continued

I ended my last post by saying I am home safe and sound now...

Well maybe that was a little fib or shall I say it was a bit flourished. I did in fact make it back to Tallahassee but my first stop was sister's to pick up my laptop and use her internet. All was well and then I got to my house. I turned onto my street and wondered if it was always this dark and trying to remember if we had street lights. After pulling into my driveway it was official the electricity was out neighborhood-wide. great. So I did indeed eventually make it home safe and safe but not without another bump in the road.

My house was quiet, really quiet and Fern was not even there {she's at the kennel}. I was supposed to do some actual work work but with no power I was useless. So I read my new magazine by candlelight and flashlight and called it a night. It was so hot sans power and thus I slept with a cold waterbottle in between my sheets. But it did come back sometime in the middle of the night! What a day!

The End.

it's almost my half birthday!

I just got back from a great preview of my fun mini vacay at the beach...next weekend. That's also when I get to celebrate my half birthday, and yes I'm serious :). There's a huge hurrah for it and there are even fancy fireworks on my behalf - thank you July 4th! I'll be back at the island hanging with the E's and The Dunhams and everyone in between and I. can't. wait. I was there briefly this weekend and I was so sad to leave.

Before my trip to the coast I had my first Junior League event. Yes, I have finally been convinced to join! After two years of avoiding the invitation I have decided to stop being selfish and join a community organization. Besides all the philanthropic gestures {that I'm all in favor for of course} I've been saying "I don't need any more girl friends..." And then it dawned on me - those potential "new girlfriends" might just know potential new boy friends...and brother-in-laws, cousins, etc. HA! So I signed up.

Saturday's event was called Summer Camp and it was a volunteer training, learn about the League, get to know one another by enduring dreaded icebreakers kind of day. I went with my neighborhood friends Lane and Sidney who are joining with me...and we call ourselves the Architectural Board of our neighborhood and we critique the houses around us...but nobody knows it. We had a great time and I learned there are other girls joining for my same passion. But in all seriousness though, here's why I'm really joining:

The Junior League of Tallahassee is a nonprofit organization of women committed to improving the lives of children through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. JLT commits more than 5,000 volunteer hours and contributes more than $80,000 annually to our community. The proceeds acquired through our fundraisers benefit local area children and their families by targeting their specific needs.
{the JLT Mission Statement}

Oh, and I'm also selling cookbooks! Want to buy one?? I will have another post just for that but if you're interested let me know. JLT is celebrating its 50th year and have a brand spankin' new cookbook to sell.

After Summer Camp, I headed to St. George to meet Marcus, Holly, and Sally Kate. We cheered Marcus on while he ran in the St. George Summer Sizzler 5k and we were so proud of him! If you ever see him, ask him about his sweet souvenir tank. Today, mom and dad arrived at the island. They're staying through Wednesday and I'll be in Tallahassee working {there is something wrong with that picture} so we had dinner in Apalach tonight before I headed home.

My adventure home was not so cheerful. I drove straight into a very severe thunderstorm...and I was all alone and terrified. I suffer from self-diagnosed weatherphobia which causes anxiety and tears. It has gotten better throughout the years but tonight it was in full force! Luckily, I was able to have dad check the weather channel and call me with reports since local radio stations were dropping one by one. After finally emerging from the backwoods of Wakulla county I pulled into the Publix parking lot. Publix=my safety zone. I waited in my car as my emotions went up and down and the rain and lighting also did the same fluctuation. And then I made a run for it. I just couldn't handle sitting in my car alone so I made a beeline for the sliding glass doors! And you should have seen me...here I am soaked from head to toe wearing a Lilly sundress {think beach prom or at least that's what Holly said about my outfit today!} and balling my eyes out. I was quite the spectacle. So I calmed down and then waited out the storm still getting up-to-date weather report phone calls from daddy {thank you!}. Amidst this traumatic experience, I did manage to catch up on all my magazines and do a little necessary grocery shopping. I also spotted and snagged the newest Martha Stewart Weddings. I was starting to feel better.

I am home safe and sound now and looking forward to next weekend!! Counting down the days...

at the 5k

the e's after the race...way to go marcus!

I spotted this new little gem tonight leaving apalach...I'll be back to shop you next weekend!

longevity

Yesterday my beloved Grandmother Mary Elizabeth celebrated her 94th birthday and my other grandparents celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary! As you can see, June 25th is a special day in our family. Last night mom threw a dinner party for ME and the guest list was a hoot. She had all of her family there but then extended the invitation to all of her weekly friends...massage therapist Barbara and hairdressers, all three of them...check. Even her former hairdresser, Jeff, surprised her and it just tickled her to death.

