Simply, An Elegant Wedding

The Wedding of Beth Ann Cooper & Robert Zdonick, Jr., October 11, 2014

My Granddaughter

As planned Ken & I arrived at the bed and breakfast, Dexter's Inn, in Sunapee, NH, with ample time to prepare for the 5:30 PM ceremony.  The rural inn is located at significant elevation commanding views of both Mt. Sunapee (sporting it's ski trail scars) and Mt. Kearsarge underscored by a sliver of Lake Sunapee. A pretty sight with autumn foliage at its peak.  

 My daughter, Brenda, and her husband, Joe, hosted the wedding at their newly completed home, in Sutton, as fifth generation occupants of property originally owned by my great-grandparents.  The building includes an open covered porch with decorative wood-beamed structure protecting its main entrance.  This became the location for the ceremony.  Rows of comfortable folding chairs facing the porch accommodated the guests.

The ceremony was attended by immediate family members and close friends and was officiated by my daughter who is a New Hampshire Justice of the Peace.  The bride wore an exquisitely designed white satin gown with a medium length train.  

In addition to both their full-time jobs Brenda & Joe annually plant and manage large vegetable gardens.  As a part of that operation they have a large tubular-frame sheet-plastic covered greenhouse that, for the wedding, they moved close to the main house and decorated for use as a reception hall.  With overhead lighting, created by using multiple strings of clear Christmas lights, and groups of candle-lit arrangements surrounding a lengthy cloth covered table complete with a center burlap runner and glowing candlesticks the utilitarian structure became a protected, warm and romantic venue in which to celebrate the marriage.  

SPRINGLIKE, Tuesday, April 1, 2014

SPRINGLIKE,  Tuesday, April 1, 2014

March came in like a lamb and though the lion gave one final roar before departure, April  graciously dawned in spring mode.  It is hoped that it is not an April Fool caper!  The snow mass on the area lawns has thinned, but none of the spring flowers have ventured forth. The rose bushes look dead as do the buds on the early rhody, but how can anything different be expected when the temperature only rose above freezing a couple days during the prior month?  At least, here at the coast, there has not been a significant snowfall during the past couple weeks...it's a good thing as the snow shovels are worn out.

Three hours following high tide, the surf at Wells Beach was active as breakers sheeting the sand were closely spaced.  A pair of surfers abandoned their unsuccessful efforts to paddle out beyond the rough sea.  With their each attempt the force of the waves drove them back toward shore a greater distance than they had gained.  For the beach walkers, however, the wind was light with a bright sun in a clear blue sky creating virtual warmth that exceeded the 42-degree air temperature.  The pebble strewn beach sand gave evidence of wind driven surf of the night before.  Ogunquit Beach, five miles south, would have been more comfortable to walk, but lacked the potential for a find of sea glass.  In a competitive effort the ebbing tide, during a forty minute walk, left an increasing width of smooth packed sand.   With a sense of complete satisfaction, I picked up a piece of sea glass and headed home.