I'm blogging at The Popculturedivas today

Join me at The Popculturedivas for a look at 13 Things to Remember as Wedding Time Nears.

I'm blogging at The Popculturedivas today

Join me at The Popculturedivas for a look at why Weddings Are Beginnings and Endings.

Summer Stock Sunday - 44

Robin's Summer Stock Sunday meme invites all to post summery photos, and to visit other bloggers who share their feelings and memories about this magical season.













On this rather sombre day of remembrance on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, my family is celebrating my sister's first wedding anniversary.

She and her husband chose the date of Sept. 11th specifically to begin turning the energy of that date to something positive.

Their wedding last year at his family's cottage was filled with joy, love and dreams coming true.

May we all fill the world with these things, today especially, and every day of the year.





































Photo by Anita Coady

Thursday Thirteen - 208 - 13 Things About Prince William's Westminster Wedding

Day 23 brings us to W.

And what better way to celebrate W than by joining the well-wishers for the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton on Friday?






1 - Westminster Abbey, where William and Kate will be married on Friday, has been the choice for royal weddings for centuries, although there was a 600-year gap between the 14th and 20th centuries when high profile brides and grooms tied the knot at various Chapels Royal.



2 - St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle was a very popular choice during the 19th century, including the wedding of Albert, the Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra of Denmark.

3 - St. Paul's Cathedral hosted the wedding of William's parents, Charles the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer.

4 - Prince William follows recent family tradition by marrying at Westminster Abbey as his grandparents and great-grandparents did. In fact, it was his great-grandmother, the Queen Mother who began the tradition of laying her bridal bouquet upon the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, which has been observed by every royal bride since.


5 - William has his own rose named for him - the Royal William Rose. I wonder if these will be a part of Kate's bouquet?






6 - William met Kate while both were students at Scotland's University of St. Andrew's, when he played for the water polo team.



7 - William has been wild about Kate for 8 years.






8 - William presented his fiancee with his mother's signature sapphire engagement ring, made of 18-carat white gold.






9 - The bridal route will pass along The Mall, past Horse Guards and Whitehall to the abbey.

10 - Traditionally, the Archbishop of Canterbury conducts the marriage ceremonies of England's future monarchs, so the current archbiship, Rowan Williams, will do the honors for William.

11 - Besides royalty and foreign heads of state, several wing commanders will be on the guest list due to William's service with search and rescue.

12 - Also attending will be Sir Clive Woodward, former rugby player and coach of the 2003 World Cup winners.


13 - With all my best wishes to Prince William and Kate Middleton - may you never run out of things to talk about.

Summer Stock Sunday - 32

My vintage look at summer for Summer Stock Sunday, hosted by Robin at Around the Island.













62 summers ago, my mom and her siblings gathered together for a photo in their front yard in Sydney, on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. At this point there were four - a fifth sibling would arrive two years later.

The fifth sibling's daughter just got married a few weeks ago along the shore of Lake Michigan. The oldest boy in this shot - my Uncle Charlie - drove out to Michigan to attend the wedding of his brother's daughter, then turned around and drove back to Nova Scotia to give away his other niece at her wedding last weekend.

My sister's wedding was a mini family reunion - as are most weddings.

Above, from L to R:

Paulette, Charlie, Sheila, Warren















Last weekend, Paulette headed off to the wedding with her beaming daughter.




















Uncle Charlie accompanied his niece down the outdoor aisle.
















The happy couple with Aunt Louise and Uncle Warren, here from Michigan.

Thursday Thirteen - 176 - 13 Special Moments From My Sister's Wedding Day

Photo by Anita Coady

1 - The bride greets her day with joy.
















2 - Posing with a photo of our dad, who passed away three years ago. To hold him near on her special day, she wore his cufflink on her shoulder.




























3 - Headin' for the weddin'!

Holding her handmade bouquet which she put together herself the night before.













Photo by Anita Coady

4 - The handsome groom with his beautiful daughters and granddaughter.

L - Charlotte, holding Maggie's daughter Louise
R - Maggie














5 - Michelle is thrilled to learn that the ceremony will proceed at the cottage as planned, and not at the church in the background.


















Photo by Anita Coady

6 - To the strains of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Uncle Charlie walks his precious niece down the aisle.














7 - Her cousin and best friend Julianne MacLean toasts the bride.



























8 - Time to cut the cake, homemade by Newt's daughter Charlotte.






























Photo by Anita Coady

9 - Newt with his new family - us!

Newt, Michelle, Mom, me and Brad














10 - Michelle with her new family.

Al, Joan, Newt and Michelle














Brothers and sisters - Robert, Reta, Newt, Michelle, Christine and Burton














11 - United at the lake - forever a special place in their hearts.


















Photo by Anita Coady














12 - Friends don't let bride-friends forget to eat.


















Michelle's former roommate Chris, here in Nova Scotia from Toronto.















