Meet Brodie and Mackenzie

December 2024

The Proposal

Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales, Florida

Champagne and My (Julie) Former Engagement Ring

My Ring Has Never Looked More Beautiful  🙂

Mackenzie and her Twin Sister Susannah

———————————————————

When I first met Mackenzie in 2018 I knew she was special.  Gordon was working overseas at the time so it was just me and Brodie here at home.  I loved Mackenzie immediately!  Brodie was so excited about her and wanted her to come over to our house.  All I asked was that he give me a few days to clean up the house before she came over.  A few days later when she arrived and walked through our front door, it was like sunshine walking into our house.  I loved her immediately.  I believe that I had gone to the dentist the following day and I was bragging about her to everyone.  Telling them that I hope that she will be my Daughter-In-Law.  Looks like my wish has come true.

My Engagement Ring

Gordon gave me the most beautiful Marquise Diamond back in 1983 when he proposed.  We married in 1985.  I quit wearing my ring decades ago because it no longer fit my finger.  Same with my wedding ring.  I suppose that I could have gotten them both resized but I just didn’t want to tamper with such perfection.  I also knew that I would rather pass them down to our children for their own engagements.  When Veronica got engaged to her husband Brian, Gordon and I did offer up my engagement ring to her.  She however, didn’t want it, and used the diamonds from Brian’s mom’s engagement ring.  I was a little disappointed, but I understood.  Especially now that both Brian’s parents have passed away as of 2023.  So, I let everyone know that I am leaving my engagement ring to Brodie to do with as he pleases. 

He has since remade it and gave it to Mackenzie.  I am very happy that my ring is now with her.  And, we all have a lovely wedding to plan.

Julie

(Mother of the Groom)

———————————————————————————

Veronica and Brian’s Wedding

If You Would Like To Check Out Mother Of The Bride:

Click Here For Mother Of The Bride

————————————————————————————-

Click Here For:   E Komo Mai To The Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Luau

The Rehearsal Dinner Luau

As the parents of the groom, it is our responsibility to pay for the rehearsal dinner. 

We decided to have a Luau in place of the traditional dinner.

———————————————————————————-

February, 2025

Just a Few Valentine’s Day Gifts to Gift

————————————————————————————————

Valentine’s Gifts For Brodie and Mackenzie

I am one who always shows up with gifts.

Brodie and Mackenzie had asked me to accompany them for their ‘Save The Date’ photo shoot in Sarasota, Florida.

The date was February 12, 2025.

I always show up with goodies.  🙂

Wine, Pink Rose Wine Stopper, Wine Gummies, and Other Favorite Snacks

———————————————————————————-

Mother of the Groom

Julie Lancaster-Whann

February 12, 2025

——————————————————————————-

Mackenzie, February 12, 2025

———————————————————————————-

Save The Date

(I have blocked the date.  It shall be revealed in the future.)

—————————————————————————

Selby Gardens

Downtown Sarasota

Click Here For:  Selby Gardens

—————————————————————————-

(Look at all the Vanda Orchids)

Selby Gardens is a Living Museum

15 Acres Located in Downtown Sarasota, Florida

I know that when Mackenzie told me about this place, I was just so surprised to see something so beautiful located in downtown Sarasota, and not in some spacious rural area.  What Mackenzie said she liked about the place was that it had tropical areas that reminded her of what she thought Hawaii would look like.

Brodie and Mackenzie paid my way.  I think it was about
$28.00 each.  They also paid for the photographer’s admission as well.

Mackenzie’s twin sister Susannah paid the photographer as a gift for both Mackenzie and Brodie. 

A very nice and generous gift.

—————————————————————————–

I was very happy to see this.  A George Harrison exhibit.  I never knew he had such a love of gardening?

To me he was always a Beatle.  I would listen to The Beatles on my mother’s record player. 

It really never occurred to me that he was also into gardening as well.  It was a very pleasant surprise.

———————————————————————————–

The Photo Shoot

Selby Gardens is such a beautiful place.

So many lovely areas to take pictures.

Here are Brodie and Mackenzie with their photographer.  She was so good! 

First of all, she had a great camera!  Second, she gave great directions to Brodie and Mackenzie.  All of that is important.

I’m pretty sure this photographer is going places!  🙂

————————————————————————–

I don’t exactly know why I was invited along?  Except that they know I take my camera with me everywhere I go.  Even though it was the professional photographer’s job to take these great photos, which she did, I also know that they knew that I would be snapping away as well.

My photos became more of a ‘Behind the Scenes’ pictures.

—————————————————————————————-

I will say that being here is the most peace I have felt since Election 2024.  Not all of us were happy with the results of that election.  But, just being here among all this beauty and serenity, was pure peace.  Even the other people visiting, you could just tell that they were peaceful people.  Anyone that is coming to the George Harrison exhibit is going to be of that peaceful mindset.  I just felt like I was with like-minded people.

