Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Old Friends


Last week was a frenzy of decorating and creating for two events on Sunday.


I was hard at work creating decorations and gifts for a baby shower I could not attend.


And, cleaning/organizing the house for a reunion of high school friends we were hosting.


Other than sprucing up the garden and cleaning house,


my biggest challenge was setting the table for 11 people.


I have lots of different linens, but only in sets of 4 or 6 so I decided to paint napkins for this get together.


I had to mix and match dishes for the two tables - my little dining room won't hold 11 for dinner.


I think the colorful mix of napkins tied the tables together.


I usually have table topic questions as part of the table setting, but I knew this group would have no difficulty talking so I went with little fact cards for 1966 which was the year we graduated from high school.


With the inside of the house clean and


the outside all spruced up,


I was ready to have fun with the "boy and girls" I hung out with in high school.


We had so much fun laughing . . . talking . . . remembering . . . eating . . . and I did not pick up my camera once - thank goodness everyone else was snapping fun pics of everyone.


I did take photos of the wonderful chocolates, coucougnettes, napkins and apron that Linda, who lives in France, brought for me to enjoy.


My high school friend and college roommate, Cindy, who reads my blog and knows my style brought me a beautiful candle lamp.


All of Linda's French candy and the colorful candy Kathy brought were eaten right away, but the lovely orchid Kathy brought sits on my window sill reminding me of a fun evening with old friends.


Everyone stayed at the Emerald Iguana in Ojai so we spent yesterday exploring Ojai, walking on the beach by our house, of course eating, and discussing the destination of our next reunion - I am voting for Linda's house in Serres-Castet.


The frantic preparation is over and I awoke this morning ready to relax all day long.


And then I found all the baby shower supplies sitting on my porch - I guess I get to clean up even though I didn't get to attend the shower.


But before I clean, I am going to eat one of the chocolate hearts Linda brought me from Maxim's.

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I am sharing at 

Green Willow Pond - What We Accomplished Wednesday

Coastal Charm - Show and Share

Cozy Little House - Tweak It Tuesday  

Savvy Southern Style- Wow Us Wednesdays

Cedar Hill Farmhouse - The Scoop

57 comments:

  1. How wonderful of you to host a reunion with friends! You are the only person I know who would begin a tablescape by painting! Haha! But what a lovely result.

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  2. I love the 'fact' cards! It just doesn't seem fair that you had to clean up after the baby shower :(

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  3. Wonderful decorations for two very special occasions. Sarah x

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  4. What a great job ! I'm sure you created a momentous occasion for all : )

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  5. Love your home inside & out! Looks like you had a fun time (plus ever since the Bionic Woman, I've wanted to go to Ojai...)

    xox

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  6. Carol, you really out did yourself.
    The decorations and food looked great for the baby shower. But your high school reunion decorations were
    terrific. Your house just shined.
    So glad that you all had a wonderful time and I vote for France also.
    Have a restful week.
    Mary

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  7. How creative you are to have thought of painting the napkins to get a set out of them! Love all the bright and beautiful colour everywhere! Sounds like you and your pals had a blast!

    Poppy
    P.S. Definitely France!

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  8. Oh my gosh! I love everything about this post EXCEPT for all the supplies dropped at your door! Where to start - you're the same age as my sister M, who I have the most fun with here at home (of my family); your napkins and scrabble letters were wonderful; the baby shower looked awesome; your friend's presents from France - lucky you!; visiting Ojai - bucket list; next reunion in France - yes!; visit with old friends - priceless. Great post and great job, Carol!

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  9. I like your inventive spirit and I'm really glad that you have fully enjoyed these happy events.

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  10. Two very special occasions with just wonderful decorations. You created some very thoughtful items for your event as well as the baby shower.

    i love your gifts too! French chocolate...makes my mouth water!

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  11. I love the napkins! You entertain a lot, and you always seem up to the task of decorating for it.
    Brenda

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  12. How fun! We had a reunion with high school friends but not a large group like you. Your house seems the perfect setting for such a thing!

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  13. The fact cards are awesome!! I think you should be an event planner! Did I miss this somewhere? Have you done this professionally? I would hire you in a jiffy!! :)

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  14. Carol, you are awesome. I love those 1966 fact cards (I graduated in 1976) and to think of the prices of things back then.....5 cents for a Snickers? I REMEMBER!And when we married in 1982, I could buy all the groceries we needed for the week for 25$ cash. Now? About 180$. Everything is stunning, your aged white patio table, the painted napkins, everything. I know you had fun, and you make it even more memorable with the love you add to everything you do. BRAVO! Anita

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  15. What a fun day and you had everything looking just perfect. I don't know how you do all you do.

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  16. It's alway fun to catch up with old school friends, behind the grey hair and wrinkles it is amazing how little they have changed that's what I found.
    merle..........

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  17. How fun! It is so awesome that you all still get together...:) Everything looked just beautiful and all the goodies they brought you were so nice! The baby shower looks like it turned out really good as well...:) Hope your week is going great. Get some rest..Vicky

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  18. You do such a beautiful job Carol, I envy the friends who come to visit your lovely home! LoL, cleaning up always goes better with chocolate!!!
    Have a great week!
    Diana

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  19. What a fun dinner you hosted for your friends. It looks so festive and the painted napkins are so cool. I hope you and your friends can reunite in France. Maybe in '16 - that would be quite a milestone reunion.

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  20. Your home is lovely and the orchid is one of my favorite flowers. I have friends from high school visiting this upcoming window and there is an absolute frenzy of activity in my house and yard.

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  21. What a great fun time. See old pals is good for our souls. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  22. Your home is so lovely, and you did a wonderful job in decorating for the reunion. Love the linens you made and the color are gorgeous. Boy to reunite in France is something I would so look forward too. Seeing old friends is soothing to our spirits and souls. Nothing like hanging with gal pals.

