Dinner Party...

What do you do when you throw a dinner party?

I mean apart from the dinner & the party bit?

Even though I'm happy to cook (happier to bake) 

I have a Hubby who's skills & passion far exceed mine.

So when we had dinner guests over recently he insisted on creating this...

Spinach & Ricotta Cannelloni - with homemade tomato sauce and extra cheesy topping.

A vegetarians heaven (or early demise, depending on how much of it you eat)

Me?

What do I do for our dinner parties?

Well I'm in charge of atmosphere....

I set the table...

... dim the lights inside...

.... & light lots of candles. 

I don't always use a tablecloth

(we have a lovely Jarrah table that can handle all the mess and spills we often create)

However when I spotted this crazy one at Tree Of Life

I thought it would be quite the conversation piece

It depicts the Mexican celebration of the 

Day of The Dead (coming up soon)

It also hides a myriad of food spills and keeps kids entertained.

I must admit I'm more of a neutral colours and tones person but this garish

orange number is just the thing for adding a festive tone to any outdoor meal.

(can't see myself using it on the formal dining table though)

Once I've lit at least 3000 tea lights 

(I'm never happy until I'm sure my home is visible from outer space)

I go about the business of turning on the garden lights....

... and the fairy lights...

Of course it goes without saying that the house needs to be filled with flowers too

I'm blessed to have a garden that always has a little something in bloom most months of the year.

Another favourite of mine is floating pretty flower heads in water.

This can be quite a thrifty and cost effective way of bringing nature into your home.

These are just plain old Nasturtium flower heads - grown from seed, edible and cheap as chips.

Below are Callistemon(also known as Bottle Brushes) which are the flower heads

of one of Australia's most loved native plants.

I've hung them just outside the front door from our metre box.

A lovely way for a house to greet people don't you think?

Before receiving guests, I like to pay particular attention to my bathroom.

I usually fill one of these little apothecary vials with something pretty and 

light a scented candle

Then it's just a matter of sorting out some tunes...

.. and pouring Hubby a well earned glass of wine

Did I mention he made this 

Orchard Fruit Pudding for desert?

So now that you've seen how it's done at Casa Del JAm

won't you join us for an evening of fine food and fun?

Something lovely....

Spring is in full swing.

Being outside during the day is utterly blissful.

In my bid to lure some of this magic indoors 

I have made a "Spring Branch"

The blossoms that ordained this Plum Tree branch have long since fell off.

However I decided not to throw it out... 

I have hung little bottles on it and filled them with Jasmine and Freesias.

It's so lovely walking into the kitchen in the morning, looking at my colourful little

hearth and drinking in the sweet scent of the Jasmine.

I used wire & these handy little hooks to secure the apothecary bottles....

 Then I added a few bits of pink ribbon - for extra "pizazz"

I love the way the fairy lights sparkle in the water of each bottle...

Kind of like giant raindrops

I think even my ceramic bunnies are enjoying the frivolity of this 

Ode to Spring.

They look especially magical at night....

My very own Neverland.

Indeed I am at a loss without my candles and string lights.

Hubby jokes that I should own shares in the tea light industry.

I have even rejected the environmentally friendly, energy saving merits of LED lights.

I'm afraid their "glow" (or lack of) just doesn't measure up.

Apologies then to the inventors of this earth loving technology.

I will embrace it where I can.

But do not ask me to give up my 

traditional string lights.

Please.

In my defence though I must add that I usually have 

every other light source turned off at night

The hidden agenda being that I wish to savour all the romantically

 lit treasures in my home.

Teeny tiny bit selfish yes...

But ever so pretty too

******

PS - My clay tags are all dried and I've attached the twine.

I'm happy with the result.

What say you?

Light, Love and Leonard

You can add up the parts
but you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march,
there is no drum
Every heart, every heart
to love will come
but like a refugee.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in. 

(Anthem by Leonard Cohen)

I went to see this amazing man in concert this week and needless to say I was deeply affected. He is a poet and a musician and an inspiration to all artists! At a mere 76 years young(yep you read correctly!) he packed out a stadium venue and, I can honestly say, I have never seen such an eclectic crowd at a concert... ever.

Leonard - Thank you for the music, the words and the poetry.