Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Festival of Mary


Happy birthday to one of our most gorgeous girlfriends.  (The Festival of Mary has been underway for a couple of weeks or so now - it was her husband Doug's who we celebrated with in Chicago this time last year.)

A year forward and it's Mary's turn!

We started the long weekend with an Indian inspired dinner - warming butter chicken, riata, spicy dahl and spicy basmati rice was the order of the night. We finished it all off with a frozen lemon cake - an old recipe of B's mums that has always been a favourite - and was perfect after the spice of the curry etc.

B then became the DJ and we had a dance-athon that cleared the room of the two 14 year olds.  We didn't even need to put on Rick Astley - clearly enduring their parents dancing was enough for them to call it a night!

Moo and CJ went out into the garden earlier that day to forage and came back to
create this stunning setting.

The next day saw the preparations of the long lunch unfolding. Again the boys went foraging for foliage and then crafted up this stunning setting.  We had 11 for lunch - so the table was laden.  It was such a beautiful  afternoon celebrating with new and old friends. We started out by wandering the garden drinking bubbles then after more drinks and yummy cheeses we came in and sat down to a divine lunch of very slow cooked balsamic lamb/mammoth shanks (they were massive and i cooked then for two days!), mushroom bourguignon, gratin of potato, Gruyere and thyme, winter salad of spinach, home grown peppery rocket, orange, fennel and the best Turkish feta. Desserts were by Ohn Nom Nom (vegan, raw spiced fig cheese cake and passionfruit bites) plus divine poached quinces brought by a guest and a basil, milk and lemon sorbet made by Moo.  

Delicious and divine - it was such a gorgeous way to celebrate a very special bestie's birthday.  Yes we all tumbled into bed super early on Sunday night!  

Long lunch table setting - these lads could go intro business down here!

Sadly her gorgeous daughter couldn't join us as she was busy in the city - but she crafted up this amazing raw vegan, gf, super yummy cake - which was divine.  She has started a cake business with her bestie - and their cakes and bliss balls are beyond delish.  The boys took the cake out into the garden for some arty shots - I love this one with the wheelbarrow in the background!


May the Festival continue!  Happy birthday Miss mary - you are one in the kind for sure - so glad we met up when our boys were 4 at Prep - best 11 years of memories ever!  Here's to many more!

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