron of Honour were given a different colored satin sash to match the flowers in their respective flower garlands. Mine was a deep salmon pink. Lily thought I should wear my hair down. It was twenty degrees hotter in Louisiana than it had been in New York and I thought I should wear it up. Besides, the back detail of the the dress would not be covered by hair, if I did) We compromised. I asked one of the photographers to take a picture of me from the back (per My Mrs. Cham's instructions) so that I could post it here.

When I texted him the photo, he shouted into the phone "YOU CUT YOUR HAIR! ARE YOU INSANE?"
I suggested that he calm down and look at the top of my head where he could see it had been rolled and then twisted into a bun. The hair hanging down that was curled was the bottom half of my hair. I had to prove this to him when I returned home. He has since recovered.

The wedding was lovely (the best part- my Mother was out of town and sent a gift and her regrets)
and the new Mr. and Mrs. X are now honeymooning in Paris.

Yesterday morning, Lily and I were homeward bound on the train and when we arrived, my sad-eyed puppy dog was there waiting with the first roses of the year from our garden. At home, I presented my human beloved with  the peace offerings I had brought for him. Not only two generous pieces of the vanilla, raspberry jam and buttercream wedding cake (why is there always so much leftover cake at weddings?)

but a piece of the Groom's Hummingbird Cake as well. He was placated and happy to have me home again.       

 Mr Cham: (between bites of cake) So, how was the wedding?
Me: It was nice.
Mr.Cham: Was there a band?
Me: Yes.
Mr.Cham: Did you dance?
Me: No.
Mr.Cham: Why not?
Me: Because I am taken.
Mr.Cham: That's my girl.  Did you get any ideas?
Me: About what?
Mr,Cham: About our future wedding.
Me: Yes. I do not want one.
Mr.Cham: You met someone, didn't you?
Me:  No! But I do not want a wedding. Would you mind, when the time comes, if we simply elope?

He finished his cake and drank the rest of his coffee. Then he got up from the table and put his dishes in the sink.

Mr.Cham: Do you mean that? You really want to elope?
Me: I never say anything I do not mean.
He smiled softly and nodded.
Mr. Cham: Ok. How about next weekend?
Me:  No.  In the Spring.
Mr.Cham: It is Spring.
Me: 2019.
Mr.Cham: You don't mind waiting?
Me: For you? I have waited all my life for you.
He rewarded me with a very sweet cake kiss.
Mr.Cham: That's my girl.
Me:Where are you going?
Mr.Cham: Upstairs. To draw your bath for you.
Me: Thank you,Honey. Would you care to join me?
(That little boy smile. A man who still blushes is adorable. And rare.)
Mr. Cham: I would. Rose petals or lavender?
Me: You choose.

He smiled and picked up half of the roses from the table and sauntered out of the kitchen.

 Weddings. They should not be about the gown or the flowers or the venue or what band you hire or how many bridesmaids you have. It is about you and the man that you marry, the man that you hope to spend the rest of your life with. My Nanny, Miss Belle told me that a long time ago. She also told me to find myself a kind and thoughtful man. That nothing else really mattered, I was very young then and I did not know how far in the future it would be before I found that man. But I did, and you know what? Miss Belle was so right.

                                                                                                             Tess🌷

No matter what anyone tells you..........................It is still Valentine's Day! (Shh, play along. )

        
 💕My heart is, and always shall be, Yours.💕
                                                                Jane Austen

We were not going to post a Valentine's day post this year because when we went away, we did not take any laptops, phones, or cameras (we had the boat's radio in case of emergency) and I thought that a post without pictures is a kind of blasphemy (although my skills as a photographer are pretty blasphemous,  especially next to a certain professional). I have a sneaking suspicion that some of our visitors may only come here to look at the pictures, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! (I do the same thing at a lot of the places I visit) but after we were home again, I was sitting at my dressing table one morning and My Mr.Cham's beautiful gift seemed to be saying to me, "  I think others would like to see me too". I agreed and took some webcam photos because my phone is currently out of commission and Mr.Cham was gone for the day. 
I do not believe that holidays should be relegated to only one specific day. After all, most stores now sell holiday decorations year round, If we had been home for Christmas, the tree would still be up (alright, it IS up but it is an Easter/Springtime tree now) and I still have my Christmas music playlist on my media player and I click on it whenever I feel the need for a little holiday cheer. Why not? Who made these rules anyway? No one that I know of. (By the way, the Easter post will be next! I am playing catch up like crazy. Personally, I hope that our life will be "normal" again for awhile but I am not a gambler, so I would not bet on it).

