CHI CHI EAGERLY WAITING FOR OUR GUESTS TO ARRIVE!
WELCOME ONE AND ALL!
TOBY MY ANTIQUE JUG CHANGES HEAD GEAR PER SEASON!
TWO BONNY GREEN LASSIES!!
SEE MY GORGEOUS NEW COFFEE URN IN THE BACKGROUND??
THEO AND CLAUDIA IN FINE FORM!
THOSE RENTAL FOOD WARMERS MADE SELF-SERVE A BREEZE!
FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD AND LOTS OF IT...!!
SELF-SERVE DESSERTS IN THE BUTLER'S PANTRY
CLAUDIA AND MICHELLE
CLAUDIA AND ALI
A BEVY OF BEAUTIES - L TO R - ALEXANDRA, VICTORIA, SARAH, CLAUDIA AND MICHELLE.
DON'T YOU LOVE THE DRESS? WHAT A GREAT DANCER SHE WAS!
THE ENTRANCE HALL AS THE GUESTS ARRIVED DROPPING PRESENTS AND WINE...
THE LIVING ROOM - POST-PARTY!!
TWO LITTLE LEPRECHAUNS!
And what a splendid one it was! The weather was bright, fresh and sunny and remained great all weekend, reserving the best of the sunshine for St. Patrick`s Day. My friend Monica and her daughter Michelle came down from Calgary to celebrate - both our March birthdays, and of course St. Patrick`s Day.
For two weeks beforehand we were decorating the house and what fun that was. I scoured the consignment shops and found a trove of green shamrock treasures - old china plates, to green glasses and everything else in between. Value Village was a mecca of magic and I bought two amazing green Indian saris for $9.00 a piece. I used one to drape the living room mantlepiece, and the other to form a festive garland around the dining table. My dress for the evening was one I got last St. Patrick`s Day from a consignment shop and was much admired. It was a green velvet dress which I got for $20 - bargain of the century and it fit!! I wore it again this year with a bright acid green pashmina to trendy it up a bit.
In all, we had more than 50 guests - ten more than I had expected. But I had lots of food prepared, so will not have to cook for a week - at least!! I organized some dancers from a local Irish dance school and they were truly fantastic, especially the little one, who was only about 4 years old and so cute.
Instead of serving up all Irish food, I added some Indian butter chicken as I find that to be a party favourite - and yes! it was the dish everybody seemed to like the most. I also did an Irish stew which the men enjoyed. In addition I served a plain salmon, seafood medley in a rich sauce, and a vegetarian lasagne. We had broccoli salad, tossed salad, caesar salad and coleslaw and devilled eggs. Alexandra prepared some appie sized brown bread topped with smoked salmon and red onion. The bread was spread with philly cream cheese to give an extra oomph!
I lazed out for the desserts and ordered in some mini ooh la la cupcakes decorated in green and white with shamrocks, some chocolate mousse cakes and a delicious lemon cream cake which I decorated with green sprinkles and edible shamrocks.
The piece de la resistance was my lovely new ornate coffee urn which Kevin got me as a birthday present. I bought it on line and what a bargain! I had wanted one for ages and the guy I bought it from was Irish! He gave me a great deal, especially when I told him it was for a St. Paddy`s Party!! His name was Mike Hogan. He had bought several from a Hotel which closed down. They can fetch up to $700 a piece but he gave it to me for $140. A self-serve coffee urn at a party makes everything so easy. People helped themselves to Irish Coffee (the Canadian version) which is coffee whitened with Bailey`s - so simple!! And so effective.
Lastly, we girls put together some St. Paddy`s treat bags filled with some green chocolates and golden chocolate coins to give our guests as they left the house. I think - all-in-all - we did St. Patrick and Ireland proud!!
Now...I`m exhausted... and just as I was recovering from post-party pain - I get a phone call from the church parish office to ask if I can help out with two church events coming up Tuesday next and Saturday week! Yes I will as I wouldn`t be doing this sort of thing if I didn`t enjoy it. It makes people happy, and it makes me happy...so it`s a win win situation.
Choo Choo my friends and avoid people or situations that bring you `down`. We`re on an UP UP UP mission...Right on!
Patricia xxx
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