I may not be able to muster the language to accurately express just how outrageously marvelous
my birthday extravaganza really was, and I wish that the few photos I managed to remember to
capture that night could really do it justice (let me tell you that they don’t even really come close!)

Dana and Raven were the most perfect winter maidens! Being surrounded by my beloved sistren,
family and friends and having the honor of sharing a birthday celebration with my lovely Dana was
beyond amazing, but little did I know that the best was yet to come! If I waited any longer to share
the news, I might just burst in a shower of crystalline confectionery, and that wouldn’t be any good, so….

We step like Plush,
We stand like snow,
The waters murmur new.
– Emily Dickinson
We’re getting married! Colin surprised me by proposing last night, after an exquisite birthday dinner, in our kitchen,
surrounded by the shining faces of dear friends. Holy moly. I think writing it just actually made it feel real…
I was so stunned at the moment he told me that he “would very much like for us to be wed”, I thought
I might just spontaneously combust with joy. I could only laugh with delight, and kiss him my answer, which I
truly gave him long ago: the first time we kissed. Everyone in the room was crying I think, and then there was
much celebration, but me – I’m crying with happiness as I write this, as I share this now, because telling it makes
it true, makes it hit home that I’m not actually dreaming. As I see it, having a wedding is a form of ceremonial magic
that solidifies a bond between two lovers, and also between their families, communities, their paths. We’ve been together
for five years, we have a home together, we create together, and in the eyes of Texas common-law, and for all
practical purposes, we are already married. But doing this thing together, the two of us, and everyone we
love – it makes magic. It brings all that energy together to send sweetness and strength along with us as we
travel on our shared path. Marriage ceremonies are the only form of ritual magic that are commonly practiced
by most people, and there’s a reason why we need them – and why we need a party, too – with lots of dancing
and merry-making! Being married isn’t just about the two people who already know they want to spend the
rest of their lives together – it’s about radiating that personal love outward, and making it manifest in our lives,
our lifetimes, and beyond. I can’t tell you how excited I am about that prospect, and about joining hands with
Colin, who is such an amazing person. We both got real lucky when we found each other, and we know it.
So, consider this a save the date of sorts! 11-11-11, it’s on – here in Texas! Folktale wedding in the country, y’all.
Get your fantastical ensembles together, and find me some deft elves to embroider seed pearls on a silver gown!

Yes, so – best birthday, ever. All I can do is glow.
I think I might be able to illuminate broken lightbulbs with
my little finger, I’m glowing so hard! This is the face of deep,
deep happiness. This is the face of a woman in love.

Oh yes, and there was a party! It was thronging with gorgeous ice nymphs (like Kitty, here), and strewn
with white lace, fairy lights, fir trees and white doves – unfortunately, I didn’t get too many pictures because
my camera seems to have finally bitten the dust! I was able to borrow one for the evening, but wasn’t too
familiar with it, and also enormously distracted by wonderfulness at every turn! Hopefully more photos
will emerge soon, and perhaps then I will have a moment to go into greater detail about the delicious feast!

The beautiful Sarah Killz on washboard. I love having friends make music in my parlor.
Nothing makes a house as warm, or as happy – many thanks to That Damned Band and friends!

Frannie played her musical saw – she’s really good at making it sound like a mermaid singing!

Miss Hailey Tuck, one of the prettiest, sweetest little ladies I have ever laid my eyes on.
I’m going to build her a gilded miniature castle in my backyard so we can drink rose-raspberry
gin fizzes all day and brush each other’s hair. She wore white with tiny red vintage heels, so perfect!

La Bella Seed Terranova, snow princess extraordinaire!

Melanie presented me with this astounding ram’s skull! I’ve always longed for one!
Maybe I should bronze it and have it mounted on the front of my car, eh?

Jason Darling + Dominique Vyborny, professional wood-elves.

This is my fairy god-daughter Pearl! Isn’t she just so beautiful?

Mark and Dana being here for our birthdays made it the most special.
They are such beloved friends, and having them there when Colin proposed
was so perfect, especially since I performed their wedding ceremony! Dana
inspired me so much with her kitchen alchemy – she’s a trim little apron-wearing
hearth-goddess, whipping up flurries of salted caramels and beef bourguignon!

Silky Shoemaker + Sym Prole. Big love.

Miss Kelley in her magical moss hat!

Charlene is a bad-ass DJ! She set up in our Korean War disko-tent, where we had also installed a big old
wood-burning stove (upon which infused hot mulled cider and wine), and it was definitely the place to be!
Charlene is also an incredible massage therapist. She came over on my birthday and gave me a serious
massage in the kitchen because it was the only warm place! Then everyone came home and started peeling
potatoes and making birthday cake, and it felt like we were Transylvanian peasants in a one-room hut, with
everyone talking, laughing, cooking and doing healing work – all together, chaotic and beautiful!

Kitty doing her Stevie Nicks impression! Twirl, twirl!

More to come, soon – (ring pictures, as soon as I can do it justice!) Right now, I just really need to absorb
the magnitude of everything I’ve experienced over the last 48 hours, and to let it sink in that this is really
happening! I really do keep pinching myself… I had a feeling that this year was going to be good, but I
had no idea it get off to such a wondrous start! I definitely feel like 2011 is going to be incredibly auspicious,
and not just because I was born at 11:11am, on the 10th day of the first month! My friend pointed out today
that my birthday was a palindrome this year: 1-10-2011 and if that’s not lucky, than I don’t know what is!