Sunday, June 15, 2008
A Very Special Gift
Clicker has been my sister, Judy's, great friend for many years. She also was my art teacher in middle school. This was before a different art teacher told me I talked too much and should find a another outlet to express myself. Thank God for theatre! Clicker gave Matt and me a very special wedding present. She took a photo of the sunrise at 6:28am the morning of our wedding in Florida. She painted this sunrise on our invitation. I Love It! Thank you Clicker!!!
Wedding in Florida
Matt and I are waiting for more pictures to arrive but I 
will put up a few of what I have from our big day in Jacksonville. Everything was so beautiful. It's sounds pretty cheesy but I really felt surrounded by love. It was so awesome to have so many people there from so many different parts of life. One of my favorite bosses ever, Joseph, came and my friend Shantell with her little girl who I haven't seen in nine years. It was wonderful to meet the children of people I have known since I was a child. And of course everyone welcomed Matt into the family. The ladies of the Croft/Jones families started off the celebration with a lovely luncheon for the girls. Everything was perfect!!
will put up a few of what I have from our big day in Jacksonville. Everything was so beautiful. It's sounds pretty cheesy but I really felt surrounded by love. It was so awesome to have so many people there from so many different parts of life. One of my favorite bosses ever, Joseph, came and my friend Shantell with her little girl who I haven't seen in nine years. It was wonderful to meet the children of people I have known since I was a child. And of course everyone welcomed Matt into the family. The ladies of the Croft/Jones families started off the celebration with a lovely luncheon for the girls. Everything was perfect!!The day continued at Singleton's Shrimp Shack for some seafood and karaoke. There were some stand out performances that night. My sisters really broke it down with Aretha Franklin's respect and Britta, per Matt's request, sang 99 luftballoons, in German. 
I, of course started crying again when we said our vows. The great
thing about doing it all again is the first time I was pretty nervous so I didn't think as much about what I was saying. This time I really did and I truly meant everything I said in my vows. I want to be with Matt forever.
thing about doing it all again is the first time I was pretty nervous so I didn't think as much about what I was saying. This time I really did and I truly meant everything I said in my vows. I want to be with Matt forever.Sarah G
race was our flower girl and Sam was our ring bearer. They both did a fantastic job. Sam took the aisle at more of a run.
We had many, many fantastic cakes made by both Mom's frien
ds and my friends. Mom's friend, Ute, made Matt a very special cake, a traditional Australian Pavlova. Matt gave me very clear instructions not to smash any cake in his face.
race was our flower girl and Sam was our ring bearer. They both did a fantastic job. Sam took the aisle at more of a run.We had many, many fantastic cakes made by both Mom's frien
ds and my friends. Mom's friend, Ute, made Matt a very special cake, a traditional Australian Pavlova. Matt gave me very clear instructions not to smash any cake in his face. Our first danc
e was to Magnetic Fields, It's Only Time. Everything was perfect! When we get some more pictures I will post them along with more of my mushy, happy, love stuff!!!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Australian Wedding Pictures
So before I put up Florida wedding pictures I thought I
should finish posting pictures from Melbourne. The day was absolutely perfect. I stayed with Cheryl the night before and Matt's sisters came over to watch girlie movies. Al and Matt stayed down in our new place and got up to no good I am sure. Cheryl drove me in my Captiva wedding chariot the next day downtown to the registry office. We parked in a parking garage and went to take the elevator. We had Cooper in his stroller and the elevator was pretty full but a friendly man waved us in. He was very friendly and oddly
familiar. I was a nervous bride and was barely paying attention to the conversation Cheryl and this happy man were having until I realized who he was. As we got off the elevator he called out congratulations. I had been congratulated by Kenny aka Shane Jacobson. He is something a film star around here and was appearing in a production of Guys and Dolls up the street. What a great beginning to a fantastic day!!
should finish posting pictures from Melbourne. The day was absolutely perfect. I stayed with Cheryl the night before and Matt's sisters came over to watch girlie movies. Al and Matt stayed down in our new place and got up to no good I am sure. Cheryl drove me in my Captiva wedding chariot the next day downtown to the registry office. We parked in a parking garage and went to take the elevator. We had Cooper in his stroller and the elevator was pretty full but a friendly man waved us in. He was very friendly and oddly
familiar. I was a nervous bride and was barely paying attention to the conversation Cheryl and this happy man were having until I realized who he was. As we got off the elevator he called out congratulations. I had been congratulated by Kenny aka Shane Jacobson. He is something a film star around here and was appearing in a production of Guys and Dolls up the street. What a great beginning to a fantastic day!!The registry office was lovely and Matt's family and friends
were all there. I finally got to meet alot of his friends from work who were all fantastic and it is great to finally put names and faces together. We called my Mom and Dad right after the ceremony even though it was around 1am in Jacksonville.
