Fallen Leaf Lake...See You Soon!

Timing and Location of Ceremony and Reception

Hello Friends and Family,

Sara and I are so excited to see and celebrate with each and every one of you.  A growing number of our wedding guests have asked about our ceremony; where is it and when does it begin?  Fair enough; these are timely and critical questions.  Please consider the specifics, below. 

Summary;

Ceremony (Taylor Creek Sno-Park);	3:30pm
Reception (Uncle Chris's @ 704 Glorene);	4-10pm
Cocktails & Appetizers;	4:30-5:30pm
Dinner Buffet;	6-7pm
Sunset;	8:18pm
Dessert;	8:30pm
Music Down/Departure;	10pm

Where is the Taylor Creek Sno-Park?  The Sno-Park near Taylor Creek is halfway between the Mt. Tallac trailhead turnoff and the Taylor Creek Visitor Center.  The entrance to the Sno-Park is 3.5 miles northwest on Hwy 89 from the junction where it leaves Hwy 50.  Heading towards Fallen Leaf Lake and Emerald Bay (northwest) on Hwy 89, you’ll pass Camp Richardson (Chris’s home is only 1.9 miles from the Camp, back towards the intersection of Hwy 89 and 50).  Less than 1 mile later, you’ll see Fallen Leaf Lake Road on your left and, 500 feet past that, you’ll see the entrance to the Taylor Creek Visitor Center on your right.  Another 500 feet and you’ll pass Smokey Bear Ct. on your left.  Our ceremony is the next road on your left.  Turn into the Taylor Creek Sno-Park and park your car, or your bicycle(s).  We’ll have a warm body or two as well as some discreet signage directing you to the trail.  As we’ve mentioned previously, you’ll need to walk for a couple of minutes through the woods.  The path is wooly; for your comfort and safety, please wear appropriate shoes.    

Important Note;

We hope and expect to be married near Taylor Creek in the Sno-Park.  By now, the snow is long gone, the water has been imbibed by the earth and native flora are feeling frisky and are ready to hold and host our special event.  Reconnaissance confirms that this picturesque spot ought to be available.  The morning of our ceremony, we’ll verify that all is well with our chosen venue.  If we discover otherwise, the ceremony will take place in the front yard of Uncle Chris’s home on Glorene Ave.  Should this situation arise, we’ll place a sign at/near the entrance to the Sno-Park.  It will suggest that you turn around and head back to Chris’s!  We have plenty of time so we will not rush to start; we will wait for all guests to arrive.

Another Important Note;

Sara has just published Part III of her love story.  We’ve posted it on the blog and will shortly send an email.  Enjoy!

Sara's Love Story; Part 3

Part III

So where was I?  Oh yes, “I’m in love with Mike Moore”!  So, after at least a month of pestering and nearly stalking the poor man, Michael finally asked me out for our first date.  I recall that Michael called me on July 22 because it was my dad’s birthday.  We had a brief conversation as I stood in my parent’s kitchen talking on the old style wall telephone.  And when I say brief, I literally think Mike said 1 sentence which was, “hey there…so I was thinking that maybe you should come over and let me make you dinner”.  For those of you who know me, you KNOW how I like to eat!  I thought I had died and gone to heaven.  I mean it couldn’t get any better than Michael making me dinner…or so I thought.  

We made plans for Saturday, July 24, 1997 and I came over to his apartment in Santa Cruz and when I arrived Michael was in the kitchen preparing dinner.  I quickly assessed the kitchen and found 2 boxes of Kraft Macaroni and cheese standing candidly on the counter next to a family size jar of apple sauce.  Okay, so maybe he wasn’t the chef I fantasized about him being, but it’s the thought that counts right?  And, I must say that macaroni was pretty darn good!  

