Fine Wine and Art Party

I enjoy being host of various gatherings at my home, the “1984 House”. What I really enjoy is helping people gather in a way that has the group doing something active, that build relationship or helps people try new things. At least I think I like that sort of thing. I don’t do it as much as I think about it. But here and there I pull things out.

The “Fine Wine and Art Party” had been a gathering brewing in my mind for quite some time. There are so many talented and gifted individuals among my friends. I was stoked about being able to come together, have someone share a gift/talent with us and teach us something in the process. So this past Saturday, two artist friend, Sara and James taught 20 some people in my house how to draw. It was so great. James taught us how to draw faces and Sara taught us to draw figures.

What was most exciting for me was to hear people’s delight in seeing what they had created at the end of the night. We all drew faces… that looked like faces. And learned how to celebrate movement and figures through a piece of charcoal.

I’ve been waiting to post this so I could get some pics, because I feel like this one definitely deserves pictures. There’s more that I will get my hands on later as well (thanks, friends!). You might have to look them up on Facebook, though. Big thanks to Dylon for taking these photos.

Heather

Me, recovering, after being shocked by Klod the manican at the door

Sara, on the left, giving a figure drawing lesson

Preparing to draw a face

A work in progress

James, red shirt at the head of the table, teaching us to draw faces

Posing for figure drawing

You can see some of the figure drawings on the floor

Outcome: Absolutely Lovely

I love to plan parties.

I love choosing the date, coming up with guest lists, creating a menu, cleaning beforehand.

I love it all.

Until the guests arrive.

Typically, when I throw a party, I spend most of it trying to hide.  I usually end up away from the crowd with a couple other people and a fear of facing my guests.

If you’re throwing a party, I’m a great host.  If I’m throwing a party, I might as well not be there.

But last night, well, last night I did okay.  Last night was Family Birthday Party Night (plus Sarah)!

Guests: Mother, Father, Brother, Sister-In-Law, Sarah, Myself

Menu: Padmanadi Take-Out (vegan amazingness that even my hunter father enjoyed)

Drinks: Juice and Bubbly Things

Activities: Drink, Eat, Have Sarah Make My Parents Recount How They Met, Dessert, Open Presents, Listen To My Interview Presentation, Laugh and Laugh and Laugh

Prediction: Awkward At Best

Outcome: Absolutely Lovely

I’m glad I opened my home (to my family, no less).  I felt warm and loved and it was just… wonderful.  We’ll see how I feel after my larger birthday party later this month… maybe I’ll actually have photos of that event?

(Oh, and I scored a sweet Natasha Lawyer print of “I Miss You,” and 3 wicked CDs: Bruce Springsteen’s Greatest Hits, The Decemberists’ The Hazards of Love, and Weezer’s Raditude!  Yes for birthdays!)

Jennifer

Dinner and Dismal Round of Sheep’s Head.

I have a wonderful dinner table. For those of you who don’t know (anyone?) I had my friend Curtis, in Vancouver, make me a table before I left. I love it. It might be my favorite thing. It is 6×3, with an additional 18 inch leaf that fits in the center, and it’s made of recycled oak. I love it. I have a wonderful table, but no table accessories: chairs, napkins, dishes, cutlery, placemats, etc. But then, that is the beauty of friends. Tony brought 4 place mats and wine and flat bread, Adam brought chairs and the two missing placemats, Sarah and Erin brought bread and fruit salad, and the other Adam brought music, vodka and orange juice… I used my roommates dishes and hot pads, and made an enormous pot of curry (delicious curry).

The curry was hella good. I got the recipe from Simply in Season, but substituted brussel sprouts for cabbage, and instead of straight up cauliflower I used a Romanesco, which I recently got from Trillium Haven (the home of my soon to be crop share). I saw my first romanesco just a couple weeks ago, so here’s a picture. They’re amazing.

I did not take this picture.

The evening was lovely and fun. I was proud of my curry, and it has only been in the last year that begun to feel comfortable enough as a cook that I don’t get the shakes whenever I feed people, so that’s a victory… but to be honest, I was kind of out of sorts from the very beginning. I’m not sure why, just one of those days, you know? Anyways, as a result I didn’t take it very well when I lost nearly $10 in the subsequent card game. I may or may not have actually cried at one point. It was only a tear or so, but needless to say, it was not my finest moment.

Pancakes and Munich. Not a bad combination…

Weekends here at the castle are usually a bit slow and sleepy for my hard-working husband and I. We usually stay in our pj’s and eat pancakes for “breakfast” at around 11:30am. (And they are amazing pancakes, by the way…) This weekend, we had company from Canada here, an unexpected and wonderful surprise! So, we decided to go to Munich with some other folks from the base… 13 of us in all.

Now, before we could go and enjoy this beautiful city and take in a rare treat… an English movie IN THE THEATER!! (It’s really amazing what you miss when you don’t have it) we had to have a substantial breakfast… And what better breakfast  than my husbands fluffy-if-you-can-eat-more-than-two-you-are-amazing pancakes!? Jeremy and I decided that it would be nice to have some of the students that were coming with us over for breakfast, since they ALWAYS have cereal and haven’t had good pancakes for who knows how long. These few students turned into 10 people. Now, if you are not aware of the size of our appartment, it is less than 40 square meters… and that’s including the kitchen and bathroom. So, ya. Kind of tiny. But, we had a great time! We didn’t even run out of pancakes, coffee, peanut butter (imported) or Aunt Jemimah’s buttery syrup. It was the perfect breakfast for a wonderful day of movie-watching and Christmas market strolling.

Stephanie

Welcome to The List II

6 women (see “Participants”)

3 continents (see the locations in “Participants”)

27 challenges (see “Items of The List II”)

1.5 months (December 1, 2009 – January 15, 2010)

many reasons (see “What Is The List II?”)

1 blog (bravo! you’ve found it!)

hopefully regular updates and reflections on how we’re all faring with this undertaking…