Vintage wedding

March and April were busy months for DellaBlooms and Gifts and I want to share some of the details about the events I flowered. Back in January or February I spoke with a lovely young woman I've known for many years about her dreams for her wedding day. She came with her mother one cold afternoon for tea and scones to look at flowers and talk about the future wedding in March.

When I say she's lovely.... I mean it in every way. She's intelligent, creative, delicate, polite, sincere, feminine and loves the Lord Jesus Christ. Yep, lovely describes her to a T and I was not surprised she was drawn to a soft palate of muted colors including mauve, sage green, and teal and loved texture. Right up my alley.


My photos don't do the flowers or the event justice. I'm looking forward to seeing the photos taken by the very talented photographer, Rebekah J. Murray.

Cake Credit: SugarBakers Cakes

Her ideas for the reception tables were to honor the families of both bride and groom by framing old photos and displaying them amongst vintage memorbilia and milk glass vases of flowers of the day. Again, all the things I love.
One afternoon in early spring she came to my house so I could show her some of my vintage loverlies like my grandmother's hats, a child-sized sewing machine, an old typewriter, and a slew of embroidered hankies. I wanted her to eliminate all she did not want to use, but there was nothing eliminated. She wanted to use it all along with some things she'd also collected.

Photo credit above: Jenna Cole

So, not only did I already think she was a lovely young woman whom I'd known since she was a teen, but now she loved the things I loved and wanted to use them in her wedding. This on top of allowing me to do her flowers was almost too much. Gosh I love my job.

Congratulations Michelle and Dan! Thanks for letting me be part of your special day.

St. Patrick's Day is coming

To be prepared for celebrating the work God did through an amazing person of Irish descent, why not bake a loaf of Irish Soda Bread. Here's a recipe I posted last year.





And the Wolf Tones will sing a tune for you while you bake your bread. Make sure you turn off my music player at the end of this page before playing the song.


Erin Go Bragh!

Who was St. Patrick?

In Honor of Florence

Today is the anniversary of my grandmother Florence Belle Cunningham Carter Sharp's birthday. The photo above was taken in approximately 1910 so it's 100 years old today. If she were alive today she'd be 110. I don't know why that's important for me to calculate, but she was an incredible woman whom I loved dearly, and she lived 96 incredible years.

This photo was taken at her last birthday celebration here on earth at my mother's home in Virginia. Grandma came to live with mom the last few years of her life and we enjoyed having tea parties for Grandma's special day each year.

Grandma loved getting dressed up for church on Sundays and here she is with me and my brother Jim on Mother's Day in 1963 outside her lovely brick home in Oklahoma City. She was quite a looker and loved her costume jewelry, hats, gloves, shoes and purse to go with each outfit.

Here she is outside the White House Cafe on Robinson Ave. in the Capitol Hill area of Oklahoma City. She bought this cafe in 1954 and loved her "regulars." Those were the folks who came into the cafe on a regular basis, like Sarge the jeweler, and the big guy from Oklahoma Tire and Supply, the Maytag man, the barber, and folks from Oklahoma National Bank. Employees of local stores like John A. Brown, C. R. Anthony's, Emmer Brothers, Langstons, Jack and Jill's. Then there were all the folks from her local church, Capitol Hill Baptist, and the most memorable to me was Wee-Wo, the newspaperman. Burgers at Grandma's cafe filled the whole plate from my perspective, and the pie case was mouth-watering with the peach, mystery, and chocolate cream pies tempting customers right at eye level on the counter. The beef tips were to die for but not before you had a Ne-Hi Strawberry Soda to whet your whistle. Grandma put her heart, body and soul into making the Cafe, or "Carter's" as it was well known, a comforting respite where you could get down-home cooking at a fair price, and a lovely lady wearing an apron and jewelry with her crisp uniform to greet you with a smile.

Before buying the Cafe, Grandma gave her all to helping her husband raise three children while working happily at home baking, cooking, cleaning, gardening, sewing, butchering, etc. Grandpa had a milk route in which he and his sons transported milk from the farmers to the dairy. She did all she could to support their efforts back at the homefront.

