Celebrating Friends

 This week was one of "radio silence" (as my friend Laura would say) from Yours Truly.  I can't exactly explain why, except to say that "chatty" was not how I was feeling in the least.  Some friends and family members had some bad health news which had me feeling quiet, and contemplative.
 
Speaking of my friend Laura, tonight I'm hosting a dinner party to celebrate her birthday, well her belated birthday (which I missed when we had the Plague).  I've been working towards this all week, because I was determined to do a full spring clean of my entire house, and have the main floor prepped for the party, by Friday evening.

This feels like a really special celebration for Laura because she herself has struggled with her health since becoming ill last July.  She spent the summer in hospital and to say that we were all frightened is a real understatement.  What did we hold on to during those dark months?  The times we'd had together, the dinner parties and the vacations.  I'd visit her or phone her and we'd talk about being able to have dinner again, or plan a holiday.  Or even to get together for a glass of wine on a Wednesday, anything, normal things.  When we don't have our health the real stuff of life becomes apparent, and intensely appreciated.

So I began the spring clean on the third floor and worked my way down: windows washed, surfaces dusted, ceilings poked at with my lambswool duster.  I hauled the vacuum into every corner, mopped the floors with my favourite wooden floor cleaner (that smells of marzipan).  I went through MrBP's storage closet and dressing room as well, picking out clothes to be mended or dry-cleaned, washing and pressing the rest.  I scoured the bathrooms and emptied the pantries in the kitchen, tossing out the stale and scrubbing the interior of the cupboards with a natural orange cleaner.
It might sounds strange to say it, but this is my therapy.

By yesterday afternoon I was ready for the good bits: polishing the copper champagne bucket and setting up the bar, the dinner table and the dessert cart.

 I found this old Ikea tray (below, on the bottom shelf of the tea cart) at our office some time ago and brought it home.  I remember buying it thinking it would be handy to ferry coffee cups between the little kitchen and the boardroom but it was really never used.  It's very plain but the perfect size to hold ten coffee cups and a pitcher of cream.

Dessert cart in the dining room.
Ready to go.

 I have my dessert plates ready to go on the dessert cart, and left some room for the birthday cake Berna is bringing.

I set the table with my white dishes which is my go-to look for a dinner party.  I used these linens from Provence from one of my favourite shops: Pariscope.

 The tablecloth is really stunning, it is a cotton fabric very lightly coated with an acrylic finish (it does not feel plasticky) which is perfect for wiping up spills of coffee and wine.

 The napkins are cotton as well, without the finish on the fabric.  They wash up beautifully and only need a quick press with the steam iron.

 Laura's birthday present is also from Pariscope, a French market basket that I know she'll love to keep in her car for quick trips to the market.  I drove out to Pariscope in Elora yesterday (completely unsure of what I would buy as a birthday present) knowing that "just the thing" would present itself.

Laura's birthday present waits for her in the foyer.

So now for the menu!  I'll have to figure that out this morning, though as is the custom with our group of friends everyone is helping by bringing something for the dinner.  That makes it so much easier... and helps prevent Crying In The Kitchen.

I hope you have a really wonderful Saturday, whether you have something to celebrate or you're just doing the normal things... which can also be cause for celebration.
xoxDani

Kitchen Flowers

Emma Bridgewater tea mug.
Inspiration for some yellow tulips in a vase.

 This is the time of year, more so than any other, when I really crave the colour and life provided by some flowers in the kitchen.
I trotted over to Sweet Violets yesterday morning to pick up some yellow tulips for the countertop and these primula for the windowsills in the kitchen.  Primula are in the shops at the perfect time, clearly I'm not the only one who's looking to brighten things up the end of January.

I always like to see the girls who run the flower shop, they're a lovely bunch.  Sara was helping me with my bouquets and so I was able to get an update on her chickens, yes she has chickens and they're quite the characters too!  The last time I was in she was taking them back and forth to the veterinarian in a laundry basket due to illness, now they are happily healthy and she told me she's getting better at giving them care when they're sick all by herself.

When I returned home I was thinking about those chickens as I walked Scout around the neighbourhood in the sunshine.  Then, what did I come across but a magnificent, bright green wooden chicken coop with all the bells and whistles, parked right in the garden at our neighbour The Chef's house!

Looks like we'll be getting some new neighbours, I wonder when the chickens will actually arrive?  I'll attempt a photo of the coop at least on a day when the sun makes a return appearance.

What have you got planned for this last Saturday in January?  We're going to stock up on groceries and champagne, I'm hosting a birthday dinner tonight for someone special, details tomorrow!
Have a really wonderful day today, I hope it's colourful,
xoxDani