Chimes!

We are down to a precious few cousins-once-removed who haven't had nuptial parties here, so it is with a particular sweetness that we learned that Cousin Sally's daughter, Mary, and her intended, Dale, have announced a wedding date for May. And have graced us with the chance to have their reception at our house. It is a woo beyond woo-HOO.

So when Dale and Mary and brother Michael, and their dad Mickey and his wife, Marie, came out to scout the house Sunday (though it will be far different in May) it was such a pleasure to show them the basics of the place.

Including these sweet-smelling brugmansias. If only the greenhouse will store them in condition to ring, a la Poe . . . .

Hear the mellow wedding bells
Golden bells!
What a world of happiness their harmony foretells!
Through the balmy air of night
How they ring out their delight!

From the molten-golden notes,
And all in tune,
What a liquid ditty floats
To the turtle-dove that listens, while she gloats
On the moon!

Oh, from out the sounding cells,
What a gush of euphony voluminously wells!
How it swells!
How it dwells
On the Future! how it tells
Of the rapture that impels
To the swinging and the ringing
Of the bells, bells, bells,
Of the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells
To the rhyming and the chiming of the bells!