Picnic with the Queen

This blog - Decor to Adore - spent days documenting each scrumptious detail of England's Diamond Jubilee. My favorite piece is just a click away for your reading pleasure....
Oh The Splendor! {click here}

I'm all about picnics. Sure wish I had known about this. Maybe I'd have moved across the pond just for this occasion!!

BLIMEY!! I am green with envy! However, once nearly 20 years ago, I did picnic in quite an extreme spot in England. Hubby and I sat on the Tower Bridge high above the Thames and lunched on exquisiteness from Harrods Food Halls. It looked something like this. Yet without the ginormous barge floating past with the entire Royal Family on board  ->

Can you imagine our joy? Would surely love to do that again!

As I sat with misty eyes, smiling face and awed by the ceremonious pomp - the Queen's Concert was
BRILLIANT !!

I love a parade!

And now, enough of this British hoopla... well, at least until THE PRINCE & PRINCESS are expecting the next future King or Queen!

Across The Pond

This week, I'm all into Jack, Adele, Liz and a trio of short sweeties named: Monty, Holly & Willow.
They're all British. Some are human, others are not. And they all have to do with Great Britain's Diamond Jubilee.

Jack = Union Jack, England's flag  ^


Adele = angelic voiced songstress of said name. I watched her interview and special last night. She surely is an amazing young star. Her voice is husky, smooth and can give me goosebumps when I think of the lyrics meaning. click here.. or watch the video below..

Funny little story. Today I walked an amazingly upscale shopping district. One of the storefronts was decorated for the Jubilee.... or maybe it could've been for this summer's Olympics. No matter - it was all very British. Quite funny, cute and perfect for this post. Take a look

Liz{?} = Elizabeth. As in THE QUEEN ! I got that silly nickname from this painting in the window

Isn't that a hoot?  ;-)

Then, the trio of non-humans I mentioned at the start - Monty, Holly & Willow = current corgi dogs in residence at the palace! I read this blog that had all sorts of fun trivia!

There ya have it... my private lil' ode to my mother country {being 1/2 English}..


Diamonds are a girls best friend, Liz {HRH Elizabeth}...
Enjoy your Jubilee celebration - from a gal across the pond!

Good Hearted

Gestures of love; I was the recipient of an abundance! Nothing is more true than thinking with your heart  or speaking from your heart. Did emotions run high and love reign center stage because of a wedding? NAH... Not to generalize, but my opinion is that women are innately love givers! The women in my life seem to be so.

Kind, generous beyond belief and thoughtful in the sharing of their love and friendship, my girlfriends express these emotions in many ways. How do I possibly thank each of them for the gifts they bestowed ?........

my royal crown jewels

A sparkling tiara was gifted me....



corks floating in the fountain

 Champagne flowed effortlessly...

A cake was ordered and baked specifically with our theme in mind..... IT WAS DELICIOUS!

A candlelit table was set for dinner.....  and that meal was handmade by a team of the best friends!

Handmade chocolates were set in gift bags at each place setting. A brimming box of assorted vintage hats was a part of the celebration - via a Grandmother gone for many years.

At the close of the evening we were asked to take a seat in order to play a game.  One of the sweetest gestures was about to come....

One of our mothers has been residing in an assisted living situation. Her beautifully collected belongings needed to be packed and stowed away - no longer to grace a china hutch in the home where she raised her children - MY FRIENDS. These good hearted women decided to honor each one of us party-goers by placing a piece of their Mother's Waterford Crystal in our homes instead. We drew numbers and picked a bag filled with a secret memento. This thought from their heart brought tears to my eyes. I chose a gift that contained two Irish Coffee mugs. I will be sure to find a place of importance for them.

Good old heartfelt joy was shared globally that day in an enormous Abbey miles from here. Good hearted intentions, words from the heart and love in many forms was also had right here at home.

I HEART THESE WOMEN !!

