A rose by any other name....

I just want to let everyone know, I had my name legally changed to Mary Jane Welch yesterday. I will not change it at work until all my various licenses have been changed. I do not plan to change it again. I would like to thank my sister Colleen, who was an enormous help.

Farm News

Hi, It's Liza! It is less than two months until the wedding; and the farm has had a lot of rain, which made the water levels high. The weather is getting warm though. Now everyone needs to hope that the wet weather continues so that the pond and lake will still be high for the wedding like my mom and Pete want them to be.

Well, when I wake up tomorrow it will only be 2 months left for getting things ready for the wedding! Where did the time go? Erin's wedding was wonderful. I was planning on putting a picture of her here & Nora beat me to the punch. See both of our pictures on her blog www.shemeanders.blogspot.com

We have the bus to shuttle people back & forth from the hotels to the farm. I will need to make sure what hotels people are staying at. Please drop either Pete or I an e-mail (see last entry) or you can comment on this blog. Of course there is the phone.
I guess we will be seeing you soon. Jane

Happy Birthday Colleen!

My beautiful niece, Erin, will be getting married next week. Her wedding allowed me not to focus on mine. I have no more excuses. It sounds as if it will be fun; many family & friends are planning on trying to come. It sounds like many will be flying into Midway, renting a car & driving to their hotel of choice. Here are more details as I know them.

Colleen will be at the farm on Friday getting things set up.

The ceremony will be at 4PM on Sat.

We are planning on having a shuttlebus run between the hotels & the farm & then taking people back to the hotels. We do not have this set up yet. Not sure of the times, but having the bus start at 2:30PM - having 5PM be the last pickup seems to make sense. I thought they could start again at 9PM returning to the hotels. This will be based on what is needed so if the times do not work, let me know.

If you are interested in standing up in the wedding; wear green...somewhere.

Breakfast will be on your own the next day. You are invited back the next day to enjoy family, friends & the farm. Pete will start grilling about 1 PM.

I hear there are a lot of questions, etc. Please contact us. Pete's e-mail is Pelmo@earthlink.net My home e-mail is mstrong1@earthlink.net

Where and what is Treehenge

I have been asked where and what Treehenge is? Treehenge is a place on Hummingbird Hill (the name of our farm...Thank you Mary Ellen). Treehenge is a circle of sassafras trees. Very druidic. This is the place where the ceremony will take place if the weather permits. See below.

...and the band played on....

After coming all the way to Hummingbird Hill for the wedding, we hope you will allow time to enjoy the place the next day. There is plenty of space for walking and talking, enjoying the trees & the woods along the river. Here is my favorite tree. It grows next to the river, it is huge, old & fun to climb (or look at).



There is also fishing, paddleboat, swimming (if it is warm & we actually get some rain between now & then).

border="0" alt="" />

Pete says he can always find things for you to do...do you like to mow?

Since the news of our impending wedding has become public, a frequent statement to me is; "What! Not you! I thought you would be the last person to get married again! Although I acknowledge that the following has been my viewpoint for a long time...



... things seemed to have changed. Pete seems to be able to tolerate me & I him. Plus, we have all these grandchildren popping up all over...it seemed the thing to do.

Questions without definitive answers

Some of the questions that I do not have answers to, however are in the planning phase, but are NOT carved in stone:

What time of day? I would like it to be 4 PM.

How far from Hummingbird Hill are the motels? 13 to 20 miles. There are many more just a bit further. I am hoping to be able to lease a bus to drive a circle from Arcola to Tuscola to Hummingbird Hill starting around 2:30 PM and continuing ????

Where should I fly into? See below. Where are you able to get the best deal?

Who is coming? That is my question. I would like to know who is interested. I need to know a rough estimate...do I plan for 10 (not likely with my family) or 10,000? Gosh I would need a ton of portapotties!!!!

Are children allowed? Let the little ones come to us. Just know there is water around.

Please post any questions you might have; I am sure I won't have answers for them either. It will, however, help me know what I should be thinking about.

Local Lodgings

Here are the local accomedations. I have been trying to set a block of rooms aside without luck. Arcola is the exit from I 57. Tuscola is also an exit and it has a large outlet mall.

Arcola, Illinois (12 1/2 mi) www.arcola-il.org

Arcola Inn(Ok, Sue Sparr & I checked out the rooms... Not the Ritz, but not bad) 1-888-729-9137
236 South Jacques St., Arcola, IL 61910

Budget Inn (217) 268-3031
640 East Springfield, Arcola, IL 61910
Large remodeled rooms. Comfortable, clean, outdoor swimming pool, deluxe continental breakfast. Close to all area attractions.

Comfort Inn (we have received good reports on this one) 1-800-228-5150
610 South Ridge St., Arcola, IL 61910
Best in Town! Outdoor Pool.
To make a reservation call 1-800-228-5150, or 217-268-4000.

The Flower Patch B&B
(217) 268-4876
225 East Jefferson, Arcola IL 61910
Featured In Midwest Living & Country Sampler, this Victorian B & B offers a downstairs parlor, shaded porch swing, quiet gazebo for tea or coffee & gift shop.
www.arcolaflowerpatch.com
E-mail the Flower Patch at harsh8@aol.com


Tuscola, Illinois (About 19 mi. Outlet Mall Exit 212, Hwy 36) www.tuscola.org

AmeriHost Inn Tuscola/
1006 Southline Drive
Tuscola, IL 61953
Phone/ 217-253-3500
Fax/ 217-253-2773

Holiday Inn Express
TUSCOLA
1201 TUSCOLA BLVD
TUSCOLA, IL 61953
UNITED STATES
Tel: 1-217-2536363
Fax: 1-217-2536655
Email: tuscolagm@jankohotels.com
Check-In Time: 4:00 PM
Check-Out Time: 11:00 AM
Quality Performer: Commendable
Local Time: 4:11 PM CDT

Super 8I-57 & Rt. 36 next to McDonalds, Tuscola, IL 61953
George Harper, Mgr., 217-253-5488

Simple Pleasures B&B (about 10 mi.)
Bob & Berniece Newkirk
600 N. State Route 130
Tuscola, Illinois 61953
An 1870 Victorian Mansion, in a secluded wooded area, has been made into a welcoming 5 bedroom bed and breakfast. It is a place to enjoy and relax. 1-217-253-3319
www.simplepleasuresbnb.com

Basic Information

As stated, the wedding will take place on June 3rd, 2006. People who are much more organized than I, keep asking questions. I do not know, at this time, the answers.

I do know that the goal is to have fun, enjoy yourselves and each other.

A fair question is: Where is Oakland? Not in California. See map above.

Airports: Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis are about equal distance. (St. Louis is just a bit closer). There is an airport in Champaign. If you fly your own plane you can get closer; call me.

The main road is I 57. Coming from Nebraska, one would take 80 to just east of Davenport & then take I 74 to I 57 south(around Champaign/Urbana). From St. Louis one would take I 70 to I 57 north.

Here are the directions from I 57:

1. TAKE I-57 TO EXIT 203 (ARCOLA) HIGHWAY 133

2. TURN LEFT (EAST) FOR 12 ½ MILES

3. TURN RIGHT ON 2175 EAST. THIS IS JUST BEFORE THE BRIDGE THAT CROSSES THE
EMBARRASS RIVER. IF YOU CROSS THE BRIDGE, TURN AROUND AND COME BACK!

4. FOLLOW THE ROAD (ABOUT ½ MI) TO THE FIRST AND ONLY HOUSE (381 NORTH).

TURN INTO THE DRIVEWAY. PHONE # 217-346-3129

Well this is a start. More to come.