So, here is our Valentine's Day post. Five weeks late. Better late than never. I hope you will agree.

This year marks the third Valentine's Day that my Mr. Cham and I have been "a couple". After having worked for him for seven years, we had a misunderstanding during the holidays that year and I gave him my notice and packed my bags. I went to stay with my mother to decide what I was going to do next. It was a sad month and a half for both of us and the day before Valentine's Day I sent him a message. Three words actually. I Miss You. He did not answer and that night I went to bed certain that I would not hear from him. After trying to sleep for several hours and failing, I got up to make a cup of tea and when I opened my door I heard my mother on the telephone. Then I heard the front door open and close. I called to her and she said that I had a delivery. A delivery? Who delivers at midnight? Especially on a holiday. She said to come and see, and so I did. On the dining room table there was a bouquet of white daisies wrapped in cellophane and a box of cherry cordials tied with pink ribbons.

I asked who they were from and she shook her head. "No card? But who brought them? "I did." I did not need to turn around to know who was there. My Mr.Cham has a voice like no other. I turned around and there he sat looking like a lost little boy, very tired, having drunk too much coffee and most likely hungry. He apologized for the daisies and cherries. He said there was nothing else left in the airport shops and he could nit come empty-handed. I said it was the thought that counted. (He could have brought a bunch of weeds and a pack of chewing gum and I would have been as glad to see him!) I asked if he had eaten a proper dinner? (Of course not.) So we went into the kitchen and I made dinner for him and then I made tea and put some of the cupcakes I had baked for Valentine's Day on the tray and we went back into the living room and talked for hours.

I asked how he had come to my mother's, which at the time was not easy to get to. I assumed that he must have rented a car at the airport. He said no. He had been waiting for a taxi, out in the cold, wishing he had arranged transportation before getting on the plane, when a group of Japanese businessmen noticed him and asked if they could offer him a ride. He thanked them, but said he did not want to take them out of their way. They consulted their driver and came back, saying that they were staying only a few miles away. Not wanting to wait any longer, and grateful for the offer, My Mr.Cham graciously accepted and they brought him straight to our door, safe and sound. I am always pleasantly surprised to find that there are still good people in a world where you sometimes doubt it.

He stayed with us for a couple of days and needless to say, the misunderstanding between us no longer existed. He asked me to come home with him but I had promised to help my mother get settled in her new house, but that I would think about it. (Not playing "hard to get", but wanting to be certain.) When he left for the airport, he kissed me on the cheek and I gave him a "Scully" (a sisterly kiss on the forehead)

while he was still leaning down. We smiled at each other and then something happened and he kissed me, (not like a sister!), and everything changed between us in that moment. For the better. We wrote letters (real letters, not emails) to each other and six weeks and two days later I took the train home and he met me at the station and we shared our second kiss. 

That was three Valentine's Days ago. A lot has happened since then. Some of it wonderful ,some of it terrible, but life is not a fairytale and what does not kill you, does indeed make you stronger. So, this year for Valentine's Day after an especially busy and exhausting year, we both needed to get away for awhile. 

My father had a boat that he loved very much and when he died, he left it to his best friend (who also loved the boat) because he knew that he would take good care of her. I love her too, and in the bequest he gave me the opportunity to use her for several weeks each year. So as a surprise, I made arrangements to have the boat on the week before and after Valentine's Day. My father's best friend lives on her year round, so a few weeks on land every year gives him a nice break. Before we arrived with groceries, the battery operated music player, TCC's pilot case and fishing poles, my two steamer trunks (kidding), he had cleaned her from stem to stern (he keeps her pristine), fueled her up, packed his suitcase, and was waiting on the dock to give us the keys. Apparently, he had a date for Valentine's Day and did not want to keep his lady waiting!

My mother's favorite color is purple and my father had it redecorated for her after he bought the boat. The will did not stipulate that his best friend could not change the decor, but he never did.(I think he was afraid of offending my mother, even though she rarely visits). The first time My Mr. Cham saw the boat, he asked my mother what time the floor show started and if she could do that belly dancing trick where you roll a quarter over on your tummy. My mother was not amused. (I could not help but laugh. He always seems to get her goat, without even trying.) I had it redone in the present teal blue a year ago and everyone (well, almost everyone) is much happier.

