Sunday, May 4

A Day on the Farm


Click to enlarge!!

This is one of the perks of my job with Dogwood Tree Florals (Mel Day) - but too few and far between to suit me, though. As we were setting up for the wedding, I learned of this four-day-old lamb, whose mother had rejected him. He was so soft and so cute I could hardly contain myself when I saw him out on the lawn, grazing. The man told me that he and his children would raise the lamb and he would be a 4H project for the children. He's a lucky lamb.


The views in every direction were spectacular, if you like rolling grasslands, trees and blue skies. I saw six horses in all, plus a snowy white Shetland pony. I don't know much about horses, but I love looking at them.


They had set up two clear tents and under the blazing sun we had yesterday (80+ degrees) it was too hot to stand for long. Luckily we could wait until the last minute to set out the flower centerpieces, otherwise they'd have been cooked in no time at all.


This is the arbor where they got married. This side-angle view shows it better than the "head-on" photo did. We had to stake the urns into the ground because the wind was so strong. I was up on a 10 foot ladder, decorating the front posts and it all blew over, flat to the ground. Bummer! Inside each urn was a five-gallon-bucket, full of wet oasis and water. I can't pick one up; they are very heavy! Some farm hands and guys setting up rental chairs came to our rescue, and got it upright again. If we hadn't gotten the stakes into the ground fairly quickly, it would have all blown over again, I'm sure. The stakes don't look great, but it was better than having the thing collapse atop the bride and groom.....LOL. After this photo was taken, we placed some potted plants around the base of the urns, to hide the stakes.


This is one of the two buffet centerpieces, done by Rhonda. As you can see, the colors were pink and green and they carried the color scheme throughout the wedding.

This is a garland, studded with pink hydrangeas, that led the way to the family living quarters, above the barn. It was the nicest barn I've ever seen!


One of the forty table centerpieces! Peonies, tulips, roses and hydrangeas.


Last, but not least, this is Roxy the Ring Bearer, held by one of the bridesmaids. Roxy was a good sport about her collar. It was too large, and I had to try and cut it down to fit her. She tolerated being fitted with it several times and licked my hands, face and feet in the process.
Mel and his entourage; including me, Rhonda, Billy and Sandra, got to the farm about 10 am. and after getting the urns set up and giving us a list of things to do, he and Rhonda left for a delivery to Duke Chapel for another wedding. The rest of us hung and studded garlands with hydrangea, finished the arbor, hung ribbons in trees with rose-heads pinned to them, hung potted fushias on the porch and set out all the centerpieces. It took us to almost 4pm, and almost all that time, I was in full, hot sun, without benefit of sunblock or a hat. I had worn a sleeveless knit top, which was a big mistake. Had I known we were going to be out in the sun, I'd have worn sunblock and a hat, plus a shirt with long sleeves. I have a "farmer" burn - a red neck and shoulders and half my face is as red as can be. The top of my right ear looks like a beet! I will never again go on delivery without a hat!




29 comments:

Bobkat said...

That lamb is so sweet. It sounds like he is going to be a very spoilt lamb indeed!

It sounds like the setting up of this wedding was quite a challenge! What a beautiful spot ot get married though and those flowers are lovely! Hope your sunburn clears up soon, it sounds painful!

Anonymous said...

I feel your pain Judy! 10-15 mins in the sun and I go red and need to sleep.

Lovely setting for a wedding and the flowers look great.

rennratt said...

1. Poor little lamb! Sadly, the term 'black sheep of the family' exists for a reason. Most mama sheep reject the black ones, simply because 'they are different'. I'm glad that THIS one will be a project! May he get much love in the process!

2. That poor little dog. He REALLY looks p/o'd!

Anonymous said...

I love when you show us glimpses of your work. We get to see all the beauty without any effort. I just saw the movie "26 dresses," all about weddings. Did you see it? I thought it was fun in a Doris Day, Cary Grant sort of way. Michele says hi.

whimsical brainpan said...

How absolutely lovely!

I'm so sorry you got burned. :-( Always remember the sunscreen and the hat.

Travelin'Oma said...

What a beautiful place for a wedding! It looks like a fairytale setting with all your floral touches.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

BEAUTIFUL place and a Very BEAUTIFUL SWEET LAMB! It sounds like a tremendous amount of work, Judy....But gratifying, I'm sure!
It had to have been pretty hot inside those tents, too....But out in the sun for all those hours...WOW! I am amazed at all the physical labor involved Judy...THAT is not easy!
Very pretty arrangements...I love those colors!

awareness said...

Beautiful spot! And lovely flowers Judy. Hope you have some aloe on hand.

Tony Gasbarro said...

Silly girl! We already knew you were a red neck, even without the sunburn!

(nyuk, nyuk!)

sage said...

a dog as a ring bearer? A beautiful setting for a wedding.

Teena in Toronto said...

What a nice place to spend the day!

BTW, Michelle says hello!

JeanMac said...

Beautiful post again - I never tire of your pictures. What a cute ring bearer.

david mcmahon said...

Roxy the Ringbearer looks terrific! And the venue was outstanding.

Diane Mandy said...

Ok, I'm not sure who is cuter, Rocie the RIngbearer or the little lamb.

Granny Annie said...

I spend every day of my life on a farm.....but it sure doesn't look like that one! Beautiful farm, beautiful flowers.

Judy, you are my new hero. Your comment on Jamie Dawn's Sunday sermon said it brief and best. Regardless of how and what happened, God's hand is in the creating.

Nepharia said...

Personally, I like rolling grasslands, trees and blue skies. And the pictures seem to do it justice (unless, of course, it's actually nicer than what your pictures show :D).

LZ Blogger said...

Judy ~ "Roxy the Ring Bearer"... now that is too cute! I like the new template header photo too! ~ jb///

David Edward said...

do you use vinegar on a bad sunburn? it usually helps, but you end up smelling like a salad... hehe

Anonymous said...

Another lovely wedding done to perfection.....

And the Winner is:

THE BRIDE. She must have been thrilled with it all.

Pat said...

What a wonderful setting. It must have been a humdinger of a wedding and the animals just make it perfect.
I think that lamb looked at your tootsies and thought his Mum was back:)

Pat said...

David: vinegar??? Is this another example of your cruelty:)

Anonymous said...

I love the brightly colored centerpieces. What a cute lamb!

tiff said...

GORGEOUS posies. What an awful lot of work though...

Dianne said...

lucky lamb indeed! and so cute

was it going to be that hot in the tent during the reception!? that would make me very cranky

the scenery was lovely and your flowers were even lovlier

Chancy said...

Beautiful pictures Kenju. You lead a most colorful life.

Anonymous said...

Your photos are brilliant--as usual. I do question the genius of the person who thought that having a "do" in a green house (or, as is the case, in two green houses).
Cop Car

Anonymous said...

I'm a great one to mention "genius". ;^o The rest of my last sentence would have been...was a good thing!
CC

Jamie Dawn said...

Roxy is adorable. What a cute idea!

That little lamb is precious. What a lovely place!

I rarely spend time in the sun. I often take late afternoon or early evening walks, but I wear sunscreen every day, rain or shine. I tend to get facial discolorations if I am in the sun too long, so I have avoided the sun for many years. Sunburns are awful.

carmilevy said...

Hi Judy. I hope your burn has eased off somewhat. When I was a lifeguard, I recall dealing with this each and every day.

I wish I had known you before my wedding :)

Hi from Michele's on this lovely eve.