A Break from the Wedding Grind

The seasons are shifting, The winter shades lifting,

The springtime is filling

Earth's children with mirth.

The daffodil yellow, The south wind so mellow,

The gentle rain falling,

Upon the green earth.

The song sparrow singing, New life quickly springing,

All nature is telling

A tale of rebirth:

The deep wells of being, Beyond each day's seeing,

O'er flowing with new Life,

Restoring the earth.

-David E. Bumbaugh, Spring, 1998

Days 70, 69, and 68. Timo completes a 15K!

You know, you just can't do big projects every single day - especially in this STUPID weather.  However, Mr. Lee is here working tirelessly on the inside of the smokehouse.  He has replaced floor boards to hopefully help people not fall through even though he did yesterday. oops. So this is a lot of what I'm seeing out of the back door.  Before and Afters to come when he's finished.

{cords for power tools, new boards, and oldies}

This weekend was yucky too, but that didn't stop ole Timo from competing in the Huff 'n Puff on the Bluff 15K in Sheffield.  It was a disgusting day.  They all had to run in the rain - gross. 

Here he is a little anxious right before his first race.

After the first mile and a half.  He did not smile at me as he ran past - he says its because he just figured out he was going too fast - not going to end well if he kept it up.

About to cross the finish line!! I'm yelling like crazy, and you can tell he's so excited.

After its over.  Whew.

You can see stats and such on his blog - Run.Ride.Live.

Today's To Do:

1. Address more invitations

2.Purchase more stamps

Day 71. Rain, Rain, Go Away.

Good morning!  Still raining...

Yesterday's trip to Birmingham was so fun.  Mom and I had the BEST time!!  I just love those girls at Ivory and White!

Catherine Ryals is doing my alterations, and she is just one more sweet person that I like there! This is where I stood yesterday getting pinned in my dress, and LOVING it!!!

Also, check out my weddin' shoes.  I feel so lady-like in them!  It did get a little old standing in them for a few hours, but that will just help me break them in.

Next week, I'll get some outside work done, I promise.

Good news - Mr. Lee will be coming next week to work on the smokehouse.

More good news - Timo is visiting today to talk to Dr. Screws! We are going to talk about the ceremony as well as marriage in general.  Can't wait to see his sweet face!
Happy Friday!

Days 73 and 72. Ink Blots and Fittings.

Since there is a torrential downpour going on in the American South, there is no getting work completed outside.  There was one bright spot yesterday when I snapped these pictures:

Yesterday, I started work on addressing the wedding invitations.  For some reason, I was having a hard time with the ink, and I spilled it all over the rug in the living room.  Whatever, it's fine.  If you see my mom, don't mention it.  She hasn't noticed it yet.  The Fed-Ex man delivered the invites the day before and absolutely made my day! 

"I have a delivery"

-I look down, and the box has BetsyWhite plastered across the top. 

"YESS!! They are my wedding invitations!!!"

"Can you just sign in the box, ma'am"

"Oh, I am SO excited!  You have just MADE MY DAY!"

"Lankford, last name? Aiight."

"Thank you Mr. Fed-Ex!!!!!!!"

"Yeah."

He was a happy man.

Today, Mom and I will be heading down to Birmingham for my first dress fitting!  I'm a little nervous that the shoes I bought are going to be too tall, but they are so pretty that it wont matter if they show a little.  I'll let you know how it goes!

Have a FABULOUS day!

P.S. I will be visiting with Miss Scoutie this weekend, so maybe next Thursday she'll make a post.

Days 77,76,75, and 74. Urgh.

I had a lot to do this weekend that did not include wedding stuff, unfortunately.  That was a real bummer because I wanted to be outside in the BEAUTIFUL weather. Hence, URGH - I feel like I'm never going to get finished.  However, I did get a few things accomplished on Sunday and Monday. 

1. Finally finished the back patio.  The reason it was SO junked out was because there was nowhere to put all the treasures I found in the smokehouse.

Before and After

2. Cleaned out more flower beds.

3. Blew leaves, but not enough.

4. Sifted through all the glass jars.  170 and counting. YESS!!  We're definitely gonna have some lanterns!

These blue ones are my favorite.

