Wedding and Honeymoon Update

Dear friends,

On 11 October 2009, I married my best friend in a quiet, personal ceremony at the Wabasis Lake Shelterhouse in Greenville, Michigan.



Rick and I planned the wedding around the fall color, perfect weather for hiking, and a lecture by popular scholar and scientist, Dr. Jerad Diamond (Collapse, and Guns, Germs, and Steel.)

On our way from Minnesota (we went through Northern MN, WI and the upper peninsula of MI), we stopped to hike a segment of the Superior Hiking Trail in northern Minnesota. After the wedding we took a leisurely tour of Michigan.

THE SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL



Immediately after the wedding, Rick and I went to Ludington, MI with our best man, Todd. We camped and hiked around the park for a day. It was cold, but refreshing. I got a little queasy from the height of the lighthouse!


LUDINGTON STATE PARK

In Alma, Michigan ( my alma mater, Alma College) we stopped and listened to a lecture by Jerad Diamond. Diamond is the author of popular nonfiction books that discuss the relationship of the environment and the success and failure of societies (Collapse). We also were able to speak briefly with him in person. For more details on the visit, Rick has written a very good summary of the themes of the visit on his website, rickdelong.com.

After visiting Alma, we went up north to visit my father's family. En route we stopped (no camping because I was ill), in Tahquamenon Falls to hike a bit. It was beautiful. (See pictures below).

TAHQUAMENON FALLS STATE PARK

We stayed with my uncle and aunt while visiting for a family potluck. The food was delicious. Plenty of dessert. . .enough entrees to satisfy :D We then spent a couple days in the Porcupine Mountains of Michigan. There we encountered one of Rick's friends from the Pacific Crest Trail which he hiked this summer. Kurt, the friend, ended up camping and hiking with us. We walked a well-kept trail and saw very little wildlife. The views and smells were fabulous and we would like to return to the park at some indefinite time in the future. Rick has written more on his website. To read his article, follow the link above to his website.

PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS STATE PARK

Finally, we made a visit to Nickerson, Minnesota to stay with Rick's grandparents. It was nice to visit with them and get to know them better --- and I won't deny that the set of pies grandma made were pretty fantastic too!

I started back at work this week past, it was rough, but after such a rejuvenating time off -- I have been in a great mood regardless!

Best.

(All photos are property of Rick DeLong. To ask about use, please contact him via his website.)

Training underway and wedding dress making!

Dear family and friends,

Sorry for not updating sooner. I have been lazy and busy with other stuff (namely training for work, signing up for fall classes, and wedding projects. . . .and watching the first season of Merlin).

Panera Bread is fun and, unlike other jobs that I have had, it keeps me busy. Today, for example I made sandwiches for 2 hours straight, no break in sandwich-making. Lunch is by far the busiest time for the cafe that I work at, mostly because we are right downtown. In addition to all the business people that we normally serve, there was the weekly farmers market. We were swamped. The people I work with are very supportive, however, and friendly so it was fun. Tomorrow (Friday) I start hands-on training as cashier. I think I am going to enjoy cashiering more than sandwich making.

Also, Angie and I have officially started on the modifications for my wedding dress. We added the length to the slip portion last night and have yet to hem it and add the lace around the edge. After we get the right length we'll be making a skirt to fit over the dress (I bought a vintage dress that we are refashioning, for those of you who weren't aware.) I'm getting quite excited and would really like to post pictures, but I want the design and look of the dress to be a complete surprise for Rick on the day of the ceremony. If you are interested in pictures, I will post more when we have it done and you can just let me know where you would like me to email the pictures. In the spirit of wedding-ness, however, I will post some other pictures of how things are coming.


The wedding colors

The paper roses I am making for the bouquets and boutineers

The reception hall at Lake Wabasis

How I want to wear my hair (if it grows enough).

On top of all this other stuff I have wasted a lot of time watching the first season of BBC's new Merlin series. I watched all the episodes online in the span of 3 days. I am glad it is done because it was taking up a lot of time. Though it was kind of addicting. I have always been sort of drawn to the Medieval/ Renaissance type stuff. I love the show; it is so fun -- although corny as all get out. Not to mention the gentleman cast as Prince Arthur is a total hunk (blondes aren't really my type but with the accent and manly-man-ness, I can't resist. :D)



Also, I have been entertaining the idea of visiting the Renaissance festival. :) I think it might make a fun date for Rick and I in September. What do you guys think about such things? Do you like these sort of shows, fashion, and fantastic themes? I think they'd be fun -- magic (the good kind of course) and chivalry, feasts, knights and ladies. Well, at least I think its fun to pretend! If you want to watch some episodes NBC has been showing it and you can watch episodes 5-10 on hulu.com.

I wish you all the best and I will try to post more often.

Love <3

First Post!

Life in Minnesota is wonderful.

Granted, the first two months have been a whirlwind, with their difficulties (missing Rick, adjusting to a new home, going without work and trying to make new friends. . .). And, deciding to live with one's parents-in-law has potential to be dicey. Just the same I feel that after six weeks I have begun to settle in well, and I have enjoyed getting to know Pete and Angie as family. Things have also started to fit together the way I imagined. On Monday, I was offered a job working for Panera Bread full-time and I had another promising interview at Dress Barn for evenings and weekends. Also, I am still hoping for a interview with the Minnesota Environement Intiative working on their Project Green Fleet. This job, in particular, is closely realted to my long-term career interests.

In my social life, I have plans to go out with a friend, Danielle, to see a show, Les Miserables. I was introduced to her by Angie at a church brunch. We have had plans to see the new Harry Potter movie, but so far, our schedule haven't matched.

My classes at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Intro to Chemistry and Intro to Statistics, went well; I have my finals for both of these classes this week. Both of the classes were accelerated. What normally would be covered in sixteen weeks, we covered in eight. And, despite recommendations to only take one 4 credit course, I took two. It felt like about an 16 credit course load, which -- thankfully -- I am very used to after all of my doings at Alma College.

Wedding planning is moving along well, I need only to get going on making flowers and programs :D. If you want to see a little about how things are coming and when things are scheduled, see our wedding website. If you are family, particularly Joki family, I would like you all to know that you are invited to the celebration of our wedding (we are keeping the ceremony very small and intimate grandparents, parents and brothers and sisters). I have been looking for family emails to send you all save-the-dates, but haven't had much luck. Please go to the website for details. Also, we will be having a gathering in the Upper Peninsula so everyone who can't make a Sunday reception can meet Rick. I will be posting information about that reunion on the website when I get details about where and when. I can't wait to see you all again. It has been too long and I regret that I didn't have more time when I visited for Paul's funeral.

That's about it for a comprehensive update. I will be updating regularly, at minimum every couple days. Please check back often and stay in touch via this blog, via email (see profile), or via Facebook.

Love,

Kimmee

“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.”

—Peace Pilgrim (1908-1981); pacifist, peace-activist