Party Time!
I know you are longing to hear about and see photographic evidence of the big-ass party to honor Chasel (the prevailing conflation of the happy couple's names), but first, a plug for a wonderful Marfa business.
As I mentioned in the previous entry, the blessing and the party (the sacred and the profane, if you will...) took place on our wedding anniversary. Exactly twelve years ago, Jeff and I emerged from Grand Caverns--a historic show-cave in the Shenandoah Valley--as husband and wife. Knowing my penchant for sparkly things in general and cool tumbled/polished stones in particular, Jeff took me to Marfa's own Moonlight Gemstones, where I picked out two small, matched turquoise rectangles for Paul, the proprietor, to make into a pair of earrings. Paul, it turned out, was the artisan who made Rachel and Chase's wedding rings, so this anniversary gift was very special. He thought he could have the earrings ready the next day, but he took our address down in case he had to send them.
We headed out to the homestead to help set up for the big do...
Folks started filtering in around 5:30/6:00-ish, at about the time the Food Shark (the local yummy food purveyor on wheels, and the caterer for the party) put out some tortilla chips, hummos, and an amazing pureed carrot dip.
You can see the Food Shark truck over there, right beyond the carport.
It was great to reconnect with Rachel's friends Karen (left) and Tobin (between Rachel and Jeff), whom we had met on previous trips to West Texas.
Before too long, the band showed up--a trio who regaled us with lots of old-timey music. And guess who the mandolin player was? None other than Paul, from Moonlight Gemstones! And not only that, he had a small golden box for me--within it lay my new turquoise earrings!! How fast is that?? How COOL is that?? Wow... the next time we go to Marfa, I'm going to see about getting some of the local agates made into shiny things for me to gaze at and wear! That's Paul, on the left. (The guy in the middle is Drew, who works at the radio station with Rachel).
Then the Food Shark folks laid out a spread of vegan food to please anyone, even the most inveterate carnivore. No, there was no meat to be had, but the food was amazing. I have never in my life tasted such wonderful guacamole, and that's saying something, considering I spent eleven years of life as a Californian.
Although the party was not a wedding reception in any way, shape, or form, the erstwhile bridal couple did make one nod to convention: They had a cake, and they cut it. Actually, there were two cakes: a vegan cake and a regular bakery cake. And therein lies a photo-op. Several, in fact.
The cutting of the vegan cake began in the normal manner--maniacally beaming couple wielding big knife through a rich, chocolate-y commestible unadulterated by dairy products of any kind:
But wait! What's happening???
Oh no!! Someone cue the Psycho shower scene music, please!
Rachel, exhausted from her traumatic foray into cake-cutting, left the slicing of the bakery cake to her brother and her husband:
They did a superlative job. And they didn't even try to attack one another. Now, that is what I call a good in-law relationship.
One of the most-appreciated wedding gifts received during the party was the brand-spanking-new potato gun Chase's Dallas pals assembled and brought to him. I'm sure the gun will get lots of use out on the "back five."
As night fell, the old-timey trio packed up their instruments and joined the party as revellers. A D-J took over the musical duties, the lights went on in the little bar-equipped barn, and the dancing began.
The couple took a turn around the floor (sorry it's a tad fuzzy, but I try to hold off using the flash as long as I can. I'm goin' fer atmosphere, don't ya know?):
Rachel and Em-Jo cut a rug:
Greg was the life and soul of the party--as we knew he would be.
And of course, every party needs its Elaine...at this one, it happened to be a guy, and no--he's not elbowing Em-Jo. Really, he's not.
All in all, a great time was had by all, as you can plainly see:
And so, we bid farewell once again to the wide skies and broad horizons of West Texas... until our next visit.
As I mentioned in the previous entry, the blessing and the party (the sacred and the profane, if you will...) took place on our wedding anniversary. Exactly twelve years ago, Jeff and I emerged from Grand Caverns--a historic show-cave in the Shenandoah Valley--as husband and wife. Knowing my penchant for sparkly things in general and cool tumbled/polished stones in particular, Jeff took me to Marfa's own Moonlight Gemstones, where I picked out two small, matched turquoise rectangles for Paul, the proprietor, to make into a pair of earrings. Paul, it turned out, was the artisan who made Rachel and Chase's wedding rings, so this anniversary gift was very special. He thought he could have the earrings ready the next day, but he took our address down in case he had to send them.
We headed out to the homestead to help set up for the big do...
Folks started filtering in around 5:30/6:00-ish, at about the time the Food Shark (the local yummy food purveyor on wheels, and the caterer for the party) put out some tortilla chips, hummos, and an amazing pureed carrot dip.
You can see the Food Shark truck over there, right beyond the carport.
It was great to reconnect with Rachel's friends Karen (left) and Tobin (between Rachel and Jeff), whom we had met on previous trips to West Texas.
Before too long, the band showed up--a trio who regaled us with lots of old-timey music. And guess who the mandolin player was? None other than Paul, from Moonlight Gemstones! And not only that, he had a small golden box for me--within it lay my new turquoise earrings!! How fast is that?? How COOL is that?? Wow... the next time we go to Marfa, I'm going to see about getting some of the local agates made into shiny things for me to gaze at and wear! That's Paul, on the left. (The guy in the middle is Drew, who works at the radio station with Rachel).
Then the Food Shark folks laid out a spread of vegan food to please anyone, even the most inveterate carnivore. No, there was no meat to be had, but the food was amazing. I have never in my life tasted such wonderful guacamole, and that's saying something, considering I spent eleven years of life as a Californian.
Although the party was not a wedding reception in any way, shape, or form, the erstwhile bridal couple did make one nod to convention: They had a cake, and they cut it. Actually, there were two cakes: a vegan cake and a regular bakery cake. And therein lies a photo-op. Several, in fact.
The cutting of the vegan cake began in the normal manner--maniacally beaming couple wielding big knife through a rich, chocolate-y commestible unadulterated by dairy products of any kind:
But wait! What's happening???
Oh no!! Someone cue the Psycho shower scene music, please!
Rachel, exhausted from her traumatic foray into cake-cutting, left the slicing of the bakery cake to her brother and her husband:
They did a superlative job. And they didn't even try to attack one another. Now, that is what I call a good in-law relationship.
One of the most-appreciated wedding gifts received during the party was the brand-spanking-new potato gun Chase's Dallas pals assembled and brought to him. I'm sure the gun will get lots of use out on the "back five."
As night fell, the old-timey trio packed up their instruments and joined the party as revellers. A D-J took over the musical duties, the lights went on in the little bar-equipped barn, and the dancing began.
The couple took a turn around the floor (sorry it's a tad fuzzy, but I try to hold off using the flash as long as I can. I'm goin' fer atmosphere, don't ya know?):
Rachel and Em-Jo cut a rug:
Greg was the life and soul of the party--as we knew he would be.
And of course, every party needs its Elaine...at this one, it happened to be a guy, and no--he's not elbowing Em-Jo. Really, he's not.
All in all, a great time was had by all, as you can plainly see:
And so, we bid farewell once again to the wide skies and broad horizons of West Texas... until our next visit.
Labels: Big-ass parties, Chase, Marfa, Rachel, sparkly things
posted by Cathy VanPatten at 8:53 PM
1 Comments:
Have FINALLY caught up on your blog. The entire to-do looks just amazing. What a great way to start a life together. Many congratulations to Rachel and Chase and to you and Jeff.
Post a Comment
<< Home