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The
Slightly Different Times
Early Winter, 2009
Hoping all your
daylilies are tucked in bed for Winter,
and you're all having FUN getting
ready for the Holidays!
It sure has been busy here over
the past few months!
Speaking engagements, weddings,
parties, and just back from a great cruise!
In October, the Ontario Daylily
Society had me up to speak at their annual Fall Can-Am Classic... 'twas a total
HOOT!
Dave Mussar took me up into their
awesome "CN Tower" there, and the views were tremendous!...
(you can see the shadow of the
tower in the foreground, kinda cool!...)
The tower's observation deck had a
glass floor that was pretty harrowing to stand on!
Over 1500' to the ground, had me
shakin' pretty good!...
In November, the Wisconsin Daylily
Society had me come speak too... what fun it was!
Nice to talk to northerners who
know what "harsh conditions" are all about, for sure.
And WHAT a GREAT time John Sheehan
showed me!
Whatta trooper, hauling me all
over the state capitol. Most impressive,
was the Capitol Building itself...
marble of every color,
and everywhere (even the
floors were stunning)!...
Meanwhile... some interesting (and
surely "slightly different"!)
critters were found rustlin'
'round the farm..
this mantis looks like it actually
has expression on it's face!...
Not sure just what kinda
caterpillar this is, but it's certainly "slightly different"
(and therefore quite welcomed
here)!...
Had some GREAT fun at the Free
State Daylily Society's Fall Banquet too...
but forgot my camera... sorry!
Fred & Sue Brisco really went out
of their way to show me a great time, though...
THANKS, guys!
Even MORE fun (if you can believe
it) was a wedding here on the farm!
Nephew Michael (Christie's son)
was married to the
most lovely Miss Laura under the
maple on the hill... the whole family came!
Except for 3 of the immediate
family shown, all stayed here for nearly a week!
I was a cookin' fool!
All 125 guests had a great time
though... but the biggest surprise of the day
came when I scooped Miss Laura up
and brought her to the alter...
in the front bucket of the
tractor!
Primpin' her up...
... ready to roll...
...and off we go!...
What "presentation", 'eh?! She was
definitely glowing when we got to the "alter"!...
Taking the newly married couple to
the reception tents was nearly as much fun!...
I even got David to pose in the
seat with me. Pretty amazing, for a "city boy"! ...
Sister Cindy did a bang-up
job of decorating the "wedding tent"
(right in the middle of the
daylily beds, of course!)...
Then the REAL partyin' got
started!
Leave it to Mom to "cut some
pavement" while the bluegrass band played...
Had to muscle her off the dance
floor,
for some time to dedicate a new
daylily to the new couple!...
Whatta "slightly different" crowd,
havin' some FUN!...
The next day, Cindy whips up one
heckuva brunch... for 60!...
Mom and her new boy-toy Stewart
blow out the candles on the birthday cake.
It was a "big" birthday year this
year...
Carrie turned 30, Mary Lisa 50,
Ken 60, and Mom... 80!...
Sis Christie gives a massage
seminar on brother Dave...
who LOVED being the guinea pig!
Mom, Mary Lisa, and Karen (on
right) seem a bit skeptical...
but Cindy and Carl (left) are
more than anxious to be NEXT
on the "slightly different"
massage table!...
All in all...
I think the weekend was one
that the new Mr. and Mrs. Melear won't soon forget...
By mid-November, it was time for
Niece Becky (Cindy's daughter) to get married!
Becky and Jesse got married in
Delray Beach, FL... it was gorgeous, right on the beach!
Gorgeous Bride,
no?...
Mom sure looked grand, didn't
she?...
... couldn't keep her off the
dance floor there either!...
Worn out yet? Well there's
even more adventures this month!
We went on a CRUISE with a group
of friends!
Woo Hoo! 7 wonderful days in
the "western Caribbean"... how fun is THAT???
It's the first non-family and
non-daylily trip we've taken in over a decade...
and was SOO much FUN!!!...
Whatta massive ship! Here we
are, parked at Costa Maya.
I'm waving from the suite, can you
see me? (just kidding)...
We thought we might see more
of the "Mexican Riviera" by dune buggy...
So we got one... WOO HOO!!!...
Took a ferry from Cozumel to Playa
del Carmen... what a cool little town!...
...and still made it back in time
to harass the waiter on "formal night"...
(look closely, this is the ONLY
time you'll EVER see me wear a jacket!)
Let's face it... one has to
"have a life" once in a while, 'eh?...
For sure, it sure has been a BUSY
10 weeks since the last newsletter!
If my personal life bores you...
check out the new Spring 2010 introductions,
and start planning for your
daylily gardens next year!!!
They're posted, and running out
quickly... so get to it, hear? ;-)
Hope you ALL have a very safe and
WONDERFUL
Holiday Season!!!
Now... go get to
shoppin'!!!
Stay well... and keep loving ALL things "slightly
different"!
You're friendly enabler...
Paul
