letters
B E T W E E N F R IE N D S
a
s the mother of a summer
bride, I’ve discovered
that there are few
aspects of wedding
planning that lack a
magazine, reality show,
or downloadable
checklist to guide my every step. Except for
one. When it comes to getting the house ready,
we wedding-givers are on our own to decide
exactly how little or how much we want to
accomplish. Perhaps it’s a kind of final exam
of our parenting skills: Have we—at last-
mastered the elusive art of balance?
For once, Scott and I seem to have gotten
it right, striking a decent midpoint between
“not enough” and “too much.” (Thank
goodness, we’ve learned
something
along the
way.) With the wedding two weeks ahead,
our home projects are mostly complete. The
housepainters are down to final touch-ups.
We’ve spread the last shovel of mulch on the
garden. The new mirror is hung in the dining
room. Next Saturday, we’ll head to the
farmer’s market to pick up fresh flowers and
take a slow, deep breath before the emotional
week to come.
The main events are happening elsewhere.
But for us, polishing up our home is a rite in
itself, a way of celebrating one of the happiest
passages in a family’s life. We’re ready—ready
for the front doors to open, ready for family
and friends to stream in, ready to watch our
daughter become part of a brand-new family
while always and forever part of ours.
So much of what we do in our homes is just
like this—an expression of love and a means of
experiencing life at its fullest. And that’s not
just on special days, but every day. (See “The
Wild Life” garden
,page 91y
for a wonderful
example.) I know what
my
best moment of the
summer will be. I’d love to hear yours.
Gayle Goodson Butler,
E d i t o r i n C h i e f
L a s t C a ll!
Deadlines are conning up
soon for our
2 0 0 9
Annual
Challenge Recipe contest,
with $
4 5 , 0 0 0
in cash prizes.
See
BHG.com/ptr
for rules
and entry information.
3 Ways to Join Us
•
Join our Best Ever! recipe group
at
MixingBowl.com/grp/bestever.
•
Follow us at
twitter.com/bhg
for
daily tips and fun.
•Become a
Better Homes and
Gardens
Facebook fan.
W h a t ’s y o u r
. r - w *
b e s t s u m m e r
k l
m o m e n t ?
Every summer has its peak
moments—an event, trip, or
just-right time. E-mail yours:
BHGEditor@meredith. com
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AUGUST 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
