Tuesday 3 February 2009

The Birthday

Its quite a while since my last post.


I've been very busy so this is an account of my activities in case you were wondering.
Read no further if not.
We've been giving the house a bit of a makeover


Re decorated the front room.
And generally 'tittled' the place up a bit.
These smell fabulous on the bend in the stairs, now they have opened.


As you may know I have been making curtains.. I need to add more width, they are a bit skinny, but they look very nice behind the new sofa.


Here it is in all its glory, totally unscathed from the party. (What do you think the throw was for?)


(This room is flooded with light if the sun shines so the pics are bit bleached out)
All the books were re-instated in the re-positioned bookshelves.


The old sofa is staying I can't bear to part with it, and we needed the seating, so its been covered with a lovely sage green bedspread from IKEA ....


to hide the terrible truth.



All this in order to celebrate the 60th birthday of my lovely husband.
Here he is looking rather embarassed while 'Happy Birthday' was played and sung.


Here's the cake.

Its a bit of a catalogue of disaster decor wise. I eventually got an image scanned onto a piece of icing at a well known supermarket. (I was going to write 'Still my favourite squeeze'....but its not about me)

I hope the person from whom I 'borrowed' the illustration will forgive me. I didn't think putting it on a birthday cake and subsequently eating it counted as infringement of copyright. I found him in a Google search and then lost him so couldn't ask permission.


We had 46 guests on Saturday, 12 musicians

including the man himself, all playing traditional Irish tunes.


I love this picture because I can see my Husband,Mum, younger son, older sons girlfriend, sister in law, and two good friends.

I do have one concern though, that I forgot to bake the baguettes to go with cheese when the crackers ran out.
Oh dear.
But there was an awful lot of other food!
My concerns about mingling were unfounded..there was movement, activity, chatter, laughter, and generally smiles all round.

(Apart from my husband while he's playing his concertina..he has to concentrate and can't do two things at once)




This is the owner of Blodwen and the dear departed Porky.


There was even a rapper sword dance from my Husband and his University Friends, former Kingsmen, who had travelled from Cornwall, Bristol Nottingham, Newcastle and Durham.

(If you click the link you might see my husband in a few of the pictures in his tender youth with great big bushy sideburns, In picture 4 he is the one on the right of the two somersaulters, and in picture 7 he is on the right doing a Northumbrian clog dance)

They remembered it perfectly even though the last time they practised it was 10 years ago.
(Not counting the quick practice they had in our kitchen on saturday night)

Great Craic!



We seriously over estimated the amount of beer and wine that would be consumed..



and underestimated the generosity of our friends.





The table above has come out of my sewing room.
We also removed the bed to another room for guests, and it made me realise what a wonderful great-big-shelf a bed makes.


How will I ever get it back to normal?

Wednesday update: I did it! I am off to do a bit of theraputic sewing. maybe some more hearts in time for Valentines just to get me going again.

29 comments:

Jude said...

Yes indeed, Great craic! looks like you all had a terrific time.
Your friends were so kind. I love parties like that. Please pass on my best wishes to hubby.

Mary Welsh Hubbard said...

LOL! What a great word - CRAIC!!! I must remember to use that at least once a day! :O) I wonder if my biker, south balmer', a "Gaelic!?!" speaking brother knows that one? LOL That looks like a great party - sorry I missed it!

Gina said...

It may take a while to get back to normal but it looks like a great party so will have been worth it! Belated happy birthday Mr. Dogdaisychain!

Julia said...

That looks like my kind of party.What on earth will happen to all that extra booze ? ;-)
Happy belated birthday to Mr. Dogdaisy!

Swirlyarts said...

Wow - sounds like a fabulous party :) Hope you get everything back to normal soon!

Threadspider said...

Fabulous post Jackie-pleased that "real life" has been so much fun.(I just love rapper dancing...)

Michala Gyetvai (Kayla coo) said...

