One Month Gone ... A Lifetime to Go!

Well, I've been "Mrs." for over a month now, and have had lots of opportuity to refer to Eric as my husband, and I've even had to fill out a form and check the "married" box.  So, I figured it was time to finish up my sentimental reflections on our big day.

We considered a small wedding... but just could not imagine missing out on a good party with all of our friends and family!  We had a great time, and hope you did too!! 

 And now for my most favorite thing.... :)

A few more of my Favorite Things

Like Shauna (and, it turns out, Gloria), I also loved the "Cookie Bar" - particulary the cookie jars (I'd say the maccaroons but I didn't get a chance to eat one before they were gobbled up!).  Back on the "Meet the Parents" weekend, Mumsy, Maman and I whipped these up using materials I picked up when my sister Susan came to visit.  They turned out beautifully ... and I am tempted to always have a few hundred cookies on hand so I can keep them just the way they are.

The ceremony details were also just great.  The words spoken by the officiant, the two readings by my sister Susan (who got a little choked up!) and Eric's cousin Nadine, and the music by my Uncle Hugh (which almost got ME choked up).  It was all just perfect... though one of those things I wish I had a video of - it went by so fast!

Janet's Flower Shop suplied the bouquets.  They were exactly what I wanted - colorful and lush, but still a little wild-looking.

Last of my favorite things (for today's post anyway), was the MacNeil Family Jam Band.  My cousin Terry, my uncle Hughie and Special Guest Patti had a great time earlier this summer at a MacNeil Family Reunion, and had another great time at my wedding!  I owe them a big thanks for lugging the gear to Hatfield, setting up, and putting themselves up there in front of a bunch of strangers.  I always have a great time with them, and can't wait for the next jam!

You didn't think we'd keep these to ourselves did you?

Inspired by my sister Shauna's blog posting, I thought I'd write a note or two on some of my favorite things about our wedding day.  Details are already starting to slip away, so it's a way to keep some of those a little longer.  And, selfishly, talking about it helps me relive a little bit of the day too. :)

My favorite take-away (literally) from the day was the Photo Booth Guest Book... it is just awesome!  It was a great way to capture at least one photo of everyone who was able to join us (though I find it hard to believe that our photographer, Layton, could have possibly missed anyone).  AND, we got pictures of them with PROPS! Googley classes, tiaras, sparkly wigs... you name it! It made for a great keepsake that you have to see to fully appreciate.  But, since you are not all here to see it in person, we've posted the photos online for your enjoyment!  Hope you didn't think we were going to keep them all to ourselves??

On the note of pictures, if you have any in digital form, please send them along via email to erinandericgethitched@gmail.com.

Pics by the Pro

Hooray! We have received our pictures from our photographer, Layton Reid, and he did not disappoint. Here are a few of my favorites, but for the full set (WARNING, a LOT of pictures), click here to see our album on Picasa!

:

A Little Piece of Paradise

For the first fourteen years of my life, I spent summers camping with my family at Inverness Beach Village.  It continues to be one of my favorite places.  Because we had friends and famlily who travelled a fair distance to share our day, Eric and I wanted to make sure we spent some time with them.  Instead of disappearing on our own, we decided to spend the week in Inverness and encourage those who were sticking around to check it out as well. 

So from Monday to Thursday, we were joined by much of our friends and family.  Though the weather didn't cooperate as much as we had hoped, I did go swimming 3 out of 5 days!  The Calgary travellers did some exploring in the highlands and Baddeck, and the all got to just hang out and enjoy being together.  Percy and Louise picked up a feast of crab for us to enjoy on everyone's last night.  Followed by a campfire and a game of Werewolves (thanks Denny), it was a great way to finish our our holiday.

Except, our holiday wasn't finished, we still had a few days left!  Between our house purchase, wedding planning, and visitors, it seems we hadn't had downtime for ages.  It was a bit of a shock to the system when everyone left on Thusday - I'm not exaggerating to say we had a pretty serious case of the blues.  While we are closer to family since our return to the East, we're not THAT close, and we are certainly a lot further from our Calgary friends. 


Playing "Pommes de Pommes"



I came to the conclusion that while I missed our Calgarian friends a lot, I really do not want to live in Calgary....I just went them all to live in Nova Scotia!  It was fabulous having everyone here, even for a short time.  I think that means we'll have to do it again! :) 





The MacNeil Gents



The MacNeil Ladies



How Sweet It Is!

