by toogie ( edited 15 Oct 2018 ) 15 Oct 2018

Well Cuties, the day came and went, but the party, time spent with friends, and weather was as nice as we could have hoped for.

This is our family, all but three. Daughter-in-law and 2 grandsons absent. We had 78 people, that hubby and I counted from memory, but could have been more. It was a lovely party, because Ashley planned everything special, down to the last detail.
An Army buddy and his wife come in Friday and stay with us until Sunday morning. I thought it would be too stressful to entertain guest, before the big day, but all went well. She pitched in and helped just like the rest of us. Although Ashley didn't want me to have to do anything, I HAD to cook a few dishes to help or I wouldn't have been able to enjoy it.
The party was mainly on the back lawn at Ashley's house. Grandson Caleb, our son and SIL set up all the tables the morning of. The 'guys' parked everyone as they arrived.
When we entered the house there was a sign in book on the back of the piano. It was my original bridal shower book, from 50 years ago. Next to it on a standing easel was a framed glass with 50 year info on. (I don't have it yet, but when I do I'll take a pic and post).
The quilt was rolled up and tied on a stand inside. It stood behind the cake table, which Ashley said she had wanted the icing of the cake to look like Dotted Swiss fabric (vintage). To the left of the quilt in a corner hung our wedding clothes and his duffel bag set on the floor.(I wish I had taken better care to preserve his uniform and my dress but I hadn't looked that far ahead and much to my regret, they are moth eaten)
On the buffet was an old suitcase opened to hold memorabilia from 1968. Over the suitcase was a large photo of me and to either side of it was our only wedding photo and his Army photo.
A slatted screen was lit with string lights and held old photos of early in our marriage.
The guest were already there, except for the couple that came with us, when we arrived. When we entered everyone wished us 'Happy 50th Anniversary' and we were instructed to come untie the quilt, so it would drop down and be the backdrop for the pics. (I must say I do think it did make a pretty picture with us and the cake table)
Then we all went outside and mingled, before she soon had one of our nephews offer up a prayer and bless our food and us. I must also say how touching his prayer was. It not only moved me and others, but his voice cracked, when he said we were his 2nd parents since losing both of his. There are only 2 years difference in his and our son's age and he was an only child.
When everyone was seated and through eating, Ashley read the 'Love Story' of me and my dh. She had a microphone and speakers set up beforehand, so everyone could hear. She also played a slideshow with music afterwards, in and out of the house. She had previously set up a projection screen outside and it played on the big screen tv inside.
As everyone told us goodbye they said how much they enjoyed everything. I know Ashley tried to get her sister and brother involved in the planning, but she ended up planning most everything herself as she does like to entertain. They helped when it came to the labor part.
I think it all came together well and everyone did a great job making things run smoothly.
Ashley did tell us afterward about our dear little Gus. After the cake was set up Gus took a plug out of the very front and Ashley said she thought she was going to have a heart attack. My friend Kathy was there helping her and our niece Sheila. They calmed Ashley down and said they would fix it and fix it they did. Can you tell?

8 images:[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]

109041

Comments (23)

by jrob Moderator 17 Oct 2018

Congratulations on your 50th anniversary. That is so special and everything looks just perfect. Your daughter needs to plan parties and weddings as a business. Your quilt is lovely and what a wonderful idea to use it for the backdrop. I pray you have many more anniversaries and enjoy the journey. Love, Jerrilyn

1 comment

by toogie 17 Oct 2018

Thank you...I was wondering when I would hear from you. Won't yours be coming soon? How's your son?

158553

by sebsews 17 Oct 2018

Congratulations on the Golden Anniversary! Your quilt is amazing and will bring many smiles and tears to many in future years. Your special day will be unforgettable. Together with you, hubby, family and friends, you can't get it better than that! You are blessed. Sending love and big hugs, Suzanna.

1 comment

by toogie 17 Oct 2018

Thanks Suzanna, you said it all.

18072

by bemara 16 Oct 2018

Golden Wedding - wow, congratulation ! What a lovely celebration, you have such a wonderful family. May you have many, many more loving years together. Hugs Maria

1 comment

by toogie 16 Oct 2018

Thank you so much Maria....hubby says we will celebrate the second 50 years and I said they will have to dig us up!-lol- I did tell him we can give the second fifty a running start!
I do love my family!

