Oregon Living 2024 – Blog #34 – Prep Work Continues & then a Big Wedding!

 

 

Sunday, August 18^th., 2024…… Today is the anniversary of Jim’s passing. Cathye went out to the cemetery to lay flowers on his grave and spend some time with him.

Today was also Charlotte’s Picnic and Bridge Dance! She is our caller and has retired now but always has hosted a picnic at her lovely home out in the boonies. There is a bridge just down the street and it’s tradition to have a ‘bridge dance’ there each year. This time Shaun called and we had three squares going through the motions. It was fun!

After we left and went home, it was time to get into our wedding frame of mind. We still have a lot to do before Saturday!

Monday, August 19^th., 2024…… First up for me today was a dental appointment. Just a cleaning so I was in and out in no time!  Since it was an early appointment, I stopped and got us breakfast and coffee on the way home. Plans today are to clean up some of the flower beds and pull weeds from the gravel drive – again!  Corey will be here later to do all of that. We did have a communication problem about the time. So, it turned out that they got here in time for Corey to work, the kids to play (and help a little), and Vikki to work on her table arrangements. She has colors chosen for the wedding and brought them all to arrange today while out on the patio deck.  She also spent some time working on her nails. But the weather was nice so she could sit outside for that too!  Before that got here, I sorted out the chairs we had and got all of the tarps and poles and popups out and staged in the garages for later in the week. Later, I bbq’d hot dogs and hamburgers and we had a nice easy meal and talked about the final layout and he said they upped the numbers. There are now 69 folks on her list! I will have to rethink the parking! Tv and spa after they left.     

Tuesday, August 20^th., 2024……  Nothing on the agenda today. We moved Rylee’s pool out of line of sight for any wedding pics. In the afternoon, we headed off to our workshop. Charlotte always uses cards for her choreography and today she found some we have never seen! It’s fun and satisfying to go through a series of calls to get back to your partner! Cathye sat out most of the afternoon but did one later in the day. She has been doing ok managing her heart rate. When she gets winded or tired doing anything, she stops! Nothing much for the rest of the day. So I worked on getting the trailer lights working on the little utility trailer that Corey will be borrowing to bring Vikki’s mom’s wheelchair here this weekend. After that, we hung around the house and relaxed for the day and evening.     

Wednesday, August 21^st., 2024…… I was up and out again early this morning. I left Cat and the girls to sleep and left for my labs. I have a follow up with my doctor next week and she wanted them done beforehand. Later in the morning, we left with our little trailer and went off to Cat’s church to pick up chairs for the wedding. Robin met us there (with the keys) and she took 10 for her birthday party this weekend. We ended up with 44 chairs and got them home and the trailer parked.

Thursday, August 22^nd., 2024……  We wanted to set up everything today but the kids didn’t so we will wait for their help. Besides, Josh is coming in (by train) from Portland for the wedding and will be here to help later. But I did get everything down and ready. We have two big swap meet-type tarps, plus three popups. I wanted them out and sorted just off the lawn where they would eventually go. I want to try and mow tomorrow so I need to leave room for now.  I worked this morning on the ramp that Vikki’s mom requires to get in and out of the house for the restroom. I already had one and knew it would work and just had to get it out and re-install it on the front porch. I added some more support for the wheelchair weight and it was good to go.

Later, we had dinner and then headed off to meet Josh’s 8:50pm train in Albany. It’s way easier for him to travel by train. He recently bought a motorcycle and we expect he will be brave enough soon to ride it down and back. We’re not thrilled with that, but it’s his choice. We did spend the drive home asking him about it. He has never ridden before and just completed a training course. He needs to get his license first. Plus he needs to get some safety equipment for the bike (helmet, riding gear, crash bars, etc.) before he gets it out on the road. We got home and settled in for the night. Tomorrow the work starts.  

Friday, August 23^rd., 2024…… The kids were supposed to show up at 9:00am but were running late, so Josh and I got started after breakfast and coffee. I think we had all of the items up except the large canopy, which we needed final layout approval from Vikki, to complete. But all was good and once we got all of the chairs out and staged, and all of the deck furniture under the smaller of the canopies, my job was pretty much done. Corey worked some more on the yard and they went home.  We took Josh and went out to the Le Cirque Café and Confectionary. This is a rather new place here in downtown Lebanon, and is based 

  on a ‘Harry Potter’ theme.

They even have butterbeer on their menu! Josh had brisket mac and cheese and both Cathye and I had the soup flight. We each got three samplers of their soup of the day and liked them. I did swap out my chicken mushroom with Cathye for her chili, which she said was a little too spicy for her taste. Later, it was tv and dinner before calling it a night.

Saturday, August 24^th., 2024…… WEDDING DAY! The wedding is set for 2:00pm. Corey and Vikki and family, plus their attendants got here around 10:30am. Penny got here early to help as well. She has been working on getting a new car and they told her it was in and ready for pickup today. So, she will be leaving after the wedding to go get it. She’s excited for Corey and Vikki, but also for her new ride! Corey and his guys did the draperies and the girls did Vikki’s nails and set up the tablecloths and flowers. The guests arrived for the scheduled start time, but they had to wait. Vikki wouldn’t be ready to come out until well after 3:00pm. But, everything went well and Cat did an excellent job officiating the services. The kids chose the ‘humorous’ option for their script and Cat had fun with that!  And they are now hitched! Here are pics from the day.

 

 

                        CONGRATULATIONS Mr. and Mrs. Corey Elliott-Pierson!

 

The five chairs in the front are for those from their lives who have passed….

 

After the food and cake and music, everything winded down and the guests left. A few of the guys stayed and helped stack chairs and take down the tables and popups and canopies. That was great for me!  I will put the parts and pieces of the canopies back in their bags tomorrow because I need to do some work on them before I store them. We came in and rested from the hectic day. As I said, Cat did a great job as minister and as host, and as requested by me, took it nice and slow for the day. But she was pooped after the long day and we went to bed earlier than usual!