Jen's Wedding

My friend Jen, another photograph conservator, emailed me later last year, saying, "If you receive an invitation to a wedding in Wyoming, would you go?"  As I like to go new places, and didn't know when I would otherwise have a reason to visit Wyoming, I said that I would.  So, in late May, I found myself catching a wicked early flight to Billings, Montana, and then driving south to Cody, Wyoming.

When I got to Cody, it was snowing.  Which was exciting! because we'd had practically no winter in Philadelphia this year.

I hadn't really expected the snow, but had, on a last minute whim, packed a hat and some sweaters, so I was okay.  Other friends had planned to camp, but not snow camp.  Luckily for them, Jen's family was staying in a large rental lodge with plenty of room for cold would-be campers.

I took some time to wander around a bit of downtown Cody, where I visited the Cody Dug Up Gun Museum.  Which is free, and contains only hundreds of guns, dug up from all sorts of places, organized chronologically from the colonial days to the present.  If you're ever in Cody, I strongly suggest visiting.

It continued to snow through the evening.  This is a tree outside the motel I was at, after a long pre-wedding girls-night-out.  Which consisted of eating buffalo-burgers and hanging out by the fireplace in the lodge.

The next day, heading to the big lodge where Jen's family was staying, for breakfast and flower arranging.  (Tip: if you're planning on a wedding and want to save some money, make friends with loads of conservators, who will happily assembly professional-quality bouquets in return for lunch.)

The wedding ceremony was a the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, in the Western Art Gallery.  Original plans had been for a outdoors wedding, but the surprise snow made it impractical.

Some guests wore cowboy boots.  The sheriff attended.  

Jen and Dan wrote their own vows, which made everyone weepy.  Jen also chose to rock her specs, which as another bespectacled gal, I can respect.

A beautiful and delish cake, flowers by Team Conservation.

Really, more people should get married at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center.  It's lovely, and the dishes all have little buffalo on them.  The green ceramic cups are the favors, made by a friend and glazed by Jen and Dan.  Best wedding favor ever.

So, Jen and Dan know a great number of talented people, so a great deal of the wedding material was specially-made for them, by their friends.  The wedding invitation was a special design, the favors, the cake, the photography, the clothing, the flowers, the music...

My contribution to the wedding was very Western Pennsylvania.  Jen and Dan are not from PA, so they did not have a cookie table, but they were delighted to accept a small number of specially-made buffalo-shaped cookies (from me).  And by small number, I mean about six dozen.  A small number for a cookie table.

Jen and Dan's invitation was buffalo-themed, with a cute little green buffalo on it.  Coincidentally, Ynn and Tank have a custom, Tank-manufactured, buffalo cookie cutter.  A loan was negotiated, and in due course a mountain of buffalo cookies was created!  The green ones were orange blossom, the blue were almond, and the white were vanilla.

Another friend must avoid eating all dairy products, and to make a treat that she could enjoy too, I made the buffalo cookies totally daily-free.  And here she is, stocking up on cookies!

We noticed on the way out of the museum.  Guys Night.  With a cash bar and various live birds of prey.

Philly Tourist Stuff

When everyone (parents, brother, godparents) came to Philly to help me move from Chez Headley to the Little Apartment, it was on one of the hottest weekends (so far) of the year. Chez Headley is about to undergo a massive phase of destruction, and being that my fellowship has been extended for a second year, it seemed like an optimum time for a potential move. Specifically to someplace close enough for me to walk every where I want to go. (No SEPTA wanted.)

After the move, which thankfully happened during Philly Beer Week 2010, we spent a bit of time taking in the Old City Revolutionary-Era Philadelphia Sites. Treading where Ben Franklin trod. And whatnot.

The Liberty Bell.

In the Visitors' Center where the Liberty Bell is housed, there is an exhibit detailing the history of the bell. At one point, a disembodied voice says, inspirationally, "Why are we so entranced by the Liberty Bell?" Having gazed upon it, then answer to that question is: I have no idea.

Independence Hall.

Try explaining this to a Canadian: "Ummm... well... it's a musical version of the creation of the Declaration of Independence." Supervisor Greg thought I was joking. Once he figured out that I wasn't, his response was, "Only in America."

Walkabout: Quebec

The final part of the Walkabout, before the packing of my stuff in the CanadaHouse, was up to Quebec (City). Mum welcomes you to Old Quebec!

Looking down onto one of the main streets from on top of the fortifications.

You thought this city was adorable in the winter? It is just as charming in the summer. And you don't need snow boots to enjoy it!

Looking off the cliffs, over the lower city, at the Saint Lawrence.

Funicular! Mum did not want to ride. She wanted to hide in the back, but luckily for us, the four of us were the only people on that particular ride down, so we got an excellent view!

In the lower city.

Mum, Ynn, Tank, and Champlain brave the winds off of the river.

There is a lovely promenade running past the Chateau Fronteac along the Saint Lawrence.

Walkabout: Montreal

By nature, a Walkabout involves moving from place to place. Our Walkabout plan was to spend some time in Ottawa, take a day and visit Montreal, and then head further north to Quebec (City) for a couple days. I really like Montreal, but as Quebec is so extremely charming and as our Walkabout had a tight time frame, I figured it would be best to enjoy Montreal as we passed through, on the way to Quebec.

Bonjour, Montreal!

I like to visit churches. Good thing Mum/Ynn/Tank does too.

Basilique Notre-Dame in Vieux Montreal.

And cupcakes at the cupcake shop Mark and I visited!

Walkabout: Ottawa

After the final exams and whatnot, the Mum and I drove back to Canada, for a little Walkabout, before packing my stuff at the Canada House and heading back south. Here we are, in front of Parliament.

Tank had been sad about not being included in the visit that the Moms had made back in June, so he required some Walkabout time of his own too. And naturally, Ynn came along. It was a good opportunity for Tank to sample some Canadian beers.

And to take in the Canadian sights.

I arranged a wide variety of fun activities in Ottawa. During the months in which this sort of activity would be practical, every morning at Parliament Hill there is an elaborate changing of the guard ceremony. It involves many soldiers in those large furry hats as well as a marching band and a pipe band.

There was also a good-will RCMP ambassador at Parliament Hill. Mountie and horse.

We went to see the locks on the Rideau Canal. Of course. Tank is taking a picture of the locks from the bridge above.

And we were especially lucky in that several boats wanted to pass through while we were there, so we got to see the locks in operation!

What glee!

A visit to the Cathedral of Notre Dame was also made. I really like the ceilings and the faux-finishes in these older Canadian churches.

And That Was Irish Too

I am terribly sad to have missed the Annual Singing of the Saint Patrick's Day Song, as I was out of range of the phone's ringing this evening.  Making... Irish soda bread!   So happy (bread), but so sad (song).

The Canada House is seriously lacking in kitchen tools: the only measuring devices in the house are 1/4 and 1/3 cup dry-ingredient measuring cups.  I do a great deal of approximation.  I didn't have a round baking pan/tool, so I put the dough into the Teflon-coated pie-plate that my roommates use for everything.  The pan worked out really well actually, though the bread does resemble a UFO. 

 

The bread was super-easy to make.  Despite the lack of fancy tools, all the people present in the house (Flatmate Andrea, Canada Steve, and Canada Steve's girlfriend Justine) agreed that the bread was good.  I offered some to the TunaEater, who mumbled something like, "Greasy greasy pizza," in response and then proceeded to sit on the couch and eat popsicles as he stared at the Simpsons.  Unsurprising.