Just Like the Good Old Days

When Sam was a little guy he loved to set things up and have me take a picture. Sam was a collector, Thomas, Brio, Playmobil, rocks, marbles, GI Joe, Aladdin figures, Sesame Street figures and dinosaures to name a few.
One Christmas he got all the Aladdin figures, still have them. Sammy loved and I do mean loved that Christmas sweater...

Sometimes he wore costumes to match his vignettes.

The dino collection set up on the dino blankie.

K'nex

So one night this week I shouldn't have been surprised when Sam started creating with the glass pieces I had on the table. I had glass on the table for Garden Party, for color and sparkle.

Max got out the extra pieces and they got busy.

I told Max to go make dinner, what I meant was for him to go pick up the pizza we'd ordered. Funny. Very funny. Now, go pick up dinner smart guy.

Still lovin' the dinos. So creative.

That Sam I Am even let me take a picture. Just love it! Love Sam too.

The How To

So, how do get to this:

I start thinking about next year's garden party on the way home. Seriously. Then when I see books, blogs or magazines with a possible recipe, I copy it and save. The other thing I do all year is hit every clearance table between here and Seattle. I watch for that one inspiring piece and then plan my table around it. I have dishes (quite possibly the understatement of the year) that can be changed with different linens, candles or different salad plates. It all goes into a basket.
One week before the party I throw everything out, gathering from my stash and cupboards. I run to TOM for the paper. This year Elke and Jolene helped me. They love a blog mention! I found the perfect paper for my menu cards.

We try not to do too much testing. This year we did test our drink and the spring rolls. We were glad we did as there were glitches.

Two days before the dinner I do a bit of the cooking prep. This year I made Ina's cracker dough to chill and mixed up my Brie topping. Any sauces or prep I can do ahead of time helps.

I try to have all my groceries in the house the day before. This year I went to four grocery stores including the Asian Market. I also try to have my flowers. The day of the party I am cooking. Hubby does the chopping for me.
We set up a drinks table. Sort of a meet the guests at the entrance gesture.

At 5:30, right before the guests arrived I picked some flowers and hung them in the corner. I love those last minute touches.

Holly, we don't eat or entertain like this all the time, once a year is enough. It makes it special and otherwise, we would be exhausted.
Until next year...

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.