Saturday, December 16, 2006
This is Team Go-Go in front of our house in early September - Dani just found the picture and sent it to me. Are those the tallest sunflowers of what? We have enough to bring out the dried flowers/seeds throughout the winter. Stellar Jays LOVE us.So - as you many have gathered - I have been video blogging. If you want to go to my channel and check it out, there is a new 2 minute story about a doggie tragedy that we had the other day (with a happy beginning and ending.) feel free but not obligated to subscribe to the channel and then you'll know whenever I post a new video blog. I'll put them up as I have time. Hopefully, there will be more videos of my quilts. But, for now, I am content to be making cookies and presents and celebrating solstice with friends and family. I hope that you are doing similar things. Much love! Click here or cut and paste: http://www.youtube.com/vkingsley for the You Tube videos. Cheers!
Thursday, December 14, 2006
continued from yesterday.....
The ceremony was a combination between a Japanese tea ceremony, a Pagan handfasting, a traditional Hawaiian wedding and a Buddhist meditaiton. The idea was that we were each committing to be family to the other. It was, for all of us I think, very moving. There were two bizarre coincidences though. It was raining everywhere on the island (hard rain all day in Lahanina where Teri lives just minutes away from Wailea) on the day of our ceremony. but it didn't rain at all for us. It was, in fact, perfect sunny weather. And the other strange thing was that just after our ceremony began, the Doobie Brothers' song "Takin' it to the Streets" started playing somewhere down on the beach. The music drifted over to us but wasn't intrusive. we were up on a grassy knoll on a cliff above the beach. The moment our ceremony ended and the sacred circle opened, the music ended and no other songs played. Maybe it was a sound check. Maybe it was a message. Here are the lyrics:
You dont know me but I'm your brother
I was raised here in this living hell
You dont know my kind in your world
Fairly soon the time will tell
You, telling me the things youre gonna do for me
I aint blind and I dont like what I think I see
Takin it to the streets x 4
Take this message to my brother
You will find him everywhere
Wherever people live together
Tied in poverty's despair
You, telling me the things youre gonna do for me
I aint blind and I dont like what I think I see
Takin it to the streets x 4
--------
OK - so Dani and I decided that because poverty is one of leading causes of death (through disease, hunger, and desperation that leads to crime and terrorism...) and because poverty effects us all, we want to do what we can to ease it. After what we have seen on our forays into the streets and underpasses of San Francisco, we know that we can make a small difference. Instead of wedding gifts, we decided to ask for people to instead contribute to our effort to bring food and water to the people in our own back yard who fall through the cracks and don't make it to traditional food and shelter programs. We also want to continue to our efforts to help hurricane-displaced people in Louisiana.
We didn't make that decision because of the Doobie Brothers' song. But isn't it weird?
After the ceremony, we were at the absolute opposite end of poverty. It was the one place where we really splurged and, I have to say, there are no regrets. We ate at Spagos - the restraunt made famous by Wolfgang Puck in L.A. I guess there are four Spagos restraunts (L.A., Las Vegas Palo Alto and Maui.) It will probably be the most fancy, beautiful, tasty food that I will ever eat. The atmosphere was dynamic and romantic, the color scheme brilliant and elegant. The service was impeccable but not stuffy in any way. And they were kid friendly! We were all a little too hungry after the flurry of activity so it was perfect.
That night, after dinner, we drove all the way back to Hana from Wailea. For those of you who are like me and know next to nothing about the island of Maui - the road to Hana is famous for it's 56 tiny one lane bridges (built in the early 1900s) and it's 617 hairpin turns with jungle on the south side and crashing ocean on lava formations on the north. It was beautiful when we started out from Hana that morning of the wedding but at night, on the way back, it was raining and a little trecherous and got scary at one point when Dani was sleepy. Thank heavens we don't drink alcohol! There was a very magic moment when Dani and I saw a shooting start that streaked across the sky right in front of us. A very good omen, we thought.
We were tired blissed out newlyweds when we got home!
The next morning found us back at the Venus pools, where Parker and Dani jumped from the hardened lava formations jutting from the earth. They happen to have formed a barrier of sorts to the ocean while still allowing it let the ocean water in. The pool is very deep with no shore whatsoever - just lava rocks. On that morning we had a late start and, therefore, shared the pools with others who enjoyed the warm water and lush surroundings. Luckily, they were not offended at our notion that it is only proper to swim naked in a magical pool that used to be reserved for Hawaiian royalty.
Our trip was full of hikes and swimming, waterfalls and good food. We learned some Hawaiian language (with only vowels and 8 consonants, it is hard for me to grasp) and much about the rich Hawaiian culture and history. We had a nice balance of being inside and out, seeing museums and making art, reading and swimming. We had very little privacy. But it wasn't a time for privacy, really. It was a time for family and even though there were rough points in our transition into group intimacy and communication, we all tried to bring our best selves to the adventure. I am proud of us.
