Sunday, February 18, 2007

Cucumber on my Eyes, and I am All Set.

I have spent the weekend doing some much-needed domestic chores, getting ready for a party I'm hosting tomorrow. Man, am I out of practice doing the hosting thing. There's a lot of cleanup involved, let me tell you. Back in the day, when I used to throw parties all the time, I seem to remember it being no big deal - but that was before I Saw The Light, started knitting, and stopped doing housework.

But, I recently got this cool book in a $4.99 bin at Save-On Foods:


and it has inspired me to create this:



Pretty twinkles! It's just a crystal vase filled with minilights (the string goes down the back side, behind the mantle, and then through the chiffon fabric tacked to the edge of the mantle) into which I poked three beaded "floral picks" I got from the Dollar Store...invested the enormous amount of $1.50 on each of them. The room was very dark when I took that picture, so you can't see the picks really well, but I assure you they are lovely.

And, in the dining room, this -- which I have to say is the start of maybe the most fabulous table I've ever set --




It's a scrap of peach-coloured georgette in my mum's punch bowl, with about 25 mini-lights coiled inside it. Then I scrounged around til I found a glass plate that fit inside the punch bowl, to hold down the lights and provide a level surface on top of which I can put flowers, or cut-up veggies, or whatever I like. I haven't quite figured out what to do with the rest of the light string, yet - I tried winding some of it around the milk-glass pedestal plate in the foreground, and I think that looks nice too...it's just the cord I need to deal with. If my future holds a lot of mini-light decorating, I think I will have to invest in some battery-powered strings. I'm sure I'll come up with something, but any suggestions you have would not be taken amiss. Anyone? Jenny?


It did occur to me, as I was wrassling 450 minilights around my home, that this might be on the verge of too weddingy. But then I realized that the absence of white tulle, and the presence of taste and judgment, would avert that particular calamity.

And now I am off to bed. In an effort to stave off the cold I suddenly feel coming on, I have just finished a rather vile drink comprised of very hot water, the juice of half a lemon, and one drop of lavender essential oil. Though I highly respect essential oil in all its external applications, I have to say that, taken orally in water, it is absolutely disgusting. It has a disquieting way of cleaving to the palate.

Hopefully more knitting next post, unless I am prostrate on my bed with a raging fever, lifting my fainting head only to hoarsely berate Mr HalfSoledBoots for insisting I get the Flu Shot. In which case, I'm sure you can understand that my fingers will be too busy flipping him off to type.

8 comments:

Jo said...

I love the first vase picture - it looks very ethereal. I hope you feel better soon - I know how strong lavendar oil *smells* - I can't imagine how it tastes!

Anonymous said...

So if I notice a lovely lavender smell, I'll know it's you? Sounds very festive, all those twinkle lights :)

Jenny said...

Maybe grab a little tule and then loosely wrap around the cord.(probably have to cut it)...Ribbon?(I have some pretty silver ribbon with moons and stars on them...too bad, you lived so far...LOL, I'd give them to you to somehow wrap around the cord)
Looks grand!!
I love mini lights as well.
Spray the cord white...silver??
Or...leave the cord alone, because it doesn't look all that bad!
Have fun at your party!!

Anonymous said...

All right missy - you are determined to show me up, aren't you? Four bottles of wine, twinkly lights, table decor. Sigh. Once again. I languish in your shadow.

Sue H said...

I prefer to have hot water, lemon juice, honey and whisky or brandy. You can also take a couple of paracetamol to help with any aches and pains, and if you are REALLY game, swallow a whole peeled clove of garlic, it has marvelous antiseptic properties. If it's a large one, cut it up.
As for the decorations, they look wonderful. You are so full of talent.

Anonymous said...

Lovely lights - dreamy...

I'm with Susan - how 'bout honey instead of lavender oil? And I think you have to cut the garlic up to activate the whatever-it-is. Dr. Weil says to, anyway. And his beard is bigger than mine, so I listen to him.

Shan said...

"His beard is bigger than mine"...My Gosh, that's funny.

It's only because I was out of honey...had to deputize a party guest to bring me some.

But the lavender helped, a lot.

Christy said...

I want to come to this dinner party! Now you must share whats on the menu!!!