20108

by airyfairy 16 Oct 2018

All looks so wonderful. The cake is just amazing. Many, many congratulations to you Toogie.

1 comment

by toogie 16 Oct 2018

Thank you Sarah. The cake tasted good too. I will tell Ashley you think she did well.

253107

by kustomkuddle 16 Oct 2018

It looks like a very lovely day. Congratulations on 50 years together. Quite the undertaking. We are a little over half way there! Your quilt does provide an awesome back drop.

1 comment

by toogie 16 Oct 2018

Thank you. Ashley had asked me if I was going to have the quilt finished for the celebration, as we were doing the kitchen remodel at the same time, for our niece. I told her, it didn't matter now that he knew about it, I wasn't in such a rush. Then she said she wanted to use it as the backdrop so the pressure was on!-lol
Congratulations on your years. I tell everyone marriage is a work in progress. Just like a job, some days don't go as well as others, but you do what has to be done and it all works out. Then I joke and say we have been married 50 years and we still don't know if it will work out-lol

14619

by jenne 16 Oct 2018

Beautiful quilt and you table is lovely also. Is that hubby beside you?

1 comment

by toogie 16 Oct 2018

Yes, that's him or it used to be us. We have changed a lot in the last 25 or so years. Thank you, my daughter set the table and I made the quilt top. DH helped me hand quilt and a few ladies one day too.

27356

by mrskiki 16 Oct 2018

What a lovely party! And your quilt is stunning. Congratulations. Hugs. Nan W

1 comment

by toogie 16 Oct 2018

Thanks Nan, the 'quilt of many colors' represents the variety of the many lives and the emb block is about our life and how we spent these 50 years. It also is births and deaths. So instead of Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors, this is our Quilt of Many Colors.

11740

by vickiannette 15 Oct 2018

a great achievement for you both. Congratulations.

1 comment

by toogie 16 Oct 2018

Thank you very much.

16529

by shirley124 15 Oct 2018

Wow! What a lovely celebration. You sure are blessed to have such a wonderful family. Congratulations on reaching 50 Years of marriage. We will hit 56 years on the 15th of December. Hugs

1 comment

by toogie 15 Oct 2018

My parents married in Dec..Thank you & Congratulations back to you!

52676

by graceandham 15 Oct 2018

Wow, Toogie, that was some party! In her next life, your daughter should be a wedding planner! She had so many great ideas - loved the suitcase. Congratulations all around. I love the quilt. I tried clicking on you and your DH to move you over so I could see the quilt, but for some reason, that didn't work. Give our little Cutie a hug from me and loved the Gus story - one to tell again and again!

1 comment

by toogie 15 Oct 2018

lol-I'll tell Ashley if she doesn't want to go back to work as a PT, she could always hire out as a wedding planner, according to you!
I had to work on the quilt picture, so no one could read it, because of identity thieves. It's a shame how things have to be done to protect oneself.
Our little Cutie is growing too fast. She speaks so correctly like a grown up-lol-We can always expect the unexpected from Gus............lol

66505

by toogie 15 Oct 2018

sewdoctor or Sis- here we are together! We have the same widow's peak, woofed up hair and almost the same dress and necklace!!! We may not be real sisters, but we ARE Cutie sisters!

2 images:[1]
[2]

3 comments

by sewdoctor 16 Oct 2018

Thanks for putting the pics side by side, you can see what I meant..sign of the time, we all wore our hair like that!

by toogie edited 16 Oct 2018

I would just like to know what happened to us!-lol-Outside now, I don't even resemble my young self. Even inside you change too.......I put the top pic too because we had almost the same necklace and clothing!

by mrskiki 17 Oct 2018

I have heard that we all have a double somewhere in the world! This is proof for the two of you.

109041

by heleninca 15 Oct 2018

Well, you have us beat by 3 months. Happy 50th.

1 comment

by toogie 15 Oct 2018

Thank you! My friends Trudy and Rob are in January, Jan 24th I think.....

