Tidbits

 Stace has a friend at work who used to be a mechanic, and he offered to help Melanie and Nick out with some car repairs over the weekend. That meant he drove their car home, and Stace got to take his baby home. Pretty sweet.

Still so cute.

I was given this little crocheted plant in a thank you gift bag from Jarod, and had it on my dresser. Winston decided it was obviously for him.

Violet finished up her sophomore year of school! She wrapped up her online classes early this week, and her one day of finals at the high school on Wednesday. She got mostly packed for her upcoming trip to Alaska, so on Thursday we had time for an outing.

She wanted to check out a stained glass store in Pasadena, and it was worth the trip. She found several pieces for projects she'd like to do.

We also enjoyed hanging out with the shop cat, Chonky Thomas. He has quite a following.

On Friday, I dropped Violet off at the airport in Burbank for her flight to Seattle! Unfortunately I didn't get our traditional "leaving" photo, as we were a bit flustered because I wasn't able to park and walk her in. The short-term parking lot was full up! 

Also on Friday, Stace left for a weekend trip with his work friends - more on that in a separate post.

On Saturday, I helped Melanie with a small wedding in Redondo Beach. 

We had a nice time together, and she took me out for tacos afterwards to pay me.

I also got paid in these beauties.

Weekend Work and Play

Melanie had her biggest wedding of the year on Saturday, and Stace, Violet and I helped. 

The wedding was at a Simi Valley venue we've worked at before, but this time it was only warm, not hot, so that was a blessing.

All done!

Stace worked on hanging the blue trumpet flowers. 

I loved this venue, more than the super fancy beachy venues we've helped at. (Not that this wasn't equally fancy or expensive...just more to my taste with old world charm.)

On Sunday, Stace and I went to the annual Cowboy Festival, and made sure we saw more music than we have been able to watch the last few years.

In the vendor area, we watched this artist burning a design into a hat. Violet would have enjoyed that.

Below, we have part of the living history area.

A new corner of the festival at Hart Park featured the Western town set Violet and I saw during a Halloween event in Newhall. It was a perfect addition, and many people were taking photos. This was one of the great things about former festival host Melody Ranch: you were walking around a replica Old West town.

Also over the weekend, I saw two plays with Christina. We saw an amazing musical called Ride the Cyclone on Friday night, and a psychological thriller called Wait Until Dark on Sunday, after the Cowboy Festival. Both were great!

Wedding Workers

Melanie had three weddings on Saturday, as October has become a popular wedding month where we live. We helped her by setting up one of them, just the three of us!

This one didn't involve a complicated arch, just nest pieces/arrangements that we could put on the floor for the ceremony, and move to the head table for the reception.

We also set up lots of bud vases on the dining tables, and Violet spread out greenery in between them. 
 

Two of the nest pieces are shown above, on the dessert table. Violet decorated the cake! My little artist did a fantastic job.

Here was the head table after the ceremony, while the couple was still away having photos taken.

The wedding was at the county's Arboretum in Arcadia, where peacocks and hens run wild, loudly. It was fun setting up with their help.

After the wedding, we went down the street, where we had a variety of Asian restaurants to choose from. We settled on Korean. Yum!

Saturday Fun

Stace went into work Saturday morning, but got home in time to come with me and Violet to an Acton farm for a harvest time event. 

We bought some baked goods, got coffees, and picked a bouquet to take home.

The farm shop is so cute!

Even cuter was this trio of kittens, born to a feral mom on the farm.

Our handpicked bouquet brightened up the dining room nicely.

Later that afternoon, I had a lovely date with this handsome man, as we attended the wedding of his co-worker. Here, we were on the rooftop bar of the venue in Newhall.

Twice in one year to get spiffed up and celebrate love!

Stace is still quite proud of the gorgeous lining of his new suit. 

We had a lot of fun with a few of Stace's other coworkers as we enjoyed dinner, dessert and lots of dancing.

Labor and Art

 Over Labor Day weekend, Stace did a lot of laboring! He worked on my car (brake booster) and Mel and Nick's car (air conditioner), and also went into the factory on Saturday morning. 

He made the interesting decision to use his bed pillow, with its ivory organic cotton pillowcase, as a cushion while balancing on my car engine bay. It had oil spots all over, along with engine grime. I wasn't thrilled. Thankfully, OxyClean did the trick.

Violet and I also worked Saturday, helping Melanie with a big wedding at a beachside resort. My car was out of commission for long drives and Cora had the Vibe, since she was housesitting for my parents AND had an audition in L.A. to go to. So, we actually transported flowers in the TT. Pretty funny.

The Terranea resort is beautiful, and we enjoyed being there, and watching the sun dip into the ocean.

On Sunday, Nick and Ellie came over with their car; we had fun in the pool and got Vincenzo's pizza besides the car repair work. 

Cora came back from Grandma and Grandpa's for dinner with us, and then took Violet back with her for the night.

They returned Monday afternoon for lunch, since our HOA was hosting the annual barbecue. 

Later on Monday, Cora returned to Grandma and Grandpa's, and we went to Quigley for a sunset walk. We saw four deer!

Violet continues creating henna art - she's had a lovely nature scene with deer on her upper arm, as well.

She gave Cora some art...

...and drew this on herself. Check out her pretty (fake) nails, too!

Violet made this.

She bought this butterfly ring; looks nice with her nails.

Saturday Special

We were honored to be invited to the wedding of our friends Jason and Marisa, and partially timed our trip to be sure to be in town. Marisa's dad, Andy, was a special friend to Stace for many years, and he visited us multiple times.

Here's Stace in his snazzy new suit, and me in a dress I've had for, ahem, many years.

The wedding was inside at a lovely hotel in Sidmouth, on the coast. The view included this thatched roof house and the ocean.

The most unique wedding cake I've seen! Alternating "layers" of pork pies and cheese rounds, with a variety of chutneys and spreads. There also were brownies and fruit, for those with a sweet tooth.

The food at the sitdown lunch after the ceremony, and the hors d'oeuvres during cocktail hour, were outstanding. What a treat!

It was very nice to meet and chat with the family and friends, too. 

Marisa and Jason had a live band playing for the disco/reception, and a caricature artist! It was fun to watch him work.

The whole event was so special, and we were so happy to be included.

Sidmouth has a great high street, with lots of shopping and food/drink. Stace and I got there early enough to walk around a bit, getting another coffee at an ancient coffeehouse, and going in some antique stores. The tag on the coat above said it was a WWI Royal Flying Corp officers coat, with a price of £650.

Meanwhile, Sue and Gord, Cora and Violet, Dean, Jen and Olivia went to Lytes Cary, a stately home in Somerset, just off of the Fosse Way, with this lovely chapel.

The estate features 8,500 acres and an extensive art collection, including artifacts from Egypt. The family enjoyed their day together there.