Busy, busy

Our friend Ken asked a favor, and of course we accepted: His only niece is getting married in a few weeks, and she wanted to have some bridal portraits taken at our place.

So just before 7 Sunday morning, the photographer came through the gate, and I gave him a quick tour. Then came Ken, his sister and her daughter, the bride-to be.

She changed into her (lovely!) gown, and we set out around the house and grounds -- grass so dewy that Ken carried the train and I carried a sheet to spread out for shots, and then to tuck under the hem, around the towel I'd carried to wrap her cold, wet feet. These dogwoods at the flagpole made one nice backdrop.

Several hours later, with her back in plainclothes, the groom-to-be arrived with the bride's dad and Ken's partner, Ben, and the two dogs, for family portraits.

And around noon they left, and Robert swept in from the Gatlinburg bridge tournament, where his team had won and picked up a whopping 28 master points.

Soon after which I left for the grocery, to pick up supplies for Robert's regular Monday bridge group -- pepperoni appetizers, a chicken-sausage-wild rice casserole, salad, biscuits and a Key West dessert brought north: trés leches -- "three milks" -- a yellow cake soaked in cream, condensed milk and evaporated milk, left to steep overnight in the fridge into almost a pudding.

All of which I cooked up back home . . . and went to bed early.