Following our gourmet meal, Michael asked me to sit at the table and he pulled out a bottle of dark green nail polish and asked if I wanted my nails painted.  I agreed and he busily began his nail painting project with the same fastidious intensity he brings to every project he embarks upon.  After nails were painted we walked downtown to Café Pergolesi for mochas prior to the movie.  Our first movie, Dream with the fishes, played at the Nickelodeon and is a wonderful but dark independent Nick film.  The soundtrack to that movie by the way is pretty great.   As the movie came to an end, Michael and I hurried over to Santa Cruz Coffee Roasters for a night cap and were disappointed to find that they were closing up shop.  Just as I expressed my “ahhh maaan, we just missed it”, statement Michael spotted his friend Jeff and began wrapping on the window.  Michael negotiated with Jeff in his typical ‘Business man Mike’ style and made his plea for two coffees to go.  In a stereotypic Santa Cruzan style, Jeff then asked Mike for his hat in return.  The guy might as well have asked Michael for a family heirloom because in fact his Ritchey hat had just been given to him by his brother Ian who worked as a pro mechanic for team Ritchey.  Now, for those of you who know Mike, know that this request would have normally been met with a quick witted, snarky comment like, “would I ask your grandmother for her cane?” but instead, without hesitation, Michael leaned over the counter and gave Jeff  his Ritchey hat.   I think that this was the moment that I realized, “Oh my God!  Michael Moore is in love with me too”!! As we walked home together that first night, I proudly sipped my hot coffee drink and held Michael’s hand.  It was a beautiful night and a perfect first date.  

Wedding in the Woods!

As our previous post describes, Sara and I have found a beautiful spot for our ceremony.  We'll get married here barring any unforeseen challenges that, despite our riotous efforts, we cannot overcome.  Should we be defeated in our quest for marriage within said glen, we'll infest "Site B".  In the meantime, fingers crossed.  Enjoy the show!

Dusty's version of Sara & Mike at Fallen Leaf Lake

Reading Sara's love stories certainly brings me back to that time, driving around in Sara's Honda for hours listening to the Talking Heads, bonfires at the cove, I could go on and on but I will keep it PG. But, since you have opened this blog to all of us (although you may be regretting it now), I'm going to go ahead and share a memory of Sara and Mike. This one is especially fitting because it is from a camping trip at Fallen Leaf Lake, I believe it was the first time that the two of them went there together. It's funny that my memory from that period of my life tends to be a littly fuzzy at times, however that particular trip is so clear in my mind. It's when I realized how perfect Sara and Mike were for eachother.

To be truthful, I don't think I had spent too much time with Mike, and I think he and Sara had only been going out for a short time at this point. I believe it was the summer of 1997. We arrived at the campsite, and as my sister Jill and I unloaded our gear (tent, sleeping bags, backpacks, etc.) we looked over and saw Sara and Mike with a huge laundry basket. Jill and I looked at eachother a little baffled, obviously thinking "why did these two bring their laundry camping?". We knew however that it certainly wasn't dirty laundry, because it was all perfectly folded. Well, it turns out that in that laundry basket was their bedding. Yes, you heard me right, no sleeping bags for these two, only the finest 500 thread count sheets, goose down pillows and fluffy comforter (ok maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but that's what it looked like anyway). Knowing Sara, this didn't surprise me. What was so fitting was that both she and Mike were exactly the same in this sense. During that camping trip I saw how they interacted as if they had known eachother their entire lives, making it look so effortless. I also have a vague memory of them sweeping the campsite, but that might just be my imagination. I certainly wouldn't have put it past either of them though.

There are plenty of other memories that I could share about the two of them, and of that camping trip, but that is the one that stands out the most, that and the "we have bees" at the restaurant on the way home from that trip. It's not an inside joke, it's just impossible to convey the humour of the bees in writing, or maybe it just seemed a lot funnier at the time. Anyway, when you see Sara and Mike you can ask them about it.

I will also take this opportunity to tell you guys how happy I am for you. I'm so bummed that I am not able to go to the wedding, but I will definitely be thinking of you two. I'm sure it will be a blast, you guys certainly know how to have a good time.

A Beautiful Spot Where We Hope to be Married

Sara and I have been rallying around the woods in an attempt to discover a location for our ceremony.  We have found that spot!  As the exact nature of this piece of land and the adjacent parking lot is a bit mysterious, we may need to fly into action and realize our "Plan B".  We'll save that for another post.  In the meantime, we're off to enjoy Happy Hour and then some delicious Italian food (recommendation courtesy of some foodie-locals).  We shot a short video on my phone so that ya'll can get a peek at our chosen spot...can't get that guy to upload.  We'll work on that.  In the meantime, here are some stills...enjoy!

Our Gift Registry

Many of you have asked where we are registered; we finally have an answer!  Sara and I have three registries;

1. Honeymoon Registry (online; http://www.travelersjoy.com/)
   
2. Heath Ceramics (online; http://www.heathceramics.com/go/heath/)
3. Chef Works (Downtown Santa Cruz; http://www.chefworks-santacruz.com/)

Ahead of any gift giving, Sara and I thank you for allocating your resources to attend our destination wedding; we are honored and excited that you would choose to do as much; your presence is present(s) enough.