there was a dollhouse steeple church on top of the prairie. beautiful women with child cut and strung wildflowers. the white bearded composer, aka the father-of-the-bride wrote an original score for the ragtag children’s bell choir, who served as processional musicians. mother-of-the-bride wrote lyrics to the closing hymn. ee cummings was quoted, (here is the deepest secret nobody knows) the congregation sang to the sparce voilin and organ for what seemed to be a heavenly host. it was otherworldly. and these people could sing. then down winding country roads to a potluck farm reception (brock, your garden orzo was amazing!) children disappeared to the ropeswing in the hayloft. i smiled at grandparents holding hands – unsure if it was for affection or just help walking. later some kindly neighbor farmer appears with an old john deere: hay rack ride. seriously. thank you to brittany and bjorn for letting me tag along. you did a one bang-up-job on the wedding.
September 1, 2010 - 8:56 amAmanda - Isn't the Valley Grove Church an amazing location? One of my cousin's was married there. They used to do a midnight caroling mass at Christmas time with songs in Norwegian--worth attending!
This wedding provides beautiful, simple inspiration for our upcoming day! Thanks!
September 1, 2010 - 8:10 pmBrittany and Bjorn - PAIGE! These are absolutely gorgeous! We are thrilled. We enjoyed working with you so much; thanks for your keen eye for detail and calm presence throughout the day. Can't wait to see the rest!!
if i had to summarize this wedding – i could talk about the homemade pies, the horse drawn carriage, or the cows who moaned hilariously in the topfield as vows were made. i could talk about the live banjo, the mad libs toast, the cowboy boots or the downpour of hot rain tempting some to run barefoot in fields. i could try to describe the flavor of lemonade, or the lightning which flashed spectacular on the horizon for hours after dark. but none of this, none of this was as delightful, as unexpected or as fun as the square dance complete with a live caller and honkeytonk band which the bride joined and sang. all this – and hearts of gold. congratulations katie and scott!
yesterday afternoon, just bumpin along, i saw something astonishing. art. the iraqi american reconciliation project is sponsoring an exhibit at the tarnish and gold gallery (northeast minneapolis) called THE ART OF CONFLICT. it is iraqi and american art in dialogue. it includes work by american war veterens, and a former personal artist of sadaam hussein among others. in one work local artist monica haller compiles the photographs of a nurse at abu ghraib prison into a book called riley and his story. the book includes photographs and captions and is absolutely stunning. even if you feel helpless or apathetic about the war, even if your summer calendar is busting at the seams, even if you’re tired in your second trimester, i wholeheartedly encourage you to go, because you know what? its a bright spot. its hopeful. it’s massive heart reveals the pulse of humanity underneath our dehumanizing wars. gallery is open 3-8pm thru august 28.
hopefully you frequent kopplins, like i do, which is hands down the best coffee this side of the mississippi. actually, “studies have shown” it is the best coffee on both sides of our honorable river but i digress… here are a few more engagement photos with the king of coffee himself, and his incredible zen sidekick slash jewlery prodigy amanda. i can’t wait to photograph their wedding later this fall… rumor has it there will be cupcakes.
last night on my way home i drove thru downtown and the air was cool and a little electric and its finally august and i had coffee for dinner so i had to stop and walk. intuition never fails, two blocks down the symphony was playing in the empty street, i’m not kidding st. paul was waltzing. i stumbled around in the dark, to the artist quarter looking for jazz, something, i didnot know what, and by god i found it. dear friends, did you know our fair city has been inundated with poets? yes. its true. the national poetry slam is here. i saw it with my own eyes. 2 more nights. i’m just sayin, think about it. you might run into anis mojgani like i did and it might totally make life worth living for a few minutes.
August 10, 2010 - 8:35 pmAnne - I am in LOVE with this. Wish we would have been here because I would have spent my days listening and being changed. So cool.
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