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

Wiser not Older

 Last evening we had a little dinner party for Aunt Deb to celebrate her birthday.  Isn't this the cutest little gift card?

 She loved it!
The theme of the night was "keep it simple" (as I tend to do for dinner parties... so that I don't end up Crying in the Kitchen).   Pistachio nuts and olives were the aperitif snacks.

 Yesterday was an extremely grey, cold day here, with rain pelting down and dark skies that did not let up.  It was so gloomy outside that we did our best to brighten things inside: lots of candles burning, lots of flowers and plenty of bright white dishes on the dining room table.

 I moved the primula from the kitchen windowsills to create a very simple table centrepiece.  Voila, multi-tasking flowers:

Everyone loves my Aunt Deb and my friends have known her for decades.  She's known me since I was a toddler, and she always took me under her wing when I was growing up... even when I was a bratty teenager and she had little kids of her own.  She's very special to say the least: funny, smart, opinionated, beautiful and kind.
I cooked my go-to dinner: roasted salmon with lots of vegetable side dishes and a big salad.  My friends helped with the side dishes so it was easy-peasy.

How's your Sunday shaping up? I've got lots of cleaning and cooking on my agenda.  It seems like a good day to bake up some granola and maybe cook a nursery pie with the leftover salmon.  I'll use this recipe from our BFF Nigella as inspiration.

Whatever you get up to today I hope it's cozy and fun,
xoxDani