In Titus 2:4-5 Paul tells Titus that an older woman should be spending her time " teaching the younger women to be loving wives and mothers, temperate, chaste, and kind, busy at home, respecting the authority of their own husbands." Grandma did this not with her words in a preachy way, but with the kind words she spoke to everyone and the way she lived. She served all those around her, never complained, gossiped, or begrudged the work before her.

Grandpa died when I was five years old, and many years later Grandma married again at age 70 and that marriage was a happy one until her husband Bill died 10 years later.

I can't honor her here on this blog in words and photos to adequately give you a picture of who she was to so many friends and family members, so I'll end with saying, " I love you Grandma and I miss you and want to honor you by remembering you today."

Christmas Traditions- Chile Cheese Rolls

Growing up in Oklahoma with lots of cousins, aunts and uncles in the surrounding area, our Christmas celebration was casual, fun and always held at Grandma Carter's house on Christmas Eve. Grandma's silver artificial tree was set up on the coffee table in the corner by the fire place with the rotating colored light disc transforming the whole living room into a colorful, noisy ball of excitement. The uncles teased and tickled, the aunts were helping in the kitchen, the bright strobe of the camera flashed, and the presents were stacked high as the party began. Sitting on the back stairs was always a where you could find the cousins.

My mom and dad Christmas 1967 standing by the famous silver tree.

The tireless aunts doing dishes in the tiny, yet effective kitchen. Left to right, Aunt Jo, Aunt Leila, Grandma Carter, and my great Aunt Georgie.

The silly cousins sitting on top of Uncle Al. Both of my uncles were fun and loved all the kids.

The menu was simple, yet consisted of three must-haves for Christmas to begin:

Uncle Sam's Weinie Roll-Ups, yep the hot dogs rolled in crescent roll dough, baked and dipped in mustard or ketchup.

Chile Cheese Rolls, sliced and placed on Ritz crackers (recipe to follow)

A pickle and olive tray

and 8 oz. bottles of Coca-Cola

This combination was magical and festive and we all looked forward to it's simple yumminess every year.

Sadly we moved away from Oklahoma City many years ago, and no longer go home for Christmas to celebrate with the family. All the cousins have grown up and now have traditions of their own. As my kids are all young adults now, our own traditions and our Christmas eve meal have graduated to cheese fondue, mixed veggie tray, french bread, and cider and wine.

But, before I get ahead of myself, here's the recipe for

Grandma Carter's Chile Cheese Roll


8 oz. cream cheese, softened

8 oz. cheddar cheese, grated

1 tsp. garlic salt

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 Tbsp. Chile Powder PLUS

1 container Chile Powder (buy the big one at your local box store)

In a large bowl, place cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic salt, pecans, mayo, and 1 tbsp. chile powder. Set aside.

Tear off 12x12 inch squares of wax paper and stack 3-4 sheets on top of one another and have ready nearby. Onto the top sheet of wax paper pour 1/2 cup of chile powder into the center.

Mix all ingredients together with your CLEAN hands. This is the best way to incorporate all ingredients. I know it's messy, but it works.

Shape into rolls or logs 5-7 inches long and 1 1/2 inches in diameter. If I'm making this by myself I make all the rolls and set aside inside the bowl til all are shaped. If working with my husband or one of my young adult offspring, one of us does the messy work, and one keeps their hands clean to do the rolling/wrapping.

With clean hands (or a helper) roll the logs into the chile powder, lifting the wax paper and moving the roll around to maintain shape, yet cover in chile powder.

Slide the first sheet of wax paper off, and place newly rolled log onto a clean sheet of wax paper to wrap and store in fridge. I like to also add a second, neater wrap of aluminum foil on top of the wax paper wrapping, so it's ready for gift giving.

Add a ribbon the roll, and put it in a pretty gift bag with a sleeve of Ritz crackers and bottle of Coke.

When serving my own for guests, I like to roll the log in chile powder one more time before placing it on a pretty plate with Ritz crackers surrounding. I promise you the folks you give this to will be nice not naughty all year so they'll get another one the following Christmas.

Last night my son, the Carter namesake, came over to make these rolls for gift-giving and our enjoyment. It was fun remembering Christmas Eve dinners at Grandma's and simple pleasures.

Merry Christmas!

