tuesday night's soiree

This past Tuesday night a dozen or so ladies came over to my home for a pleasant night out in the garden. What a lovely evening full of fun for all! I slow-cooked a pork shoulder and marinated a steak during the day while chopping loads of veggies for homemade salsa and toppings for the tacos that would be coming later. The shoulder was pulled apart and placed back in it's juices which were well spiced and fortified with some dry vermouth. I arranged fresh flowers, lit all the lanterns outback, set out black grapes, boursin cheese & a liver pate' and fired up the grill while waiting for the girls to arrive. I made a welcome cocktail for each guest served in a crystal teacup and named it The Painted Lady (see recipe below). Many bottles of wine were consumed and the soiree turned quite merry and even bawdy. The last of the lasses finished the night with a strong pot of English Breakfast tea spiked with Pimms. The food was delicious and enjoyed by all and I even have had leftovers for days. I have had so many texts of thanks from my good friends and just as many requests for another party soon. I hope we can have another before the season turns to cold!

The Painted Lady Cocktail

one ice cube

a crushed wedge of orange topped with

equal splash of ginger brandy and pomegranate soda

finish by topping off with Lillet Blanc

spring fun

I celebrated my birthday last week and it seems like it has been two weeks of non-stop fun times ever since the beginning of May. It also seems as though there are a lot of other May babies & bulls out there running amok. I hope the parties never end! It started with flowers and cupcakes from Tracy on my birthday morning.

That night there was a joint birthday party for me and my sister from another mister, Jen. Lot's of friends, good food, many bottles of prosecco and wine, great gifts, and funny cards! (And lots of grasshopper clothing being worn)







birthday girl owl rings

Yesterday I was taken out for my birthday for a picnic and nature walk at Mill Grove-the first home of John James Audubon, illustrator of birds and other wildlife in the early 1800's. We toured the house and walked the grounds. I'm not a bird fanatic or anything but it did feel great to get out of the city, lay in a field of grass & buttercups in the sunshine and listen to the birds sing. I even saw a real life baby owl.





And at the end of the day I had Tracy's BBQ on her newly revamped deck to look forward to! What a great time!! Six friends, caipirinha cocktails, plenty of finger foods, and a grilled feast of veggies, steaks and sausages. I even snagged a Kime Buzzelli pillow from Tlu for my birthday from Bona Drag!!

living life

This past weekend was not only unseasonably warm, it was also filled with fun. Starting on my walk to work on Friday, I saw this great political artwork stenciled up on a wall under a 95 overpass. I saw some other stuff earlier last week, but didn't have my camera and it seems to be pulled down or covered over within a day so I missed photographing it.

On Saturday, at my night job, they hosted a wedding reception and the room was decked out with huge red rose floral arrangements. The people having the party left all the flowers behind so I scored! All weekend I have had this gorgeous bouquet on my vanity to look at as I get gorgeous. Inspiring!

On Sunday the weather cooled down a bit. While I was getting dressed and trying to figure out layering for the cool but sunny day, I realized that some days I dress like I am color blind and mix different colors in the same family. This was big source of comic relief for the day. This day I had on a royal purple sundress with a rusty plum colored jacket a deep indigo boots. Strange but true. The day started with eggs & a bottle of french cider at Coquette, a great little French bistro in Bella Vista. After brunch, me and the man when for a stroll through the little alleys of Old City, stopping for a minute outside of our favorite ice cream shoppe-The Franklin Fountain.



Before heading home we stopped in the Olde City Tavern. Neither of us had ever been there before because it is considered, by locals, a tourist trap. But I must recommend stopping in the bar for a quick drink! It was really quite charming. We both tried a strawberry shrub cocktail. I had the champagne shrub, he ordered a brandy shrub. Strawberry shrub is native to the Appalachian stream banks of the Smokies and in colonial times the cinnamon-flavored bark was used as a seasoning in food and drink. Who knew?

Dinner Party

Last night Tracy hosted an excellent dinner party. Eager to utilize and show off her freshly spring cleaned pad, she had us over for a homemade cheese fondue followed by chicken pot pie, mixed greens, a medley of delicious wine. Dinner was followed by a Jewish apple cake from our local bakery and a mean game of Scattegories. What fun for a Tuesday night!!!



tracy's recent thrift & ebay finds