Splendido!

Hello, welcome to a lovely new week, all bright and sparkling new!  Monday, the day I get to tell you about my fab weekend, which got off to the most splendid start, and didn't stop being splendid on Saturday or  Sunday. Very unexpected. But that's the way good things often happen isn't it?

Friday evening, we were invited to a small party to celebrate the Birthday of a friend, Jim, who is the father of Miles, a long time friend. It was all top secret, and we were to arrive half an hour early, to be there when Jim arrived back from his excursion (to get him out of the house).  We'd been told the party was to be held in their courtyard, and that Miles was hiring a Jazz band!  Splendid, we were looking forward to this! Well, after a beautiful day of sun, the heavens decided to cloud over and open up, just as we were walking down  to the party.  We arrived to find Miles and Barbara frantically tying up an old red curtain, to act as a tarpaulin.

Barbara's last-minute handmade bunting added a lovely party touch.

The food appeared, the Birthday boy appeared, and the party started.

What fun we had! The curtain kept the rain off us. The band played wonderfully. And the wine flowed.

Hugo and I made the mistake of taking the dogs with us ( Jim likes our dogs, and we thought he'd be pleased to see them). The dogs got soaked and sat looking miserable and cold. Ellie was shivering, so Hugo took pity on her, and she was ensconced on his lap most of the evening. Douglas ended up on my lap after much pleading with me. So when the dancing started, we ended up enjoying it from the side lines! The things we do for our dogs. Still, there did need to be an audience for the band, and others!

Not only was there dancing, but Miles, Barbara and Jim joined the band. I can't play an instrument, being 'musically challenged', but I can appreciate other people's musicality. Hugo and I concentrated on being the audience, and enjoyed ourselves enormously.

 As the evening progressed, the light faded, and though my camera is wonderful, it did start to struggle. So most of the photos are slightly blurry. You could say it adds to the atmosphere of the evening................... ! We left the party with one of Barbara's wonderful cakes, you can see them in the first photo of this post. Are they not wonderful? Love the writing on them, and the Nasturtium flower and Blackberries looked gorgeous.
What a ball we had that evening. Something to remember with great fondness, an evening full of love and happiness, fun and joy, and loveable eccentric character. Miles and Barbara do things with such flair!
I'm going to have to show you the rest of our wonderful weekend tomorrow. But maybe the party should have a post all to itself anyway, it was a very special evening.
So I shall return tomorrow, Tuesday (already)! looking forward to seeing you!
Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[Hen]

Hello Vanessa,
It looks like you must have had a wonderful time, even from the sidelines! (Very important to keep furry friends cosy at all times, obviously.) Love the cakes on the cakestand. I once decided to make my friend a whole bevy of black and white decorated cupcakes for her 28th birthday. Oh my it was hard work so I really appreciate the trouble this lady went to, and they look much better than mine did!
Something coming your way soon, by the way...!
Hen x

[Emma]

This looks like a very enviable evening (apart from the shivering hound that is). I loved your pictures of it - is that you in the purple dress? This has given me a real smile this evening.

[Mummy Boo Bear]

Wow what a lovely evening, the setting was just perfect as well, jazz in a courtyard on a summers evening (I am ignoring the rain part as it ruins the whole picture!) What amazing times and friends you have.

Love the cakes too very pretty. I did some fairy cakes with fruity coloured buttered icing for Lala's party this year. They came ok. But you know how it is when you have something in your head.

Hope those lovely doggies of yours are nice and warm and dry now.

Great post and lovely start to the week.

MBBx

[Lyn]

What fun! are you sure the wine had nothing to do with the blurry photos?
Love
Lyn
xxx

[Kate Bruning]

Oh, these winter nights are so different. Yes it it is nice to sit by the fire at night but I am now yearning for some kind of outdoor evening life (with gorgeous cupcakes of course). Better go and take small human beings to school before the nxt shower of rain.

[The Curious Cat]

oh wow - that party looks so cute and amazing! I love the photos of people dancing too and the cakes! xxx

[Laura]

That looked like a great party! Your pictures turned out well, I think. And the little cakes look delicious!

[Karen]

Hello Vanessa, everyone looks as if they were having a wonderful time. Its nice when people are creative about parties and don't just buy it all in. I'm sure Jim appreciated all the little details. Hope Ellie and Douglas have recovered from their soaking- they are probably curled up on that gorgeous crochet blanket. Karenx

[Charlene]

It looks and sounds like you had a wonderful time :) Who cares if it was raining? The cakes look delicious!

I like the blurry photos - gives it more atmosphere:)

[Lynne]

Those cakes look wonderful. Sounds like a great party and a great weekend, I look forward to the next installment.

[Nicola/smilernpb]

Oh wow, looks like you had a great time! :o)

The cupcakes - well, I think the word 'mmmm' springs to mind!! xx

[Liz]

Really looks like a nice party! Love the cakes!

[Isabelle]

What a lovely evening it must have been!
It's funny because I look at the cupcakes picture which is so beautifully British (to me anyway), but the party pictures have a je ne sais quoi of France :o). You can't even guess that it is raining!
Isabelle

[The Curious Cat]

PS Hey just to let you know, I have been caught up in this pass-it along blog exercise and I had to nominate 5 other bloggers, hope you don't mind but you were one - click through to my blog to see what you need to do (if you so choose to keep it up!)

[Bertie Meadows]

Hello Vanessa, what a fantastic party, it sounded like so much fun. Jazz, wine, bunting, cakes and great friends. It doesn't get any better than that.
Bertie x

[simone]

You have captured the spirit of the party with your wonderful photos! x