Thanks everyone so much for all the kind comments on our wedding! I admit, I’m still catching up with life. I promise I’ll have wedding photos to show soon, but I’m waiting until we get our photos back and then I’ll share all of our stories as well. In the meantime, how about I work backwards and show you our honeymoon photos?
The wedding was Friday, the party was Saturday and we spent Sunday and Monday nights on a mini honeymoon in Galena, Illinois. Galena is a very quaint town in a gorgeous part of Illinois, about 3 hours from Chicago in the far northwest corner of the state, not that far from the Mississippi River. We weren’t initially going to go anywhere after the wedding hooplah, as we’re planning to take a trip to either Scotland or Paris next year for our 10 year anniversary and thought we’re wrap it all up into one trip. However we decided to take a break for a couple of days and boy, we needed it.
We stayed in a fantastic little cabin on a property that had 5 rental cabins from the 1800s that had been updated on the inside with modern comforts. Both days we had the place to ourselves! It was absolutely perfect inside. Living space downstairs with a bedroom area and kitchen/living room, with a half loft upstairs where the bathroom and two person whirlpool tub were.
We felt at home right away…
I decorated our coffee table with the boutonnière and corsage from our wedding…
Did I say we had the place to ourselves? Well I was partially right. We had no human neighbors, that is. The property was right next to a large sprawling farm with a small herd of cows, who came so close to the fence at night we could practically touch them!
It was a beautiful view from our windows…
And the outside of the cabin was as inviting as the inside…
When we first arrived at the cabin, we noticed a curious addition to the decor: many many wine corks and beer bottle caps tucked away in odd little places in cracks in the wall, the ceiling, you name it. Obviously years of guests had added their own little touch, and clearly it wasn’t discouraged. So the first night we saved two caps…
And the next night, Mel added them to the wall above the fireplace, just under a large saw hung on the wall. (You can see several corks tucked into the teeth of the saw.)
Monday morning was met with gentle showers, so we sat on the porch having tea and enjoying the rain…
This is a cute photo of Pia, but even better, you can see my fantastic seersucker pajamas that I got at the Modern Vintage Chicago show.
This was the view from our front porch of two of the other cabins…
Isn’t the embroidery on this one lovely? So delicate.
I picked it up to add to my pile and then saw its neighbor purse. Can you believe this??
Oh yes. That’s a diagonal lucite handle, metal clasp, raffia on the sides and Spanish dancers in relief on top! For $25. I think my jaw dropped. I didn’t even hesitate.
I also got a couple of knitting booklets, and three craft magazines. Two issues of Needlecraft from 1931 and 1924 and one issue of Home Arts from 1938, for $3 each.
Neat ads inside the 1938 Home Arts…
I absolutely love the mailing addresses, fantasizing about the owners, Miss Myrtle Fischer of Minnesota and Mrs. Helmuth Suckow of Iowa.
But the best find I’ll save for the end of the post. In the meantime, after our antique mall high we stopped at a small cabin by the Stillman Inn just on the edge of town. I can’t remember the name of it, but it was apparently inhabited up until the 1970s by a family of 6.
Isn’t it just gorgeous? I still can’t believe it’s ours. What could be more perfect than a wedding gift to ourselves of a traditional wedding present, a quilt? It’s a bit of a mystery to us what era it’s from, but from my research and conversations with my talented quilter friend Elisa, we think it’s probably from the 40s or possibly 50s. The double wedding ring quilt pattern was very popular in the 30s and 40s, but I don’t feel the fabric patterns seem quite right for the 30s. No matter what though, it’s our wounderful gift to ourselves to remind us of our perfect little honeymoon retreat.
The trip was just so perfectly peaceful and relaxing. I’m hoping some day we go back there to stay in “our” little cabin again. It would make a great anniversary trip, don’t you think?
Congratulations! I just started following you blog and I love it. That looks like an ideal honeymoon!
What a perfect get-away & honeymoon!
Galena is such an adorable little town, I just love it there! I went to college North of Iowa City, and the route I took to get to Chicago went through Galena. It’s such a spectacular drive around that area as well, the river and hills and trees all make for some amazing scenery.
