Frigid Air, Wedding Dresses, and Glass Tops

 

Since our move, we have been adjusting, fixing, placing, and decorating our home. This included the Internet connection and the air conditioners we purchased to cool our environment. One of Terry's friends arrived on Friday to help install our large unit in the living room window. The meeting of the minds between his friend and Terry was entertaining to say the least. Our landlord, not wanting us to put nails or screws into the plastic window frames or the siding on the outside of the house, left the boys trying to scramble to find a way to avoid any of that. This means the unit is hanging outside without support if we don't get something under and around it. The bracing of the cooling system is vital, especially since it is so large. 

Our air conditioning system is in, and life is good. Of course, it's in on the weekend that has cooled down temperature wise as is typically the case, right? Last week we were sweating profusely. This week I have been wrapping my feet and legs up in a throw on the couch while I watch TV. It's the crazy, confused time of year that makes wearing layers of clothing inevitable. Although I'm used to it, the confusion is always there. 

Saturday was a day of travel. Terry and I assumed our positions in the Xterra and took off for Eugene. I have a motorized desk at my daughter's home. It has been stored for the year I was searching for a place of my own. After I met Terry and we moved, now I have a spot for it in our office. I'm still unpacking boxes and putting items away to clear the office space, but it will get there eventually. Our office is also going to be a relaxing, stress-free room where we can work, meditate, and deliberate over our day. I can't wait to get everything set up in that room in particular. I work from home and need that space. 

We arrived in Springfield, right outside of Eugene, about an hour later. My daughter, Brandy and her husband Dan live in Springfield and that's where we needed to go first. Arriving at their home, we were greeted by my barking granddog, Chi Chi, a little chihuahua mix. She always barks at people she doesn't recognize right away. Chi decided Terry had not been around enough to be included in the list of "her people," so she barked. All four of us chatted for a bit. Brandy began to roast peppers in her frying pan so she could make Dan some salsa. This is a regular process for Brandy. She enjoys making it fresh and Dan loves her salsa. They had a couple of people from work coming over and it was game time with some chips and dips. 

The problem with roasting peppers like that is the spices in the peppers bleed into the air. OMG, does it ever flow through the air. It wasn't long before all of us were coughing and gagging, and our eyes were pouring tears. Our bodies were protesting the irritating aroma of peppers. Brandy finally finished the job, and the air did clear quickly. Terry and I laughed as she tasted a bit of it to see how it turned out before her guests arrived. She touched it to her tongue and immediately her eyes poured tears down her face and her light-colored Irish skin turned red. She was gagging, crying, and coughing, although she still found a bit of air to blurt out the inquiry if Terry wanted to try some. Terry giggled and immediately shook his head no. Not after seeing the hot mess Brandy was as she grabbed for cups of water to cool her mouth. Opening her mouth, she fanned it to see if she could reduce the heat a bit, but to no avail. She informed us she could not feel her numb tongue. I laughed. If you follow the blog, I am a spicy food wimp. I have no desire to burn my taste buds. 

Daniel grabbed the desk and headed out to the car with it. My family went in on a beautiful, motorized desk for me about a year and a half ago. It was for Christmas or my birthday, some sort of holiday. The desk is amazing! I love the glass top and the drawer allows me more room to put pens, pencils, and other tools I may need while working. It comes complete with several USB outlets, and an electrical outlet. There is a timer on the desk too. The timer allows me to keep track of how long I have been sitting. Once the timer has run through the time sequence, it raises the desk to a standing position. I type while standing until the timer goes off again. Then it positions itself back into the sitting level. I am so in love with my desk. Being diabetic, I am supposed to be moving around and not just sitting. This desk gets me up out of the sitting position and into a standing one. It really is amazing in terms of making me feel better while I work all day. 

After getting the desk in the back of the SUV, we headed off to our favorite restaurant in Eugene, the Texas Roadhouse steakhouse. Once again, we sat in a booth and the heavenly hot rolls appeared. Never disappointing! Terry ordered a pina colada and a diet soda. I had club soda with a lemon. A steak and baked potato is Terry's favorite and I usually order the chicken fried steak. This time, instead of mashed potatoes, I had a salad and then a serving of fresh vegetables. 

The salad was a chef salad, including cheese and eggs. I love the salad I had! So good!

