Steeplechase

architecture and design, Family & Friends, Uncategorized

Nov 09 2015

I have wanted to collaborate on an event with my daughter, Megan, for a long time and this weekend I got my opportunity! She was in charge of the Guarantor’s Tent at Calloway Garden’s annual Steeplechase event and I volunteered to be her flunky.

It was a beautiful fall day and the predicted rain did not dare show its face. I beat Megan there and had some time to get the lay of the land as they say.

This is a HUGE event. I had no idea. My first thought upon driving up to “her” tent was, “This is the biggest tent outside of a circus I have ever seen!”

Followed rapidly by, “We have how long to get this done???”

About that time a 21 foot U-haul truck flies up to the staging area driven by my tiny little girl who looked even smaller in that big truck. It was show-time for the second time in a week. When the back of the truck was revealed I was a bit weak in the knees. Had she actually loaded all of that? I didn’t ask.

Megan explained her vision as she passed out stack upon stack of beautiful custom tablecloths made of oatmeal colored canvas. A little over half of the 30 tables where covered in these. The rest of the tables were farm tables that she had made just for this event by Jordan Vocational High School. They did an awesome job. Everything used in the tent is for sale as a fund raiser for the arts in Columbus, Ga.

Megan’s sweet friend, Chenault James (whose work you should check out) came to help us. She was a God-send. Chenault was chosen as one of Traditional Home’s Rising Stars of Design this year and it is well deserved. I love gleaning from these inspired young women.

Bottom line… we did it. haha

The last flower was being placed as the first guests were arriving but, by George, we did it.

Thank you to John David Helms for the professtional shots.

November 7, 2015 – Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens with http://www.OutdoorEvents.com. Pine Mountain, GA. Photo by John David Helms. Full set of images available at http://www.johndavidhelms.com/events #chaserace

The placemats are salvaged pieces of slate.

November 7, 2015 – Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens with http://www.OutdoorEvents.com. Pine Mountain, GA. Photo by Kristen Waites. Full set of images available at http://www.johndavidhelms.com/events #chaserace

November 7, 2015 – Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens with http://www.OutdoorEvents.com. Pine Mountain, GA. Photo by Angie Everson. Full set of images available at http://www.johndavidhelms.com/events #chaserace

Everyone’s favorite part of the set-up was this gorgeous bar. Husband, Mac, and a friend made it. Chenault and Megan draped it in black and hung that impressive diptych of a racing horse front and center. Flanked by the massive lamps and Roe antlers on shields, it was a show stopper.

This looked like a show stopper also which is why I couldn’t have any but… yum! Adult lemonade with sage, cucumber and something.

The wait staff from Epic looked particularly dapper in their matching bow ties Megan provided for them.

Here she is chatting it up with the first guest just as the gates opened.

We managed to snap a couple of pics before I got my bad self out of the way and went home to see the real stars of the show… the grands!

Hubby was proud and so was I.

As I started my car these fine folks allowed me to snap their image. They look ready for a fine time, don’t they?

Little did I know but this happens to be Mason and Mary Lou Lampton and this is their event. Mason grew up in Kentucky and started a small race there before meeting and marrying Mary Lou and moving to Columbus. He later started the steeplechase in partnership with Callaway Gardens to support the arts back in the 80’s. Now that’s what I call serendipity! Wish I had known to thank them. I love people who support the arts.

November 7, 2015 – Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens with http://www.OutdoorEvents.com. Pine Mountain, GA. Photo by Lance Boyd. Full set of images available at http://www.johndavidhelms.com/events #chaserace