September 25th, 2022, is only around the corner, and I can't believe that almost 365 days have passed so quickly. It seems like just a few days ago that our beautiful daughter hitched her life's cart to her Boo, Chris Cove, on the shores of Eagle Lake in a stunner of a day complete with storybook cloud cover that produced sun beams that reflected on the gentle waves. As our oldest, she broke the seal for our experience as parents of the bride/groom, and I can vividly recall the overwhelming sense of pride enveloping my soul as she gazed deeply into her soon-to-be-hubby's eyes as she promised him her everything for the rest of their lives.
I didn't understand other parents when they described their heightened emotions in response to their child's weddings, thinking it was the stuff of hyperbole or exaggeration, but I must confess I'm a card-carrying member of that club now as their pending anniversary conjures up the plethora of memories from that weekend in 2021.
I gotta admit, I still get a little teary.
So much has happened in the last 12 months since the wedding that it's hard to know where to start. We've experienced most of what our adopted city of Guelph had to offer, we've bought our first condo, we've squeezed as much Wasaga exploration as possible into a single summer, we've seen Maddi + Chris navigate the honeymoon phase of their wedding, we've celebrated our son Keaton's blossoming relationship with Jessica as they took the plunge to share their lives together under the same roof, and we've dealt with a host of issues and events in our extended family.
Even thought the official date is September 25th, our now conjoined families decided to mark the occasion this past weekend, returning to the "scene of the crime" on the shores of Eagle Lake thanks to the continuing incredible generosity of the Cove family. If you recall, the Cove-Porter nuptials were on the sands of the Cove cottage beach. Despite the Doom 'n Gloom of a mid-September forecast, the weekend's weather trumped the naysayers, offering glorious conditions that permitted a very cottage-like array of activities, "miles of smiles" erupting on our group's faces. One of the many highlights of the weekend was the latest Cove family purchase, their intention to add to the amazing ambience of their abode with a weekend long bonfire lit in the brand spanking new smokeless and deck-friendly fire pit. What is it about the dancing flames of an open flame that is so mesmerizing? Enhanced by an endless supply of snacks and treats, a host of frosty adult beverages, and boat-loads (pun intended) of catch-me-up banter, the weekend was memorable, to say the least.
After arriving fashionably late in the mid-morning, Saturday afternoon featured a host of recreational activities! The ladies took to the kayaks for a paddle through the wind-protected channel into the next lake. The 3 generations of Cove gentlemen took to the waters of Eagle Lake, taking advantage of the stiff northwesterly winds for a lovely sail, and this old fart hopped on to his Dark Matter for a 55 km spin around the Haliburton Highlands. I'd wager that all came away with a deep sense of satisfaction.
We had agreed that the feature dinner would be a cooperative affair and when all of the pieces were placed on the dinner table, the salivation began in earnest. BBQ steak, fresh corn on the cob, twice-baked potatoes, and Greek salad, all in quantities so aplenty that all were reminded to save room for Maddi's dessert creation. I'm not at all confident that everyone listened, judging by the remarks of satiation afterward.
The icing on the dinner's cake, LITERALLY, was the stupendous anniversary cake created by the talented hands of my daughter, featuring a pecan + pretzel praline base supporting a sublimely moist cake and smothered in Italian butter creme icing. A whopping 3 tiers high, slices of her creation peaked over the edges of the plate and sent tastebuds into a dizzying whirl of delight. Like so many times before, all in attendance raved about her abilities and urged her yet again to consider turning PRO. While not atop the list of why he loves her so, Chris is definitely appreciative of Maddi's loving creations.
Didn't he choose well?
If you're going to dive headlong into a weekend of gluttonous celebrations, you can't neglect the brunch, and I'm thrilled to reveal that it was a glorious mix of Canadian staples with eggs made to order, strip bacon, back bacon, fried tomatoes, and fresh fruit, but the over-the-top decadence was with bacon-fried cheese bread, an English delicacy so I was told. If you've never been treated to this heavenly treat, you really must do yourself a proper.
Our most sincere thanks to Tony & Cheryl Cove for sharing so willingly!
Of course, no trip to Haliburton Highlands would be complete without a visit with my MIL Pearl, and as such, featured her desire to feed us. Despite our feeble attempts to recount the wide assortment of treats the weekend already offered, we shared her famous lasagna and fresh tea biscuits. The ride home Sunday night saw us lean the seats back a little to release some of the pressure created by sitting. HaHa!
A quick reflection of the previous 48 hours events gave us the "warm fuzzies" for Maddi + Chris. What a wonderful way to celebrate a first anniversary!
Eternal love and hugs to Maddi & Chris!
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