Every so often you do something, just for the fun of it.
Today was definitely one of those days!
The rain stopped just in time for a bright sunny wedding, bride and groom arrived on their Harley, it was a lovely ceremony, with lots of smiles all around.
And my favorite part, here’s the wedding portrait…
We leaned forward to listen, as one of the ladies prepared to tell us about her requirements for a Perfect Man. He would be tall, she said, and employed. Funny and smart go without saying. She restricted his age to 35-43, and begging your pardon, he simply cannot be a democrat. We sat back and laughed, and discretely surveyed the dining room. Hey, you never know.
So here I am this morning, preparing to tell you about my notion of the perfect coffee mug. Like my friend’s ideal man, it must be taller than round. It must also fit on my cup warmer. Even though it takes me an hour in the morning to savor that first cuppa, I enjoy my coffee scaldingly hot, so a cup that fits on the warmer should have a flat bottom (I’ve no idea what my friend’s requirements are in that area) so that it will actually keep the coffee hot. Most commercial cups, which bore me to tears, have a concave base that doesn’t make contact with the warmer, and I’m back at the microwave every few minutes. That said, it really can’t be a commercial cup. There are just too many really fine potters out there that can make a beautiful coffee mug, and these North Carolina mountains are right smack in the middle of clay heaven.
A brief aside about our clay… It’s so special that Wedgwood China imported it in the 1700s. It was taken to port via the Indian Road (now I-26) to the port of Charleston and shipped to England. Josiah Wedgwood pronounced it remarkable and called it Cherokee Clay. There you are, a special nod to today being Earth Day.
Back to the Perfect Mug. It should have a pleasing appearance, that evokes some uplifting emotion. It should feel wonderful – the handle should be easy to use, your thumb finding just the right place, and the rim should be thoughtfully crafted so you don’t get that aggravating drip down the side. It should be exactly the right size to hold a bit more than a tea cup, but not so large that your coffee’s bound to cool. It should invite you to lean back and wrap your hands around it on a chilly morning. Decorative, certainly, but being decorative can’t outweigh function… like those silly handles your fingers won’t fit in, or square for the sake of being square, or squat, just in case that’s adorable. Flared rims may be unusual, but that’s because they’re difficult to use. As in architecture, form follows function. And it should be hand-crafted. I don’t want to ‘make do’. I want to Enjoy. I want to Savor. I want to Appreciate -both the coffee and the mug it’s in.
I’m just guessing that my friend would also like to find a man crafted here in these Smoky Mountains, with a pleasing appearance, who feels wonderful, and is just the right shape, who works flawlessly and is prepared to help her enjoy a cup of coffee every morning. I hope she finds him. I’ve found my mug.
Here it is.
Made in America. By hand.
In case you’re wondering, our mugs are handmade by the good folks at Deneen Pottery. And the coffee that goes in them is Elida Estate, from Panama. We’ll be happy to send you home with both. Come enjoy your next cup on the porch by the stream, under these tall trees, at Timberwolf Creek.
She said, “I’d like a small round bouquet, in yellow.” I’ll admit to having to make it twice, but it was so worth the effort! Palest yellow roses, deep yellow tea roses, bright yellow spring mums, a touch of baby’s breath and a white satin wrap – voila! Beautiful.
Our wedding couple opted for a breakfast basket this morning, which they said they’ll enjoy in their bathrobes in front of the fireplace. What a perfect spring morning to do so! And the lemon mousse came out perfectly, if I do say so myself. Larry just returned from Florida and brought me Plant City strawberries from the strawberry festival there, and the sweet red berries were the perfect topping for the mousse. Herbed mushroom eggs, sage sausage, apple and pomegranate juices, and the best thing… Last night, I baked them some 7-grain bread with wheat berries and bulgar, and coriander seeds I harvested and dried from the last of the cilantro. Crushing the coriander with a mortar and pestle just made me feel sooooo Suzie Homemaker, and made my kitchen smell heavenly! The bread? Divine. I tucked a little bowl of my peach butter in the basket, too.
(ACK! I just saw the typo in the menu! I typed ‘cardomom’ instead of ‘coriander’. What was I thinking??!? Ah, those late-night creations. Good grief. Well. The bread’s good, and hopefully that’s enough. !!)
Last week, I was able to revisit the tiny outdoor wedding chapel where Larry and I were married, lo these many moons ago. It was an emotional moment for me, standing on those very steps where we stood and exchanged our vows… where our daughter stood for hers, and where Larry’s brother was married to my dear friend.
We managed to squeeze 35 people into this tiny space… and Larry & I, plus the kids, were six of them! It was a family affair, as my two sons stood up for Larry, and his daughters were my bridesmaids. What a day! Steamy-hot even at 9:00 in the morning, but we loved being in this little garden setting.
Years later, when we decided to build our own wedding chapel in this cool woodland cove of the Great Smoky Mountains, the little Florida chapel served as the inspiration for the design. We wanted to incorporate a cross into the back wall, just as the one we stood before when we married. And we really liked the stairstep design.
Of course, we wanted to simplify it to suit our mountainside setting, and it should be fitting in the forest. We opted for a wood deck, and lined it up between two soaring trees -a tulip poplar and an ancient hemlock we call the Grandfather Tree.
And it still takes my breath away, every morning, to walk down the path to the chapel. It’s a very special place to be, for all our brides. But for me, it evokes the memories of that day, long ago, on a steamy Florida morning, when Larry and I said, “I do.”