were all there. I finally got to meet alot of his friends from work who were all fantastic and it is great to finally put names and faces together. We called my Mom and Dad right after the ceremony even though it was around 1am in Jacksonville.There
is a park next door to the registry office so we went over there for photos. This is Matt and me with Luke and Natarsha. I had never seen the horseshoe tradition before. They are pretty goodluck charms given to the bride to carry. They are really pretty and I carried them in Australia and America.
is a park next door to the registry office so we went over there for photos. This is Matt and me with Luke and Natarsha. I had never seen the horseshoe tradition before. They are pretty goodluck charms given to the bride to carry. They are really pretty and I carried them in Australia and America.This is Matt's mom Sandra, Luke, Rebecca, Tracy, Matt's brother in law Nick (who gave me away), Matt, Me, Matt's dad 
Barry and Matt's step-mom Laurel. I had lots of family memorabilia on as well. The shawl was my Great Aunt Hank's who has been like my grandmother most of my life. It was really special to have something of hers with me. My parents gave me the pearl earrings I wore when I graduated from high school. I wore a beautiful broach that belonged to Matt's great grandmother. I also wore some decorative hair pins that were given to me by Amy (Sam's mom) and her family that had belonged to her grandmother. Amy and I have been friends forever and her family is really special to me so that was great too. Cheryl did a great job putting my hair up for me.
Barry and Matt's step-mom Laurel. I had lots of family memorabilia on as well. The shawl was my Great Aunt Hank's who has been like my grandmother most of my life. It was really special to have something of hers with me. My parents gave me the pearl earrings I wore when I graduated from high school. I wore a beautiful broach that belonged to Matt's great grandmother. I also wore some decorative hair pins that were given to me by Amy (Sam's mom) and her family that had belonged to her grandmother. Amy and I have been friends forever and her family is really special to me so that was great too. Cheryl did a great job putting my hair up for me.Matt's three best frie
nds Pete, Mick and Al, all did readings at the wedding. It was wonderful to have everyone involved. After the ceremony and photos we all went down to the European Bier Cafe for some drinks and cupcake cake.
nds Pete, Mick and Al, all did readings at the wedding. It was wonderful to have everyone involved. After the ceremony and photos we all went down to the European Bier Cafe for some drinks and cupcake cake. There was a bit of a late night crowd which continued on to the Geebung (a pub just d
own the street from our new apartment). There was some dancing to Sweet Home Alabama which made my night complete.
own the street from our new apartment). There was some dancing to Sweet Home Alabama which made my night complete.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Back from Jax
So I have been a big, blog slacker for the past month while I was i
n Florida but now Matt and I are back safe and sound in Australia. We were so lucky to have a BEAUTIFUL wedding in Jacksonville. I am the most fortunate girl getting to marry Matt, twice!!
n Florida but now Matt and I are back safe and sound in Australia. We were so lucky to have a BEAUTIFUL wedding in Jacksonville. I am the most fortunate girl getting to marry Matt, twice!!The time leading up to the wedding was lots of fun! I got to spend time with my godson, Sam. Amy and I took him to Atlantic Beach one day and there were tons of starfish washed up on shore. You can see one on Uncle Mike's foot in the picture. Even though most of the starfish had gone along to starfish heaven, Sam was very sweet and methodically returned them to the ocean sending them back home. He is such a wonderful little guy!!!
I ro
ped Matt and my sister, Judy, into a pet project at the beach. Since I was little I have dug up donax in the sand (small, edible saltwater clams known as pipi or goolwa cockles in Australia) and it was an old Florida tradition to make them into soup. There was even the Donac Shell Tea Room in the Atlantic Beach Inn in the early 1900's famous for their donax soup. My grandmother showed my sister how but I had never tried it. Judy and Matt helped me collect 100s of donax. This was especially appreciated since Matt has a great aversion to sitting in the sand because the sand always finds it's way into his shorts. We boiled the miniature clams and then the tedious work began. The clam bod
ies are teeny, tiny and have to be picked out of the shells. Judy seemed to enjoy this process but I was quickly losing interest in my project. We did manage to make a tasty donax broth. Donax soup has lost it's popularity in Jacksonville but I did find a recipe along with Alligator Pilau and Old Swamp Cabbage in Millen's A Taste of St. Augustine: Recipes of the Ancient City which is fitting since St. Augustine was virtually built with donax. Donax are also called coquina shells and were a vital building material.