2753

by pennifold 15 Oct 2018

Wow, what a wonderful spread and it's so lovely that nearly everyone from your family could be there for you.
Your quilt turned out perfectly and I love your wedding picture. I, like you, was a brunette. I'm now grey of course, although I could dye my hair, but it's so much easier this way.
I can't get over how much Nora has grown and it's also good to see that Gus doesn't have a scar on his forehead, well, I can't see it. I also love the way that Avery is looking up at her Mum. By the way who is the little boy on your lap Toogie?
I'm so pleased you had a great time, it's a real milestone these days. Love Chris

1 images:[1]

3 comments

by toogie 15 Oct 2018

lol-not even half the family were there! The younger ones were at a nephew's granddaughter's wedding, but all his living sis and brothers came, except two. One was in the hospital and the other had other obligations. My oldest sis came in and the rest were friends.
Chris, the little one in my lap is Rylan, Caleb's son you prayed for 2 years ago. He has grown, has he not? They are expecting a little girl next year and Dalton, Marsha's son, is expecting a boy. They will be born just weeks apart.
Thank you for the lovely 'card'.

by pennifold 16 Oct 2018

Yes, he certainly has and I was thinking the same thing about Mason, who I think has his arm in a sling!!!! All the kids are growing up so fast these days,but maybe it's just because I'm getting older. Love Chris

by toogie edited 16 Oct 2018

Yes, Mason has a sling. Broke his clavicle just the morning before, at school, playing ball. All the kids are growing and maturing so fast, it makes my life seem to just fly by too.
Rylan is a gem to keep. He speaks plainer than Gus and listens well. Now Gus o

234253

by asterixsew Moderator 15 Oct 2018

Toogie Congratulations to both of you. Thanks for sharing what has been a great day for all of you and your family

1 comment

by toogie 15 Oct 2018

Thank you. It has been fun reminiscing.

114313

by dee 15 Oct 2018

Happy 50 anniversary. Looks like a good time for everyone

1 comment

by toogie 15 Oct 2018

Thank you, everyone did seem to enjoy it.

29242

by sewdoctor 15 Oct 2018

What a lovely party,,,,Happy Anniversary.
Looking at your picture, you and I could have been sisters! LOL

1 images:[1]

1 comment

by toogie 15 Oct 2018

Comment for you above^

40378

by laurasomi 15 Oct 2018

Dear Toogie, happy 50th Anniversary to you and your DH, it looks like it was a great family gathering. Your family did an outstanding job organising the party.
Hugs,
Gabi

1 comment

by toogie 15 Oct 2018

Thanks Gabi, yes they all worked hard the day of but it went without a hitch. Well, except for Gus and the cake-lol

3554

by kingmar 15 Oct 2018

Congrats on 50! Sooo many memories and now this very special day to add to the book of memories. Ashley did a tremendous job and the love shared in preparing the day and food shows through. You are truly blessed. mk

1 comment

by toogie 15 Oct 2018

Yes, I am ,I agree. Thank you very much.

1334

by stork 15 Oct 2018

What a wonderful day of fun and memories!!! Congrats on your Anniversary!

1 comment

by toogie 15 Oct 2018

Thank you it was fun. My friends were surprised to learn that my dh wanted this more so than me. He is usually the quiet one and I the talkative.

20077

by dragonflyer 15 Oct 2018

What a wonderful celebration of your love and family. May you have many, many more loving years together....Happy Anniversary!

1 comment

by toogie 15 Oct 2018

Thank you Kim for all your help and support with quilt ideas. I loved your parents you made and decided to make it a family quilt as much as an anniversary one.

313823

by maleah 15 Oct 2018

Such beautiful memories you have made. Thanks for sharing

1 comment

by toogie 15 Oct 2018

Our youngest daughter spoke and everyone said how nice her speech was.

34778

by dailylaundry 15 Oct 2018

This was the most loveliest 50th wedding anniversary party I have ever seen!! Your daughter know s how to throw a party!!! Congratulations on your special day. You are blessed! Hugs to you and your hubby!! Laura

1 comment

by toogie 15 Oct 2018

Thank you Laura, I think they did an excellent job...I wish I could post the pic of us with his quilt though. I am trying to 'doctor' it up so MAYBE you can see enough of us.

95274

by crafter2243 Moderator 15 Oct 2018

WOW. This was a wonderful day celebrating your 50 years. Congratulations to the both of you. Wishing you many many more.

1 comment

by toogie 15 Oct 2018

Thank you Angie. Wish you could have came! Lots of memories flooded up.

109762