The bride asked for an autumn bouquet – she was pretty happy about it! She had asked to include light orange roses – I was tickled to be able to find some… Although I almost bought the deep orange ones at the florist, just because they were so pretty, ha!
Today we had breakfast for four, then it was time to clear the dining room, clean the kitchen, and set the table for a wedding reception. I picked up the cake and bought flowers yesterday, so I was making the bouquet and boutonniere while Rhonda the Wedding Fairy was clipping and washing ivy leaves to trim out the cake.
We were getting the cameras ready and Nick was finishing up the kitchen and setting up the massage table for guests in the Curve of the Creek Suite, who had reserved the Splendid Indulgence package.
Rhonda set the table outside for the mini-reception while I printed up the wedding vows and marriage certificate and got dressed for the wedding. I brought the flowers over and we started photographing the table.
…and getting all those pretty ‘artsy’ shots I like so much…
Finally the groom appeared, I pinned on his boutonniere and took the bouquet to the bride in the Timberwolf Retreat. She had broken the strap on her dress and was sewing! Got her into her wedding gown and off we went –a very nice couple and a second wedding for both.
Meanwhile, we were taking pictures and the massage therapist arrived to give massages to our Curve of the Creek Suite couple. Rhonda packed up the wedding cake and champagne flutes and all the paperwork and delivered it to the wedding couple’s suite while we were doing the photo shoot. The masseuse finished the first massage and Rhonda changed out the linens to get ready for ’round two’. We finished the pictures, gathered the ‘debris’ to take back to my house, and off we went – just in time for the masseuse to finish the second massage. So, we put away the massage table and presented the dinner package. The Wedding Fairy worked hard, I can tell you. Oh! I forgot! In the middle of all this, guests arrived to check into the Woodland Room. Rhonda the Wedding Fairy got them started while I was finished up with the bride and groom, getting them their dinner certificate and a map to get to the restaurant. Then I schmoozed a while with the new arrivals while Rhonda ran over and opened up their room and gift-wrapped their keepsake mugs and hurried over to get the gift into the room before the guests meandered on back to the Woodland Room. Then she went home.
Probably to have a nap.
Meanwhile, I went back home and grabbed a sandwich. I made some chocolate covered strawberries and walked back to the Creek House to turn down the Timberwolf Retreat with our Signature Silver Turndown Service and the strawberries and a nice card from the groom’s parents.
Then you’d better believe I came home to put on my PAJAMAS. When I got back home, I had to sit down and write this note to the groom’s sister, who arranged for those chocolate dipped berries:
“Dear Donna, this is all your fault. I can’t stop eating these damn strawberries. It’s a good thing I already did the silver turndown with Alan & Dana’s berries before tasting them, or I’d be saying, “oh, they won’t miss just one more… ” Gorgeous berries so sweet they didn’t even need the candy, I dipped them in Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate (heaven help us) and topped each with a white chocolate ‘button’. Then dusted my grandmother’s pink crystal footed cake plate with powdered sugar, arranged the strawberries and ringed it all with baby’s breath. Three white daisies (same as used in the bride’s bouquet) and voila’. They probably won’t even notice the truffles (which are from the Chocolate Bear, which carries truly marvelous chocolates). I am certain, however, that they will notice the champagne. 🙂 ”
Of course, I was busily cleaning chocolate off the keyboard (since I couldn’t stop nibbling on the strawberries). That’s Donna’s fault, too.
Have been busy with paperwork ever since, but now Larry’s come into the living room while I was typing this, and put on a movie, so I’m going to go pour a glass of wine and join him.
My day!
Y-A-W-N!!!!!!!
Sandee
The flower girls today were daughters of the bride and groom. He came all the way from Sarasota, she came all the way from Thailand! The two daughters are the same age and were just exquisite little wood sprites that decorated the garden. They danced from flower to flower like butterflies! It was beautiful to watch.
My brides. Y’all know who you are.
I fall in love with my wedding couples -it’s as simple as that. It is intensely personal, to play a role in someone’s wedding day. Time condenses and a bond is created. That’s one of my favorite things about performing weddings. Now, the very first time, I was sure a big lightning bolt with my name on it was going to fall from the sky with a booming Who Dost Thou Think Thy Art. But it didn’t happen like that. Instead, I was encompassed in such a spiritual peace and sense of rightness, that I knew I’d found my calling. And more: it wasn’t about me at all. No, not at all. But it was surely a gift for me. And that’s the way it is every time.
The folks who’ve been married here hold a dear place in my heart. And I do try to keep in touch with all my brides. So, when I got this message today, it just meant the world to me: “The hostess of my baby shower is sending out fabric to out of town friends to fill in special messages. The fabric will be made into a quilt. I’d like to have one from you.”
Oh My Goodness, and I got all misty-eyed. To continue to be a part of this couple -now this family- makes me all proud and humble at the same time! I’m sure there is a word for that. Well, HAPPY surely qualifies. What a tremendous honor, to be included in such a special way. I am so grateful.
This one’s destined to become a favorite of mine –
Our little outdoor wedding chapel in the Smoky Mountains,
complete with a Just Married couple!
The raw materials…
And the goodie box…
The cruelest cut! For his boutonniere…
Pull the wire through the base of the rose for stability and wrap the stem.
Keep it long enough for the ‘curl’…