So, I had written an entire posting that was essentially a rundown of our wedding day... and it was DULL... which, of course, our day was NOT!  Our day was about as perfect as it could be!!  So instead of a play-by-play, I thought I'd share a few little side stories.

Being the girl, I was into the details like selecting a color for the dresses, even using this nifty thing on the Davids Bridal website that allows you to "picture" your bridal party... all the while assuming Eric was going to wear black.  Who knew he had other plans?  So, the boys went from black to gray, and the girls from gray to navy blue!  And I must say, they looked great!

I had appointments for myself, Kim and Gloria at a salon which shall remain unnamed.  With about two weeks to go, the salon cancelled.  So, I had to find a new salon, for a bridal party, on the Saturday of labour day weekend - a busy weekend for weddings! Luckily, the folks at Wish Salon + Day Spa were able to accomodate us, and I couldn't have asked for a better experience!

Now, if you recall from the previous post that we hit the town on Thursday, you might understand how hard it was to get up when our bridesmaid Kim arrived on the "red eye" from Calgary on Friday morning.  While we may have been a little bleary-eyed answering the door, Kim by far had the harder job!  She left her family (including a 7-month old daughter, Taylor) in Calgary, didn't catch much sleep on the plane OR at our place after arriving. She also jam-packed Friday with some visiting, fingers and toes with Gloria and I, and to top it all off, an evening with Eric and I, his parents and our visitors - our friends Colina and Tina with their daughter, Eric's sister Joanne with her husband and 3 children, and my sister Shauna with her husband and 2 children!! She's a trooper for sure (possibly supernatural), and she must have slept well Friday night because she was good to go on Saturday!

Kim was also one of a number of guests flying solo (or at least without kids) for our wedding. Our groomsman Mark was also there without his wife and children (much to Mel's disappointment), my cousin Terry (of the MacNeil Family Jam Band) was there with his partner Patti but without his three kids, and my cousin Janis also flew from Calgary to come solo, leaving her family home.  I'd like to tell you these folks cut loose and did something crazy, but as far as I know, they behaved themselves.

I've been asked a few times about the music and reading selections at our wedding (special thanks to my uncle Hughie for providing the music for the ceremony!), so I thought I'd give you a rundown:

• Processional - "Annie's Song" by John Denver
• Ceremony Music - "I'm So Glad" by Royal Wood, "Come Rain or Come Shine" by David Francey
• Reading - lyrics to Bob Dylan's "Wedding Song", lyrics to "Quand On a Que L'Amour" by Jacques Brel
• Recessional - "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles
• First Dance - "Something for You" by Hannah Georgas
• Parents Dance - "How Sweet it Is" by James Taylor

Neither my write-up or the photos do justice to the day whatsoever.  When we collect more of our pictures we'll get them up on a website, but for now here is a sampling from our photographer, Layton Reid.

Upper Deck to Lower Deck

Yes, our wedding was yesterday, but I have decided to catch up on some postings anyway!

Sarah, Mark and Jeremy on the Mar

As you are aware per this previous blog posting, we hit the high seas (or at least Halifax Harbour) with some friends and family on the Thursday before our wedding. We were pretty lucky that there was enough breeze to actually sail for the first half of the trip.  It was a nice chance for our parents to meet some of our good friends from Calgary.  Aside from being a little chilly (though the staff had lots of blankets to help with that), everyone had a great time!

Eric, Shauna, me, Susan

After the boat ride, a bunch of us went to the quintessential Halifax bar - the Lower Deck.  Having a bridal party consisting of folks who don't live in Halifax, we thought we would get off pretty scott free as far as pre-wedding shenanigans go.  Apparently we underestimated our Matron of Honour and Best Man.  While wearing a fun get-up which included gargantuan foam cowboy hats (a tribute to where we met each other and all of these friends), we had to complete a list of tasks - which were conveniently written on laminated sandwich boards!  Among the tasks... "re-enact your first make-out session on the dance floor", "request a song and ask a stranger to dance", and "eat as many hot wings as you can in two minutes" - turns out Eric and I suck at speed eating!

