Hellllooooo TAHOE!

A few days away from the Bay Area was just what I needed. Took part in creating flowers for Rayleen and James' wedding at the Olympic Village in Squaw Valley. I was surrounded by beauty not only in my lodge with the vibrant and aromatic scape of flowers but also with the breathtaking scenery of the great outdoors. The indulgent of beauty was overwhelming. With all that surrounding me, I almost forgot all the work that needed to be done. My friend Edrea aka McGyver was of more than big help, more than just a pair of hands, my sanity for the weekend really. Without her, I probably would have faltered, dinged myself left and right, and left lettuce in my hair without notice.

It was a wonderful short lived weekend. I wish we could have relaxed longer, ate more Hamachi Kama and decadent green tea ice ceam at Ichiban, pig out on some sticky fingers, ride the lift to the top peak, drank more delicious tap water and breathe in more fresh air but we needed to head back home. The drive was a long one but an evident reminder of why I love flowers and why Mcgyver and I are friends. Thank you Mc G!

our view from our room

Duct tape goes a long way. I couldn't have done it with my McGyver, her tools and my flowers

Peach Explosion. I also used 4 different varieties of Roses

The market ran out of the ginormous wax flowers so I substituted them for these Snow berry beauties

lock and load. the work station is ready

been at it collecting these liquor carafes. Stoked that Rayleen wanted to use them for her wedding

Alcofloric goodness

the bride's favorite

Sake loved the view

Rayleen's bouquet

James'  bouty

groomie bouts

daddy bouties

my hotel fridge for the weekend

insane in the membrane

Drove to Reno for dinner and gambling. Ichiban, all you can eat SUSHI here we come! Only to find...

THIS going on at the same time in Reno, the Annual Rib Cook Off! McGyver and I tried our hardest to make room. We did have room for dessert; a half powdered funnel cake and dragon's blood shaved ice. 

Last day at Squaw Valley. Tahoe has incredible tap water. I took some home, a lot of it:)

getting ready to capture the Elephant Cow on the drive home

The drive home was long. Endured 3 hours worth of solid bumper to bumper traffic alone. Chopin, Jason Mraz and Pandora's one last cry blasted the majority of the way.  took about 13 songs till Pandora actually played some Brian Mcknight. 

Our laughs and the stench of the great and not so great outdoors entertained us the whole ride home. We laugh-cried about our bad habits of road rage.  I found out McGyver likes throwing handfuls of pennies at incapable drivers. We even stopped for some Leatherby's. Triple fudge DUTCH CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM! oh yeaaah!