Hello,
Looks like you had a great time.
I could do with that sign you have in your kitchen..Keep calm and carry on !

Julie said...

Happy Birthday to your lovely husband. Mine reached the big 60 last year. What a great evening you all had. I love traditonal Irish music, especially when it's impromptu. Glad you had a great time. The new sofa is beautiful.

Heather said...

What a wonderful party and how great to 'round up' all those friends from years back. Your room makeover was a great success - have you got the energy to come and do ours? At least my husband has got as far as phoning a decorator, so that is a step in the right direction. Belated Happy Birthday to your husband, and don't worry about infringing the copyright of the design on his cake, after all, you've eaten the evidence!

Ann Christy said...

Gosh Jackie - you do tell a good tale! Glad it all went off well - it looked like you all had a really fun time.
What I want to know is when you are ironing do you have one in each hand?

Kitty said...

Oh wow ... looks like a fabulous birthday to remember. You did a great job on the room - I am incredibly envious of your new sofa, and the old one looks great under the bedspread - I may have to do that with one of mine.

x

Lesley's Creations said...

Looks like you had a fabulous time! Wish I'd been there. Happy Birthady too Mr Dogdaisy. xx

Victoria said...

Looks like you certainly know how to throw a good party! Happy Birthday wishes to your Hubby!

julie king said...

looks like such a delightful party!! part of my ancestors on my dad's side were irish so i am so partial to that style of music!!

Chris Daly said...

What a joyous event! I can just hear the music and the laughter. Happy Birthday to your DH! and good luck with that sewing room.

Anonymous said...

That looks like so much fun! I am a big fan of traditional Irish music, so I would have loved to have been there. I'll be seeing the Chieftains for the first time in March and I am really chuffed.
Anyhow- happiest of wishes to Mr. Dog daisy! And cheers to you fro the fab redecorating and lovely party.

jude said...

oh, just have a another party...greata pics. enjoyed it, feel like i was there...

Guzzisue said...

looks like a seriously good time was had by all, belated happy birthday to Hubby

Lindsey said...

Wow! What a blast! Hope Mr DDC enjoyed it. And you squeezed a Rapper side in as well... lol!!
The sofa is lovely but your workroom... :o( If you need a hand give me a shout.

(Didn't tell you I've joined a Morris side myself, did I?)

Lorie McCown said...

Now that is a party! I wish I could hear the music! hmm maybe you need help getting all the extra booze drunk? Wow, so much fun..

ACey said...

so how many 60 year olds *does* it take to change a 60's lightbulb? Parties that feature live music and a bit of traditional dance moves are the best. And what a perfect sofa you have chosen!

hippopip said...

Looks like everyone had a wonderful time well done

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

What a fabulous looking birthday party! I send my happiest of wishes to the birthday boy. All the best!!

And I love the new sofa!

Anonymous said...

looks like a great Party ,Im glad the New Sofa survived Its sooooooooooooooooo Beautiful I love it .I could never have one like that my kids would ruin it .

I had started to wonder why you ha-dent bloged for a while .Well now I know ,the new Decor is beautiful.

Happy Belated Birthday to your DH

Glad you are back I missed you .

Love from sesga xx

Michael House said...

What a talented household. Looks fantastic. We had a party recently and the same anxieties surfaced, mingling, food, we had loads of drink left as people were so generous too!

ArtPropelled said...

oh wow that must have been some party. Nothing like a troop of musicians to set the tone.

I don't envy the tidy up!

'fancypicnic' said...

Wahey!!
Someone's had a good time!!
What a terrific way to celebrate - lots of birthday wishes xx

As for all of those bottles...you need to have another party!!

liz said...

Thanks for your comment on my blog. Looks like a fantastic party:)

Anonymous said...

Yey Happy birthday to your fella!
Looks like there was much revelry and merry making, your house looks great too especially filled with musical folk!
The birds are just lovely too.
Cx



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