The best laid plans…

My son and his GF have been together for six years now, since High School days.  They’ve had an exciting year – the completion of their home just over the hill next to this farm, and on Christmas Eve my son proposed.  There’s a story behind it…. the ORIGINAL PLAN was a big surprise for his soon to be bride – We were going to take our annual trip to  the Woodstock  Inn in Vermont for a December weekend this year instead of fall foliage time.  She would be under the impression it was just us, as usual.  (Plans were made when we thought the pandemic would be winding down.)  When we walked into the main lobby, she would see a huge banner across their main fireplace that read Will you Marry Me  M………. .    Her parents, step parents and beloved Aunts and Uncles would be there among the Inn Staff with champagne in hand ready to toast – and we’d all spend a lovely weekend in that beautiful town celebrating.    But COVID raged on.  We could have kept our reservations… the Inn was gracious…  but Vermont has strict travel rules due to the virus and they weren’t adherable.. nor did any of us feel comfortable traveling as the numbers in the news  got worse.

The Puppy Plan materialized.  The young couple has been eagerly awaiting the birth of their rottweiler pup, from a breeder in Florida with an excellent long time reputation.  My blog readers know I am an animal rescue advocate, but my son was raised with our two female rotties and what he really wanted was a male rottie of his own.  The rescues we looked at had a few in the past year but not one I would trust with a young family and their first official dog.  Hence, a solid  ethical breeder ( not a mill).   SO… off he went to Florida a few days before Christmas in a rental mini van with his cousin to pick up the pup.  When they arrived home the plan was to have the puppy with a big bow and a ring attached. And we would all show up at the same time, he’d pop the question and we’d have a safe distance toast on the front porch.  Except she was called in to work.  So.. he arrived home with the puppy and fiance-to-be at work.    We then decided to hide in the house , cars behind the house and garage, and she walked in…. hugged the new puppy… and we all strolled out with that big banner in hand, her dad handed M the ring, M proposed to M… tears, cheers, toasts, and puppy love.

The new baby’s name is LEO, or King Leo the 2nd, as he is named after his (HUGE) father.

The moms, unmasked for the picture and champagne…

So.. while this was a weird Christmas and we really missed having our moms right there with us for the dinners and the presents, etc… there is much to celebrate as well.    The wedding will be when the pandemic is over and we can all come together to celebrate in a big happy way.  – Karen 💕