Both parts of the evenings were a lot of fun (from what we can recall), and it certainly set the stage for great party on our wedding day.... IF we have enough time to recover...

One Week and Counting!

We are down to single-digits in the wedding countdown and I couldn't be more excited!  I've been a little distracted at work lately, but luckily there is only 3 more days to go.  Dress fittings are complete, and the Mom's did an impressive job helping me put some projects to rest last weekend.   You didn't think we just let them play the whole time did you? 

Our big day is so close that today we are welcoming the first travelers - my Matron of Honour, Gloria and her husband, Jeremy.  It's a great day here as Hurricane Irene isn't upon us just yet.  Last forecast had Irene missing Nova Scotia pretty much completely -fingers crossed!  Hopefully the travelers arriving Monday are not affected.

We spent some time today watching Jack Layton's funeral.  Now while that may sound morbid, they did a fine job of making it a celebration of his life.  No matter what your political stripes are, you have to acknowledge that Jack Layton was one of the most charismatic politicians that Canada has had for a number of years.  His optimism, determination, and view for a more respectful and generous Canada, were inspiring to many.  If in you haven't already, I recommend a read of his last message to Canadians.  It would have been an interesting four years with Mr. Layton as our Opposition Leader.  You will be missed Jack.

Volleyball on the Waterfront

For those of you who know me, you know I have been playing volleyball for a loooong time - over 20 years in fact!  While I'd love to have a little volleyball fun with everyone, that's not actually what this posting is about.  It is actually about watching some really great players in the 2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball SWATCH Junior World Championships.
 
The event will take place in downtown Halifax right on the waterfront for players from around the world under the age of 21.  And in fact, the Canadian men's team are reigning champions! 

It's the first time (to my knowledge) that an event like this has taken place in Halifax.  The weather forecast is great for the entire event, so if you are in town and looking for something to do, this is a pretty unique opportunity! Check it out at the link above. 

Meet the Parents

For the five plus years Eric and I have been together, there has never been an occasion for our parents to meet each other.  With only a few weeks to our wedding, we thought it would be nice for them to get to know each other, and so we arranged for a "Meet the Parents" weekend!

Maman et Papa Cayouette

Mumsy and Popsy MacNeil

The only problem as that we have one true guest bed... and one not-so-comfortable davenport or an air mattress.  So, to make things truly fair, we had to set the parents against each other to earn the right to sleep on a real bed.  The game had to be new to both sets of parents, a game of skill and strategy, a game where losing your cool means getting booed off the stage.  The game?  Rock Band! 

My vote was three-legged races, but Eric pointed out that we really did not want to cause any injuries ... physical anyway, injuries to pride and ego we deemed to be perfectly acceptable. :)

In any case, Mumsy & Popsy MacNeil took on Maman et Papa Cayouette in a "rock off" to Weezer's Say it Ain't So, with the Cayouette's coming out on top.  Perhaps noteworthy is that both mothers played the drums... It seems their normally-relaxed demeanors mask a need to hit something with wooden sticks.

And just for the record, they did seem to enjoy it, and did actually play a little more WITH each other after the intense competition was over.   I guess you could say Wii brought our families together.

Ahoy Matey!

For them that be around Thursday, Septembarrrr 1, Eric and I have booked ourselves on a Cocktail Cruise.  In a nutshell we be headed out on the sea in a sailboat, the Marrrrr, from 6:30pm t' 8:00pm.  Costin' and bookin' information be found on t' Murphy's Cable Whaft website, and we encourage you t' join us!  Hors d'Oeuvres beserved free o' charge, and t' boat will serve ye fine rum for a few small pieces of gold.

FYI - you receive a full refund if the sail is cancelled due to the stormin' seas, or if you cancel your bookin' at least 24 hours in advance.  No refund if ye walk the plank...

For ye scallywags wi' a hankerin' for more grog an' plunderin', or landlubbers who have a fear o' the sea, we be hittin' the town o' Halifax after the Cruise and you be welcome to join us for a few tasty pints of rum. 

A little parched? We've got you covered!

If you have been exploring the Hatfield Farm website at all, you may have come across the fact that they do not have a liquor liscence, and events there are often BYOB (bring your own booze).  However, that will NOT be the case for our wedding.  We will be hosting an open bar, and as such, you cannot BYOB as it would be in violation of our liquor liscence.  We are pretty sure we'll have all bases covered for anyone who wishes to indulge.