Now that we are home, we have sent out invitations to friends and family. Many people have responded and will be coming from far and wide to celebrate with us. We decided to only have a cake reception instead of some big sit down dinner thing. We do hope that we will manage some good music and atmosphere though. And it will be great to see festival friends and high school friends and co-workers and our church community all in one place. If, for some reason, you didn't get an invitiation, please please let me know. I don't want to leave anybody out so don't be shy. It just might be that I don't have your email or snail address.
OK - I am off to the studio. I am working on a few personal projects and then it will be time to begin the Sweet 16 quilt. I think I will work on that and the Himilayan quilt at the same time.
Thanks for keeping up with me...
The ceremony was a combination between a Japanese tea ceremony, a Pagan handfasting, a traditional Hawaiian wedding and a Buddhist meditaiton. The idea was that we were each committing to be family to the other. It was, for all of us I think, very moving. There were two bizarre coincidences though. It was raining everywhere on the island (hard rain all day in Lahanina where Teri lives just minutes away from Wailea) on the day of our ceremony. but it didn't rain at all for us. It was, in fact, perfect sunny weather. And the other strange thing was that just after our ceremony began, the Doobie Brothers' song "Takin' it to the Streets" started playing somewhere down on the beach. The music drifted over to us but wasn't intrusive. we were up on a grassy knoll on a cliff above the beach. The moment our ceremony ended and the sacred circle opened, the music ended and no other songs played. Maybe it was a sound check. Maybe it was a message. Here are the lyrics:
You dont know me but I'm your brother
I was raised here in this living hell
You dont know my kind in your world
Fairly soon the time will tell
You, telling me the things youre gonna do for me
I aint blind and I dont like what I think I see
Takin it to the streets x 4
Take this message to my brother
You will find him everywhere
Wherever people live together
Tied in poverty's despair
You, telling me the things youre gonna do for me
I aint blind and I dont like what I think I see
Takin it to the streets x 4
--------
OK - so Dani and I decided that because poverty is one of leading causes of death (through disease, hunger, and desperation that leads to crime and terrorism...) and because poverty effects us all, we want to do what we can to ease it. After what we have seen on our forays into the streets and underpasses of San Francisco, we know that we can make a small difference. Instead of wedding gifts, we decided to ask for people to instead contribute to our effort to bring food and water to the people in our own back yard who fall through the cracks and don't make it to traditional food and shelter programs. We also want to continue to our efforts to help hurricane-displaced people in Louisiana.
We didn't make that decision because of the Doobie Brothers' song. But isn't it weird?
After the ceremony, we were at the absolute opposite end of poverty. It was the one place where we really splurged and, I have to say, there are no regrets. We ate at Spagos - the restraunt made famous by Wolfgang Puck in L.A. I guess there are four Spagos restraunts (L.A., Las Vegas Palo Alto and Maui.) It will probably be the most fancy, beautiful, tasty food that I will ever eat. The atmosphere was dynamic and romantic, the color scheme brilliant and elegant. The service was impeccable but not stuffy in any way. And they were kid friendly! We were all a little too hungry after the flurry of activity so it was perfect.
That night, after dinner, we drove all the way back to Hana from Wailea. For those of you who are like me and know next to nothing about the island of Maui - the road to Hana is famous for it's 56 tiny one lane bridges (built in the early 1900s) and it's 617 hairpin turns with jungle on the south side and crashing ocean on lava formations on the north. It was beautiful when we started out from Hana that morning of the wedding but at night, on the way back, it was raining and a little trecherous and got scary at one point when Dani was sleepy. Thank heavens we don't drink alcohol! There was a very magic moment when Dani and I saw a shooting start that streaked across the sky right in front of us. A very good omen, we thought.
We were tired blissed out newlyweds when we got home!
The next morning found us back at the Venus pools, where Parker and Dani jumped from the hardened lava formations jutting from the earth. They happen to have formed a barrier of sorts to the ocean while still allowing it let the ocean water in. The pool is very deep with no shore whatsoever - just lava rocks. On that morning we had a late start and, therefore, shared the pools with others who enjoyed the warm water and lush surroundings. Luckily, they were not offended at our notion that it is only proper to swim naked in a magical pool that used to be reserved for Hawaiian royalty.
Our trip was full of hikes and swimming, waterfalls and good food. We learned some Hawaiian language (with only vowels and 8 consonants, it is hard for me to grasp) and much about the rich Hawaiian culture and history. We had a nice balance of being inside and out, seeing museums and making art, reading and swimming. We had very little privacy. But it wasn't a time for privacy, really. It was a time for family and even though there were rough points in our transition into group intimacy and communication, we all tried to bring our best selves to the adventure. I am proud of us.