ped Matt and my sister, Judy, into a pet project at the beach. Since I was little I have dug up donax in the sand (small, edible saltwater clams known as pipi or goolwa cockles in Australia) and it was an old Florida tradition to make them into soup. There was even the Donac Shell Tea Room in the Atlantic Beach Inn in the early 1900's famous for their donax soup. My grandmother showed my sister how but I had never tried it. Judy and Matt helped me collect 100s of donax. This was especially appreciated since Matt has a great aversion to sitting in the sand because the sand always finds it's way into his shorts. We boiled the miniature clams and then the tedious work began. The clam bod
ies are teeny, tiny and have to be picked out of the shells. Judy seemed to enjoy this process but I was quickly losing interest in my project. We did manage to make a tasty donax broth. Donax soup has lost it's popularity in Jacksonville but I did find a recipe along with Alligator Pilau and Old Swamp Cabbage in Millen's A Taste of St. Augustine: Recipes of the Ancient City which is fitting since St. Augustine was virtually built with donax. Donax are also called coquina shells and were a vital building material. Matt g
ot to experience lots more southern cooking. There (of course) was lots of Sticky Fingers BBQ. Dennis made his speciality, beer-butt chicken. Chicken on the grill with a can of Guinness in the afore named place adds lots of flavor!! Chris and Elizabeth made a pit stop on their way down from New York in South Carolina at a crawdad farm. In America the little freshwater variety lobster type crustacean is referred to as crayfish, crawfish or crawdad as opposed to Australia where these are yabbies and crayfish refers to the saltwater spiny lobster. After a joyous stay at the $25 a night Swamp Fox Hotel Chris and Elizabeth arrived in Jacksonville with a car full of crawda
ds. I must admit I felt really guilty dumping these mini-lobsters into a boiling pot after the little guys put on a such a show of prowess waving pinchers in the air like a prize fighting boxer but into the water (with a little Old Bay Seasoning) they went. Dennis did spare a few crawdad lives and built them a pond in the back yard.
ot to experience lots more southern cooking. There (of course) was lots of Sticky Fingers BBQ. Dennis made his speciality, beer-butt chicken. Chicken on the grill with a can of Guinness in the afore named place adds lots of flavor!! Chris and Elizabeth made a pit stop on their way down from New York in South Carolina at a crawdad farm. In America the little freshwater variety lobster type crustacean is referred to as crayfish, crawfish or crawdad as opposed to Australia where these are yabbies and crayfish refers to the saltwater spiny lobster. After a joyous stay at the $25 a night Swamp Fox Hotel Chris and Elizabeth arrived in Jacksonville with a car full of crawda
ds. I must admit I felt really guilty dumping these mini-lobsters into a boiling pot after the little guys put on a such a show of prowess waving pinchers in the air like a prize fighting boxer but into the water (with a little Old Bay Seasoning) they went. Dennis did spare a few crawdad lives and built them a pond in the back yard.We definitely
swam in the ocean alot but poor Matt forget to put sunblock on his legs the first day out on the beach and he turned the color of a tomato. Dennis cut up his aloe plant to try and help Matt out a little but he burned pretty bad. The peeling a week later was a sight to see. He sat around on the beach with a towel over his legs for the rest of the trip. Friends and family started to arrive from all over the country and even Ireland and Germany. We toured around a bit as we got ready for the big day. I am scanning in pictures of the wedding now. We are waiting for some more to arrive but will put up some that I have of the bridesmaids luncheon, rehearsal dinner and wedding in my next post.
swam in the ocean alot but poor Matt forget to put sunblock on his legs the first day out on the beach and he turned the color of a tomato. Dennis cut up his aloe plant to try and help Matt out a little but he burned pretty bad. The peeling a week later was a sight to see. He sat around on the beach with a towel over his legs for the rest of the trip. Friends and family started to arrive from all over the country and even Ireland and Germany. We toured around a bit as we got ready for the big day. I am scanning in pictures of the wedding now. We are waiting for some more to arrive but will put up some that I have of the bridesmaids luncheon, rehearsal dinner and wedding in my next post.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Just Married!!!
Yesterday was the best day of my life because I got to marry Matt, the love of my life. I am so happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and a little bit tired so I will post more pictures later.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Little Audrey
Matt and I frequently drive by "Little Audrey", the Skipping Girl Vinegar sign that much to Matt's dismay is never lit up. The sign was supposed to be destroyed when the vinegar factory closed but Melbournians caused an uproar and saved this Richmond icon. Last Tuesday she was lit up, partially anyway, and Matt was thrilled. The National Trust of Victoria has launched a campaign to raise $60,000 for the restoration of Little Audrey. Originally constructed in 1936, I know atleast one Melbourne man who wants to see this little girl skipping again.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Bridal Train
Barry and Laurel told me about one of their favorite bands, The Waifs. I especially like this song. It was written by band member, Vikki Thorn, about her grandmother who was a war bride. She married a US sailor after a very brief engagement and then he was sent away. One night around midnight she received a telegraph saying a train was leaving to take her to a ship that would take her to her new husband. The first US troops arrived in Australia at Brisbane, Queensland, on Christmas Eve, 1941. Almost one million American servicemen passed through Australia during the war. About 7,000 Australian women married their American boy friends and travelled to the USA as war brides.
If you take away the war and replace planes with ships I can relate to moving to the other side of the world to be with the man you love.
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