Celebrating Litha! 🌞

Happy Summer Solstice!

This year we decided to have an early Litha picnic to celebrate summer!

We selected Holiday Park as it is between the two of our homes.

It is also an absolutely stunning place to look for fae and spend an Indiana afternoon.

We found a secluded spot and set up our spread.

Ashley provided a perfectly Keto charcuterie tray - complete with bright summer colors!

Emily picked up some flowery wine and put together a sunny yellow bouquet.

The antique pressed flowers brought the beauty of the past into the clear prism of today.

Ashley brought along the Midsummer book to share an earth meditation.

After the guided meditation, we talked about our year and how it has progressed to this mid-point.

We worked on paper sunbursts to commemorate the longest day of the year.

Ashley added things she is grateful for this year.

2020 has brought a lot of changes to us both and she was feeling appreciative for this new era.

Emily completed hers with a simple incantation that captured the feelings of today: 

A new dawn is here.  A new life appears.

We bundled our sunbursts into the cauldron and added it to our altar space.

With the addition of some lavendar, oak leaves and a fire starter - our space was complete.

We took a moment to draft a spell to charge chapstick and mud masks with sun energy for use later in the year.

Then we let our gratitude burst into sun flames.

As our Litha Gratitude Sun Stars burned brightly - they carried our thanks into the air.

We sipped our wine and watched the smoke plume into the summer night.

Our picnic was still well-lit past 9 PM and we lingered in the green grass of June.

It felt like ages since we spent time together and so much has happened.

We needed Midsummer to remind us of the sunny energy we have been using this year.

Our lives have grown so much in this new decade - this new chapter.

We are grateful for the sun's fire for life we have been experiencing.

It is time to enjoy the richness summer has brought all the while knowing that the Holly King is winning the battle now.

We will enjoy each moment and knowing we can speed up and slow down as the wheel turns.

I am her; she is me; so mote it be.

Natalie's 40th Birthday Weekend!!

Natalie is turning 40 this year!!

We had to have a proper birthday for her since it always gets lost amongst the harvest hustle.

So we made a plan and did it up right!  

Since Natalie is a lady of refinement, we chose a Downton theme!

We had her meet us at Traders Point Creamery on Saturday.  

This gave us a good starting place and time!

We had a lovely meal with a pitcher of mimosas!

Natalie and Ashley had the fritatta, while Emily chose the mac and cheese.

Natalie even got a free scoop of ice cream!

After lunch, we raced off to ARN to jump in the car together and head to Flix Brewhouse.

We caught a 1:45 PM showing of DOWNTON ABBEY!!

We all enjoyed the DRAMA of this film!

Ashley had special headbands for us to complete the royal feel!

Next it was on to Zionsville to check into The Brick Street Inn.

We had never stayed here before, but it was perfect!!

We had room 2 - complete with two queen beds.  Ashley decorated it in the theme!

We had a before dinner drink of Sparkling Rose (Downton Abbey style)!

We changed for dinner and relaxed in our comfy pink slippers.

We headed to Carmel and were immediately impressed by the Cake Bake Shop!

It was decked out in white refinery!  Perfect for an all ladies weekend!

The holiday decorations were already in place.

Natalie said it felt like the inside of a ballerina jewelry box!

We ordered wine and dinner.

Natalie had the crab cakes, Emily decided on the chicken ceasar salad, and Ashley opted for the 1/2 lobster bisque/ 1/2 chicken salad sandwich.

All were delicious!

The best was yet to come as we ordered dessert!

Natalie and Emily had the Earl's chocolate cake (famous choice!) and Ashley chose the pumpkin/chocolate cake.

They were all AMAZING and the birthday girl's was dusted with shimmering elegance!!

We took our time savoring the cake and relaxing in the gorgeous surroundings.

Then we made our way to the display cases to look at all the fancy desserts on our way out!

We all agreed it was a really fancy way to spend an evening!

It was perfect for the three of us girls.  A place where we could enjoy the finer things.

Then we headed back to Brick Street Inn to have a night cap, open gifts, and talk the night away!

Topics ranged from memories of childhood to struggles of today.

Conversations you can really only have with sisters who have known you all your life.

We awoke after the time change to have breakfast downstairs at Auberge.

The meal was included in our stay and was a major benefit!!

After breakfast, we packed up and looked around Zionsville a bit before heading to ARN to go our separate ways.

We wished we had more time to do some window shopping and strolling along Main Street.

Time together always seem to go faster than you think it will.

We figured we haven't had a sister sleepover in about 7 years.

That truly is too long.

We laughed, we cried, we ate (sometimes keto -and sometimes not!), we drank and most of all we savored every minute of precious time together.

Such refinery, such elegance - such indulgence!

Great birthday weekend!

Serenity Tea Room

We had a groupon for Serenity Tea Room in Zionsville so Ashley made a reservation for all!

Ashley picked up Gran from HV and Emily met her there with Greg and the kids.

We had an 11:45 AM reservation for their brunch menu.

This is a prefix menu of a variety of plated breakfast items.

Ours included fresh fruit, a strawberry salad, tri-pepper fritatta, homestyle cubed potatoes, a raspberry crepe, a round of bacon and a chocolate scone.

Of course we had to pair it with pumpkin tea!

The children had grilled cheese and chicken strips.

We all had a good time listening to the children show off their skills and tell about their day.

Gran looked beautiful in her pink and white!

Ashley had on a lovely seer sucker dress!

Lenora's face when she looks at grandma Lois!

Then we headed outside and stopped by the God tree.

The owner told us all about the historic trees on the property.

Then we strolled down the brick sidewalk back to our cars.

We had a wonderful time just being together, sipping some tea and having a lazy Sunday visit.

The children were perfect.  Greg said, "a little TOO well behaved".

And gran seemed to enjoy the old house, the historic trees, and the little darlings.

Great twin tea time!

Indiana State Fair

On this Monday evening, we decided to check out the Indiana State Fair.

Gran didn't feel up to joining us, so we made our way there on a full price night anyway.

Our first moments through the gates were greeted by the sounds of the "Sidewalk Stompers".

This was a really rowdy, uniquely dressed marching band.

Perfect music to get you in a State Fair mood!

We walked past many food vendors and shops before deciding on some buffalo fries and fried pickles!

It was a great snack to get us ready for the beer and wine area.

The wine selections were very sparse.  We decided to try a glass of the two driest selections.

That was the Pinot Gris from Knobstone and the Chardonnay from Turkey Run.

They were terrible and the Chardonnay was dark and had lots of sediment.

Certainly not worth the price at $9/glass. 

The beer selections were much more varied, but Indiana just isn't great at wine.

We wondered around quite a bit since there was such a small crowd.

We perused the games, the rides and the Super City exhibit full of super heroes.

Then we topped it off with a ride on the historic gondolas!

"The twinkling lights, the whirl of machines, the smell of all things delicious, 

the call of game handlers at our backs and locusts in the distance, 

and the sights from high above the city in car 13."

The normally jam-packed midway was easy to navigate and the sounds of the night could still be heard.

The overcast evening stretched out before us providing a view of almost uninterrupted tree tops and bits of downtown buildings.

After a few spins around the giant wheel, we headed for the Elephant Ears.

We found a spot under a beautiful Tulip tree to share one massive treat!

We strolled through the quilts and paintings before taking a last look at the Midway.