What's happening in Crazyville--Tuesday edition

We're starting to kick into wedding high gear here. I am starting to put my foot down about what I want. I told HTB I need addresses for his buddies, and I need him to pick a man from his side of the family to do a reading at the service. I'm trying to narrow down my "theme" for the reception. This has been a huge, dragged out FIGHT for months. My major frustration is hearing I'm supposed to make decisions and then, when I make them, family members feel the need to tell me that they don't like the choices I want. I won't go into details, but I got fussed at for wanting arrangements in white pumpkins for the reception. Which culminated a few weeks ago in my yelling, "Y'all can just plan the bleeping wedding yourselves. Pick whatever flowers you want, I don't want to hear about it, and I'll just show up, because I don't care anymore." I think that got some of the attention it needed to get, because they've backed off substantially. Except my mother, who, today, suggested hydrangeas. They don't match my colors, they won't be seasonal, and I don't want them--I chose not to argue this point at 8AM this morning, in her front yard. I want calla lilies. I know everyone means well, but, really, if I don't put my foot down, this is going to turn into a tacky mess. And I'm not having that. If I've had nightmares over this for all this time, I'm getting what I want. HTB got on me because I was watching "Bridezillas" on Sunday. He said it was bad mojo. I consider it taking notes.

In more peaceful news, I started two new projects this weekend. My mother bought CHS Visiting Bird two years ago, and asked me to stitch it for her. I pulled it out on Sunday. Now, it's not a freebie, but it's for her, and it's a fun stitch. I'm making good progress. HTB also brought me a lighthouse and asked me to stitch it for him, so I started that. It's an older Sanman freebie, By the Sea, from a newsletter, I think. I had to kit it up with my own colors, since the model used Seaside Treasures floss. I chose Anchor floss--the colors are bright and clean to me, and it will be pretty. It's pretty small, on 22 count Hardanger, so I'll finish it as a flat fold with some seagull fabric I have in my stash. I think it will be cute and summery, and he can display it where he wants.

I did work on my ring pillow, too. I spent all of Friday evening and most of Saturday on it. It should be done this week, at least that front panel, and the back shouldn't take that long. I decided that I want to try to find a clear, understated button for the front, and then put a knotwork one on the back. The back will probably be fairly simple (though HTB keeps pushing me to add beads--I think the man is moonlighting for Mill Hill. He wants beads on the lighthouse too. I refused), and some knotwork would look good back there, but putting a fancy button on the front would put it right over the edge into "too much." At least this is what my head says, the part that isn't concerned with being able to stuff it properly, LOL.

I hope I haven't driven anyone off with my maniacal rantings. I know that everything will work out right, it's just that it's a big task, and I don't want it to look wrong.