Sun is Shining

It's almost Summertime!

A time for

beach going, 

sunset watching,  

vacationing, 

relaxing,

cruising the town,

  and indulging in the sweet taste of summer.

  

Do you have any special plans for the season?

~Jess~

Inner Spirit

"In everyone's life,

at some time, our

inner fire goes out.

It is then burst into

flame by an encounter

with another human

being.  We should

all be thankful for

those people who

rekindle the inner

spirit."

~Sheri

À bientôt, Paris!

Bonjour and thank you to our dear friend Anita at Castles Crowns and Cottages for inviting us to her Paris Link Party!

Jess and my mom adore Paris, but I was especially excited for this post because in just a few short months I will be leaving on a very special trip...Can you guess where? ( ;

My fiance and I have decided there could be no place more romantic for our honeymoon than Paris.

We've already started dreaming about how we'll spend our days...

Exploring the city by metro,

browsing the endless galleries of the Louvre,

climbing the steps of the Eiffel Tower for a breathtaking view of the City of Lights,

attending an opera at the Palais Garnier or a cabaret at the world famous Moulin Rouge,

or just strolling hand in hand through the enchanting French gardens. 

We look forward to taking in the awesome grandness

and the exquisite detail

of this magnificent city

as we celebrate our new life together. We hope you'll bid us a bon voyage and check back for all the fun photos we'll have to share! 

"Love is the greatest refreshment in life."

~ Pablo Picasso ~

Now on with the Paris Link Party! The girls at Red Rose Alley look forward to meeting YOU in Paris. 
  

À tout à l'heure!

~ Nel, Jess, & Sheri ~ 

Sister Sister

I loved this picture when I saw it because it reminded me of Nel and Jess.  They are always having fun together and acting silly.  They are alike in many ways, but they are also very different.  Nel has brown hair, Jess has blonde.  Nel is a bit more outgoing, and Jess is more reserved.  Both are creative...and the loves of my life.

Sisters are different

flowers from the

same garden.

~Author Unknown

When sisters stand

shoulder to shoulder

who stands a chance

against us?

~Pam Brown

Of two sisters,

one is always

the watcher,

one the dancer.

~Louise Gluck

It makes me happy that they are close, and all the little ways in which they're different don't seem to be as important as the big way that they are the same - they are family.

~Sheri

It's All Greek to Us

My mom, Jess, and I love to celebrate our Greek heritage.

For my wedding we're planning to have the DJ play a recording of "Zorba's Dance" by the Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis. Have you heard it?

There are several variations on the dance steps that go along with the song, but Jess and I decided to learn a basic routine we could perform for all our family and friends at my wedding. Then we'll pull everyone up on the dance floor and party Greek style!

While we practiced the steps, we nibbled on a few Greek inspired goodies.

These Greek salad kabobs were delicious and very simple to make. Just layer cucumber, feta cheese, red cherry tomatoes, sweet white onion, and kalamata olives on a skewer, and drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette.  

We couldn't find any Greek wine at Trader Joe's, so we settled on Italian. Any reccomendations on a good bottle of Greek wine for next time?

Here's a clip of the famous scene from the 1964 film Zorba the Greek, where Basil (Alan Bates) asks Zorba (Anthony Quinn) to teach him to dance. It's not quite the version Jess and I will do, but it's similar.

We plan to practice at the Greek festival next month, and we'll be sure to take you along with us. Until then, Opa! 

~ Nel ~

Sweet Old Man

Since Nel is getting married very soon, I thought she would like this story.  I heard it many years ago, and wanted to share it with you.

In ancient India a certain young princess

was being married.  Everyone in the

kingdom prepared the finest, most

elaborate gifts they could find.  Everyone,

that is, except a little old man who was

allowed to live in the tower of the temple

in exchange for ringing the bells on very

sacred occasions.  He loved the princess, as

did all her subjects, but he had no money

to buy a gift nor the talent to make one.

As the time grew shorter he was more

and more downcast.

At last the day arrived, and just as the

radiant bride was entering the temple,

the people were amazed to hear the bells

pealing mightily and beautifully.  The

princess was obviously pleased.  She looked

up and smiled at the old man.  It was the

happiest moment in his life, and it began

the custom of ringing the church bells to

proclaim a wedding.

  

Have a nice weekend, my friends.

If you hear any bells, please let me know.

~Sheri

A Fairy Beautfiul World

I just bought this little fairy.  When I saw it, I thought it was so beautiful.  To me, fairies have always been fun and whimsical.            

She reminds me of Jess because she has long, blonde hair.



She has such a sweet face.  Isn't she pretty?

And as the seasons come and go,

here's something you might like to know.

There are fairies everywhere:

Under bushes, in the air,

playing games just like you play,

singing through their busy day.

So listen, touch, and look around -

in the air and on the ground.

And if you watch all nature's things,

you might just see a fairy's wing.



~Sheri