friday fabulosity

Guys, it's another week coming to an end - looks like twenty ten will be moving with the same alarming speed at 2009...

My gal's at a playdate with a buddy today, so I'm hunkering down to get three days work completed in one. Last night we had a crowd for dinner - the largest group I'd cooked for {I'm still doing baby-steps - entertaining one family at a time}. Last night we had father- and mother-in-law, sister- and brother-in-law, two nieces and a friend of the British who was visiting from the UK. A bbq, roasted potato salad and green salad and lots of baguettes filled everyone before finishing off with a lemon delicious pudding and lashings of vanilla bean ice cream. Mmmmm.

Tomorrow night we're off to another sister-in-law's for bbq - with the whole family attending. I'm making a massive dish of potatoes dauphinous and a big chocolate cake for all the girls with December/January birthdays to share {I'm thinking Nigella's chocolate sour cream cake - what do you think?}

But now I'm going to brew myself another coffee and sit down and work, work, work, work, work. Might do some whistling while I'm at it too...

let's do lunch

Well it's a gorgeous summer day today and we're off to share lunch with some lovely friends. Chances are the children will be swimming, and the adults may sip some champagne...

So I'm off to poach some nectarines in rose syrup to make a raspberry and nectarine trifle. I'm forming individual servings in my retro crystal cocktail glasses. For the children we have tropical callipo iceblocks. I'll pop them in a glass and tie it with some gold ribbon to up the festive quotent!

We're in need of some downtime. Poor husband was painting the floorboards in the pavilion for 12 hours yesterday - finished at 10.30 {with a few boards still to go!} But wow, they're looking damned amazing.

Enjoy your sunday x

that's entertainment

We had one of those lovely evenings last night. You know the one? You go along to a friend's house for a meal, the kids are playing, the adults are nibbling, sipping and chatting... The food's delish, abundant and exactly what you're in the mood for. The conversation veers from one fascinating topic to another. Champagne's always on the table... And you end the night in a taxi buzzing with joy.

That's what I call entertaining.

PS: how much do I want a blowsy floral wallpaper after using this pic? Heaps!

a room of one's own

Oh my + sigh...