Greendale afternoon

We were in Greendale for a family wedding at my daughter's wedding chapel. I kept myself busy between events, taking photos of the kids. Laurie wandered about, checking out the garden, watching the sun set. These are a few of his photos.

Crocosomia, shedding petals

A tangle of daisies

Hydrangea and rail fence

Busy napping

Sparrow on a wire

Light fading on the neighbour's farmhouse, pink on the clouds and mountain peaks.

More warm light

Mountains southeast of Chilliwack

Darkening clouds over the chapel bell tower.

And one of mine:

Cousins, collecting tiny flowers to refill the flower girl's basket. (After the ceremony.)

The bride was beautiful, the groom beaming, the parents proud. The weather behaved itself; not too hot, not too damp, not raining; we were able to eat dinner in the chapel gardens. But the mosquitoes -- ahh! the mosquitoes! -- they were plentiful, and bloodthirsty! It's been a bad year for them at that end of the Fraser Valley. And by the time I found the Off, both bottles were empty.

All partied out

Hard to believe; my first granddaughter is married. (She's not old enough. She can't be! Just yesterday she was a little girl! Besides, I'm not old enough, either. I was a little girl not all that long ago, too.)

Her reception was a dinner al fresco yesterday evening, in the garden of my daughter's antique church/wedding photography studio near Chilliwack. Guests: family, old friends (some I hadn't seen for over twenty years), new relatives, and a bouncing crop of youngsters. Dinner: herbed salmon, veggies from the garden, chicken mole and Mexican white rice, salad greens with fresh fruits and spicy dressing, pie and wild blackberries; most prepared by my new grandson-in-law, all delicious. Decor: white tablecloths under a white tent, white-draped chairs, tea-lights in white paper bags, shining glassware, brilliant dahlias from a local gardener. The usual ...

Lamps on a railing.

Gifts on a garden bench.

Last rays of sunlight on an abandoned table.

Then things got a little crazy.

Help! We've been electrocuted!

Damsel in distress (not).

Family tree.

Watching the hijinks.

The evening ended with a big, stuffed piñata for the kids, an outdoor "Photo Studio", with assorted hats and capes, Linda Ronstadt singing traditional Mexican on the IPod, laughter, everyone talking at once, coffee. I filled my car mug before we drove home, and Laurie talked to keep me awake.

I am tired. I feel old, suddenly, maybe even old enough to have a married granddaughter. Just barely, though.

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