The bride is at her hotel.

Image Credit

My bags are packed.  (She doesn't know it, but she's not going!)




And the Scones are made. (He doesn't know it, but he's not going either!)





As I stated in one of my very first blog posts, "With This Ring, I'll Take a Day and A Cup of Tea", I would like to be away from my children to watch the royal wedding.   I love them, but prepping breakfast when the royal newlyweds take their first kiss just isn't my cup of tea.

My mother-in-law graciously invited me to come and spend the night with her and together, we'll rise at 4 am to watch the big event LIVE.  Yes, it's early, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  I was a news reporter, after all.  LIVE is in my blood even if the hour is terrible.   But, truthfully, I've awakened at 5 a.m. on my many mornings since I've started blogging just so I could communicate with you.  Otherwise, I don't have the time with two needy children so what's an extra hour when you've got great company  (I hope she is not like her son, and is more of a morning morning), and a beautiful wedding on TV in a city I adore?    I'm most excited about the processional and recessional.   My mother-in-law may actually have to nudge me during the long wedding ceremony!   As an Episcopalian, she will be all into the cermony and I am sure I will be, too, but it will be lengthy. 

In a few hours, I'm going across town, taking my scones, and will be back sometime in the morning so my husband can go into the office.   By the time, some of you may read this, I may be back on-line or at least on Facebook.  Join me there!

Before I sign off, I want to let you in on my quick scone secret.  I've got lots of recipes for homemade scones including one from the late Princess of Wale's butler, but when in a time pinch (Who am I kidding? I always go for the ease.) I buy a wonderful all natural, no preservatives scone mix from Sticky Fingers Bakeries.  I find it at my local World Market, but it can be found in gourmet specialty stores.   I like the traditional flavor, but they have 12 different scone mixes in all.   

They are so easy to make.  My son made ours yesterday.   We just added water, put them on a baking sheet, and in 15 minutes, we were eating the most delicious scones. 


I bet Diana's butler couldn't make them any better.

Until next time, enjoy your royal wedding parties and I'll see you after everyone says, "I do!"

No one is going to believe me now, but for the record, the Goring Hotel was on my "hotel list" long before a future princess chose it as the place to spend her last night as a commoner.  Catherine Middleton along with the Middleton family have chosen this family operated hotel adjacent to Buckingham Palace as their base for the royal nuptials.

Likely story, you say!  But, it's so true and it's so me.  You see, my mother-in-law has been to England more times than I can count on my fingers since I've known my husband.   I think she may be even more of an Anglophile than me.  Since I'm stuck, oh...I mean have commitments at home, I live vicariously through her trips.  I'm probably the only one in the family who goes through all of her hotel links when she sends them before a trip in case of an emergency.   She has not stayed at the Goring Hotel, but she had lunch there followed by a tour.  Her travel companion that year was a good friend who is also a travel agent.   Look carefully at the gorgeous rooms.



Do you notice anything that is just....well....Baaautiful?  Look again.




Since my blog is a very kid-friendly blog, I have to tell you that this hotel rolls out the red carpet for the little ones.  The hotel hosts a bedtime story library, children can go to the kitchen where their own apron and chef hat awaits them which they will use to help decorate cookies and cakes while parents enjoy afternoon tea alone.

However, the best perk for the little ones is on their pillows, there will be a gift pack that includes their very own cuddly "Baaa-bara sheep." I wonder if Catherine will get one, too as a little memento of her stay before transforming into a Princess?

Before I say until next time, there will be one lucky Hines-Sight Blog reader who can feel like a princess when she visits the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC.  This morning, my son woke way before he should have on a Monday.  I guess he is prepping me for the royal wedding this week because when he tapped me on the shoulder, my clock said 5:00 AM.   He never went back to sleep.

I put him to work.



Congratulations, Stacy Reynolds! You have just won two estate passes to the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC.

I thank everyone for becoming new Facebook fans and Google followers during this give-away.   I hope to have another give-away soon, and I thank everyone who reads my blog.  You are the reason I keep writing.

Until next time, I'll be waiting to hear from Stacy so I can send her on her way to the Biltmore.


I am participating in the Post of the Month Club from Happy Homemaker U.K. If you are hopping over from this site.  Welcome!

There is so much to smile about on Easter.  I wish you and your family a very blessed Easter day!  This little story is about my trying to capture some Easter smiles of my children while dressed in something other than t-shirts and shorts.  Let me be the first one to say that professional photographers are worth their weight in gold.

I was able to capture a silly face!  That was it for my son.  His allergies were bothering him, and he was just miserable.

Wedding experts predict that we will start to see more and more children walk down the aisle with brides in the U.S. since seven children will part of Prince William and Catherine Middleton's wedding party on Friday.  What little girl wouldn't want to be part of a wedding?  Perhaps if I had been in a wedding as a child then it would have curtailed my desire to be a bridesmaid so badly when the first of my friends became engaged.   The role of flower girls, junior bridesmaids, and ring-bearers are often times reserved for family members of the bride and groom, but sometimes little boys and girls get lucky, and a special babysitter becomes a bride.

This was the case for my 10-year old nephew, and 7-year old niece.  Their longtime babysitter married last September in a beautiful outdoor wedding on a farm near Greensboro, NC.  The two were thrilled to be part of this special occasion.   Their relationship with the bride goes back to her college years, and I remember her bringing my nephew who was then my daughter's age to my own wedding.

This was a special time for my niece and nephew, and this wedding was just too gorgeous not to share with all of you. 

Alea Moore Photography

My niece and nephew had a wonderful time in this wedding.  Seeing these photos make me want do what they do in the soaps. I'll marry husband again, and put my own children in it.  

Don't forget to enter my give-away!  I'm giving away two free passes to the Biltmore Estate  and the deadline to enter is April 23 at 8 p.m. EST.  A winner will be announced on Monday.

Until next time, I'm off to grab a cup of tea, and wait for the Easter bunny to arrive.  Happy Easter!