Can I Keep It?

Humbling

Wings Cancer Foundation honored me with Artist of the Year!

She said tooting her own horn...

Blue Healer - the piece that will be on permanent collection with Wings.

There is a reception this evening from 5:30 to 7:00 if you're in the area.  Please stop in, nose around and have a slurp or two of wine.  The Wings Gallery is in their main facility, 100 N. Humphreys Blvd, Memphis, Tennessee. Wings offers support to anyone who is affected by cancer free of charge.  30% of the procedes of sales go to directly to the foundation.

I'd love to see you there! You'll recognize me right away.  I'll be the redhead dipping her face downward and blushing.

Before and After

Before the ceremony, Hud and I checked in to the gorgeous Romeo and Julliet Suite at the Peabody.

And they brought us strawberries and champagne!

Hud took me to lunch at Rizzo's downtown.  It was divine.

Blackened catfish eggs benedict.  Because you just should.

Then it was a quick trip back to the Peabody to change and hop into our carriage for a leisurely ride down to Tom Lee Park to meet our friends for the exchange of our vows.

Of course we chose the carriage with the most dogs and the sassiest horse.  Meet dapper Diesel.

Diesel was a commedian.  He took his time to get places.  In fact when the driver swatted him and told him to go faster, Diesel would clippity clop for about a foot and a half.  Then he would turn around and snort, like, "Yeah, buddy.  Like THAT'S gonna' happen."  Hud and I didn't care.  The unexpected part of the trip down to the river were all the smiling people, waving and wishing us congratulations.

When we arrived and dismounted, the driver stopped to offer Diesel a drink from his water bucket.  Diesel cut his eyes and smashed his snout into the bucket, spewing water everywhere!  And then he threw his head back, bared his teeth in a wide grin and laughed and laughed and laughed.  "Tip your waiters and waitresses, folks!  I'll be here all week!" The driver exclaimed that he always did that.  And I said, "Of course he does.  It's funny!"

Afterward the beautiful ceremony, we all made our way back to the Peabody to our suite.  What I hadn't shown you before is that the rooms are on two levels with a narrow winding staircase that leads to the living space.

The ceiling were about twenty five feet tall.  It was stunning.  I had brought our wedding albums.  Hey, with twenty-seven photographers at the first event, we have a couple of books and a huge photo box of prints from our wedding.  It was,um, well documented.

I put my incredible bouquet by Rachel's in a vase and started to cut the cake we had our friend, Joel of Manna, make for the occassion.

Well, tried to cut the cake.  Unfortunately, the table was cut as low as my dress, so Hud had to do it!

We talked and laughed and ate Joel's Chocolate Dulche de Leche confection that tastes like a dream and comfort, sprinkled in unicorn sneezes and happiness. Our lovely friend, Tracey arrived just in time for the treat.

When everyone left, Hud took me to a wonderful dinner at Chez Phillipe.  After that, it's none of your business!  Let's just say that we had the best day ever.

*wink*

 

 

I'd Do It All Over Again

This past month was a whirlwind of activites with my life rushing over me at such a swift pace that it took my breath away.  In cleaning up the house, fixing broken bits of it, packing up some of the clutter and brick-a-brack like Hud's Stanhope collection and my fourteen sets of dishware, it happened.  We fell in love with the house.  Hud and I and our menage a trois love affair with Schyterbolle is hot and heavy again.  We're just not quite ready to break up with her.  In doing so, I gave up most of my studio to make an apartment.  Hud called Rhodes and as luck would have it, a returning foreign exchange student called two days later needing immediate occupancy. She's happily ensconced in her new home and I can get on with my ninety thousand unfinished projects.

Whew.

In the midst of it all, we did find time to celebrate this special occassion.

 

Hud and I renewed our vows in a small ceremony down by the Mississippi River.  There were only seven of us present.  Hud's best man from our wedding, Calvin and his wife, Jamie, the original photographer at our wedding sixteen years ago, Keith and his wife, Donna, the two of us and our dear friend, Bob, who officiated the event.

We chose well in Bob.  He had some lovely things to say about us and our marriage.  Everyone was in tears.

 Hud said the most wonderful heartfelt things to me.  Everyone was in tears.

 And then it was my turn.  I retrieved my vows from my bosom.  Everyone laughed.  Hey.  Don't judge.  There weren't any pockets in that dress!  I managed to choke out my words for Hud.

That's Calvin, Donna, Hud, Me, Bob and Jamie  with the Mississippi River Bridge and Big Muddy in the background.

And here we are with our longtime friends, Donna and Keith.

October 4, 2013 was just as special as that same day, sixteen years ago.