Equestrienne is engaged

[Mannequin]

I can''t tell you how excited I am to be able to post a thread like this on PS.

I am finally home from our camping trip and I just finished resizing some pictures for posting. I have a lot of pictures for this thread, and tomorrow I''ll post the WF pro photos and start a SMTR thread. This will be a long story told in photos, so bear with me and enjoy.

 

[Mannequin]

So my FIANCE and I planned this anniversary weekend camping trip weeks and weeks ago. We were hoping for weather like this, which we did get at some parts during the trip:

 

[Mannequin]

But instead, it looked like this for much of the camping trip:

 

[Mannequin]

That''s right. Rain. BUCKETS of rain. We had at least two or three downpours per day lasting at least a half hour each, and everything was soaked and/or damp inside our tent. We''d try to go out and do something (hike, fishing, canoeing, etc) and we''d get drenched. To top this off, poor FI was sick the entire four night trip with a bad head cold.

He kept up on the meds but he was still pretty miserable for a day or two. We were still determined to enjoy the trip as much as we could, so we bailed out the tent and hung stuff up to dry if possible.

Friday night, after dinner, my FI suggested that we go fishing. I love fishing with him, so we cleaned up the dinner dishes and got all the fishing gear into the car, including the bait we had just bought. We started driving up to a nearby beach with a fishing dock when FI cuts the car to the left at a fork and starts driving up one of the large hills in the rec area. There is an observation tower up there that he wanted me to see and he had wanted to go there on Sunday (our anniversary, the day I thought he''d propose). He said that since we were close to the observation tower we should stop since there was no guarantee that it wouldn''t be raining when we wanted to go there on Sunday. So we park and climb the tower, and there are little kids jumping all over and shaking the thing, and he''s making comments like "when will these guys leave?" I thought he just wanted the tower to stop shaking!

Little did I know...

 

[Mannequin]

The view from this tower is gorgeous. You can see four lakes on all sides of it and we just happened to be there right at sunset. It was cloudy, but still beautiful. FI used to climb this tower often as a child when his family camped here, and he told me that he thinks this place is one of the most beautiful places in the state and it holds a lot of sentimental value for him. Soon the kids left, and we were alone at the top of the tower, surrounded by beautiful Michigan scenery. And I hear him say, "You know, I didn''t bring you up here tonight to take you fishing..."

 

[Mannequin]

I turn around and there is my wonderful guy, down on one knee, holding the most stunning diamond ring and wearing the biggest smile in the universe.

I cried. I hugged him. I said "Yes!"

 

[Mannequin]

He slipped the ring onto my hand and we quietly celebrated at the top of the tower, taking photos and cuddling.

As I took this photo, he asked if it was going on the diamond site

:

 

[Mannequin]

Cell service was nonexistent at the campsite, but we got great reception on this tower, so we called our family and texted friends and shared the great news far and wide.

 

[Mannequin]

It was the perfect proposal for us, totally about him and me. While we were on the tower, he gave me an anniversary present: a beautiful engraved photo frame from Things Remembered. I will have a hard time choosing a favorite photo to put in there from this trip!

 

[Mannequin]

We headed back to the campsite and feasted on s''mores and strawberries with our champagne.

 

[Mannequin]

Luckily the proposal came on Friday night, because most of the days following this were rainy and pretty miserable for camping. None of that mattered to me at that point, of course - I was engaged!

 

[Mannequin]

We still attempted to get out and do things around the rec area, but we typically came back to the site looking like this. Look how wet my hair is! That''s how hard it was raining!

 

[Mannequin]

Even though FI had already made the catch of his life

, we got out to do a little fishing. I out-fished him again, poor guy, but he caught the only fish big enough to keep and eat. We used this fella for part of our anniversary dinner.

 

[Mannequin]

Here''s my biggest fish of the weekend. Note my stylish garbage bag poncho.

 

[Mannequin]

I guess we can call it the best worst camping trip I''ve ever been on, because of the engagement. I am so thrilled to be this man''s bride to be!

 

[Mannequin]

Thanks so much for reading about my proposal weekend!

 

[Mannequin]

So now it''s time for some ring photos, right?

Coincidentally, a rainy weekend of camping is the perfect time to sit under a canopy and take pictures of your new engagement ring!

Presenting my WF Bead Set Cathedral e-ring: .93 D SI1 RB, .55 carat setting. FI thoroughly researched this purchase and he picked this setting out on his own! I LOVE it.

 

[Mannequin]

Side shot. Picnic tablecloth in the background.

 

[Mannequin]

Here''s a shot showing some of the detailed milgrain work on the ring. I seriously love this setting - it''s such a great combo of classic and antique for me.

 

[vip0802]

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!

the dust REALLY worked!!!! congratulations to the both of you and you two make a beautiful couple! you guys look so freaking happy in those pics.

what a romantic proposal story too. i can't wait to see more pics of that sparkler on your finger...it looks beautiful!

ETA: i guess i wasn't patient enough and posted this in the middle of your picture-posting.

look at that ring!!!

 

[Mannequin]

View from the top.

 

[Mannequin]

One more, glittering in the firelight.

 

[Mannequin]

And there you have it. I spent 2 years on the list and WHOA, this guy and this ring were worth the wait. Enjoy the story and the pics, more to come in a SMTR thread tomorrow.

 

[AdiS]

Congrats, equestrienne! You two look so happy together! And I seriously love your ring, it''s stunning!

 

[Jessie702]

YAY.....I LOVE your ring, and the story. that is so sweet. Congrats, and dont forget about us LIW!

 

[Nomsdeplume]

Oh my word that is soooo sweet!!
What a ring!

 

[Magpie09]

Congratulations! Wow that ring is gorgeous

. Also in agreement that the story and lead-up to the proposal was sweet

 

[swingirl]

Beautiful ring!! Adorable camping-in-the-rain photos!! Best wishes on your engagement!

 

[bee*]

Woohoo equestrienne!! I''m thrilled for you and your FI! Your ring is beautiful and you are so pretty! Enjoy the celebrations!

 

[Lorelei]

FABULOUS!!! I am so delighted for you!!!!