It has been..

a long, hot summer.  On a whim, I pulled up the weather this morning, and lost my breath at what the forecast said - 59 on Saturday night.  58 on Monday night.  And then I slumped in my chair with gratitude.

No more breathing super-heated air that burns the lungs.  No more sweltering in a century-old building in which the AC unit has died - for the 3rd time this summer.  Ah, sweet relief!  Autumn is coming, and I hope it brings rains with it to relieve the drought.

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We attended my niece's wedding this past Saturday.  It was a unique ceremony, all planned by Catherine to be the wedding she wanted, and if there was a theme, then that theme would have been called "simple elegance."

It was held in the gardens by the lily pond.  The aisle the bride walked down was a sidewalk flanked with lillies.  The music was guitar and flute - pure strains that held not one note of pretention.  She wore a simple gown with sequins, and flowers in her hair, and both bride and groom spoke their vows matter-of-factly - no quaver, no hesitation.  Each presented the other with a white rose - a symbol of new beginnings.  And then each took their rose and presented it to the parents.

To me, it was symbolic that love simply is and reaches far.

At the end of the ceremony the musicians played a Celtic tune.  The bride gave a sassy toss of her head, like - THERE.  I've got ya!  And one of the couples in the wedding party did a little hop and skip mid-aisle that set the tone for the reception.  It was nothing short of lovely.