TO DO:

1.  My mom is SO mad - I totally tore up the back steps.  There was some ugly old outdoor carpet, and I tore it off.  It looks better, I promise.  I now have to start working on scrubbing off the adhesive and maybe fashion some stone.  We'll see - lets not dream too big here, Katie.

2. Finish the flower beds.

3. Finish blowing leaves.

4. Figure out something to do with this mess that I pulled out of the smokehouse.

It's going to rain this week, we'll probably deal with it next week.

Whatever.

Day 78. - Nada

Today, nothing was accomplished.

Goals for tomorrow:
-blow leaves
-pick up sticks
-clean out flower beds
-throw away old highchair (don't even ask)
-sift through glass jars

Timo is such a cool customer.

Mr. Timothy Wakefield has decided to start contributing to a REALLY neat charity while doing what he loves - being active outside.  The more miles he racks up, the more dough he forks out.  Pretty neat - you should check it out and see if that is something you would be interested in doing on your own too or help timo donate.  Soles for souls.
Timo's page (for reference): http://www.soles4soulsfundraising.org/timothy_wakefield

Have a great day, y'all!

Day 79 - Yard Work, Not Hard Work

Hello all.  WHAT a beautiful day we've had today.  A lot of things have been accomplished (wedding wise).  Oh yes, and side note - Scouter the Pouter isn't posting today because she's pouting with me since I left Florence yesterday.  I called her, but she won't answer.

I know that y'all probably don't care what I'm doing in regard to the wedding, but this is more for me than anything.  It helps me to see what I've finished, and what still needs work.

So, back to the progress made today.

1. I started pulling down boards from the smokehouse before Mr. Lee gets here to work his magic.  He will be adding 2 doors and replacing any rotten boards.  I thought I would get a good start on some of the little stuff, but after I almost slapped myself in the face with a wooden plank, I figured I would leave it to the pros.  No picture, thankfully.

2.  Picked up sticks from the front yard.  Since we had a gravity wave and lots of wind storms this fall and winter, there were LOTS of sticks on the ground.  Last week I did quite a bit with this in the back yard, but not finished yet.

This was one of four I took to the road today.  I stopped when I started getting REALLY dizzy from all the bending over.

-second side note: I belong to dailymile where I log how far I run, or if I do yoga that day or whatever.  My question is why don't they have gardening as an option for a workout?  There is spinning, climbing, aerobics.. gardening is just as serious.

I found this in the yard while I was picking up sticks - cool horseshoe!

3. Cleaned out some pots.

Before and After

We are officially ready to plant after April 15th.

4. Tripped over Prissy to land face first onto the front porch.

Take a look at these pretty little flowers.  This makes me think that Spring is calling to say, "Hello there, I'm on my way, and heres a little sumthin for ya while you wait.  See you soon!!"

Have an excellent day everyone.

Day 80 - Anxious

From hence forth (or at least until May 21st) this will be the official wedding countdown/"what have you accomplished today for the wedding?" blog.  Before and After pictures will begin in the next few weeks, and maybe some emotional breakdowns should also be making an appearance.  I don't know if you readers know this about me or not, but I live in a house pretty close to 900 sq.ft. with two other women (one being my 95 yr. old grandmother).  "What?!" you say. - "Yes", I say back.  This is a difficult situation (being the wearer of so many hats), but I'm going to just kick it into high gear anyway and scream Yee-haw into my oblivion of planting, painting, construction, and forking over dough.  Wish me luck, all.  I sure will need it, and a drink, when its all over.

sooo....

I just cried HARD for like 15 minutes straight. A complete sob-fest.  Timothy got scared, and Scout ran off.  Why does it matter?  I think its because Tenley was just so sweet, and open - I just have a tender heart for her.  I guess everyone needs an outlet to cry every once in a while.  so there.

D-Bag

Monday's Thought for the Week

However shallow it may be, this is the thought for the week:

If Jake picks Vienna tonight, will the world come to an end?  Probably not, but my friends and I will have a lot to talk about until next Monday's thought for the week.

picture from here

Poutin' Thursdays

I'm a wittle too bizzy to post on my bwog toodayz. I bin duin wots of tings watewee.
(I'm a little too busy to post on my blog today. I've been doing lots of things lately.)

