Amy Brown's 23rd Birthday - German Chocolate Turtle Cake!

Here are Nate Weaver, Amy Brown, and Jesse Weaver at Amy's Birthday Cake celebration at 520 6th Ave S in St Cloud yesterday. Amy requested a German Chocolate Cake with coconut on top and Jesse stretched his experience and "enjoyed" it with some coaching. Cafe Latte' in St Paul does an amazing job with fresh ingredients! Sue Weaver and Paul Mote had prepared the place and had sandwiches and guacamole prepared ahead of time for the crew. Jane Newell and Steve Wolfe from the Twin Cities, later joined Amy and Jesse for a trip north to Pelican Lake and a bike ride. What I nice day in St Cloud amid the blooming garden in the back yard!

Rose Petals With Mark and Denise at WildFire Door

Keeping the theme of roses, there were fragrant red rose petals available for us to blessing Mark and Denise here at the door leaving the restaurant. Notice the petals already thrown by guests and the fun as Jim Brenny, the wedding director watches.
Boy, I learned a lot about fun and intimate cost effective ways of doing a wedding from Denise and Mark over the past several months. Thanks to all that created the event!

Andrew at the Candy Table WildFire Martineau-Bufkin Wedding

A new addition to a wedding that was fun for me, is this candy table. Treats to take home and savor over the next few weeks! Here is Denise's friend Andrew who is in charge of the table that was very popular as paper bags with handles were provided at each table for all the guests. I will enjoy sharing the treats in my apartment in the coming weeks. Thanks Denise and Mark for sharing in your intimate and fun life changing event. Truly inspirational. :-)

Jane Newell and Eric Wickiser chatting prior the Wedding Ceremony

Jane Newell, my adopted sister, here sits with Eric Wickiser prior to the wedding. Eric provided a song from West Side Story for the couple during the ceremony, as he has found joy in singing lessons at McPhail lately. Jane is passionate about her work as a PhD candidate at the U of M, in family systems. She also is the director of the Buckman Fellowship for Leadership in Philanthropy as a graduate assistant.

Denise Martineau -Mark Bufkin Wildfire Eden Prairie Wedding Cake with Jim Brenny Wedding Director

Yesterday, I attended and shared an Amercian Indian Blessing for Denise and Mark during the ceremony prior to their cutting of this moist chocolate, raspberry filed wedding cake, bedecked with roses. The white fondant was rich and creamy from my perspective. Here are Denise and Mark at the candy and cake table, witnessed by their wedding director, Jim Brenny. It has been sweet to watch, honor and support this special couple over the past few years as they have faced life's challenges together in a good way. Live long and prosper, Denise and Mark! Peace love and joy.

Paul Thompson's Garden - Edina MN Planting June 6

Here is Paul Thompson after I planted the garden on the south side of his garage last evening and this morning. Just as I completed the planting it started to rain. A mixture of heirloom and big beef hybrid tomatoes, green and banana peppers, shallots and onions, celery, celantro, basil with a few flowers (marigolds and impatiens) for accent. Looking forward to seeing how things grow and ripen this year.

Amy Brown - French Sparkling Lemonade at Trader Joes

My son Jesse called yesterday to arrange a meeting at Trader Joes in Maple Grove, to me, the Disneyland of a shopping area built on farm land and gravel pits that I watched being built next I 94 over the past 20 years or so. Amy had never been to a Trader Joes, this being just my third, after Kettering OH, when visiting cousin Jeanette Weaver years back, and then the one here in St Louis Park built a few years back. So here is Amy in front of a pink display (she is dressed in pink) of the beverage. She had her camera out to take a picture, so I took this of her in the moment. I took one bottle home and then to share with Steve Borden at Torvac on his last full day at work, prior to getting on a plane to France to visit this sister in Le Mons, as well as traveling with his sons around Paris etc. Ah the tastes and beauty of spring in Minnesota. Hope this finds you in the pink of life as well. Mitakuye Oyasin. Pidamiyedo.