Hello everybody!
Here is the very overdue blog about William's party.
First I would like to thank all of you who braved the weather and came to the party. You are the ones who made the party successful. The food was amazing; I still cannot believe I had a potluck without a potato salad or a macaroni salad! I am afraid of listing everything because I do not want to forget anybody, but I do have to try... from beans to salads, from deviled eggs to sweeter than honey concoctions, from the very sought-after vegetarian specialties to the baklava, from the wines to the watermelon, to Rosemarie's unbelievable cakes! Thank you all so very much!
We knew there was a chance of rain, but William and I had worked so hard to get the outdoor area ready, and it looked so pretty that I did not feel it in me to change the location. Also, the forecasts had predicted rain for the previous three days and they were wrong... I decided to wish that they would be wrong again. As a precaution against the possibility of rain we decided to forego the portable dance floor we were going to install in the pick-nick area. The bonfire pile was complete, the tables and chairs set up and the lanterns ready. As the first guests started to arrive we fired the grill and the party begun! The sound equipment was connected, the musicians set up their instruments, the food and beverages started to find their way from the guests to the tables, to more guests, and everybody was enjoying the company and the atmosphere... when very dark clouds approached.
After securing the sound equipment and the instruments we all gathered under the food canopy and some umbrellas and tried to figure out what to do next. As the rain grew heavier and the winds more serious, we heard on the radio of a tornado watch. I believe that convinced even the braver of us to grab what food we could and move the party inside the house and onto the porch.
After the initial confusion of running, and carrying, and drying, and changing soaked clothes we were able to find a surface for all the food and a cramped space for all the guests. John and Dottie, our musicians, kept playing no matter where they stood, on the porch, in the kitchen on the sofa... real troopers! There were people sitting on the porch, standing by the kitchen sink, dancing in my cramped living room, and still eating and drinking and socializing and not letting the forces of Mother Nature break their spirit.
We had three different cakes for the two birthday boys: two baked by Rosemarie and one bought by my-lazy-self! William and Oli blew the candles and fed each other’s cake (don't ask me why), and the party rolled on.
When the rain finally stopped, we once again ventured outside and lit oil lanterns and candles. As some kept dancing on the wet grass, William tried to light the bonfire. The rain had been too heavy and everything was soaked beyond hope... so we resigned to the light of the candles, lanterns and torches and appreciated that the storm took care of the bugs!
We had a wonderful time and I thank all who made it possible.
Until the next party!
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