I have bin pwaktissing my yogas.

(I have been practicing my yoga.)

I have bin duing my favowit ting EVERW, chasing da skirrls.  Can you see me ovah der on da wite side of da piktcha?  I weally ahmost got one.

(I have been doing my favorite thing ever, chasing the squirrels.  Can you see me over there on the right side of the picture?  I really almost got one.)

And catchin up on sum much needid west.

(And catching up on some much needed rest.)

Otay! Bye!!!

Thought for the Week..on Tuesday

It's been a long week so far, and it's only Tuesday.  Please forgive my tardiness.

This is my absolute favorite coffee mug.  I drink out of it every single morning, and if by some crazy circumstance I have to use a different mug - it may be a bad day.  I used to have this wierd thing where I would try to use all the mugs equally, so that none of their feelings were hurt; however, I realized that was a little off and changed my ways.  

While I was making my cup of joe this morning, it got me to thinking.  What is it about coffee that keeps me craving it every single day?  Then I remembered I had a HUGE headache because I hadn't had my morning caffeine.  DING!  Oh yeah, now I remember why I keep coming back for more.

Here are some fun quotes about America's favorite wake-me-up.

It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity.

-Dave Barry

Among the numerous luxuries of the table...coffee may be considered as one of the most valuable. It excites cheerfulness without intoxication; and the pleasing flow of spirits which it occasions...is never followed by sadness, languor or debility.

-Benjamin Franklin

Poutin' Thursdays

My Snow Haiku

I'm crazy in snow
Why do squirrels hide when it snows?
Its time for a treat

Read in Scouts voice:

I'm cwwazy in snoh
Why do skirrls hide when it nos?
Is time fohw a tweet.

Lady-Like Red

Don't you just LOVE the way you feel with red fingernail polish on?

picture from here

picture found at stylemepretty

What else makes you feel like a lady?? Please, feel free to comment..

Monday's Thought for the Week

I am sitting in Timothy's office looking outside at the snow that fell while we were all sleeping, and it is so peaceful.  Its so beautiful, and it's all God's creation.  It would be nice to put another snowy, peaceful quote up; however, it is President's Day, so I thought I would put some quotes up from or about some of our country's past leaders.

Meeting Franklin Roosevelt was like opening your first bottle of champagne; knowing him was like drinking it.

- Sir Winston Churchill

No man will ever bring out of the Presidency the reputation which carries him into it.

-Thomas Jefferson

Jerry Ford is so dumb he can't fart and chew gum at the same time.

- Lyndon B. Johnson

But there are advantages to being elected President. The day after I was elected, I had my high school grades classified Top Secret.

-Ronald Reagan

As far as the job of President goes, its rewarding and I've given before this group the definition of happiness for the Greeks. I'll define it again: the full use of your powers along lines of excellence. I find, therefore, that the Presidency provides some happiness.

-JFK

The power confided in me will be used to hold, occupy and possess the property and places belonging to the government, and to collect the duties and imposts.

-Abraham Lincoln

Happy President's Day!

Poutin' Thursdays

Scouter the Pouter will be posting every Thursday (unless she's too busy hunting squirrels), so please remember to read her posts as if a three year old with a lisp is speaking.  She has a speech impediment, and its just too difficult to spell everything the way she says it.

Hewwooohh.  Gud Mohning!! 
A few months ago my mom, dad, and gwandma went on a walk to the park where a man named Mr. Rob kept taking pictures of mom and dad.  I really didn't like that man very much - I don't like new people a lot.  He didn't take enough pictures of me, so while he was taking pictures of mom and dad, I hunted all the wiley squirrels that live in parks.  They are really crazy there, so I jerked my gwandma around everywhere.  But thats okay, because chasing squirrels is the most fun ever and I'm sure everyone else likes it as much as I do.  Last week, my mom said the pictures of me were in, and that I look beautiful.  Boy was she right.  I'm so cute!!

This is my mom, my dad, and me there in the middle at the bottom.  There were a lot of really wierd smells back in that alley - I was in heaven.  I'm smiling because gwandma kept giving me tweeets!  She loves me. 

I didn't look really all that happy here because I don't really trust Mr. Rob that much - he's a stranger.  I was growling.  Mom and dad were really embarrassed.  Sorry.

