It was yesterday, after the Chocolate Factory and Shelburne Farms where some of us milked a cow and others sampled cheese and someone picked p and petted chickens, and goats and lambs, and after we went to the party house by the lake and some got wet and some had a bit too much to drink and others of us had wonderful Halibut and King Crab Legs brought from Alaska by the bride’s father and so it went through seven days of preparation (well 6 1/2 days).
The rains ceased, the grounds dried out and the temperature settled into the 70’s and the entire party gathered, finally in Bostwick Garden in Shelburne Museum to witness the marriage ceremony between Daisy and Steven, or was that Sam? yes the groom’s father, who was officiating, did manage to name his youngest son instead of his eldest son as the groom, oops! He corrected himself immediately to the laughter of some and the consternation of others. I would regale you with pictures, but we will wait for the “official” pictures to follow soon. Besides Google has changed the way it handles pictures and my phone pictures are not transferring yet, in a way I can see. Oh look here are the Bride and Groom! (and someone’s leg).
There were a myriad of little girls in beautiful dresses with flowers trapped between two layers of fabric and many little boys – and some not so little boys who played around the garden or stood and watched in wonderment.
After the ceremony, as the bridal party and family paused for pictures we were free to wander the grounds some more until the steam whistle on the Ticonderoga blew, closing the museum and opening the decks of the beached stern wheeler for the wedding reception. We wandered through the collection of Modern Art while waiting and once again we were impressed with what the Shelburne Museum has to offer beyond the wonderful historical museum of farm equipment in the Round Barn and Circus equipment in the Circus Barn and so much more. All of the this is within a short walk of Shelburne Village so our observant son and grandson were able to walk to the festivities even though it was Shabbat.
The party was grand, the food was excellent and the entire staff of the museum seemed to be determined to do everything within their power to make things run smoothly. Whenever my aunt and uncle – he celebrated his 90th birthday two weeks before – wanted to change venue there was a staff driven golf cart waiting to provide transportation and the rest of us were treated like royalty as well. Kudos to Shelburne Museum. Take this as a an shameless unsolicited plug, don’t miss this museum if you are anywhere in the northeast. For Rvers, Shelburne Camping Area is very well situated. It is an old campground and the spaces are well sized. It offers little other than full hookups in a great location, and some mud if should happen to rain for 40 days and 40 nights. Not far away is Heart of the Village B&B which our eldest found to be fine and very well located.
Our boys gathered on the motorhome after the grounds closed at 10 pm to partake in some Lagavulin which was found hiding there. Then all retired to be ready for post wedding brunch at my sister’s house, yum! They have now all scattered to their intended destinations and Carol and I are alone for the moment. This won’t last long! We are heading into Rochester in the morning, intending to arrive late afternoon. We have already planned a whirlwind of activity with Jazz Fest starting on Friday Night.
Watch for my posts from Xerox Rochester International Jazz Fest starting on Friday June 19.