Dana

A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

Isaiah 40:3-5

A Victorian fall wedding

http://dellablooms.blogspot.com/2009/10/beth.html

Tubing the 'Doah

Last year began a tradition of Staycations with two other families whom we've vacationed with for several years. One of the eleven kids got married last summer so thus began our goal of doing fun summer activities locally. Not everyone makes each part of the "Staycation" activities, but we all do our best to take time off to be together.

Last year we did a white-water rafting trip down the Shenandoah, but this year decided to do a shorter trip by tubing down the 'Doah. The top photo is a beautiful view of Harper's Ferry, West Virginia as you drive over the bridge from Maryland into West Virginia. It was a welcomed cooler day, overcast with bits of sprinklings.

Here's the gang above: Clancy, Trevin, Jessie, Hannah, my hubby Michael, Katie, Paul T, and Beckie. Yes, those are the tubes in the background which were incredibly comfortable to rest and relax while floating down this beautiful river.

We had to buy these cute little "floaters" for our sunglasses and of course, Clancy and Trevin found fun ways to wear them. Check out this ironwork on the bridge, it's almost as beautiful as the river and mountains. I took photos on the river with a waterproof camera they sell in the tube rental office, but have yet to have them printed. So, imagine four fifty-something adults with six young adults floating lazily along the river. What a glorious way to enjoy God's incredible creation. Being propelled along with a gentle current of the river and looking up at the sky, an occasional osprey, and friends and family made for a great summer day.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Tim. 6:17

Thank you Lord for a day of rest in the middle of the week to enjoy your rich provisions.

A matrimonial summer

So you don't think I've done nothing all summer but get creative with swiss chard, I decided to post a little about my work. Some of you readers may know I'm a floral designer and have started a business with a friend. We have the best job in the world; making people happy, playing with flowers, designing in clever and creative ways, AND getting paid to do so. What could be better? Here's a recent wedding we did for a lovely couple, Meghan and Ryan. Meghan chose green hydrangeas and gerbera daisies for her bouquets, and here's the cake sporting their flowers alongside the toss bouquet.

Look at this lovely Bride's Room. Ahhh..... I think I could swoon awhile in her while escaping from the summer heat and enjoy a Mojito or a glass of champagne. Ahh......... isn't it gorgeous?

The location of the reception was a beautiful place called the Newton-White Mansion near Annapolis, Maryland. When you enter the courtyard of the mansion these handsome brick roosters greet you on either side of the terrace.

Can't you just picture well, anyone in a beautiful gown with a tuxedoed arm wrapped around their waist in this courtyard? Maybe a horse-drawn carriage, too.

OK, back to reality... here my dining room table filled with the flowers of the day, and you can see the bouquets peeking over at the end of the table. In the foreground are baby green, and large green hydrangeas, with Belles of Ireland, stock and lisianthus in the black bucket.

Like I said, Meghan loves Gerbera Daisies and each bride's maid had a different color daisy featured in her bouquet, with the corresponding boutonierre of the groomsmen. Here's the red bout. A bit on the large, and even garrish side, but hey these guys are young and can handle sporting a large bloom on their lapel. I think it's rather cool.


Here's the "pink" bride's maid admiring the flower girl's petal basket. My daughter did a great job wiring the flowers to a barrette for this precious flower girl, who was debuting as such in her first wedding.

In the center is the lovely mother of the bride along with Miss Orange, and Miss Yellow bride's maids.

I loved each of the bouquets but I think the pink was my favorite. See those green tea roses imbedded in the huge hydrangeas?

I love the lacing we did on these bouquets, as it immitated the corset-style lacing of the bride's gown. Speaking of the bride........

Isn't she spectacular? Her bouquet was filled with fragrant white stock, white roses, gerbera daisies, and soft, beautiful lisianthus. Ahh....... I'm swooning again.

I'm telling you I do indeed have the best job in the world. I'm so blessed to be able to work at something I love, and in the end bless others and bring glory to God through all he's given me. My business partner and I just marvel over how God is blessing this business and opening doors for us to meet lovely brides.

Stay tuned for more bride's a a birthday post.

Here's to summer bride's, flowers, and pursuing the gifts God's given you~

Dana