"bout time!

hello. my brother, rich, recently got married, in front of the courthouse in town. we had a reception party at my parent's house on saturday, two days later. his new wife, mary, had been his girlfriend for some few years, so it was about time!!

saturday was a beautiful, warm (ok, hot) day, perfect for an outside shindig. my mom made some salads and fixed a cold cut platter. mary made italian sausages and onions and peppers. and i made fruit skewers and two kinds of cupcakes- tiramisu and chocolate oreo. we had a pretty good spread!

the party was attended by about 23 close family members...close, as in here in tennessee!  we had set up three small tables on mom's porch as well as the big picnic table and another table on the deck. mom had asked me to come up with some simple decorations, as she knows i like to do crafty things. i made three doily garlands and a (coffee filter) flower garland. for the dessert table, i brought my two cupcake towers and made a cake banner. i also shirred natural colored paper streamers with my sewing machine.

 mom had the great idea to present mary and rich with a shower of cards. we put them into a pretty tabletop greenhouse that i had. they received about 25 cards. it took them quite a while to open and read each one.

 it was a very nice occasion and i wish the newly weds the best of everything. welcome to our crazy family, mary!