Once aboard,we got underway and took turns at the wheel and dropped anchor in a little cove and stayed there. We swam, he fished, I cooked, he cooked, we danced and slept like babies (We always do on the boat. It rocks you to sleep). When asked what I wanted for Valentine's Day (before I surprised him with the trip), I said that I wanted him to make something for me. He looked stricken. "You can do it!" I told him. "Give me something from your heart." And he did. It is so beautiful. I think it puts the store bought ones to shame. I put it on my dressing table where I can gaze at it while I get ready for the day and while getting ready for bed.

                                                      My picture does not do it justice.

We had seen these Forever Roses in London, and while very beautiful, they were also very expensive.
He asked me which one I would choose, I pointed to the pink one and he motioned to the salesman. "Don't you dare!" I said. He looked hurt. "Why not?" "Because, I could not possibly enjoy it knowing how much it had cost." He shook his head at me and told me I was crazy. Not for the first time. He is convinced that I am from another planet. Louisiana IS in this solar system, I keep telling him, but I do not think he is entirely convinced.

We have both been collecting these shells, from beaches all over the world, for years. He asked if he could borrow my glue gun one afternoon before we left. "Will I ever see it again?" He laughed like an old time melodrama villain (think Snidely Whiplash) and was in his office for most of the day. (Apparently, he also borrowed my bead box)  so, what did he make .......?  Well, he covered my wooden boar bristle hair brush and sandalwood combs,

dressing table bottles, my powder boxes,

and two chopsticks for my hair  (not very visible).

Was I upset with him? No. One of his nicknames for me is "His Little Mermaid" (because I swim almost every day and take long baths), and I suppose this is what a mermaid's dressing table would look like. He brought this little mermaid

home from one of his solo excursions one day because he knows that I like little things.( He apologized that there were not any ginger ones.) 

Actually, I thought what he did was very sweet and at least he restrained himself from covering my reading glasses with shells, although that may only be because he had used up all of my glue sticks before he got to them. Bless his heart.💗


His card to me:

And mine to him: 

My big present for him was secretly taking belly dancing lessons, and although I never learned to roll the quarter on my tummy, he was still very pleased, and that is all that matters.

   Breakfast -(top left) Heart-shaped French Toast with strawberry and pomegranate relish and raspberry all fruit spread and a little powdered sugar. Cafe au lait (bottom right) with my attempt at a heart.

Lunch-(bottom left) His favorite three cheese rotini and a spinach and salmon salad(middle left) with sugar snap peas and heart-shaped red beets and a lemon, olive oil and poppy seed dressing.                                                                                                                         

My Mr.Cham's Valentine's Day tradition is to take over my kitchen ( or galley in this case) at dinner time and make his "famous" fondue. (top right)

This year was no exception and we shared it under the stars.

(The recipe is on the Valentine's Day post from last year.)

Dessert- Brownies with coffee, brandy, and walnuts.(lightly frosted) Vanilla bean frozen yogurt and brownie heart snaps.(middle right)

My mother and father traveled a great deal and they collected hundreds of the little liquor bottles that they give you on planes. I keep them in my pantry at home and some of them on the boat to cook with. I used most of one in the brownies and when I served my Mr. Cham his coffee, I asked if he would like a "little" cognac with it. He said he would, and I placed the bottle before him.

  He laughed heartily and so did I and we both felt much better. Laughter, (and love) really are the best medicines.

When it was time to return to the real world, we both felt much better and even though we came back to all of the things that had made us need to get away, we felt better able to face them...together.💕


                                                                                                                     🌷 Tess


              

I NEED A VACATION !!!

Only kidding.😉


                                               Here's a little video for ya.

I'M FEELING A LITTLE BIT GREEN...............

It was probably too much Guinness........or the corned beef and cabbage...........or the  Irish soda bread ............or the Chunky Monkey spiked with Irish Whisky..................or the..........................

...........Later, when I went to get some ice from the freezer........ look what I found !!!

First, she takes salt, then sugar, and now dairy !!!

(The nuns warned me that The Devil would be attractive.)

Me: NON DAIRY ???  It's a holiday !!!

Her: Could you taste the difference ?

Me: Well......No.

Then she smiles. 

Me: Don't look so smug. There's still sugar in it.

Her: It's a trade off. Do you want coffee ?

Me: Is it REAL coffee ???

Her: Of course !

And then she brings me this.