I am blown away by all the cuteness and quaintness contained in this post – human, canine and architectural. That looks like a truly wonderful getaway.
I LOVE that green dress you’re wearing. Did you make that? I feel like I’ve seen the pattern for that on eBay. I think I may have to buy it now after seeing how charming it looks on you.
Ok, and that purse. I HAVE NO WORDS.
Congratulations again, you too. I am so happy for you both. xoxo
YAY I loved every one of the photos you posted here– what an adventure. It definitely seems like the perfect honeymoon for the two of you, I can’t get over that gorgeous quilt.
Aw, lovely! Great place,great finds. You look really beautiful, happy and relaxed in that last photo especially. Well done to you both and thankyou for sharing.
I keep eying up the Hostas in the foreground. The slugs always eat mine!
Px
Your photos are amazing! It makes me want to go and stay in one of those cabins! I live in Paris and I just got back from St. Malo. It would make a great weekend discovery visit to add to your trip to France (just a suggestion!)
Congradualtions on your marriage.
This place has remained frozen in time, beautiful photos.
What beautiful photographs! Your log cabin looks perfect, just the kind of place I would stay. Awesome finds at the antique mall too, esp the box purse and the quilt :))
Oh Tash that looks fabulous! What a lovely couple of days in an ideal location and what an amazing wedding gift to yourselves, stunning!
I want to go there now though I suspect it would cos us a little too much ;o)
What a perfect little post-wedding trip! 🙂 I love those out-of-the-way spots to just relax and recharge for a couple days. 😉 And those antique store finds… *envies* Especially that tooled handbag–perfect!
Looks like a great trip!! The cabin looks so cosy 😀 I love the picture with both of your boots in it.
Now THAT’s a perfect honeymoon getaway! I LOVE your antique market finds, too….especially that box purse. WOW! Anyway, congrats again to you two!
What a lovely honeymoon!! Congrats to you and Mel! I also really am in love with your vintage finds! 🙂
Thanks everyone!!
@Moe Thank you!! ♥ Oh I wish I’d sewn the dress! It’s old and obviously was well-loved and in need of a few repairs (I even felt an underarm seam rip on the trip, yikes). But I think I’ve seen the pattern too! I love the dress so much!
@Sunny Buick In fact if we do France next year, one of the reasons was to get tattooed by you! 😀
All I can say is awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! It sounds as though it could not have been any more perfect.
Wow that cabin is mightily gorgeous – cabins always seem so homely.
What a perfect honeymoon. Many congratulations and much happiness to you both!
What an amazing honeymoon, it’s all beautiful and what gorgeous finds. I think I want to come antique shopping with you!
Oh rustic charm! The cabin looks like a lovely place to stay.
What a cute cabin, looks wonderful.
I love that lucite bag, totally stunning, lucky girl!
I LOVE Galena! Looks like you two had fun 🙂
Looks like you had a fabulous time! I love the photo of your boots-what a lovely symbol of your now-official life together. Thanks to you, Galena is now on my list of must-visit places.
It looks like you too had a perfect time, the whole thing looks beautiful 🙂
Also I’m passing some blog awards on to you, yay! Check out this post to see the yummy awards http://misskatie-littleredsquirrel.blogspot.com/2011/06/blog-awards.html
Congratulations to you both again!
Congrats again! Rustic Charm for a charming couple! Great pics!
A big, big congrats to you and Mel!! The pictures are simply wonderful! I love your green floral dress paired with those gorgeous boots! From the looks of your pictures, the honeymoon must have been absolutely amazing! The quilt and that lucite bag are to die for! Congrats again to you both!!
What a trip! What finds at the antique mall! What cute outfits! So happy for you, ma’am! 🙂 So glad you photo-documented this so we could come along on the special occasion. Congrats x 1000!
What an amazing place and that cabin is just adorable! I truly believe you had some great days!! Love the green floral dress you are wearing, let me know if you ever find a pattern thats similar to it 😉