J and K's wedding, Part 1

In which we load up our cars and head, caravan-style, to beautiful western Michigan.

With seven passengers, a cello, twelve large floor cushions, pie pans, foodstuffs, and all the other assorted wedding clothes, gifts, and sports equipment, we had to drive both of our cars to Michigan.  We got ourselves all loaded up and amply supplied with trip food and hit the road late morning last Thursday.

Since I'd much rather read or knit, I'm always happy to leave the driving to the always capable hands of Coty and the boys, all of whom are potential drivers these days.  My book for the road, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, did not disappoint and the miles flew by.

The hills of West Virginia are lovely and green, and the interstate winding.  When you cross the Ohio River, it's a land of flat fields and straight roads.  Unlike the last trip we took to a wedding, there were no rock slides, no detours, no mud holes, no real adventure... but truth be told, that was just fine with me.  After an uneventful twelve and a half hours, we rolled into Rosewood Pointe.  The moon was shining over the lake and we walked out on the dock, grateful to be at our home-away-from-home for the weekend.

And what a home it was!  A big old lake house with slanting, creaking floors, 8 bedrooms, a large living room, two kitchens, huge enclosed porch looking toward the lake, and lots of great outdoor spaces like a nice fire pit, beach, dock, and lovely gardens.  Just perfect for 27 people.  Yep. You read that right.  27.

Our gang equals 11 when you add in son-in-law, granddaughter, and girlfriend, Kay, who has been lovingly tagged as the "potential" or "prospective" or something promising like that.  Add to that Coty's parents, sister and her family,  groomsmen, and a few of  J and K's friends, and you've got a heaping house full.

Somehow, though, it never really felt too crowded.  I think it's because the living spaces were so, well, spacious and there was so much to do outside.  It helped that the weather cooperated all weekend!

After a good night's sleep, we woke up to a shining morning on Friday.  Erin and Luke arrived that morning and through the day, family and friends trickled in.  We spent lots of time outside.

There was a perfect lawn in front of the lake for a little frizcup...

...um...

....action.

Plenty of beach volleyball...

Lovely spots for sitting and...

reconnecting....

and grandbaby holding.



Lovely gardens full of hostas and irises...

...and even the perfect spot for a little outdoor "office" for Coty to finish up working on his wedding sermon.

Later in the morning, Jonathan and Kandyce came over from her parent's house for a visit and some gift opening...

Friday afternoon and evening included more outdoor fun, a trip for me to the Grand Rapids airport to pick up my mom and dad who stayed in a wonderful bed and breakfast in Saugatuck, reuniting with Maata ji aka Kathy, Kandyce's mom, to go over to the rehearsal dinner venue (Wow! oh, wow!) and finalize plans for that, a groomsmen's dinner and batchelorette party for those folks, and s'mores by the fire at our place later on.

Great start to a special weekend!