Wedding pictures

 I took a lot of pictures with my little "point'n'shoot" but Loren has posted a short video on Facebook that might give you a feeling for the energy that the African guests brought to the whole experience.

The wedding took place out at a cottagein Belair, an area on the east side of Lake Winnipeg between  Grand Beach and Victoria Beach.  The cottage is a very nice long time family cottage owned by Jeremy's step father.  A tent had been set up to hold 60 guests.  This was connected to the garage where the food and drink was laid out in stages. The actual wedding was out doors, but the meal and speeches were in the very crowded tent. And here we go---

Here we have the area of the ceremony with the Maid of Honour on the left in a beautiful Sari, a friend of Denise's, met in Canada.  The officiant, in the middle is Gillian, Jeremy's sister, and the lady on the right is Emily Anderson, the best "Man", who was born 10 days before Jeremy to Loren's good friends Mike and Cathie.  Cathie was the hostess for the shower I've spoken of before.  Jeremy and Emily have grown up as friend's and are really quite close friends.

 

This next picture is of Boudoo, Denise's father, walking her down the "aisle".  He turned out to be quite the character.

Here we find Jeremy and Denise saying their vows.

While Gillian was telling them that they were now husband and wife, Jeremy was so excited that he actually did a little dance.

Denise

Jeremy showing off the bouquet

Here we have the bride and groom being escorted into the reception area African style.  This is the subject of the Loren's video.  This was accompanied with lots of dancing and joyful shouts.  This shouting occurred frequently during the whole afternoon.

I hope you're noticing that, although I never got the redhead I wanted in my children, I got it in my grandson, and the beard even more so. Below there is a picture of the cake--chocolate at Jeremy's insistence.

 

The meal was unusual.  We didn't get roast pork but got "pulled Pork", which just means shredded, but with a slightly smokey flavour. There was Caesar Salad, and all sorts of African dishes made by Denise's family.  One traditional dish was a whole Mackerel, which I was told was very tasty but quite boney. There were several (6 or7) half siblings of Denise there, some quite small (3-4years) and then older in an almost yearly rate.  When her father spoke he explained that Denise had been born in Germany.  He and her mother were not married and after Denise was born the mother turned the baby over to him, and left.  He  spoke of how close they became as he raised her. He subsequently married and the family came to Quebec ( their original and current language is a French dialect.) where they now live.  Yes, they had all travelled to Manitoba for the wedding.  A couple of them were much more interested in how David and I had managed to stay together for so long.  This lead into more general conversations about what it takes to make a good marriage.

There were the usual speeches and toasts, and then we left.  Loren had arranged to have one of his good friends drive us out and back. On the return trip one of Denise's Aunts rode with us. Marc, Loren's friend, had grown up in New Brunswick as a French  speaking Acadian, so there was a good chat about the differences and similarities of the mutual language.

We were both exhausted after such a long and busy day.  I was very, very glad that I hadn't tried to head out there with me driving.

The plan for today is to find places to lay ant traps in the kitchen.  After many years, maybe since the last time you were here Beth, they have invaded again.  Large buggers.  The last one I had to beat to death with the metal colander.  I hope we can hold them off.  The last time we had exterminators in we were told that if they establish themselves in a house, it's almost impossible to get them out again.

Wish me well in my battle, but for yourselves remember to try to stay safe (especially from giant ants).  And know you are loved.