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There's a lot of sadness out in the world right now. Here's something beautiful in the midst of tragedy. Love and prayers to everyone.

Photo of Sol Duc Falls trail taken by my husband, Peter

How to Get Married in New York {part 3}

Here it is- the last New York post. Thanks for bearing with me on this. I know it's wayyyyy too many photos, but we had such a great time, and this was really the first time Peter and I really got to know our camera, so I really wanted to share. Feel free to provide critiques/feedback, especially on the imagery- this photography thing is brand new to us, so anything we can improve we want to know about....

After your brunch {which includes champagne and cookies on the house as well as your waitress running two blocks just to catch up and return your card to you,}you might think you want to go to Central Park to take romantic photos. However, if you are an individual for whom sleep is important, do that instead. Trust me.

Now it's time to regroup- and continue the New York journey through gastronomic delights- back into Manhattan for drinks with your friends at Turks and Frogs in the West Village.

 

Next up, follow your fearless foodie leader through the streets of the village, into the super-top-secret restaurant, Hudson Clearwater.

It's such a cool concept- a secret restaurant you can only find if you know the name- it's not marked by signs or even tables on the street- everything is nestled inside a courtyard, so you'd walk right past it if you didn't know it was there.

Once you're inside, you quickly realize what a special little place it is. Crowded and bustling with waiters shooting off specials like a boss, clanking pots and pans from the open kitchen, and lively conversation from literally every table, the dimly lit, simply dressed room is open and inviting. It felt like some kind of cross between a cozy tavern and an open garden. Truly a cool little spot.

And now it's time to enjoy some good food and drink with the people who have come so far and done so much to celebrate with you.

The men being....manly?

That, my friends, is duck roasted with seasonal vegetables- a farm to table affair. and yes, it's every bit as divine as it looks!

Last stop for the night is at Fat Cat- a bar that combines a grimey dive environment with live music, ping pong, board games and draft beer. Or in other words, everything that is good in life.

How to get Married in New York {part 2}

As you wait in the bare gray courtroom, stop to read the ledger of couples who were married in this very office years before.

 

The butcher and the homemaker, the soldier and the telephone operator, the doorman and the divorced secretary, who stood here and said their vows in 1944.

Next comes the ceremony- a friendly  balding fellow with a husky New York accent will officiate. Don't blink or you'll miss it- all 60 seconds of it!

Be sure to take photos by the fake lit up back drop before hitting the Brooklyn Bridge for a few photos and your celebratory brunch!

don't forget to thank your friends for fixing your hair/being awesome.

So Peter is the kind of guy who thinks he can fit 36 hours of events into a 24 hour day
Which is why that weekend was so incredible, exciting and exhausting.
Here goes:

I woke up on the morning of the fifteenth slightly exhausted and very confused.
First off, Peter's flight had been a bit delayed and we'd pulled into Ormond just in time to grab a Valentine's Day dinner from Grind before the kitchen closed
and pass out watching an episode of Sherlock at 11.
Secondly, it was 10 in the morning and Peter was already up, snooping around in the kitchen
and asking me for my car keys.
Bold moves for the guy who doesn't like to drive in Florida traffic
{can't say I blame him.}
So I lazily acquiesced and fell back asleep.

I came downstairs to a huge bouquet of the loveliest flowers,
and Peter cooking up the fluffiest banana oatmeal pancakes with strawberries, mascarpone cheese and honey.
A pretty great start to our third year anniversary,
especially seeing we had spent our first and second an entire ocean and eight time zones apart
but hey, who's counting?

He told me we were going on an adventure,
So naturally I threw on a cute skirt and my Frye boots,
and naturally he told me that, dear, I might not want to be wearing a skirt where we're going.
I begrudgingly changed into jeans.

In the car, he handed me  a note:

Dear Georgia, 

 It's so great to finally be together on our anniversary. I hope you enjoy the day. Here is your first envelope of the day. Let's see if you can guess where we're going.

