Buttercup Goes to a Wedding...

...and what a wonderful wedding!

Crossing Lake Champlain, from New York to Vermont

The long awaited weekend finally arrived and last Thursday I traveled with K and Jess to Tom and Julia's wedding. Tom is K's son and Jess' brother and one of my favorite people in the world and Julia is his lovely and charming bride. K and I had a wonderful visit with them in  Montana last year, just before Tom and Julia went on an adventure, literally traveling the world. They are people who make their dreams come true, and the wedding was the loveliest country dream wedding I can imagine.

On Friday night family and friends celebrated with a dinner and music in the bride's parents backyard. Great food, fun toasts and music by the groom and friends. 

The view to the mountains of Vermont

 On the most idyllic New England afternoon Tom and Julia were married. 

The bridesmaids were all lovely, but Jess looked especially beautiful. 

Sweet flower girl

Lovely Julia and her father

One of Tom and Julia's plans was to have a great band and they did. The music was fabulous and it was a dancing party, the likes of which I've never experienced and may never again. 

   

I will long remember this evening. It was a moment of love, laughter and being part of the celebration of friends that I have known for over forty years. It was a joy to see two wonderful young people joining their lives. This idyllic New England evening and all the joy, laughter and hugs are high on my list of blessings. Thanks, K, Jess, Julia and Tom and here's to a million more happy times!

Super Sunday, a la Buttercup

I know when most people hear the phrase Super Sunday they think of football and the football game and festivities that are approaching.  Not to take anything away from this major national sports celebration, it's not Buttercup's idea of Super Sunday. My idea of a super Sunday...

...is going to the theater with K and Jess and our friend, Yumi. We all loved "Billy Elliot." The second act was especially gripping and though I am not one for musicals, I loved it. I enjoyed the music, the dancing and the acting. All around terrific!

For a truly super, fabulous Sunday we followed the theater with a dinner celebrating K's 60th birthday. We ate at Ca Va, a brasserie on West 44th St. and the food was great, as was the atmosphere. We particularly loved the big fireplace. I didn't get pictures of the food, except for this one picture of the birthday dessert that was brought over for K. Too delicious! We also had bread pudding and a great dark chocolate torte.

Dear K! So happy to be part of your wonderful birthday celebration. I cannot think of a happier weekend. I am wishing you many more birthday celebrations and I am wishing myself many more happy times to celebrate with you! Every wish for joy, good health and happiness for many, many years to come.

Autumn in New York

Autumn in New York

Saturday was autumn excursion day. With my friend Bev -- my Martha Stewart buddy -- and her friends Betty and Eleanore we travelled up the Hudson to Hyde Park, N.Y. Our first stop was lunch at the Culinary Institute of America. I'd been here years before, but it's a great treat to be able to return. We had lunch in the American Bounty Restaurant and it was delicious. I had a wonderful pear and parsnip soup -- which I'm going to try and duplicate at home -- duck and a pumpkin flan and shared key lime pie and bread pudding. The bread pudding was good, but my heart still longs for the bread pudding at Commander's Palace in New Orleans.

Our second stop was two miles north at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Library and home, Hyde Park. We didn't do the complete tour but did sight see on the beautiful grounds. It was a rainy and overcast day, but the leaves were still beautiful.

This week -- finished all of my necessary dental work this morning. Hurray! May start work on a new crown, but still thinking about it. Big work project due Friday that will consume my time during the day, theater tickets with my friend Marilyn tomorrow night and Wednesday is the first game of the World Series. I'll be in front of my television set!

The big excitement of the weekend is dear Liz's engagement to Matt. Liz is my friend Kate's niece and Jess' first cousin. She is a doll and Matt is one lucky guy.

Wishes for happy excitement and autumn vistas!

There is Nothing Like...

...a beautiful Saturday morning in September. Nothing! No office to go to and no subway to take. I've just finished a fabulous cantaloupe/strawberry smoothy, with organic flax seed for good measure. Saturday morning services coming up and a quick run to the post office before I see my friend Mary. We're thinking of a movie and we'll also get in a nice walk and time to catch up.

More on Martha...The chairs were actually quite comfortable. Our gift was a cookbook that Martha had written the forward to. Alas, no car! There were some gifts given out randomly in the audience, including mugs and videos. The audience didn't get to try the food that was cooked, and there were no crafts on our day. Would love to go for an all-craft day of the show. Martha was very interesting and warm to guests, not a bit snippy, but my sense of Martha is not sweet and huggy. Martha would be the friend I turn to when I need to learn how to make special pumpkin muffins, but not my first thought when I need a hug.

Thanks blog sisters for hugs and good wishes. I'm feeling calm and going to enjoy this beautiful Saturday. Special wishes for Kathy and Jess, who are leaving next week for a wonderful trip and to Mimi, who is off to Disneyworld. Bon Voyage!