Four Squares of Food & Friendship

In the form of continuous outdoor eating... many picnics were enjoyed this weekend! As one of my sweet hat-adorned-girlfriends said - "we enjoyed four square meals a day". Ain't it the truth! We just may have exceeded that number. These picnics were robust, right along with our laughter. The food was beautiful and made with love - just like our friendship!



royal servant?

Spending two nights away from my own cares and home - and for that matter for anyone to be allowed this luxury - is a blessing. We had waited to embrace the whole ROYAL WEDDING extravaganza for months. Everyone sure brought their A-game! The wedding hats were everything from funny, to beautiful, to outlandish. None quite so unfortunate.... OKAY - U - G - L -Y ! as the two worn by an unnamed pair of princesses. Playing dress up at fifty-something  is just as fun as it is when you're a child!

Unfortunately some hats were so intrusive that the faces of some of the gals are blocked... Dang it!
Here are some individual head shots!

These women donned finery - fit for a Queen! I, on the other hand, was the What Not to Wear version! An outcast akin to Eugenie & Beatrice (sorry gals!)  HA! Where's Stacy London when you need her??

There are stories and photos galore. Some of them not as irreverent and silly. Much kindness and love make the times I share with these women beyond special. THEY ARE SOME OF MY FOUND TREASURES!  I'll share more tomorrow.

Lady Marie Jet of Butte

My birth certificate surely does not show this title (above) as my given name. This is the name that I come up with upon following instruction from facebook to get my ROYAL WEDDING GUEST NAME. Such fun and silliness! Instructions are to take the moniker of Lady (females) or Lord (males) +  a grandparent's first name + high school mascot + county you're from.

Waiting for the pomp and circumstance to begin. Need to go to bed firstly. Wake up around 3am.... maybe .
Then I may have to go back to bed for a time. Tomorrow I head north to finally enjoy that royal wedding dinner that I've talked so much about. I've completed my costuming.....

my hat creation

glue gun crafting

I made the red felt flower, found some blue feathers in ye olde hobby crafts stash, and my girlfriend sent the crown trinket. Toss it all in a bunch, and hot glue it together. Stick on side of yo head...

Add some very spiky striped heels for sitting only...

evening wear

My blue floral headpiece is for the main event. We will be having a formal dinner - wearing gloves too - on Saturday eve.



Union Jack



thank you favors for my girls...

Now onto the reception.....
Bye now.... ROYAL WAVES as I pass by!!  waving, waving - slowly, slight turn of the wrist...


Obsessed

My current obsession has to do with a very festive event.  Straight away I thought of hosting this party here at home for a small group - cause that's all this tiny house will hold! At second glance I emailed "my girls" and offered a strong  sweet suggestion that this be the theme and date for my Birthday get together. The way that our Birthday group works, I am allowed  (by the rules & bylaws) to hint at type of affair, place and gift. An email has been sent to each of my fellow "flamingo" members. We'll see if they like my idea - OR NOT!

Just in case my Birthday idea doesn't pan out, then I'm onto the third possibility. See what I mean? Obsessed I tell ya! Can't let it go!.... the 3rd way to accomplish my goal is to see if the new boss likes my idea and if she'd like to use the theme, and host the party. While I hope to do the decor and any other tasks that might make my dream come true. The fact is though, if Boss hosts it then at least I'll be on the guest list!! She had mentioned recently that she wanted to have an employees appreciation lunch. So maybe she'll do it!!

What is this event I'm so nuts over?? Okay - ya ready?... I want to have a
 
Royal Wedding Party !

I think this would be a total kick in the pants!! I'm already imagining the decor, the table scape, the dress!!!
A few problems arise with the option of actually witnessing the ceremony a la' the telie. You see Wills & Kate are marrying on a Friday morn. In our part of the world one will have to be awake at the ungodly time of  2 a.m. on Friday..... so, like have the party on Thursday night and just try to stay awake until the nuptials commence in the wee hours. Not likely! Many ways around this issue, I guess. Tape the whole bloody thing and watch it at a reasonable time. Or throw a party and have it be on a regular weekend eve with no television sighting at all.....     hmmmmmm, what to do? what to do?

Definitely won't let it stop me! I'm now fanatical!