———————————————————————-

Brodie and Mackenzie were very photogenic. 

They took such great photos.

——————————————————————————

—————————————————————————————-

I know that I would have loved to have spent more time just roaming around and photographing all the plant life.

However, Moving Along….

I Love This Tree!

————————————————————————————-

You know, I was really proud of Brodie.  He did all the great things that future grooms are expected to do in the photographic memories department.  🙂  I know he usually doesn’t like the attention while posing for photographs.  However, he did really well.  And of course, Mackenzie was great, as usual.

The Beauty of the Ocean Behind Them

——————————————————————————

An Outdoor Artist Capturing The Beauty

I love artists!  They see beauty in the world and relay it to everyone else.

—————————————————————————————

I Didn’t Have Time To Enter This

It looks like a Greenhouse but I’m not quite sure what it is.

Always Floral Beauty Everywhere

———————————————————————

Rounding Out Our Garden Tour

Nearing The End

After Coming Full Circle on This Garden Tour…

A Lilly Pond with Lovely Flowers

Mackenzie, Me, and Brodie

——————————————————————————-

Columbia Restaurant, Sarasota, Florida

Established, 1905

Gem of Spanish Restaurants

Brodie and Mackenzie Entering the Restaurant

Mackenzie had made reservations for us for after the photo shoot.

This Was Their Treat For Me

(I think it was an early birthday gift.  My 64th. birthday was the following day, February 13th.)

—————————————————————————–

Columbia

Studying The Menu

I will say this, it was very interesting hearing the conversations all around us from so many tables.  It was all politics.  There were many seniors here at the restaurant and you knew they were frequent patrons, I know this because I was apparently blocking the Columbia Restaurant after dinner mints when I stood in the hallway waiting for our table.  They would approach me and say, “Excuse me.  I just need to get around you.  Thank you.”  That is when I noticed all the mints I was blocking.  This restaurant is apparently a staple among the senior locals.  The table to my left was a combination of Trumpers and Democrats.  I will say that they were respectfully debating, not arguing.  Which is how it should be.  You could tell they were friends that just disagreed with each other politically.  They weren’t hating on each other.  Which was very nice.

————————————————————————

The Drink Menu

I Ordered The Gem of the Ocean Cocktail

Mackenzie and Brodie ordered a Pitcher of Something I cannot remember.  🙂

————————————————————————————-

My Gem of the Ocean

————————————————————————————–

This was a very charming day.  I loved it!

Calamari and Aioli, Appetizer

Our Dinner’s Have Arrived

My Mahi-Mahi and Rice

Although the food was very good.  I couldn’t help but notice that the rice I was eating was something that I had made before.  Something from a Knorr’s Rice Packet that I purchased from the grocery store.  Which then makes me believe that the Mahi-Mahi I was eating was probably from the frozen section of the super-market as well.  Just sayin.’  🙂

—————————————————————————–

 

Columbia Wine

(In Honor of our Big Day!)

————————————————————————————————–

My Homage To The Spanish Sarasota Columbia Restaurant Engagement Photo Shoot

Florida Was Founded By The Spanish

Florida, Actually Means Flowers

Caribbean Rum Cake, with Caribbean Coffee

Florida Has A Connection To The Caribbean, Which Is Why I Am Featuring It Here

———————————————————————————————-

Cute Little Rum Cakes For Gifts

———————————————————————————

 

(Brodie in Hawaii)

Early Wedding Gifts For The Bride And Groom

March, 2025

We lived in Hawaii for 13 years and both of our children were born there.

Although Mackenzie and her family have never been to Hawaii, they wanted the wedding to take place there.  So, I wanted to educate Mackenzie just a bit on the Hawaiian cultures and more importantly, the Hawaiian lei traditions.  After all, flowers will play a big role in their wedding.  Everything I bought for her, I also bought for myself.  I too have enjoyed reading and catching up on Hawaii.  After all, we left in 1999.  I’m sure things are different over there now, yet I know many things will also still be the same.

This was such a beautiful book!

I can see so many of these flowers incorporated in Brodie and Mackenzie’s wedding.

  Especially those that would look so beautiful in her hair.

This photo looks just like a lovely Hawaiian wedding.

  Love the Barefeet and the Long Lei’s!

—————————————————————————————-

Our Early Wedding Gifts For Brodie and Mackenzie

Gold and Silver Pineapple Serving Bowls and Spoons, Hawaiian Books, an Aloha Tote Bag, Beautiful Anthuriums…

Some Tropical Cream, Island Wisdom…

A Lovely Wahine Tote, as well as my homemade Hawaiian gift bags I painted myself years ago.

—————————————————————————–

Especially For Brodie

I always try to personalize gifts.  I also love to give old possessions along with new gifts. 

