There's a reason I've been absent for a week or so - our daughter's wedding was on Saturday. You will probably appreciate that this has involved a certain amount of preparational activity that has somewhat distracted me from my blog responsibilities. The event was held in the garden of my in-laws' house outside Philadelphia and was determinedly - and enjoyably - informal (although to say that this does require rather more preparational activity than a formal and professionally organised event is something of an understatement). The photographic record of the day is still being assembled, but above is an illustration of part of the ceremony. But this clearly requires a little explanation as to what exactly is going on.
The American half of our daughter is an East coast girl, her (now) husband is a West coast guy (San Diego, to be exact). So part of the imagery of the ceremony was the union of East and West, and this was celebrated by the couple each taking a vial of sand from, respectively, beaches of the Atlantic and the Pacific - New Jersey's Island Beach State Park, and Sand Diego's Mission Beach - and mixing them into a single container - which is what has just happened in the photo. So, a little excitement, a few logistics, a great party - and a symbolic sand ceremony. Altogether, a good week.