Layers Baby, Lots of Layers

It was all about the layers at Mark and Karen's patio. The table was layers and layers. I counted three place mats. So pretty!

And the cake was layers and layers. And oh my, were they good!
When we get to the dessert hosts' gardens, it's dark. Shelly and I toured a bit and could see it was pretty.

Then we ran back to the patio because Godiva Chocolate Martinis were being served in fudge rimmed glasses. Oh my stinkin' word. They are good, they are very,very good.

So we sat on the couch, sipped and looked around the patio. Karen's covered patio is soooo pretty and cheery. If it were mine I would lay on the couch all day and never do a thing. Good thing it's not mine.

The Fleur de lis napkin design and the Chocolate Cake with Fleur de Sel Caramel Filling theme wasn't lost on me. That kind of attention to detail is what make the evening so special.

One of my favorite foodie combinations was BiG, the salty sweet duet was playing. So delicious. I keep thinking about the Salted Caramel Strawberries. I think the duet was playing, Forever on My Mind because those berries will be forever on my mind (possibly forever on my hips too).

An evening to remember and treasure.

Farm Fresh Dinner

Next we went to the farm for dinner, where the salad was home grown and we each had our own honey butter. Okay, that's it, when you grow your own food, you win big points with me. Not to mention, my very own butter for the cheese and chive buttermilk biscuits. Flavor overload!

The flowers were gorgeous and included fresh peas, chives and raspberries.

The sangria was delish and matched the centerpiece to a T. It was so pretty and refreshing.

A beautiful table set up to oversee the vegetable garden and so we could watch the sunset. The sunset was the same colors as the centerpiece...which matched the sangria...which matched the table.

It was getting cooler, so I wore my shawl from Danny. He brought it back from his travels, love it! Thanks Danny.

I got a bit weepy over the pork and begged for all recipes from Shelly. The corn was like candy. Everything was so good.

Delicious dinner in a beautiful setting. So good.
Not to mention the laughs, lots of laughs and good times.

Coming up a dessert menu with an abundance of chocolate, caramel and cream.

Garden Party Begins With Us

Appetizers were at our home and we went with an Asian theme. Hubby met guests with a Pear Ginger Martini.


Bright colors, butterflies, chop stick and orchids for our table.

While gathering ingredients at the Asian Market I asked the gentleman if he would be willing to write our names for my place card menus. No problem until everyone had to find their place.


I have no photos of the food, it gets busy when it's time to plate and serve and then everyone is waiting for me to take bite so they may eat.

Hubby and I
Mark and Karen
Vern and Shelly
I made a Pomegranate Green Tea Sorbet to cleanse the palate before dinner.

Orchids and lanterns as we are leaving for the farm.

Dinner is next.
If you are here from Tablescape Thursday you may continue, the next posts show dinner and dessert from the progressive Garden Party 2009. The menus are posted the day before this one. Enjoy!

Garden Party 2009

The Garden Party was again a success. The weather held at the right times. The food was out of this world and the gardens and tables, nothing but eye candy. Took my breath away.

We started at the Stone House for the appetizer.

Then on to Vern and Shelly's place for some farm fresh dinner.

We finished at Mark and Karen's covered patio with dessert.

More on Monday, the breakdown of details. For today click on pictures to read our menus.

Fresh and Pretty

In the museum gift shop I am carrying a new stationery line. If you are stuck at a desk all day this is for you, the Gina B. Designs. File folders, note pads and sweet organizers in pretty colors and layouts.


There is a group of pretty pink too.
Hottest item is the new birthday calendar, sold out immediately. No worries, I reordered and they have arrived. Better hurry though.

Dreams Do Come True

When Max was just a little guy, he started spending Wednesday afternoons with my Dad. I'd be at work and Grandpa would pick Max up. They went to the dairy, Haak Haven, owned by my Dad's brother and family. Max loved it out there. Dreaming of showing cows someday, he couldn't wait to be old enough.

After checking out the farm they'd drive to the Everson Auction Barn for lunch. Now to a non farm chick this seemed strange, eating a burger in a barn. But they have a lunch counter with good burgers and Max loved to have lunch there with his Grandpa.

When Danny came home from college he wanted to go with Max and did go. Much to Max's dismay Danny wore sandals and shorts. Uhmmmm dude, what will the other farmers and guys think about someone that isn't in jeans and boots? Puhleeeze. He tried to warn Danny but Danny was fine with it. And he didn't own boots. Danny and I laughed because it was obvious that his little brother was embarrassed to be seen with him.