Now that we are home, we have sent out invitations to friends and family. Many people have responded and will be coming from far and wide to celebrate with us. We decided to only have a cake reception instead of some big sit down dinner thing. We do hope that we will manage some good music and atmosphere though. And it will be great to see festival friends and high school friends and co-workers and our church community all in one place. If, for some reason, you didn't get an invitiation, please please let me know. I don't want to leave anybody out so don't be shy. It just might be that I don't have your email or snail address.
OK - I am off to the studio. I am working on a few personal projects and then it will be time to begin the Sweet 16 quilt. I think I will work on that and the Himilayan quilt at the same time.
Thanks for keeping up with me...
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Is it just me or is the month flying by? I've put in some seriously way too late nights making crafts and movies and cards and invitations and ... on and on. Dani is slammed at work. The current question up for debate in the office: Does Dani deserve the title Renewals Rock n' Roll Star or Renewals God? Hmmmm. Either way - she's working her butt off. Or working on making her butt wider, she would say, because of all the time at the computer screen.
OK - so the wedding was beeeeautiful. Obviously. You all saw the photos. I'm sorry that the slideshow is down on the website. Thank heavens for You Tube. The quality isn't nearly as good as the slideshow on alotoflife.com but, for the moment, it has to do as a testiment to our very good time.
What could not have been conveyed in photos was the amazing juggling act we all did. I mean, really, picture it: a 9 year old, an 80 year old (OK - 79 and 1/2), two newlyweds and our photographer. Very cozy - all with varying needs. We did amazingly well at adapting to each other. We managed to each get our needs met at least a few times during the trip and I think that that was the biggest accomplishement of the whole thing.
The weather was beautiful - we swam every day and I am personally so grateful for the determination of the Hawaiian people to keep the shores open and accessible to all. We were able to be in magical places - Venus Pools and Hamoa Bay on Hana Side and Wailea Beach at the Four Seasons in the south and Napili Bay on the western shore. All the beaches are free there and there were always enough boogie boards to borrow. It made for a very fun time. April, Dani's mother, hadn't ever been in the ocean to swim and took on the couragous task of putting that fact in the past. She braved the surf and held fast to the boogie board with all her might. It must have been terrifying but after hiking down steep slopes of rocks and through a bamboo forest just days before to get to a hidden series of three waterfalls- I guess she was up to the challenge!
Parker, on the other hand, couldn't get enough of the water. He body surfed and boogie boarded and snorkelled to his heart's delight. He and Dani swan amongst a school of 50 3 foot blue discus fish. They saw turtles the size of his bed! They went out more than I did - partially because of my lungs (which are pretty damaged), partially because I spent time with April and partially because of my eyes (the whole prosthetic situation makes it tricky.) But still, I managed to see lots of colorful fish and coral and sea urchins. It's a whole different world there - under the sea. So peaceful.
The Scottish part of me is SO PLEASED that we were able to just flow with it all and ended up having the most gorgeous wedding without all the expensive wedding planners and over-priced photographers. We stayed in a local's house on the wild side and Dani had already stayed there so she knew the area. It was colorful and lush and full of tropical birds and plants.
Our searches on craigslist found us both my wedding dress and our Napili Bay condo. The wedding dress was quite a trip. I think it was $30 (maybe $35?) and was very traditional. It had a long (3 or 4 foot) train that was the first thing to come off. I just hacked it with my scissors and, at the suggestion of a friend (Emily - who ended up giving invaluable design suggestions) I also cut it up to my shins in the front. I added red tulle underneath and red leather trim to the bottom edges. Fast and sooo easy! Then came the red rhinestones which were ironed on to the bodice. I did some and Emily did some. She took over the dress at that point and ripped out the zipper to install a red leather corset with 13 brass grommets down the back! She also made a matching collar with 13 brass studs that is absolutely stunning. I am so incredibly grateful for her help and can't wait to get my nails done with her as a special treat to say thanks!
Dani's sage colored Hawaiian shirt was from the thrift store and Parker's sage plaid shirt with black velvet Hawaiian flowers was a perfect hand-me-down from our dear friend Ivan. April wore a dress that she had worn to her son's wedding and it just happened to be perfect for our occasion. I think we all looked stunning and we didn't have to spend a million bucks to feel like it! I am nerdy but that just thrills the heck out of me! And best of all was the Four Seasons Wailea. We were able to use their public rest rooms with full-length mirrors and orange marble sinks (that we had all to ourselves) and their public stairways (with long, sweeping views of fountains, palm trees and the ocean) and their public beach (immaculate and crystal clear) for our ceremony. Free! I can't reccommend this route for those who need a plan because, honestly, we had no plan really. We didn't know where we were going to have our ceremony until an hour or so before it. It was a little unnerving but we managed to roll with it. Dani and Parker were snorkelling up unitl it was time to get dressed!