That is what I did here.

Brodie specifically wanted our old Chinaman’s Hat print.  We love Chinaman’s Hat.  It is an island in Hawaii and legend has it that a China Man is underneath it.  The print is framed in Koa Wood.  Very nice and expensive wood.  Most of the wooden things you buy in Hawaii are Monkey Pod.  Koa is quite exclusive.

(See the Pokemon Box above?  I was trying to come up with something nice for just Brodie when it came to a wedding gift.  It is difficult to buy wedding gifts specifically for men, if you think about it?  I came across this Le Creuset set of Pokemon bowls that I ordered from Japan.  Pokemon is Brodie’s childhood in Hawaii.  He has collected the cards for years ever since.  He still gets excited over anything Pokemon.  Therefore, I think I found just the right gifts.)  🙂

I also passed along Brodie’s Hawaiian Baby blanket to him.  🙂

————————————————————————–

March 19, 2025

With Gordon home for a few weeks from working overseas we wanted to give the kids some early gifts, bring over dinner, and have a nice visit.  (We also wanted to borrow Brodie’s car for a fun website project.)

Taking The Gifts Over

Stopping Off At Moreno’s Bakery For Cuban’s and More

We Always Love To Bring Food When We Visit

Cuban Beer, (Florida Beer), Cuban Sandwiches, Fries, Fried Plantains, etc.

—————————————————————–

Opening Early Wedding Gifts

——————————————————————————

Mackenzie, Hank, and Brodie

Hankie was a bit upset, he had just had his nails clipped and wasn’t happy about it.  🙂

———————————————————————————-

April 19, 2025

Mackenzie’s Birthday

Just Making Out A Hawaii Travel Dairy and a Card w/ a Check!  🙂

I actually made that charm way back in 1999 in Hawaii with Sculpy clay.

——————————————————————–

September, 2025

Brodie and Veronica

Remembering Our Time In Hawaii

During our time in Hawaii we spent a lot of it outside.  

Brodie Playing a Game at Waimea Falls

Exploring the Huts

————————————————————————————–

We Always Loved Playing Tourist As Well

—————————————————————————————-

Hawaiian Inspiration

Photos Taken by Me at Waimea Falls

I Love The Heliconia’s

————————————————————————————-

We Miss This Beautiful Garden of Eden  🙂

——————————————————————————

November, 2025

Already Packing For Hawaii

————————————————————————————————-

TO BE CONTINUED…..

February, 2026

Still Packing For Hawaii

I wish that I had taken a photo of all the stuff that I had tossed up to that suitcase ever since November, 2025.  I promise you that it was a good 5 feet higher than it is right now in the photo above.  Not that I was going to take all that I threw up there, but I was storing up possibilities of things that I wanted to take with me.  Ideas and inspiration, and clothing.

I Ordered All The Travel Sizes Of My Cindy Crawford Skincare

—————————————————————————————-

I had been shopping for months!

I was shopping not just for me and what I wanted to take with me, but for Gordon as well.  And a few things for Isabelle.

I was also shopping for gifts for the Rehearsal Dinner Luau guests that would be attending.  Also, the bride and groom, etc.

As the parents of the groom it was up to us to plan and pay for the Luau.  There were approximately 45 guests to attend the Luau.  There were also about 4 children.  I wanted to gear the gifts for the children according to their ages and sexes.

Gordon and I wanted everyone to have a good time, and enjoy the evening.  Not just the entertainment, but our gifts as well.

——————————————————————————————————-

Packing Our Suitcases

I think the sight is pretty self explanatory.

We had suitcases sprawled out everywhere!

———————————————————————————————

These are gifts we gave Isabelle before we left.  

We didn’t want Veronica and Brian bringing home Luau gifts in their suitcases.

We knew they would be buying many souvenirs while there, so we gave them her big gifts before we left for Hawaii so that they didn’t need to lug them all home.

More Luau Gifts For The Guests

It was my idea for us to take a few boxes with us in order to ship some things home while we are there. 

Things like souvenirs.

We flattened them and placed about 3 boxes into our luggage.  I also included some package tape and scissors, along with address labels.

—————————————————————————-

Preparations Before Our Trip

We knew we would be gone almost 2 weeks.  We had to find somewhere to keep our dogs.

  We contacted their vet and she gave us a place that she recommended.

They call these things “SUITES.”

(I’m pretty sure they are CELLS.)

Notice their comfy cozy dog beds and blankets aren’t in their “suite?” 

They say it is because they do an inventory on everything and then they place their person items with them.

—————————————————————————————————-

Bringing Dog Beds, Blankets, Toys, Treats, and Food To The Kennel

I washed everything so that it would all be nice and clean for them. 

We also bathed them the night before we dropped them off at the Kennel.