13 - Remember Michelle's down-the-outdoor-aisle tune?


















Photo by Anita Coady

Look what appeared - for realz.

Poetry Train Monday - 169 - Drawing You In

This poem was written during the 3:15 Experiment last month, just after my sister's second wedding shower, hosted by her new family-in-law.
















Drawing You In


Your in-two-weeks sister-in-law
Had tears sparkling in her eyes
As you held up the
Handmade
Cooking apron

All the women
In your new family
Have a handmade apron

With her thread
She draws you in
With her stitches
She binds you to her
And to all of them
Even before you say

"I do"

© Julia Smith, Aug. 30, 2010














My sister with her husband and his brothers and sisters. The sister who made the apron is second from left.

There will be lots of wedding pix for Thursday Thirteen - never fear!

For more poetry, Ride the Poetry Train!

Summer stock Sunday - 31

My vintage look at summer for Summer Stock Sunday, hosted by Robin at Around the Island.

Well - it finally dawned. The day my sister has been waiting for. The day she became a bride.

Today she joined a long line of women who were also brides. Here are the most recent links in this chain of descendents.




Emilie Meuse

who became a bride on July 21, 1909,

when she married Eugene Meuse.












Her daughter, Juliette Meuse

who became a bride on August 23, 1938

when she married Charles Doucet.












Her daughter, Paulette Doucet

who became a bride on July 7, 1962

when she married Norman Phillips.












Her daughter, Michelle Phillips

who became a bride on Sept. 11, 2010

when she married Newt Killen.

5 on Friday - Set 31

Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.

TIME TO PARTY!

Everyone's gathering for my sister's wedding. Far-away family and friends are arriving, nearby family and friends are running around preparing this and setting up that.

Tomorrow, after the "I do"s, a good time awaits. You can start the party now!

1 - Church - Lyle Lovett and his Large Band

And then joined with me the choir
Yes every woman, child and man
They sang

To the lord let praises be
It's time for dinner
Now let's go eat

- Lyle Lovett




2 - I Feel Good - James Brown

I feel good
Like I knew that I would, now
I feel good, baby
Like I knew that I would, now
So good
So good
I got you

Whoa! I feel nice
Like sugar and spice
I feel nice
Like sugar and spice
So nice
So nice
I got you

- James Brown



3 - 1999 - Prince

If you didn't come to party
Don't bother knockin' on my door
I got a lion in my pocket
And baby, he's ready to roar

Everybody's got a bomb
We could all die any day
But before I let that happen
I'll dance my life away

- Prince



4 - Good Times - Edie Brickell

Good times, bad times
Give me some of that

I don't want to say goodbye
Don't want to walk you to the door
I spend a little time with you
I want a little more

- Edie Brickell



5 - Dance to the Music - Sly and the Family Stone

Listen to me
Cynthia and Jerry got a message
They're sayin'

All the squares go home

Listen to the voices
Dance to the music

- Sylvester Stewart

5 on Friday - Set 30

Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.

Today's set is dedicated to my sister Michelle and her husband-to-be, Newt.

They will be joining their lives in a ceremony next weekend, and we're deep in the joyous preparations for their very special day.

1 - Get Me To The Church On Time - Matt Dusk

I got to get there in the morning
Spruced up and looking in my prime
Girls come and kiss me
Say that you'll miss me
But get me to the church on time

- Lerner / Loewe



2 - Chapel of Love - The Dixie Cups

Bells will ring
The sun will shine
I'll be his and he'll be mine
We'll love until the end of time
And we'll never be lonely anymore

Because we're

Going to the chapel and we're
Going to married
Going to the chapel of love

- Barry / Greenwich / Spector



3 - From This Moment - Shania Twain

I give my hand to you with all my heart
I can't wait to live my life with you
I can't wait to start

You and I will never be apart

My dreams
Came true
Because
Of you

From this moment
As long as I live
I will love you
I promise you this

There is nothing
I wouldn't give
From this moment on

- Lange / Twain



4 - Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Judy Garland

This is my sister's processional song.

Somewhere
Over the rainbow
Skies are blue

And the dreams
That you dare to dream
Really do come true

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up
Where the clouds are far behind me

Where troubles melt
Like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

- Arlen / Harburg

CLICK HERE to watch the clip














5 - Where or When - Frank Sinatra

Some things that happened for the first time
Seem to be happening again

And so it seems
That we have met before
And laughed before
And loved before

But who knows where
Or when

- Hart / Rodgers



Thomma Lyn Grindstaff says Oh Julia, those are wonderful songs. They made me smile. :) Especially "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." I've always loved that one and I always will.

Julianne MacLean says These are lovely! It's going to be a great day :)

Jamie says Absolutely perfect group for an impending wedding. May the couple be very happy together for the rest of their lives. Where or When is my favorite. It may be the only song ever written about Deja Vue or reincarnation. :-)