You've seen it all before, if you have been following my blog for a while; I started throwing a cocktail party on my birthday in 2012, and with slight variations have not changed their true & tested recipe. (In case you want to compare, here are the links to the posts; just click on the year: 2012, 2013 and 2014.)
Once again, RJ went booze-shopping with me (it is just so much easier by car). Once again, I set up the bar in the kitchen, the buffet in the Third Room and the extra chairs, streamers etc. in the living room.
The pictures are all from Sunday, while I was getting ready. At 6.00 pm, everything happened at the same time - people arriving, flowers needed putting in vases, cheese platters (a great gift from one of my friends) and other food (more great contributions from my Mum) wanted putting on the buffet, and so on - I had no time (and to be honest, wasn't even thinking of it) to get the camera out to take pictures of the complete buffet and bar.
Last year, I didn't get any flowers, because all my guests knew I was going away the next day and would not be back until a week later. This year, there were flowers again, and lovely presents:
The "Dr. Space" book is, of course, about Wernher von Braun, and I put it on my Amazon wish list. It will be the next book I read, can't wait to start! There is a Cath Kidston bag from one of my sisters-in-law, a bottle of Batida de Coco (from my sister, same as the Dr. Space book), a book about Nidderdale and Ripon (also from my sis, this will come in handy when we'll be in Ripon for nearly 2 weeks in August), a jar of peanut butter (yes, I do consider this a present), "Sense and Sensibilty" both as a book and DVD, vouchers for my hairdresser and a treatment at a salon, a potted yellow orchid and some choccy.
The last picture of this post is just to show you what I wore. I've had this dress for a long time - wore it for the first time on a weekend away in occasion of our second wedding anniversary when Steve was still alive. Then, I wore it again at the first ball I've ever been to (there is a post about this on my blog), and last night.
Only three more years to go until the Big Five-Oh! I already know where I want to celebrate that :-)
Oh, Happy Birthday to you, a little late, but the wishes are there, just the same!
ReplyDeleteI went to my Dad's and made him more Miracle Cookies and I thought of you...eating the cookies as we walked around his property, looking at his cows and "teenage chickens " (born in December, that is what he calls them!) and admiring the yellow flowering plants in his garden against a beautiful blue sky-all of this reminded me of you. Great happiness is wished for you, dear Meike!
Thank you, dear Kay!
DeleteWell... what does that say about me, that looking at your Dad's cows and teenage chickens reminded you of me? :-D (just kidding, of course I know what you mean!)
Oh! And I meant to say and I do remember your earlier post about it, but I LOVE that dress and I love it on you! xx
ReplyDeleteI love wearing it! It is comfortable no matter whether I elegantly lean against a counter, cocktail glass in hand, or sit prettily on a chair in my living room, or swirl across a dance floor :-)
DeleteHappy Birthday, if somewhat belated! It looks like a very happy occasion. and a lovely party. And I think your dress is perfect for celebrating something in the springtime! It makes me smile to look at it. What nice presents. That Dr. Space book is not one I've heard of. I'll have to investigate further!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kristi! It was both of that - a happy occasion, and a lovely party.
DeleteYes, that dress says "SPRING", doesn't it!
I have come across the book by coincidence and put it on my Amazon wish list - a good way, I think, of making others know what you would like, so that they can be sure of giving you something you really want.
How organised you are Meike! It makes me realise I need to de-clutter. Belated birthday wishes and hope the party went with a swing.
ReplyDeleteThaank you, Maggie! The party was really good. I do so like to have guests. Having little in terms of clutter helps; everything can be done so much more efficient.
DeleteIt looks like you had a great birthday Meike. Some fine company and lovely presents. Your dress is really pretty too and very apt for Spring. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen!
DeleteIt really was a great birthday, a very good combination of the right people, the right presents and the right food and drinks :-)
Many happy returns of the day to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Delete"Happy New Year" Meike :) @->-->--- And that dress looks lovely on you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Monica - for the rose, the compliment and the good wishes.
DeleteHappy Birthday - you are totally gorgeous in that dress!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Fiona - I felt gorgeous, too, even if I say so myself :-D
DeleteI'm glad that you had a good time Meike. I like the dress and thought it was familiar. Apart from parties held for me on certain landmark birthdays I rarely celebrate my birthdays. Somehow they have never seemed important to me.
ReplyDeleteMy birthdays have always been special days for me, my parents made sure of that when I was little, and nowadays I like it how they provide a welcome occasion to gather friends and family and have a party.
DeleteBelated birthday greetings Meike! The dress looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteThanks for both, Neil - the wishes and the compliment for the dress.
DeleteHappiest of Birthdays to you! It was fun to 'peek in your windows' at your preparations and party goodies! I'm disappointed that you didn't explain the peanut butter gift?
ReplyDeleteI don't wear dresses, only jeans & comfy shirts, but yours almost made me wish I did! So pretty! I did a double-take as I just bought a length of fabric at a thrift shop yesterday that's almost identical!
Thank you!
DeleteThe peanut butter gift... well, it is a personal joke between the friend who gave this to me and myself. Not that much there to explain, really :-)
That's funny about my dress and the fabric you bought - are you making a shirt of it, seeing as you don't wear dresses?
I really don't think you look just three years from the big five-oh!!
ReplyDeleteThanks to my hairdresser's magic bottle, I really don't look my age :-D
DeleteIf you lived closer I would have come to your party! You look so elegant in the dress, very pretty!
ReplyDeleteIf you lived closer I would have invited you - on two conditions: you wear one of your lovely 50s-style dresses, and you bring some dolce siciliano :-)
Delete