I was doing my best to make sure they were clean and safe.  I really don’t know how they endured the entire time, but I wanted to make them as happy and comfortable as possible where we had control over it.

Toys and Dogfood, Along with Treats and their Harnesses

——————————————————————————————-

Before you drop your dogs off at any kennel for a length of time, they do require that the dogs are up to date with their vaccinations.

The kennel was familiar with our vet, which is good, because if there were a problem with Spooky or Sparky, the kennel would notify the vet if necessary for any kind of care they might require.

February 26, 2026

2 Days Before We Leave For Hawaii

It was chaos in our house!!!

We were keeping Isabelle all day that day, we are trying to pack for us, writing checks to pay bills, trying to pack for the dogs, plus a million other things that were going on.

The dogs were stressing out, and freaking out!  They knew something big was going on!

Gordon and I started stressing out because the dogs were stressing out, and then Isabelle starts stressing out because everyone around her was stressing out, so I told Gordon to just go ahead and take the dogs to the kennel.  Let’s get them there and that will calm all of us down so that we can finish packing and Isabelle’s stress level with go down as well.

——————————————————————————————–

Our dogs aren’t used to going anywhere. 

They are rescue dogs and they tend to freak out just taking them to the vet, so we try and avoid taking them anywhere unless it is necessary.

They have a very nice life here at our house, with all the comforts any dog would want, and a nice backyard to play in.  But, this vacation was much needed, there is just a lot that goes into planning and preparing for such a big trip.  That is why I am going over it all now.  To perhaps help my readers in getting a bit organized before their next trip.

—————————————————————————————–

We loaded the car with all the dog beds and accessories, put on their new harnesses, and then loaded them into the car. 

I stayed home with Isabelle while Gordon took them to the kennel.

Once Gordon left with the dogs, mine and Isabelle’s stress level started reducing and we finally had some peace and quiet in the household.

I am glad that we took them to the kennel 2 days before we left on our trip.  We needed that quiet time to do all that we needed to do before we left, and to finish packing.

——————————————————————————-

When Gordon came back after dropping the dogs off at the kennel, Isabelle was concerned as to where they went?  She was worried about them.  How sweet!  🙂

Now we are reassuring Isabelle that they are fine, and safe, and not to worry.

——————————————————————————————-

Stop Your Mail

I believe it is a good idea to stop your mail 2 days before you leave.  That way you know it was stopped.  You are still at home to witness whether it actually stopped or not.  And then if it didn’t for some reason, you have the time to make sure the post office is aware they didn’t stop it when they were supposed to.

I also don’t have the mail re-delivered to our home until 2 days after we get home.  That way we have time to settle in a bit, pick up the dogs, do a little bit of food shopping, before we have to deal with all the backlogged mail when it is finally delivered.

———————————————————————————-

Also, pay all your bills before you leave.  That way you don’t have to scramble once you get home in quickly paying bills.  I don’t pay bills online, I do things the old fashioned way with a paper check, and I send them through the snail mail.  I’ll tell you why.  When you do everything online there is no paper trail if there is a problem.  You have nothing in your hand to show any kind of mistake.  When you pay bills the old fashioned way, you have the statement, the check stub….  They can’t say you owed $5,000 when you are holding the statement that says $500.00.

————————————————————————————

We did our best to eat up some of the fresh foods that we had in the refrigerator.

Gordon’s Eggs and Bagel w/ veggies and cheese

We also used a lot of Paper Cups and Plates before we left.

And, ate up some freezer foods too!

————————————————————————————–

Things to do Before you Leave if you Have Time

I did a ton of laundry before we left.  I washed all the dogs things that remained here in our home.  I have all these throws all over the furniture in the living room that I washed while the dogs were gone.  Also any additional dog beds and their toys.  That way when they came home it would all be nice and clean and ready for them.  

I did vacuum our house so that it would be nice and clean when we got home.

I also washed all of our laundry.  I didn’t want to come home to all of that.  I washed all the towels in the bathrooms, even cleaning the sinks and toilets as well.

I washed all of the dishes by hand in the sink, and ran the dishwasher the night before we left.

We also emptied all of our trash from the house and placed them into the Trash and Recycling containers outside.

This might sound like a lot of work, but it will be worth it when you come back home.

————————————————————————————-

AND,

TURN OFF YOUR SPRINKLER SYSTEM, AND YOUR HOME’S WATER

(You can do that from the street.)

We do know people that have come back from a vacation to a flooded house, with water pouring out their front door.

Also, make sure your home security system is functioning and doing it’s job.  

And lastly,  just try and get a good night’s sleep before you leave.

Happy Travelings!!!!

Julie

————————————————————————————–

Now onto our Next Leg of our Journey

From Tampa to Vegas, to Honolulu, and Back Again

Click Here For:  From Tampa to Vegas to Honolulu, and Back Again

To Be Continued……