This is my favorite picture of myself.  I look verrry beautiful and furry here.

Thanks Mr. Rob for making me look so puppy-licious.

ALSO...

It might be nice to have some weekly posts.  My mom always puts a thought for the week on her monday memos, so I thought we could do that on mondays too!!
Monday's Thought for the Week:

In the bleak midwinter

Frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron,

Water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,

Snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter,

Long ago.

 -Christina Rossetti, Mid-Winter, 1862

I thought this would be appropriate since today is a nice snowy day. (and slippery, I just slid all the way down the back walkway).  What do you all think about Scouter posts on Thursdays?

Confessions.

Obviously the big show (the wedding) is SWIFTLY approaching.  Less than 4 months now - that makes me nervous.  What if I forget something really important?  Or what if I don't get everything finished in time?  What if I NEVER FIND A PAIR OF SHOES? Then, I can't get my dress altered, and it will be too big on the wedding day and I'll have to wear a bra that shows, and I'll trip over my dress down the aisle; then it won't just be my dad that has some kind of an "episode".  The EMTs will be called for both of us.  So you see what I mean?
Lately, I've been having these dreams about the day of the wedding.  They are set in different locations every time, but its always the same story.  Nothing is finished.  People have to go to the grocery store in a hurry to grab some flowers for the bridesmaids, the dress isn't finished, guests are arriving, I don't have deoderant, and the best of all - I swear I had a dream that there were killer reindeer trying to get me on the way to the church.  What is my problem?? Really?  I know that I am making a good decision.  I know that I am taking care of wedding details left and right.  I also know that its not about the wedding - its about preparing for married life with sweet Timo.  So tell me why I keep stressin' in my dreams??  (P.S. All the locations in which I've been getting married lately look like they are on the set of True Blood - wierd)
I'm trying to make lists and check them off so I know that that is DONE - don't worry about that part ANY more - it's not in your hands, katie.  I think this whole situation has to do with my inability to let things go, and not be in complete control of the situation.  I have that problem in daily life too - remembering that God is in control and that I don't need to worry about things.  Now, that confession is off my chest.  Have a stellar week friends.  Don't forget to watch The Bachelor tonight, mindless television is my tension reliever.

picture is from here

HAPPY ENGAGEMENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry guys, I almost forgot some wonderful things that have been happening.  Two of my best good buddies are now ENGAGED!!!

1st proposal

Trent proposed to Carrie right before Christmas ( I knew it was going to happen that night).  Here is their sweet picture.

August wedding - SO excited!!!!!

2nd proposal

Dallas popped the question to Laurie right after Christmas.  That Dallas, such a romantic.  Congratulations Larry and Dal!!  Here is their sweet picture.

July wedding - SO excited!!!!!

And listen, these girls are faster than lightening with wedding planning.  I can barely keep up!  I love you sweeties!!! So excited for you both!!! Can't wait to be part of your special days!!!!!!!!!!!!

MWAH!

Back in the swang of thangs

Good morning all!
I would like to say that I am sooo happy to be back in the swing of things.  I finished the showroom job last week.  I wish that I had slept in the showroom because I could have gotten more work done; however, I doubt everyone else would have appreciated my unshowered scent.  This week holds a lot of fun wedding things.

1. MY DRESS IS IN!!  Smeller and I are going down on Tuesday to try her on, and see how she fits.  I'm SO excited y'all.
2. Mr. Bruce is coming by on Thursday to walk the grounds with me, and figure out what we are going to need to rent for the big day.
3. I'm going to slam Timo if he doesn't do the things I've written down for him to do on his wedding list.  (This might or might not be a joke - stay tuned).
4. Going to help Carrie-Berry pick out bridesmaid dresses on Saturday.  Whoop-Whoop!!  I can't wait to see her in her WEDDING GOWN!!!
SO! That is going to be my week in a nutshell, but I'll get back to you on pictures, etc. from the past two week's hiatus.

Tupelo Travels

I am going to say officially that I will be MIA for the next two weeks while I work on a showroom in Tupelo, Mississippi.  I hope you all (meaning the 2 people that read this) are having a cozy, cuddly winter season so far!!!!!!MWAH! I'll be back.