We ate our lunch/dinner and headed to the stores. Looking in Valley River Center for a wedding dress, Terry's shirt, and sandals to go with the dress was our plan. My task list got shortened this weekend. Terry actually found my dress. I tried it on, loved it and all is good. I wanted a boho wedding dress. Something summery to wear later and not just for the big day. But the dress we found is not really the style I was searching for, although it is cute. Summery, relaxed, casual, and will do the job. I can still wear it for other occasions too. 

The shoes we were searching for had to be flat sandals. The wedding venue is on top of a hillside on my daughter's ranch. Wolf Tree Ranch is beautiful! The scenery is amazing. Marina and John's home is absolutely gorgeous too, adding to the appeal of the venue for our wedding day. If you have followed the blog, you know we are having our ceremony and then the night will turn into a campfire and a s'mores bar along with pulled pork and smoked beef brisket dinner. My family loves to have our family dinners and this is perfect! I wanted our wedding to engage with family, food, fun, laughter, and of course the mind-blowing scenery on the ranch grounds. But I digress. I apologize. The reason I went into the description is to help readers understand the premise of the wedding plans. We want it low-key, laidback, and beautiful. That is what it will be. The sandals will be perfect. I have no heels to stick in the ground up there or trip over a rock or other imperfection in the lawn. 

This is the exact spot my son-in-law is building our arch. We will be facing the view over the town of Lowell and the waterway below. My wonderful, thoughtful son-in-law is not only ordained to marry us, but he is also in the process of building our arch this weekend. Bless his beautiful heart. My daughter is on top of it as well. She has purchased white linen and tons of lights to go on everything. The linen will be flowing through the archway, along with white flowers. They will be able to use these items later as well. Two days before our wedding, they are having my grandson's gender reveal party to find out what my great grandchild's gender will be. I'm praying for a boy!

Lousy photos, and yes, that is a green bathtub. It's in perfect condition however, so I see why it is still in the home. I wanted to hang the dress somewhere to get a full view. The dress is in layers or tiers, flowing down to a shorter skirt in front, tapered into a longer length in the back. There is a tie that is supposed to tie under the top bodice piece, I guess. I saw a dress in the store that had it tied in front, although I'm also considering a side or back tie. I'll figure it out once I put it on and can get my family's opinion. Anyway, the dress is here. I do have to press it and prep it for the big day, but that is to be done at a later date. If I do it now, it won't look perfect on the big day. 

It is summery, yet elegant enough to consider it dressier. I like the tiered look too. Nothing like the one I chose in the beginning, but that's okay. Things change. I will be choosing little blue flowers with some baby's breath for the bridal bouquet. So, there will be a touch of blue. I will be searching for a blue buttoner for Terry's shirt as well. The small touch of blue will add a bit more detail for the photos. We are using white flowers all around the grounds, tables, and hanging baskets to give the venue elegance, yet keep it simple. It's perfect and what I wanted. Terry is overjoyed with the appearance too. 

Terry is always telling me, "It's whatever you want, babe." I feel he is adorably sweet about it, but definitely want him to be happy with the choices too. I'm trying to keep it simple, to show off the natural setting more than how fancy we can make the ceremony. At the same time, a regular, full blown wedding gown would be destroyed on the land as we walked around, had our s'mores out by the campfire, and all that will take place that night. I want a simple dress to be able to wear it again too, along with not worrying so much about the dress should something happen to it. I am changing right after the ceremony to prevent any soot damage. It's the perfect choice for the wedding we are developing. 

After shopping and eating dinner, we are headed home. We are both a bit sleepy and feel it may be time for a nap. Both of us stayed up well into the night watching a movie called Stargate. It was very different, but good. James Spader and Kurt Russell were the leading actors. Stargate was released in 1994. Worth a watch if you're into Sci Fi movies. 

Terry has been on me to finish writing my vows. The vows have been completed as well. My sweet man had his vows to me written before he proposed. I got the proposal, the ring, and the promise that he already had his vows ready to go. I'm so impressed by such an amazing man, who will soon be my husband. I can't wait to begin the last leg of the race with the man I love by my side. Blessed beyond belief!

Hope everyone realizes their blessings and enjoys the love that life offers. Until next weekend, love life, laugh a lot, and exist in the moment. You deserve it!