Hubby and I went one time to a horse auction and had lunch. Good burgers.

But this Wednesday tradition has pretty much belonged to Max and Grandpa.

Something that Max always wanted to do was to pick up Grandpa and go to lunch. Well, he has his driver's license and last night asked if he could use my van since Wednesday is auction day. You bet! I am all for dreams coming true.

Max had a fun time today. I am so thankful for the relationship Max and my Dad have, it is a dream come true for me.

Oh, and if you haven't had lunch at the auction barn put it on your calendar, open on Wednesdays only.

Reality

We're home and the party is over. Sam had a huge wisdom tooth removed on Friday. One of the biggest Dr. Groen has seen. All the nurses had to come take a peek and gasp.
After Sam's appointment, I took Max to the doctor. He dropped a 45 lb. weight on his big toe. Broke it. Many nurses gasped when he took off his sock.
Everyone is recovering nicely.
I have no pictures of the tooth, the nurses wouldn't let me go back, kinda made me mad.

Max having a pity party for one while we waited for the Doc.

Hubby left this morning for five in a row double shifts, so I won't see him until Saturday morning. Go honey go!
As for me, it was back to boot camp this morning, back to the museum tomorrow and lots of prep this week. It is garden party week.

Today I am in the trenches, aka the laundry room, and making lists.

Gettin' my game on! And can I just say- Reality sucks.

Happy Father's Day

So thankful for my Dad and DadIL today and for a loving Dad for my guys. My Father in heaven has blessed me with good Dads in my family.

Hubby got *'dustwatialwayswanted' for Father's Day, XM Radio for a year, a tractor sprinkler and a call from Danny.

Hubby's parents came from George for the day and we had dinner at my folks. Very traditional menu, BBQ steaks, baked potatoes with all the trimmings, salad, corn, asparagus, bread and strawberry shortcake for dessert.
My guys-

All the guys- even future fathers...

Sam and Max with their Grandmas.

*translation= "just what I always wanted!" When he was three years old, Sam always said this as one word when he got gifts. We still say it.

He Ate the Whole Thing

Driving down Highway 111 we noticed the La Quinta Cliffhouse right away. A quaint looking restaurant tucked into the cliff. I checked online and they were owned by the same company as Duke's in Honolulu. It was mentioned online that they too served Hula Pie. So, my guys were in.
One afternoon Hubby and I stopped there for happy hour, we enjoyed a Prickly Pear Margarita and a fish taco. We decided to bring the guys for dinner the next evening.

Many of the Palm Springs restaurants were offering three courses for $30 while we were visiting. Cliff House offered 3 for $24 and wine pairings for $12. This was a super deal and gave us a chance to try out their menu. My sea bass just about made me cry, it was that good. Shelly knows the look I get when food is that good.

Sam had the calamari, a flat iron steak and chocolate mousse. Good choices.

We all enjoyed our 3'fer choices except Max. He's a growing boy. Our server couldn't believe her eyes as they only remember one other guest eating the Hula Pie in its entirety without help. The last guest was someone who came for the pie and had an appetizer to save room. Max had already eaten his 16oz. rib eye steak. I think the woman at the next table is appalled.
I know I was.

Karen, doesn't this pic just bring it all back?

Good trip, good times.

It's a Good Thing

Good things in Palm Springs...

Hubby loved the Caddy CTS and wants one for moi! It was nice, but I don't think we're buying a $60K car anytime soon, it was real nice though.

I read a wonderful book.
Insert mini book review here: American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld is really not so much a story of a President's wife or of Laura Bush, as many have speculated, but a story of relationships. Sex scenes at the beginning (I generally prefer my imagination to descriptions) but they go away and the author explains that in the end.
The Washington Post says... "Sittenfield has an astonishing gift for creating characters that take up residence in readers' heads."
So true, I started it on the plane and finished it on the way home. Perfect. I didn't always agree with Alice Blackwell but I did appreciate her story.

Early on I found the perfect spot and came back to it over and over.

If you got hot, you got into the pool. We left the lazy river and went to the big pool where there were less kids. Perfect for Sam.

This splash pool was fun to watch and cooled the area nicely.

Blurry but happy. It is a good thing to have fun with the guys. Lots of conversation and laughs.

In California they sell frozen juice packs just for Mommys. Had to love that! Put the straw in and chill.

I laid at the pool next to a textin' fool so I always knew what was going on in Lynden. Maybe a bad thing, but he was still good company.

The desert is beautiful. Our resort was beautiful. We had a 3 bedroom condo so everyone had their space. A good thing.

TBC...