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  23. Your garden and table looked so beautiful for your highschool friends! And yes the different colors really tied in the design...just so pretty in your cozy garden room! And I am so happy to hear that you all had such a good time! That is what makes life sweet! A job well done and the table at the baby shower looks outstanding! Nicole xoxo

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  24. Looks and sounds like you had a great time!! It is so fun to see old friends from high school.
    hugs,
    Cindy

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  25. Wow~ WHAT Fun!!!! I love all your decorations and you did a LOT of work!!! But so worth it, I know.

    You graduated the same year I did. I was the youngest one in my class by almost two years. It was a small class and I hope to get to the class reunion next year.

    Beautiful,Carol-just beautiful! xo Diana

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  26. Oh it must have been a beautiful weekend Carol - I'm having one here on July 1 ( or whatever weekend is closest to it ) High school friends as well!
    Your place looked gorgeous - your back yard included !
    XOXO

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  27. Looks like you went all with you decorations, I bet everyone had a fabulous time.

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  28. Your house looks so festive and welcoming to entertain your high school friends! I hope you had a wonderful time!

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  29. Hi Carol, what a wonderful time spent with high school friends. Your home and garden looked amazing and I LOVE the painted napkins. What a grand idea that is. Looks like a special time and one to remember. Great gifts you received too.
    Love seeing your flagstone patio again. We just finished ours and is in my recent two posts.
    In my last visit I signed up to follow by email which has not been working so I was glad to see your post in my inbox this morning.
    Have a great day!
    XO

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  30. Everything looked beautiful!! What a fun weekend!

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  31. Looks like you had a wonderful time hosting your friends at your house! Painting napkins...who would've thunk?! Your creativity knows no bounds! My little dining space (in my kitchen!) only holds 4 people so I know the challenge of trying to create other little dining spots.

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  32. What a fun time! Your table and entire home looks so inviting. You really know how to entertain, it's all in the details.

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  33. Carol,
    No wonder you were sprucing up the cottage for weeks in advance. The baby shower looks like it was a sweetly decorated party. Your High school reunion of friends really looks like you all enjoyed the weekend. Love the very colorful napkins you painted for the tables. OK, so what was on the menu??? What did Steve cook up?
    I hope your friend in France hosts the next friends reunion! Lovely gifts.
    Vera

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  34. Good Morning Carol,
    Oh what fun! Glad you had a great time with your high school friends. The house and gardens looked beautiful for your reunion get together. How wonderful you all keep in touch and have these fun reunions. Have a great day.
    Kris

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  35. you made a lovely reunion celebration!

    but oh yes, the next one, should be in france! :-)))

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  36. You're so creative, painting new napkins and making up the date cards. It looks and sounds like such fun and I definitely vote for France too: then you could visit the UK on your way !

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  37. It was so much fun to visit with Carol and Steve in their darling cottage by the sea. Their home is absolutely overflowing with love and creativity! Biggest thanks for putting so much effort into planning this wonderful get together!
    XO
    Cindy & Tony

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  38. I vote you had the most cozy reunion of the group. Anyway, adore the lamp gift you received. WTH, you just snap your fingers and ta-da painted napkins appear...like magic!

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  39. Oh what a wonderful fun party! I'm sure your high school gang appreciated all the effort you put into this lovely, colorful reunion. Cheers to many more years to celebrate!

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  40. Sounds like a fun and hectic week at the same time! Glad you had a good visit!

    I'm sure they loved all of your efforts.

    Judy

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  41. How FUN! I'm glad you had a wonderful time. Must have been a big suck to find those shower supplies hanging out on your patio! Glad you got some time to recover from it all. Those chocolates look very yummy and that candle lamp makes me just a tad envious!

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  42. What fun you must have had with high school friends. Love how the table was,decorated.

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  43. You did an amazing job. What a fun idea.
    I love the lamp.
    And I would not mind a chocolate too.
    xx oo
    Carla

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  44. Laughing with friends is a great way to spend a few hours. I'm sure they enjoyed the table you created. You have been busy with the baby shower and reunion - hope you get a few days to relax.

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  45. Looks like everyone had a lovely time. Your place looked wonderful in your photos. Now you can relax and cherish the memories.

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  46. Old friends are the best friends! Mimi

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  47. That sounds like so much fun! Your painted napkins are adorable and really tie things together. You should do a tutorial on the painting technique...don't laugh but you know that's out of my comfort zone.

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  48. I really like your painted napkins! Nice post about meeting old friends!
    Thanks for stopping by!
    Have a nice Weekend!

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  49. Ah...Carol! How neat you keep in contact with old friends! I can see why your friends still keep in contact with you. Lovely set up! xoxo Jen

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  50. Sounds like a great time. So nice you stay in contact with friends from high school. The napkins look great.

    Lovely decorations for the shower.
    Hope you got your day of relaxing.

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  51. Carol, your dinner parties always sound so delightful. I love the little cards with details of your graduating year . . . you are amazingly clever and creative. So many details . . . it is no wonderful that friends ask for your help when they give a party, but waking to party clean-up :(
    No thank you.
    Have a lovely and relaxing weekend.
    You deserve it!
    Connie :)

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  52. Everything looked so pretty! I love how you set your tables and how cute you've decorated your outside patio area. It sounds like everyone had a great time. You received so many nice gifts too.

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  53. How nice that you got together with old friends Carol! They're the best kind :).

    The napkins were genius and came out lovely. You seem to entertain quite often but always pull it off without a hitch.

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  54. Everything looks so cute! Those painted napkins are great (very creative solution - Love It)!

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  55. What a great post. I always enjoy visiting.

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