On that note, a reminder that accomodations are a bit of a drive away.  While there are taxis that will service Hatfield Farm, is will still cost you $30+ to get to any of the hotels in the area, and more like $60to get to hotels in the downtown area.  We encourage you to stay in one of the bunkhouses at Hatfield Farm - very reasonably priced and breakfast included!  This frees you from the need to drive or taxi, and also lets you party for a little longer!  While deciding on the spot IS possible, it is better if you give it a little thought beforehand as Hatfield Farm does not provide linens.  More information on the Accomodations page!

One Month and Counting...

Goodness gracious!  Where has the time gone!  I remember when the wedding countdown showed over a hundred days to go... now we are down to less than a month, and down to the nitty gritty of wedding planning!

Luckily, Hatfield Farm takes care of most of the big stuff, and the few big things we had to do (dress, photographer, flowers) are done.  Now, it's details.  I've had my first dress fitting, Eric has been measured for his tux, we are confirming our ceremony details, picked out ties and jewellery, and are starting to have fun with some crafty projects!  Many thanks to my sister Susan who came to town to help me make some decisions about those... For some reason, Eric just wasn't interested in spending a few hours in Michaels, my favorite crafty store!

Of the items we've checked off our list recently, the most important one was "get marriage licence".  I picked ours up just yesterday, and it really made me stop for a moment and remember that this big party coming up is to celebrate a pretty big event. 

Eric and I are getting married!  I'm going to have a husband!  I'm going to be a wife!  It is amazing how that most important of facts almost gets lost in the business of planning the party!  I have had the pleasure of sharing my life with Eric for a few years now, and feel pretty lucky to be able to do it for years to come.  I can't think of a better way to start our married life together than a celebration with our families and friends!

Gift Registry

Hello everyone!  One thing we are being asked a lot lately is about our Gift Registry.  There is no information on this on our website because... we're not registered anywhere!  Eric and I have been together for a number of years, and have lived independently for a number of years before that, so coming up with a list of things we needed or wanted seemed like a difficult task.  That being said, we have only been in our house for a few months now and there are bound to be things that come up.

Our "catch phrase" response to this question has been "Your presence, not presents!" as we are really more excited to have you there to share our day than to have something to open up.  If you would like to get us a gift, here are some ideas that we know we'll use:
- Gift cards for stores like Home Depot, Canadian Tire, HBC, Chapters, Winner/Homesense, groceries (Atlantic Superstore, Sobeys) or gas (Esso, Petro-Canada)
- Gift certificates for malls (MicMac Mall, Halifax Shopping Centre) or restaurants in the Halifax area
- Trip to Bermuda (hey... can't blame a girl for trying?!?)

Thanks again, and we can't wait to see you!!!

Meet the Party - Groomsman!

Last but not least of our wedding party, our Groomsman, Mark!

Mark, as you may have expected, is a former co-worker of both mine and Eric's from Fluor.  A Newfie from Cornerbrook, Mark also went to UNB with Eric.

Mark, like Gloria, Kolja, Eric and myself started at Fluor around the same time, and were part of a great group of young Engineers working there.  Over time, the home of Mark and his wife, Mel (also an East Coaster from New Glasgow) became the unofficial, outside work meeting grounds for many of us. 

Even after the birth of their first child, MacLean, Mark and Mel continued to open their home to folks on a fairly regular basis... for hockey games (especially after Mark got the nice big HDTV!), birthday parties, and very cut-throat karaoke competitions!

Like any good Newfoundlander, Mark always likes a good party and is always encouraging people to drink more; as was witnessed during a beer can pyramid competition at Nashville North during Stampede.

MacLean, Mark, Mel and Drew

Eric and Mark's biggest adventure together was on a road trip in the summer of 2005 down the West coast of the US to Northern California. I understand there is no longer anything charming about fog horns for either of them, but they did manage to find some good beer and even a wine that Mark liked!

Lucky for Eric and I, there are lots of local connections for this family - along with Mel's roots, Mark also has family in Nova Scotia - and therefore more reasons for them to come visit!  While only Mark is slated to make it to our wedding in September, we know it won't be long before the East draws them back again.

