Only a little over 6 months late but…. ENJOY… sometimes reflecting back is a warm fuzzy all its own!

FIRST obligatory adorable kitty pics! 

The 10th of October marked the beginning of what I believe is already an AMAZING marriage. My oldest friend marrying the absolute love of her life! And Ken and I got to be a major part of it!! I was the MAID (see she knows how to make a girl feel young) of honour to stand next to her Man of honour. Ken got to be the driver of the bride and so much more.

Sitting in the fancy ride (the GMC thanks to the loan of the inlaws) having a pre wedding sip.

The wedding was definitely not a classic church wedding and it suited them to a T. Hand fasting, an actual KNOT was tied (I kid you not… cords representing different parts of their marriage knotted in an infinity knot). The location was amazing – a state park between two major rivers, the day PERFECT! After months and months of work, organizing and positive thinking the day just came together marvelously.

I had the added task of welcoming Shandai’s mother (Wilma) into the circle during the ceremony. She passed away nearly 11 years ago from MS. I remember her… it was so amazing to do this task and honestly FEEL her THERE. I know she was smiling and dancing along with us. (of course I cried… actually I cried MULTIPLE times during the day… no one who knows me is surprised I am sure) I don’t think I can explain how… pure and special the entire experience felt.

our gift to them… that is Shandai’s mom (her favourite picture of her), paper made by the kids, my welcome hand written by myself and arranged by Ken.

The crochet’ed top hats I made over the year (like 100) went over marvelously too… they even had a table at the reception to decorate them so people all over the place were WEARING MY HATS!

Sheep tested!

Tiny beings and tiny hats!

But enough about that… let’s see, the pertinent information – THEME! Steampunk with a touch of Firefly… there was people dressed up impeccably as characters from the show. My outift, Shandai’s absolutely PERFECT gown and the Best Woman Dara’s outfits were all made by the most talented seamstress Amy Sue. I do believe I linked her before but repeat is a good thing… HERE.

Dressing at the house

Can you see the Firefly inspiration here???

My hair and make up were all in the capable hands of Kristi… She was AMAZING… the gears were all her… the hair completely her brain. The hair piece (and the ring bearer the gorgeous and pregnant Raina’s) were all Ken! My artistic man.

The day was perfect… sunshine and wee bit of breeze. No overheating but not shivering in the cold either. I swear it was a day made for this wedding.

The wedding was outside and the day was PERFECT! Lots of great pictures from the ceremony and the location.

Andy (Man of Honour) placing a Serenity charm on Shandai’s shoe

With Raina (pregnant with TWIN BOYS!) the bearer of the rings

Chatting, I love how our faces look like it is something completely different

Bride, Groom, Brother of the Groom (Bill… he had the best long tails EVER) and the seamstress… the AMAZING Amy Sue

Let’s see… I met a variety of new people… had an amazing experience… tasted some absolutely amazing mead. There was Irish dancing at the reception as well. With a large percentage of the guests being dancers or Renaissance Festival employees and enthusiasts it was quite the party.

One of Amy’s fun selfies (on left) with Trish

Thanks Amy, we look cute in this one!

We stopped at a pub they dance at before we got to the reception. Pictures were taken of course.

With bridal attendant Trish

There was a photo booth area manned by the photographer’s niece and nephew… and I must say, the photographer was AMAZING… so energized and he was awesome at brainstorming and then getting fun and unique ideas across. His site is HERE. I am planning on framing these three images below (edited by the gorgeous bride herself) for display on our wall. A nice series of images from a day to remember.

Now to blow you over with amazing images… and one more time !!! CONGRATS YOU TWO!

Just the girls in the wedding party… Emily (bridesmaid), Trish (bridal attendant), Raina (bearer of rings), Shandai (bride), Dara (best woman), Me (maid of honour… yup MAID hehe)

Bridal Party

The guests at the wedding itself

Dress repair! Amy Sue you rock!

Right off the bat I have to say – I thoroughly enjoyed A Ghost for Christmas by J.D. Winters. This is the first book in the Destiny Bay Cozy Mysteries. It was a one afternoon read for me, but I honestly had a hard time putting it down. As seems to be a trend with a lot of these cozy mysteries, this one also includes a recipe – a Hawaiian one, for Chicken Hekka… and for once I may just be tempted to try it! (without the mushrooms as I seem to be semi allergic)

But, enough of that… back to the story itself. The main character – Mele Keahi is half Hawaiian, half Caucasian. Her father has passed away and her mother disappeared when she was quite young. This left her with her grandmother (who was Hawaiian) and her Aunt Bebe (the same). Having recently lost her job and had her relationship suddenly end, Mele has traveled to Destiny Bay to sort herself out and enjoy a vacation with her aunt. Cue body in the front yard and the mystery begins.

Mele has more issues than just a murder to cope with. As we learn in the early portion of the book she has also (at least as a teenager) been haunted, or at least seen the ghost of a man who she calls Dante. Why, she doesn’t know, but he is back.

Add into the mix a bit of Hawaiian flavour, a detective who seems to be both suspicious of Mele and flirtatious, neighbours and workers who have dubious motives and even more dubious alibis and that ever present hint of the paranormal and A Ghost for Christmas is a wonderful contemporary cozy read.

The Destiny Bay Cozy Mysteries series has great potential. I especially love that the main character, while “damaged” is still confident, she is who she is and is shaped by her past, but the future is an open book! One which I look forward to reading further! 

Every once in a while you just need a novella to fill a quiet afternoon, to escape a boring evening. Pains and Penalties (A Geek and Things Cozy Mystery Novella #1) is a terrific choice for a short but complete read. A Projected hour and a half read I found that I didn’t have the feeling that the mystery was rushed or the main character under written. Sarah Biglow is quite brilliant in that she introduces her small town but doesn’t follow through and fully describe and deal with each and every individual in the area. Instead she focuses on a moderate assortment of pertinent (and perhaps a few red herring) characters and runs with it.

The main focus is on Kalina Greystone who is newly returned to her home town Ellesworth, Ma after her father’s passing and her inheriting of his comic shop. This is run with the assistance of her teenage nephew AJ. Included in the comic book shop are multiple references to games and comics, even super heroes that are current and memorable (Daredevil, Cards Against Humanity), there was even one for me to make not to check into later – Zombie Dice.

Right in the beginning we are introduced to ex high school sweetheart and current Detective Christian Harper. When Mrs. Davies known for her baking and wining of fair prizes is murdered at the annual Solstice Fair, Kalina can’t stop herself from getting involved. After all her nephew was on hand while the woman died and as hard as it was to return to her hometown from the city it IS her home now and for Kalina that means she can’t help but dig deeper and try and help.

I was stumped almost to the end as to who committed the murders. The timeline is actually quite reasonable over the span of a couple days. I did not feel this story was rushed at all. I would not call this a romance as well as a mystery, definitely murder and cozy but the romance is not really developed nor really focused on in this book.

I am definitely open to reading book #2… if you are looking for a fun and quirky setting with lost of current and contemporary references to all things “geeky” Pains and Penalties might just be the book for you!