And this.

Me: I thought I couldn't have sugar or dairy ?

Her: Well, it IS a holiday.

(Only kidding.)

Tess and I went through the photos to find some pictures of Ireland to share with you.

Tess wants one of these Irish Wolfhounds. What does she want it for .....riding ? They top out at 35". That's the size of a pony!!!

 I said I'd get her a pony. She doesn't want a pony. Fine.

Then I asked her what she's going to name it. She smiled very sweetly and sighed deeply.
Tess: Brendan.
Me: Nope.
Tess: (innocently) Why not ?
Me: It could get....confusing.
Tess: For who?
Me: Everybody !!! Most of all, the poor dog !
She pouts, biting that rosy bottom lip.
Me: I'll get you a female dog.
She smiles and kisses me and It's my turn to bite that lip.Gently.
Me: So what are you going to call her ?
Tess: Brenda !
Me: It's a good thing you're pretty.
Tess: (blushing) Oh, Honey. Thank you ! But you're prettier.
Me: Men aren't pretty, baby.
Tess: You are.

                                                         

    Hope you had a Happy St. Patrick's Day !!!😉💚

(This video has cobwebs over at YouTube so you can watch it here if you want to.)                                                               

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful............

 When I was considering my move to the East Coast nine years ago to work for Mr. Cham (he was not yet MY Mr. Cham), one of my reasons for hesitation was the weather. Having only experienced snow once before when I lived in Denmark for a year (and having been very miserable. Lovely country and people but SO cold in winter) I was not certain as to whether this Southern girl could adapt to the four seasons. This was before I knew anything about power outages, frozen pipes or electric blankets (that do NOT work during a power outage). The first winter spent in Connecticut was particularly difficult but I decided to make the best of an otherwise very happy situation and learn how to be comfortable, well fed, and cozy during winter. I bought books and did what the books told me to do and what to buy to ensure mine and my master's comfort during those long, cold days and nights and four winters later I was becoming rather good at it. Then, we moved to upstate New York and I realized what a rookie I was.
Then I found the BBC farm shows and what a inspiration they have been!  

                       You remember Alex Langlands, Ruth Goodman and Peter Gint. of course.
(And contrary to My Mr.Cham's belief, I do not have a crush on Peter or Ed Sheeran. Although, I have had a weak spot for Mr. Sam Neill for many years.)

 As you know, we were not home for Christmas , but since we have been back Jack Frost has visited our little corner of the woods several times and his most recent visit was the coldest and most challenging.

We have wood burning fireplaces and my personal Paul Bunyan keeps us well-stocked with firewood to keep us cozy along with our collection of knit afghans, down comforters, and stadium blankets, but when we lost power ( including the internet, which is why our posts have been delayed) we were faced with the problems of how to cook and what to do for entertainment.

 We put the fresh meat and fish and dairy on the balcony. The frozen foods were thankfully rock solid in the deep freeze. I cooked in the fireplace. As you can see, we did not starve. My Mr.Cham was very proud of me. (I was a bit proud of myself too. I never even went to summer camp!) 

Now he wants to take me camping this summer. I will have to think about that. 

Trout

Beef  Stew

Biscuits

Frittata

Cornbread

                                                                   

It is a lot of fun "camping out" in front of the fireplace with beeswax candles for lighting,

soft music on the battery operated tape player and My Mr.s Cham reading aloud. We were able to finish The Romance of the Forest in three days before the power came back on. I was almost sorry when it did. Almost.                                                         
(Photos by TheChamCham) 

When we were in England, I found a couple of bird feeders to add to my collection and they seem to be very popular with the birds that visit our little outdoor cafe.

I am hoping to grow bottle gourds this summer and make them into birdhouses so that our feathered friends will have a bed to go with their breakfast. I feel so sorry for them out there but even with the cold I am certain that they are happy to be free and content in knowing that they have a place to come to where there is always plenty of birdseed, suet and peanut butter at a reasonable price.

(Photos by me.You can tell.)





 I also found these signs for the garden.

It snowed hard again yesterday, so while the internet is on I wanted to post this to let you know that we are still here. We are expecting more snow on Tuesday and there is a chance that the power may go out again, and I believe in being prepared, so I am re-stocking up on the necessities while possible. 

I'm dreaming of a white St. Patrick's Day. Well, maybe not.

                                                                                                 Stay cozy toasty,

                                                                                                                      Tess🌷