Love, Peter

Inside the envelope was a tag from the boots  he'd gotten me for Christmas,
and a photo of the two of us holding a heart-shaped falafel. {???????}
You can see why I am marrying him, obviously (:
 Well, in spite of appearances, I am not hopelessly dumb and realized he was taking me horseback riding
and freaked out accordingly.

On the way to the stables, we stopped to pick up our race packets
{did I mention we were running  the Daytona Beach Half Marathon?
Because that also happened that weekend.
As I said, 36 hour days :)}

So then came the horseback riding!

Which was incredible.

There were only four of us, 

and the very weird trail guide let us trot a few times,

which was a nice change of pace from your typical trail ride.

So now we had to pause and help my roommate load his motorcycle onto a trailer,
Before heading out for the next adventure-
a picnic on the beach!
We stocked up on spanakopita from Theia's bakery,
prosciutto from Bon!

And obviously, wine...

Not How Peter Proposed (but still pretty amazing.)

I know, I know

I promised an engagement story
and here we are,
2 MONTHS LATER

and nothing.

it's coming though, trust me!

For now here's a sweet surprise proposal that brought me to tears!
This guy just pulled all the levers in the most creative way
and I'm a sucker for families uniting

Can't wait to share ours- maybe tomorrow?

G

WE'RE ENGAGED!!!

Yep!

He asked.

I said yes.

He liked it,

so he put a ring on it.

Ok. I'll stop now. 

But we are SO happy and can't wait to share the full story with you guys!!

Eventually. 

For now, I've got a hot skype date

With my hot fiance ;-)

(p.s. no worries, he did NOT propose on the Daytona Speedway!)

The Perks of Delaware

When Peter first told me that he had an interview for a job in Delaware
I was not quite sure what part of Canada he was referring to.
That's a gross exaggeration.
My geography is not THAT bad.
{it's pretty close, though.}

Anyways,
I was conservatively excited for him,
seeing as I know nothing about the state.
Well.
This trip definitely made me a convert.
Delaware has some great culture to offer
If not in its own borders than in the very closely neighboring states
{Peter literally runs through Maryland on his weekly route}

The Brandywine Museum is one example.
OK, it's in Pennsylvania,
but it's 30 minutes from the border,
so in my mind, that counts.
They have an excellent collection of Wyeth family paintings,
{Andrew Wyeth and family, best known for Christina's World.}
since they are from the area,
and a decent collection of other artists as well.
I loved this still life of antlers and a rifle and hunting coat:

 This one definitely reminded me of the film UP.

 I thought this was a cool photo. And despite my face, I really did have a great time.
The problem is, half of what the Brandywine Museum has to offer is outside of the museum itself,
Including the Wyeth Studio and a beautiful garden.
So I'm looking forward to going back when it's a bit, eh...warmer outside.
I know, I know.
Spoken like a true Florida wimp Girl.

Peter showed me around his lab a bit during the week too.
I always said I could never be with a man with a 'typical' job,
whatever that meant to my young impressionable teenage girl brain.
Safe to say that I got what I wished for :)
We also spent a lot of time cooking

This man.
He makes me laugh.































And of course, eating.

 Shout out to Ali Baba for the most amazing salmon and heart-shaped falafel!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

One of our last stops on the trip was to Longwood Gardens.
{Also apparently in Pennsylvania. Whoops.}
We did a quick tour outside,

And to be honest
I was pretty disappointed..
There just wasn't much growing or flourishing in the cold weather.

Until we came to the greenhouses.

From the moment we stepped inside,

I was sold.

These greenhouses are gorgeous enough to rival those in Kew Gardens,

and that is saying quite a lot.

My favorite part was actually the bathroom.
No, really,
It was flanked by these huge green walls of ivy and ferns.
Simply stunning.

 So obviously we had to take photos...

and I have a very awkward  duck-like posture

We learned a lot about
each other on this trip.
For example,
Peter loves hydrangeas..

It was such an incredible place.
And yes,
I know it's in Pennsylvania.
NOT Delaware.
But I still think it counts.
Also,
three cheers for the thievery of boyfriend's hats and gloves!
Amiright?

Sunday Thoughts

The degree to which we love the person we despise the most, is how much we love God. 

- Isaac the Syrian-