I suppose I should start to tell you about these gates and home before I post more photos!I was invited to a SOIREE a BLOGGER and FRIEND get together by the ever so generous ANDREA of the most famous FRENCH BASKETEER………..FAME.Her gates hail from the estate of the gentlemen who built UC BERKELEY.
She did not even know me!But had heard of me………….
She had a sweeping successful party the first part of summer and wanted to re~do the event with more GUESTS.
You see she loves FRANCE and she loves to COOK!
She also loves to bring people together who share some of her same passions…….FRANCE,FOOD,DOGS and MUSIC.
Let’s just say SHE knows how to TOSS a BALL……………the kind I would WANT to attend!
Some of the visuals she used were grey TULLE………OLIVE BRANCHES……….white LINEN NAPKINS……….CHINA……..I did not check the under bit but lets just assume they were Limoges………..STEMWARE to worry about………and utensils that were VERY old INDEED!
Her table was adorned in WHITE LINEN………….
With GOLD chairs that enclosed us ALL together.
We were THIRTY in total.
Lets take a peek at the HOUSE.
Bult in the 1920’s.In LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA.
Purchased in the 1970’s by her parents…………
View of the PACIFIC ocean out each window………..
GARDENS that go on and on……….
In fact, I asked about a flower that seemed to be hanging off a huge succulent.Guess what?It only opens once a year and the NEXT morning it was OPEN just for ME!I was beside myself with happiness…………the color white and yellow!!!!What color is my garden………….YEP!You got it WHITE & YELLOW!
Lets explore a bit …….shall WE?
How about this munchkin door!There’s the SUCCULENT above…………
Below is the view from my room!Thats the OCEAN straight out for you NON~CALIFORNIANS!
MY room with a VIEW!Black and white awnings…….silk moire curtains…..tattered a bit by the sun but WHO CARES!Just adds more to the ambience……….So much AMBIENCE!
Guest Cottage……..
My BATHROOM VIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I’m sitting on the LOO!!!!!!!!IT’s a pale pink.I loved IT!
THE KITCHEN where ALL THE ACTION took place……………..
Adore the wallpaper in the KITCHEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PAINTING is NOT bad either!But wait there is a chandelier above this!IN THE KITCHEN people!
HELLO…….have I found MY SOULMATE or WHAT??!!
Dog beds underneath the table………..PERFECTION!!!!
What you caNOT see is the DUTCH DOOR that opens onto the the ocean view through a few trees.
Dinner outside FRIDAY night before the SOIREE that was held SATURDAY…………those paper napkins were put there by ME!I had to stop the HOSTESS from getting off her THROWN to grab proper ones.We did not need to create more of a mess.Thank goodness she listen to me!
The menu on Friday:
Chicken stuffed with cranberries &………….
Lemon Risotto
Green Salad
Pistachio brittle……………OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I need that recipe!!!
AND here she is………..may I have a DRUM ROLL PLEASE!
The lovely and I DO MEAN LOVERLY…………..
FRENCH BASKETEER!
Full of LIFE…….Warmth………..and JOY.
Guests started to arrive the day before like ME and JENNIFER from A WELL STYLED LIFE.We were joined by the ever so vivacious LA DOLFINA and her husband CHRIS.Look what they brought to the HOSTESS!A magical box of GOODIES that were SPOT on for ANDREA……………
Another VISITOR who got moved from HIS chair so I could take a seat……………..
Behind me is the LOGGIA where the party took place!I think I should STOP here…….as this is getting rather LONG!However, I want to SHARE so much with you ALL who missed out on this EXTORDINARY event!Should I just keep GOING?
THOUGHT SO!!!
THE TABLE SET for a GRAND AFFAIR…………..The curtains were grey tulle that I let lose right before the AFFAIR began……
At the last SOIREE they did damage when the wind came for a visit!
UN~INVITED of course!
