Weekly bird in the hand

Here is this week's list of the things I am grateful for:

Four newly hatched bluebirds in our bluebird box.  We have a camera and sound in the box, so we can watch their progress!

• Our friend John Randall whose memorial service it was yesterday.  He was a lovely man who devoted so much of his time and energy to others, especially youth. He was one of the first people I sang with when I moved to CA, so it was fitting that I could sing for him yesterday.  He leaves many big holes.... but also many wonderful memories.
• Caroline and Jamie who's first wedding anniversary it is tomorrow. They married here at Birdland on 3rd July 2010, on what was an amazing and touching day.   So many lovely memories of that day....and also their visits here beforehand to arrange everything.
• Finding a new acupuncturist to work with.  I have my second appointment today.
• Finding John Dowland's music to sing. I am working on some of his solos and just loving them. They tend towards melancholy and sadness, but are still gorgeous.
• Having dinner and lunch with friends. This week seemed a week full of catching up with friends with two lunches and three dinners each with different friends.  What a great way to spend time.
• All the baby birds we see in our vineyard - including the bluebirds and also Quentin with his flock of little ones!

Four funerals and a wedding.

This past year - from July 3rd 2010 to July 2nd 2011 has been a year of "four funerals and a wedding".  It started on a high note with my cousin Caroline getting married here at our home on July 3rd 2010.  What a wonderful day that was. Unfortunately, since then we've had 4 funerals, which culminated in a memorial service today for a dear friend of ours, which I was honored to sing at.

It would have been much more preferable if the year had been like the wonderful movie "four weddings and a funeral"...but alas, that didn't happen.

However, I have high hopes for this coming year beginning July 4th....let's start again and see some happy times with maybe weddings, new births, some big anniversaries, some fun birthday celebrations  and many other happy occasions. Fingers crossed....... We've had enough funerals!

The photo I share with you is one of my favorites that I took at Caroline and Jamie's wedding, where they released white doves in the vineyard.  Here's to more happy days like that and "Happy Anniversary" to both of them.

Sunday's Spotlight - The Wedding

By guest blogger Pete.

After an abundance of worrying and concern by all involved, the wedding of my niece, Caroline and nephew-in-law (if such a term exists!) - Jamie - went off very well.

The vineyard and the surrounding areas were all neat and tidy.  The vineyard oak tree, by the time the wedding took place, provided plenty of shade - especially for the bride and groom - plus me!  It was a hot day and every little piece of shade that could be garnered was extremely precious.

The oak tree stands in the center of the vineyard atop of a slight grassy rise from the house. Each group of members of the families etc made their way up this slope separately.  The ring boy did well and then he realised something of the indignity of such a position and stopped.  For a few moments it looked as thought he was going to make a dash for freedom, taking with him the two rings as well.  However, his dad was the best man and managed to persuade him to complete the journey.

I always feel sorry for the ring boys and pages at weddings.  Dressed in all that fancy costume it doesn't do much for the lad's street credibility - especially if any of his friends are in the congregation.  It's not exactly a "macho" job is it?

I have always been grateful that neither my brother (15 years older than me) nor my sister (10 years older than me) asked me to be a page boy. I think I'd have runaway and hidden long before the ceremony and appeared only after it was long ended. Page boys and ring boys ought to have a union.  At least they could demand more reasonable and financial compensation than the so called perk of being able to take the little Lord Fauntleroy suit home with them!

The actual ceremony went well and the vows etc spoken in a voice clearly audible to all present. I had a good think and this was not only my first occasion to officiate at a marriage outside of a church but the first time I'd officiated at a marriage since my retirement.

The heat remained until about 7pm.  The meal was great.  The formal photographs in the heat exhausted the bride and groom and every bit of shade available could have been sold to any unfortunate in the sun - like Caroline and Jamie - for a King or even a Queen's ransom!

A lovely day, a lovely setting and the best wishes of everyone go to Caroline and Jamie.