Accomodations Update! - Logements, mise à jour

Bonjour tout l'monde,

On a oublié de mentionner une autre option de logement pour la soiré de notre mariage.  En plus d'avoir les bunkhouses indiqué sur la page de Logement, il y a aussi de l'espace pour roulotte ou tente.  Hatfield Farm peuvent accommoder des roulottes de bonne grosseur; prise électrique son disponible.  Connections pour l'eau ne sont pas disponible, mais le site pour les roulottes est tout près des salles de bain.

Les roulottes doivent rester au stationnement principal jusqu'à la fin de la cérémonie.  Une fois la cérémonie terminé, le personnel de Hatfield Farm vous conduiront jusqu'au stationnement principal pour que vous puissiez amener votre roulotte à l'emplacement.  Le coût est de $22/personne pour la nuit ce qui inclus déjeuner complet le lendemain matin.  Si vous désirez choisir cette option et faire une réservation ou désirez plus d'information, veuillez contacter Hatfield Farm.

Nous pouvons aussi confirmer que le Chalet Aunt Annie's Inn est maintenant complet mais qu'il y a de l'espace dans les bunkhouses.  D'une façon ou d'une autre, nous vous encourageons d'utiliser les logements disponible à Hatfield Farm pour pouvoir profiter de "l'après-party" :)

----------------------------

Hello everyone!

We neglected to mention an option for accomodations for the night of our wedding!  Hatfield Farm, along with the bunkhouses noted on the Accomodations page, also has space available for trailers or tents.  They can handle fairly large sizes, and have electricity hook-ups, but no water.  However, the area is conveniently located near the washrooms, and the lodge where the reception is being held.

The trailers would stay in the main parking lot until after the ceremony, when a staff member from Hatfield Farm would take you back to pick up your trailer and bring it into the site.  The cost is $22/person, and a big country breakfast in the Lodge is included the next morning.  If you know this is something you'd like to do, please call Hatfield Farm to make reservations.

We also can confirm that Aunt Annie's Inn, as mentioned on the Accomodations page, is fully booked, but there is plenty of room in the Bunkhouses.  One way or other, we encourage you to stay at Hatfield Farm to enjoy the "afterparty". :)

Meet the Party - Bridesmaid!

Next up on our "Party Tour", our Bridesmaid, Kim!

Other than me, Kim, a native of Middleton, is the only Nova Scotian in the wedding party!  Kim and I went to Dalhousie together, and became good friends when we moved in together on our first four month work term at Syncrude in Fort McMurray, AB.  Over the next two years, our friendship grew, and it was no surprise when Kim started dating another classmate of ours, Brendan.

After graduation, circumstances sent Kim, Brendan and the rest of Kim's family to Alberta, and I was soon to follow!  We spent a lot of time together discovering our newfound home - the mountains, Calgary Stampede, Cowboys, the Calgary Flames, and the Calgary Cannons (okay, only one game, but it was their last!).  We also did all those "new purchases" together... BBQ, TV, and car!  They had a few years head start on me for the home purchase though.  I spent a lot of Sunday evenings with Kim and Brendan eating Panago hawaiian pizza with jalapeno ranch dip, playing cards and watching Alias.

Brendan, Taylor, Brady and Kim

With Kim's family in Alberta, I also spent a lot of long weekends with them in Lethbridge.  The McLaughlins always made me feel welcome, and became my second family. 

In more recent years I haven't seen Kim as much as I would like, but whenever we are together it is just like it has always been... if a little louder with the addition of two beautiful children and a dog.  I was honored to be a part of Kim and Brendan's special day when they got married, and we are so happy that she is able to join Eric and I on ours!

Répondez S'il Vous Plait (RSVP)

Bonjour tout l'monde,
Juste pour vous rappelez de consulté notre section "RSVP" (lien à droite) pour répondre à notre invitation.

• Vous pouvez répondre par:
• Téléphone - Eric au 902-478-6247 ou Erin au 902-225-2802
• Couriel - erinandericgethitched@gmail.com 

Si votre décision est prise, nous vous demandons de répondre quand même assez vite, question de confirmer nos nombres et de peut-être ajouter des invités.