The ceremony itself was simple and elegant and poignant. Dani's longtime friend was such a sweetheart and did the whole thing as a blessing and a favor. She had the day off from her shop (she is the owner of Chrome Lotus Tattoo in Lahaina where the television show Las Vegas Ink is scooping up her artists!) Teri is drop jaw gorgeous (imho) and looked hot with her tattoos showing and her studded belt. She was the perfect balance between hot and cool - graceful and on the edge.
more when I can.....
OK - so the wedding was beeeeautiful. Obviously. You all saw the photos. I'm sorry that the slideshow is down on the website. Thank heavens for You Tube. The quality isn't nearly as good as the slideshow on alotoflife.com but, for the moment, it has to do as a testiment to our very good time.
What could not have been conveyed in photos was the amazing juggling act we all did. I mean, really, picture it: a 9 year old, an 80 year old (OK - 79 and 1/2), two newlyweds and our photographer. Very cozy - all with varying needs. We did amazingly well at adapting to each other. We managed to each get our needs met at least a few times during the trip and I think that that was the biggest accomplishement of the whole thing.
The weather was beautiful - we swam every day and I am personally so grateful for the determination of the Hawaiian people to keep the shores open and accessible to all. We were able to be in magical places - Venus Pools and Hamoa Bay on Hana Side and Wailea Beach at the Four Seasons in the south and Napili Bay on the western shore. All the beaches are free there and there were always enough boogie boards to borrow. It made for a very fun time. April, Dani's mother, hadn't ever been in the ocean to swim and took on the couragous task of putting that fact in the past. She braved the surf and held fast to the boogie board with all her might. It must have been terrifying but after hiking down steep slopes of rocks and through a bamboo forest just days before to get to a hidden series of three waterfalls- I guess she was up to the challenge!
Parker, on the other hand, couldn't get enough of the water. He body surfed and boogie boarded and snorkelled to his heart's delight. He and Dani swan amongst a school of 50 3 foot blue discus fish. They saw turtles the size of his bed! They went out more than I did - partially because of my lungs (which are pretty damaged), partially because I spent time with April and partially because of my eyes (the whole prosthetic situation makes it tricky.) But still, I managed to see lots of colorful fish and coral and sea urchins. It's a whole different world there - under the sea. So peaceful.
The Scottish part of me is SO PLEASED that we were able to just flow with it all and ended up having the most gorgeous wedding without all the expensive wedding planners and over-priced photographers. We stayed in a local's house on the wild side and Dani had already stayed there so she knew the area. It was colorful and lush and full of tropical birds and plants.
Our searches on craigslist found us both my wedding dress and our Napili Bay condo. The wedding dress was quite a trip. I think it was $30 (maybe $35?) and was very traditional. It had a long (3 or 4 foot) train that was the first thing to come off. I just hacked it with my scissors and, at the suggestion of a friend (Emily - who ended up giving invaluable design suggestions) I also cut it up to my shins in the front. I added red tulle underneath and red leather trim to the bottom edges. Fast and sooo easy! Then came the red rhinestones which were ironed on to the bodice. I did some and Emily did some. She took over the dress at that point and ripped out the zipper to install a red leather corset with 13 brass grommets down the back! She also made a matching collar with 13 brass studs that is absolutely stunning. I am so incredibly grateful for her help and can't wait to get my nails done with her as a special treat to say thanks!
Dani's sage colored Hawaiian shirt was from the thrift store and Parker's sage plaid shirt with black velvet Hawaiian flowers was a perfect hand-me-down from our dear friend Ivan. April wore a dress that she had worn to her son's wedding and it just happened to be perfect for our occasion. I think we all looked stunning and we didn't have to spend a million bucks to feel like it! I am nerdy but that just thrills the heck out of me! And best of all was the Four Seasons Wailea. We were able to use their public rest rooms with full-length mirrors and orange marble sinks (that we had all to ourselves) and their public stairways (with long, sweeping views of fountains, palm trees and the ocean) and their public beach (immaculate and crystal clear) for our ceremony. Free! I can't reccommend this route for those who need a plan because, honestly, we had no plan really. We didn't know where we were going to have our ceremony until an hour or so before it. It was a little unnerving but we managed to roll with it. Dani and Parker were snorkelling up unitl it was time to get dressed!
The ceremony itself was simple and elegant and poignant. Dani's longtime friend was such a sweetheart and did the whole thing as a blessing and a favor. She had the day off from her shop (she is the owner of Chrome Lotus Tattoo in Lahaina where the television show Las Vegas Ink is scooping up her artists!) Teri is drop jaw gorgeous (imho) and looked hot with her tattoos showing and her studded belt. She was the perfect balance between hot and cool - graceful and on the edge.
more when I can.....
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