Peter Rabbit’s Garden Party

This past weekend we celebrated our son’s first birthday with a Peter Rabbit garden party. The weather was beautiful and it was a perfect afternoon to gather with friends and family. We hosted the party in our backyard with our vegetable garden and greenhouse as a natural backdrop to the garden theme party.

With many young guests to entertain, we had several activities planned. Upon arrival, they enjoyed digging and playing in our raised bed and toy potting beach with assorted gardening toys. Then they painted personalized flower pots and stakes. After presents and cake, they planted flowers in their pots to take hone. Their favors included gardening gloves to take home.

Playing in the dirt

Painting flower pots and stakes

Planting “Johnny Jump Ups” to take home.

 

As the party was mid afternoon, we served light refreshments all featuring garden vegetables. There was a large vegetable platter with three different dips, two vegetable tarts and fresh blackberries (the treat the bunnies enjoy at the end of the Peter Rabbit story). We served chocolate pretzels in the shape of carrots, pudding and Oreo “dirt” cups and of course birthday cake.

 

The vegetable platter presented on a large board. Behind the food table was a Peter Rabbit backdrop found on Amazon.

Guests enjoy their “dirt” cups presented in small plastic plant pots.

The show stopping cake and smash cake created by the Birthday boy’s Auntie Katie.

The tables featured green and white gingham table clothes and centerpieces with wagons and baskets overflowing with vegetables looking as if they had just been picked from Mr. McGregor's garden.

 

Happy Birthday Harrison!

Summer fun!

We celebrated the end of summer with a Lobster and Clam Boil! Although I am definitely in the turf rather than surf camp when it comes to food, I was swayed by the possibilities of red and white checkand bright red lobsters (plus my husband is a fan of the shelled bottom feeders). I embraced all aspects of the celebration and left the devouring to the guests. Of our 28 guests - almost half were lobster eaters and the other half not so they was plenty of food and good times for all regardless of their preferences for crustaceans.

We found a recipe for Lobster and Clam Boil online which included a broth of Old Bay Seasoning, white wine and onions. The smell was delicious and although we learned that everyone has their own favorite way to cook lobsters - it was a success! It's so nice that our daughter is now old enough to enjoy assisting in the kitchen and with party hosting.

The Decor

Decor included red checkered table clothes and napkins, tin pie plates, galvanized buckets, newspaper printed wax paper, red lanterns and fresh flowers from the gardens. Buckets held the tools required for eating lobster and collected the debris after the fact. Although we had original planned to set up the tables outside - rain relocated the festivities to our barn. We set up a tent outside for the propane stoves and 

The Food

For surf lovers we had lobsters and clams, potatoes and corn on the cob. For all french bread and baked beans. For the turf lovers grilled chicken, corn on the cob, kielbasa and potatoes.

 

And the show stopping cake for dessert!

 

 Guests enjoying food and wearing crazy hats ... thank you all for a great evening!

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Swing your partner round and round!

 

We celebrated the last weekends of summer with a barn dance! From the first do-si-do to the last swing your partner, it was a good time for all. The theme allowed us to really utilize our barn and it worked great.

 

 

A three piece band with fiddler and caller were on hand to teach us a variety of line and square dances. 

 

   

Right outside the barn, long tables were perfect for catching our breath, visiting with friends and enjoying dinner.


After dinner, we feasted on a buffet of slab pies!

 

 

 

Bonus picture of our little dancer :o)