Aussi, n'oubliez pas de nous laisser savoir votre séléction pour le repas.... encore, vous pouvez consulter notre section "RSVP" à la droite pour les choix disponible.

-------------------------------------------------------

Hello everyone,
Just to remind you that you can check out the "RSVP" section to respond to our invitation.  See link on the right.  You can respond by:

• Calling Eric at 902-478-6247 or Erin at 902-225-2802
• Emailing us at erinandericgethitched@gmail.com

More information on the date, time, meals, etc. is included via the links on the right for your reference

If you've already made a decision, please let us know soon so we can confirm our numbers and maybe add some guests.

Also, don't forget to let us know your meal selection with your RSVP.  Again, you can see the "RSVP" section on the right for the meal options available.

Meet the Party - Best Man!

Next up in our wedding party introductions, our Best Man, Kolja!

Kolja grew up in Ontario thinking that carrots were "sweets", and attended the University of New Brunswick (UNB) at the same time as Eric.  While Eric and Kolja were friends in University, it was in Calgary while working for Fluor (see, I told you that would come up again) that they became good friends.



Both Eric and Kolja are outdoor enthusiasts, and they spent many weekends going back and forth to the mountains to ski, bike, climb, camp and hike.. you name it!  Like us, Kolja likes to travel as well, and has recently spent time in the Bahamas, Argentina and Spain.  



Kolja and Sarah



Working at Fluor, Kolja became a good friend of mine as well, and together we planned and hosted Eric's 30th birthday surprise party.  And that's not where Kolja's hosting skills end!  He is well known for his salads, hamburgers and apple crisp!  IKEA has even named a mirror after this Martha protege!



We had thought that Kolja would make a good Maritimer (or "Merry Timer"), but now that he has himself a lovely western girl, we will have twice as hard a job to convince the two of them to join us on the coast. 

In fact, we hope all of you who are able to attend our wedding help us make an irresistable sales pitch to our friends from the West!

- Erin

Meet the Party - Matron of Honour!

As promised in the last post, it's time to introduce you to our wedding party!  First up, our Matron of Honour, Gloria!

Gloria was a co-worker of both mine and Eric's at Fluor Canada Ltd. in Calgary.  There was a great group of young Engineers at Fluor for a while, and we spent time together both at and outside work.  Many of us don't work there any longer, including Gloria as she has moved on to another EPC (Engineering Procurement and Construction) company in Calgary.  You'll find that's a repeating theme in our wedding party.



Gloria is the lone westerner in our wedding party having been born and raised in *gasp* Edmonton.  She is a busy woman, and since I've known her has taken multiple dance classes, photography lessons, has gone on trips to scuba dive and bike, and is always doing yoga, reading up about nutrition or "yardening". 


Gloria and Jeremy



Gloria was already working at Fluor before I started, and one of my first thoughts upon meeting her was "wow, she knows her stuff!", which was quickly followed by "thank heavens someone else has a nose ring!".  Turns out, that's not all Gloria and I have in common!  We hit it off right away, and now that I think about it, I was with Gloria on my first hike in the mountains, my first showshoeing attempt, and she was slated to come along on my first cross country ski, though she ended up cancelling which made a little more room for... Eric!.



As a couple, Eric and I spent a good amount of time with Gloria and her husband Jeremy... even after Jeremy almost lost Eric in the backcountry!  In fact, Gloria and Jeremy (separately, but maybe as part of a conspiracy?) were among the first to suggest that we could have "long term potential".  Since Gloria is a smart lady, we never should have doubted that she was right!

- Erin

Fancy, Fun, and Functional Footwear!

Well, at long last a few items got checked off our Wedding checklist.  Our wedding party is confirmed and we are just delighted that the folks we asked are both willing and able to join us on our big day.  More on the party in upcoming posts.

My dress should be in the province sometime in June, and I've been trying to pick out some shoes so that when I went in for my fittings, I could get the length right.  If you know anything about my taste in socks (generally, the louder the better), you might not be surprised that I was having trouble figuring how to wear fun, but still beautiful and appropriate shoes.  After an email chat with my sisters where I was mostly kidding, I ended up settling on sequins shoes!  I don't intend to share all tiny details like this, but I needed an excuse to post this picture.  If you follow my sister Shauna's blog you likely have seen this already.  My shoes were shipped to Shauna's home outside Boston, MA.  Her daughter Norah, who is enthralled by all things girlie, just couldn't resist trying them on.  Word has it she approved of my selection, and is looking for a matching pair for our big day. 