Longevity is a blessing and my grandparents have it - I do hope to inherit it.

cake by ME's favorite daughter...we share a love of blue hydrangeas...and if I ask nicely she will let me clip a few

these two pictures are actually from her 92nd birthday but I just love them...notice the blue hydrangea theme...and the second one shows her surprised reaction after blowing out all of the candles in one breath...I think this reaction also sums up ME the best - she's got spunk!

grandma jean and grandpa warren on their wedding day {I have her wedding hat!}

and a few fun pictures I came across...quite the looker...

...very fashionable!

my grandparents with their first born, baby michael, my dad - wearing a...beret.

Today Sally Katherine Edenfield was baptized~

she wore the beautiful dress that three generations of marcus's family has worn. she also loved all of her heirloom baubles! she wore the gold baby cross that we all wore as children and a new pearl bracelet from the corbetts. not only was she adorable but she was so happy and content during the service!

the edenfields

{notice the fabulous hydrangea arrangement in the background...thank you to whoever got married at faith presbyterian yesterday and leaving them for us to enjoy!}

on to the par-tay...

the Sunday spread - a delicious paella salad, cucumber tomato and onion salad, fruit salad, etc. prepared by holly & marcus and renn

{sidney, do the hydrangeas look familiar?!}

yummy baked brie with raspberry jam and walnuts in a puff pastry made by yours truly

made with love by grandmommy

father favors from renn and rhonda

family friends the corbetts - laura lee, leon, and arran

me and arran

the belle of the ball slept through her party!

a fabulous hostess and proud mommy

sally kate and her grandmothers

dad and michael

And while things are nice and neat...here's a glimpse of what we've been doing at the E's ~

dining room

another snazzy window treatment by kat

welcome to sk's second nursery!

dearest darlingest sally kate {in another one of my baby dresses!}, may you always know you are loved unconditionally by your family and the Lord. I pray that His light shines through you all the days of your life! xoxo

p.s. To fulfill my peach void this weekend I bought some from the man who sells produce out of his garage on Glenview. And FYI, they're straight from the Valley via Lane's :)

daddy, dear ol' daddy

Those were the words to my first father/daughter dance {well the first one I remember at least} - it was my first dance recital in 1989. I've always been a daddy's girl and I will forever remain one. In elementary school he would come and eat lunch with me in the cafeteria and would do math problems with my classmates - he was a hit at the table! Throughout middle and high school he would check me out of school and take me out to lunch.

Growing up my dad was such a role model in faith and family and I am so grateful. He's quick to help and always a hard worker. Just today he volunteered to go with me to pick hydrangeas out of the garden. It's these times that I treasure the most. He's constantly teaching and I'm constantly trying to retain all the information and most importantly apply it to my life. I knew what a hypotenuse was at a young age and today I learned there are codes in landscaping site plans. He never ceases to amaze me. Love you daddy!

I'd also like to recognize my brother-in-law Marcus on his first Father's Day. Thank you for loving Sally Kate and Holly like you do. Your face lights up when you see your baby girl or hear her name and it's wonderful to see.

Both of you are blessings in my life.

happy father's day!

if I had my way, I'd eat peaches everyday

Hi there. I've been a little under the weather this week and have had a nagging cough which is annoying to be around/have. At night, it's a doozy which equals little sleep. But alas, another exciting weekend to look forward to!

M & D arrive in a few hours and Michael will be joining us tomorrow. Sunday Sally Kate will be baptized and we're having a little luncheon to celebrate our Fathers, both heavenly and earthly {that one's for you sister!}. In between now and then we will be checking off a mile long list of home improvements compliments of sister. We always say there's no better reason to decorate your house than right before a party. Last weekend we had fun making some much needed furniture purchases...after all, I am very good at spending other people's money. In fact, that's what I do for a living and sister and Marcus were so kind to oblige :) In the past week the new Edenfield home has begun a transformation and in a few short hours when M & D arrive it will explode.

But on to peaches...the jewel of summer in my book. This weekend the National Peach Festival is happening in Ft. Valley, Georgia {home of friend Meghan} located in none other than Peach County. And of course it is only customary for them to have a peach water tower. There's is for real unlike the deceiving peach water tower in Clanton, Alabama that we took the interstate exit in hopes for an afternoon treat of homemade peach ice cream - we got nothing. For the past several summers this has been in pen on my calendar and we've had such a marvy time. The nearby Grits Festival is still in pencil on our calendars...and has yet to be attended.

