Daisy Chain Days

We're coming down the home stretch. Nobody warned me about how much time and energy would be required to "spruce up" the homestead for our Big Day. Even though the ceremony will be on the mountain, and the dinner will be, well either up on the mountain or on a rooftop, we'll still be entertaining at home to beat the band on our holiday weekend wedding. Some people are coming early, and I don't mean Friday. And also our daughter asked us to host the morning-after brunch at home. Of course I said, "Of course, Sweetheart!" Wouldn't you? My MIL had wanted to do the brunch at the hotel, so I was sorry to disappoint her. She asked if she could help me with it, and all I could think to say was, "Do you think I'll be cooking?" I hate when my fuse gets short, which is pretty much all the time now. My plan is to raid Whole Foods for quiche and croissants. Meanwhile, I'm spending most mornings glowing from hours spent outside in 98 degree heat.

You see we had to refurbish the landscape and bring our little house up to its beauty code. Some trees and shrubs were lost this past winter when we experienced more snow than I've ever seen in the Berkshires (well, almost). And now, after a prolonged drought, some others are looking pretty scraggly. A neighbor told me that it can take two to three years for their root systems to get established and since we built here a little over two years ago and used an unscrupulous gardening center to do some planting, it was time to drag out the dead and plant something new. Nothing like a big event to get your DIY on. I had a moment of multi-tasking synthesis, and managed to order all the plants and shrubs I needed over the phone while simultaneously waiting for a repairman at our investment home. Then I went over and approved all the gorgeous things Heidi picked out at Ivy Nursery (the most wonderful nursery ever!) and arranged for delivery: 3 dogwood trees, 1 rhododendron; 5 azaleas; 2 hollies; and a golden cypress. Well and some little perennials too. Every other day I'm soaking every single tree we planted, and running a sprinkler on the azalea/holly grove. I can only hope our well holds out.

If you happen to have a DIY bride, and I know of at least one reader who loved my idea of the fan program with the family tree, my daughter sent me the best site ever. Well, maybe next to Etsy which she swears by and is ordering all her wedding gifts on. It's Daisy Days and you can find all different kinds of fan programs that they will be only too glad to print, or if you're like me, you can order the DIY paper stock and sticks and prepare to put your printer into overdrive. Shall I confess that I lost two whole hours looking at A2 card stock paper until I found this site? I wanted to actually use a really cute local store, Rock Paper Scissors, and they were very helpful, but the cost ranged from thousands to a low of $600 for a custom order. For a quarter of that cost, we'd rather do it ourselves. It is a job I am saving for the maid of honor, my surrogate daughter, who is coming very early to help. Here's a little secret that my MIL would probably not like to get out, I ordered my dress online! I joined The Knot online community, I know a little late, but, and was directed to a store with the perfect MOB dress....oh, and don't get me started on the wonders of Pay Pal!!