See what I mean about the place settings………..one of my favorite moments was sitting in my PJ’s in my bare feet sipping coffee out of a LIMOGES cup on the patio listening to the birds chat and SING.
My job was to roll the napkins and place twine around the olive twig……………..
I LOVED MY JOB!
Nailing this moving TARGET down for a photo was one of THE MOST DIFFICULT jobs I have EVER had to DO!
Well, worth it…………if I do say so MYSELF!Love this shot……………..
LA DOLFINA scores AGAIN!
THANK ~ YOU………… TERRI!
Pot de crème with heirloom French strawberries & candied rose petals
White cake with Four Fruits
White cake with Apricot filling
Night-Night Cake
Cups of fall fruits poached in red and white
winewild fruit cups with crème
The MOST GLAMOROUS GUEST……………..TAMERA of TAMERA BEARDSLEY.COM.Who I noted has been contacted by ARI SETH of ADVANCED STYLE on her Instagram account!!!!HOW EXCITING IS THAT!CONGRATULATIONS Madame Beardsley!!!!!!!!!You will be a STAR!
The FRENCH BASKETEER’s MOTHER……………THE GRAND DAME of this Event!
The youngest guest sharing HER paintings………..this was HER first ART class and she did these………………..ONE ART CLASS PEOPLE! This isNOT paint by number!!
The GORGEOUS SISTER of ANDREA and her HUSBAND………..who both are DOCTORS.Anyone, want to guess the AGE Of the SISTER……..I’m NOT going to tell YOU because you wouldn’t believe me if I did!But just take a WILD GUESS!!
This would be ME………..and the Gorgeous TAMERA.
Can you make out the LADIES from VINTAGEWEAVE and GREIGE DESIGNS………….they were loads of FUN.
Lets step into the kitchen…………HOMEMADE PASTA!
PUMPKIN SOUP……………..
The SOUS CHEFS……..they NEVER left the kitchen!A bit blurry…sorry I was in the way at the door!In my haste I must have moved!The GAL on the LEFT is a MOTHER of FOUR all grown adults now.She was like a kid herself full of SPUNK!Then there is Lori who is a MASTER of running households and children………a dear friend of Andrea’s.Who managed to escape HER duties for the night only to step up to the plate and be a HUGE HELP in the kitchen that night!
Lovely Chatter……
Lovely sister of Christina ~ KATHY of Vintageweave ~ Me ~ and Christina of GREIGE DESIGN.
YOUR CONTESSA with Diane Ripley of Kirste Ripley Public Relations.
THE HOSTESS who finally after hours on her feet sat down to visit and relax!BRAVO!!!!!!!!!BRAVO!!!!!!
The desert table………more was added…………very little leftovers here!Beautifully done with the VINTAGE crates……..
I so wish I could have eaten this…….NO flour no wheat……..can be an absolute bore at times!
A gorgeous rose on this cake…………
A slice just for YOU!
The night is done………..
The morning AFTER…………………
THE BOYS………..BISCUIT and HONEY.They know how to behave for a bite of BACON!
That Flower that Opened just for ME!!!!HOW GORGEOUS is this!
If you live in SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA and have the time I would think you would want to skip over to
FRENCH BASKETEER.COM and sign up for her next cooking class!
Check out HER baskets that are FOR SALE……I bought two and cannot wait to get more!
For those of you in NORTHERN CALIFORNIA doNOT despair………..ANDREA will HOP up NORTH the end of JANUARY and perhaps put on a cooking class or two in the BAY AREA!If you are interested do send me an email and I will make certain you are added to the LIST!
Again ANDREA………THANK YOU for including me in this GRAND SOIREE…….a MAGICAL night had by all.
Our next SOIREE shall be in FRANCE…..NON??
You see she has a HOME there TOO………….and has been known to take people around to SHOP,COOK and sip the regions WINES.Might YOU be interested in that TOO?
YOU can COUNT ME IN for SURE!!!!
XOXO
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