Now sequins pumps are all well and fine - indoors.  However, even on a perfect weather day at Hatfield Farms there is always a reason to go outside as the reception is in one building, but the washrooms are in another.  Of course we are expecting a perfect day (what is the liklihood of another hurricane on the SAME weekend as last year?!), but I figured a back-up might be in order.  

Since it's been raining a lot here lately, these beauties have already gotten some use.  There was a temporary reprieve from rain this weekend, and Eric and I spent a good amount of it out in the yard - our somewhat soggy, though very green yard.  I think we won the first battle of the war with the dandelions, though it was not without injury on our side.  Our achey backs are proof of our hard work, but I'm sure we'll be ready for the next attack.

What a Year it was!

An anniversary has recently come and gone... Eric and I have been in Nova Scotia for over a year now.  It was a year of ups and downs, though certainly more ups.  Once we decided to leave Calgary, we knew it would only get harder the longer we waited... but that didn't mean it was easy when we did go!  We've got a great group of friends out there that we miss dearly.  Luckily, many of them have east coast connections, and we were lucky that some of them had reason to be in the area last summer, and hopefully some of them will make it for this September too!

It took a while for us to work into our new jobs and our new home city.  I'd say by now that the jobs are more or less sorted out, we know the city well enough to know some good brunch spots and where to go for live music, and we've connected with old friends and made some new ones.  Our home purchase can be taken as proof that we're confident saying we will be staying here for a while. 

The sun is starting to shine, there are only a few more rooms to paint, and BBQ season has begun!  Things are looking up!  If only the Habs had made it past the first round...

And lastly .... Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there!  I know mine is likely on a beach soaking in some rays!  Proper thing!

Moved In, Moved On!

Well, with the help of my Popsy and Eric's parents, we are most painted and moved into our house.  We still have a few rooms to paint, but the ones we use most often are good to go.  Not that we're remotely settled yet... you can see in these pictures that there's not a thing up on the wall yet.  Baby steps.  Also in the pictures it looks like all of our walls are the same color - not true, our bedroom is a light brown, but the living room/kitchen area is actually a light green. 

And moved on!  Over the last week we finished cleaning our apartment and are now, as of today, officially no longer renters.  I feel quite grown up about the whole thing.  We're also moved on from living on the peninsula and being able to walk most places... but we've moved on to living right next to a great park (Shubie) in a great neighborhood in a house that we love.  AND we've moved on from our colds.  No fun moving and cleaning when you're coughing and sniffling.   

My wee wedding checklist has been neglected over the last four weeks or so, understandably, but I guess it's about time to start crossing items off again.  Not that there's anything too major left to do, but no point leaving everything to the last minute after all!  Maybe just paint one more room first... and set up the "office"... and get our vegetable garden spot figured out.... and... :)

By Request

By request, here is a link to some photos of our house. It wasn't ours at the time, and it looks a lot different now since we've painted the dining room, kitchen, living room, entry way, upstairs and downstairs hallways, en suite bathroom and master bedroom. :) And of course it doesn't have much furniture in it yet. We just finished painting today, and hope to really move next weekend. We haven't exactly packed much yet. :) A few other things I can't wait for -- double sinks in the kitchen, linen closets, new dining set and new bed (both of which arrived this week). I'll post some "after" pictures when we are a little closer.

April Already??

Since we've sent out our wedding invitations, someone might actually look at this website, so it's time to start posting some blog entries! Since Christmas, we've been going pretty much full bore. First wedding-planning, then house-hunting, and now since we've taken possession of our house (yay!!), painting and packing! As far as wedding goes, dress is ordered and venue is figured out. Some invitations are out, more to come. As far as the house goes, along with my Popsy, we painted a very large portion of it this weekend. It looks fantastic, and we're so excited to move in! Of course, we're nowhere near ready at the moment (haven't packed much). Among the things we will NOT miss about our apartment: lack of dishwasher, electric heat, lack of yard, floor openings down to the basement, oven that is (albeit consistently) off by 50degF. Short opening entry I know, but I'm pooped! Happy, but pooped. :) - Erin