This year I won't be at the feshtivuhl and I'm sad. No seeing the World's Largest Peach Cobbler, buying local artwork from the Jailhouse Alley group {these are sweet old southern ladies, not convicts!}, eating homemade peach ice cream from Pearson Farm and blackberry cobbler from Lane, and last but certainly not least bringing home baskets of freshly picked white-flesh peaches (my personal fave). One thing's for sure...I'll be there next year along with Sally Kate and any other takers! But if you're traveling anywhere near Ft. Valley this Saturday stop on by for a good ole time. Once you see the gigantic ceramic peach suspended in the air you're almost there...

Happy weekend!

two hours in tupelo

Well, the Radcliffe/Edenfields are baaack! It was a road trip of sorts fashioned after summer road trips of yore. The Radcliffes have driven as far west as Texas and as far north as Delaware - stopping at any historical landmarks along the way that include but are not limited to presidential birthplaces, death places, battlefields, and Cracker Barrels. We do road trips in style. In mini-van or suburban we are easily spotted. Passengers were always the Radcliffe 5, Grandmother Mary Elizabeth, and/or cousin Lacy or French exchange students...plus major luggage and multiple pillows. We also had movies on our trips before the days of DVD players in headrests...oh don't worry, dad rigged up our sweet TV/VCR combo on the center console and we watched the absolute best movies. The standards were The Sound of Music, Sister Acts I and II, and Apollo 13...and then we'd watch them again. And of course I was infamous for my ability to sleep the length of the entire car ride. It can still be done.

So, it was quite time we picked up where we left off and headed out on the open road again. We had a slightly different entourage this time around. It was me, dad, mom, sister, and Sally baby. Sadly, Michael missed this quality family time to start his summer job as well as volunteering to stay home to hold down the fort! Summer '09 road trip took us to Birmingham for Page and Eric's wedding, Memphis to visit family and The Bruces, and any you-request-it-dad-take-us-there-stops along the way.

Without further ado...

part I: the wedding

wedding welcome bags in Birmingham...picture on label drawn by moi!

bridesmaid luncheon @ the club in mountainbrook - cheers to the bride!



bridesmaid gifts...beautiful stemless wineglasses with our initial
all the bridesmaids overlooking/blocking the view of downtown birmingham

sneak peek at the reception set-up!

rehearsing

page's niece and nephew, mckinna and miller...too cute!

low country boil rehearsal dinner in homewood

gourmet grits bar!!! so very yummy...collard green pesto, chipotle butter, spiced pecans...

with the fam

going to the chapel....

{we later found out our trolley driving couple doubles as clowns}

reid chapel @ samford university

I am obsessed with the flower baskets on the front double doors

page wore one of my vintage brooches as her something borrowed :)

reading programs

our marvy bouquets!

welcome to the fabulous reception at park lane in mountainbrook! it's raining chocolate covered pretzel stick favors!

I loved using our bridesmaid bouquets in this display at the reception

fun and festive!

margarita bar!

delicious key lime cake with raspberry filling

I loved the cocktail napkin assortment

bride/groom cake

mr. and mrs. eric rubin

chelsea, mc, and erin

quesadilla bar

m & d waltzing to barry white

getting down to the band four on the floor!

the highlight of the night: a celine dion serenade to our page

resting our boogie shoes

have fun in jamaica-mon.

Congratulations Page and Eric! Your wedding weekend was so fabulous and fun and I was so thrilled to be a part of it. May God bless your marriage, always. xoxo

part II: put on my blue suede shoes...walking in memphis

quick stop in tupelo, mississippi - birthplace of elvis

{disclaimer: this trip only appears to be a quasi elvis pilgrimage}

sk with her two best accessories - grandaddy and her shades

after two hours in tupelo...we arrived in memphis!!
let the bbq fest begin....

sister, heather lane, paul, and me @ central bbq

dad going in to record a song...

with sk wearing one of my french baby dress

a glimpse into my all-time favorite shoppe...this is similar to what I dream to own one day. when I'm in memphis visiting I frequent le fleur at least once or twice so this time I got to show everyone what I talk about all the time!

this is graceland. I promise.

After a long car ride Tuesday, that took twice the typical travel time, we are finally home. Sally Kate did great on her first road trip and she marked 3 more states off her list. Thank you Heather and Paul for your hospitality and peach cobbler. We love you all so much!!! Until next time...thank you, thank you very very much.