Cocksomb
Bird of Paradise
Torch Ginger
All the flowers for the wedding/reception are going to be from my aunt's yard. She has the bird of paradise, already, and I gave her the cockscomb seeds to plant. Now, I just have to convince her to add the torch ginger into her repertoire. Other flowers I wanted, like the Sarah Bernhardt peony, purple anemones, and various ranunculuses, aren't readily available in Hawaii.
Appetizers- LEMON WASABI EDAMAME PUREE WITH RICE CRACKERS
- VIETNAMESE EGGPLANT DIP WITH TARO CHIPS
Entrees- PURPLE AND ORANGE SWEET POTATO VOLCANO
- LAULAU WITH SEASONAL HAWAIIAN FISH ON A BED OF CARAMELIZED SHALLOT, SPINACH, LEMONGRASS, KAFIR LIME AND GINGER.
- CUMIN AND CORIANDER GRILLED LAMB WITH GUAVA BBQ DRIZZLE
- VEGETARIAN PUMPKIN, BREADFRUIT, AND BANANA GREEN CURRY
- TOFU, CUCUMBER, WATERCRESS, TOMATO SALAD WITH THAI BASIL
- SHRIMP AND WATERMELON SALAD WITH CHILE, LIME, AND CILANTRO
- JICAMA PINEAPPLE MINT SALAD
- INDIAN SPICED BASMATI WEDDING RICE
Dessert- SRI LANKAN LOVE CAKE WITH PASSION CURD
Nothing on the Newburgh home repair front. But lots on the getting-married-in-April front. Eddie proposed in November with this beautiful Me&Ro ring. I love it!
I wear it every so often and when I do, I can't stop staring at it.
The wedding will be in Hawaii with only family and a few friends attending. I returned the original green dress I had immediately purchased after the proposal and replaced it with a white beachy dress from Tamara Katz, a boutique in Pa'ia, Maui.
It's not a formal wedding dress, but I think it fits with our low-key approach. The ceremony will only be 10 minutes, on the beach, with everyone standing. Then the reception will be at the vacation rental we've secured for a week, where the out-of-town guests will be staying.
We're compiling our playlist by asking guests to suggest a song on their RSVP postcards (vintage Hawaii travel poster postcards). The RSVPs and invitations were hand-written, which isn't so hard when you're only inviting 20 people.
Some recommendations:
"Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis
Hawaiian Wedding Song (various artists have performed it, including Elvis)
"No Ordinary Love" by Chris Botti
"Blues for Pablo" by Miles Davis
"Olomana" by Ku'u home o kahalu'u
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Braddah Iz
YES. Today at 8am, our lawyer-in-law (wonderful Margaret's coinage) came over and we signed the documents. She pushed the send button on the wire transfer to pay the seller, so the deal is d-o-n-e.We're looking for homeowner's insurance, and we're going to grieve the taxes. Right now, it's over $8,000 a year. Inconceivable.Also, did you know you have to TIP the title person at closing?!?! I think it's only a New York thing, but that's another $100-$200 they surprise you with. Luckily, we didn't pay that because our lawyer did most of the legwork and we didn't have a traditional closing.
We're leaving on vacation on the 14th for about a month, so we can't start work right away. I'll be thinking obsessively of the house while trying to enjoy...Hawaii. It won't be all sun and surf, though, because...
...we got ENGAGED! Our wedding is in Hawaii, next April. We'll be spending a good chunk of our vacation on wedding planning. I immediately got a dress, but my mother's making me return it because she won't allow me to wear green on her big day. That's fine...I'll keep it for the second reception in New York.
I promised myself I would not prematurely celebrate, so I'm waiting until our lawyer confirms that we've finally closed. It's taking so long because there were issues with the contract, then the seller's attorney had to push back the closing date because of back taxes, and now, we're waiting for the title company to pay the back taxes and to get the deed, and to execute affidavits...I have no idea what's going on.
The contract is signed...we're supposed to close in two weeks. I have no idea what happens between signing and closing, so I hope we do. The last thing we need is another deal falling through.
Cocksomb
Torch Ginger
