Thoughts of a klutz

April in South Carolina has finally decided to fall in line and behave, so I'm anxious to put Jr. into a jon-jon and spend the day outside in the yard.  I'm hoping to accomplish some weed pulling and patio beautifying before heading around the corner to knock on the door of some neighbors to invite by tonight.  Who knows, since Mr. M is working from home today maybe I'll slip out during nap time and get some artichokes and try Gwyneth Paltrow's Artichoke with Basil and Mint recipe that showed up in my inbox.  It sounds divine, and I need to do something with all of the mint leftover from the other day.  

Eventually I'll get moving.  I'm a little slow today!  Last night I went to an Earth Day Happy Hour event that a friend of mine's organization held.  It was a great event put on by the office's student workers, who pulled together an informative land conservation documentary for the evening.

Afterwards we went to a party upstairs with some friends and my klutziness decided to make an appearance for the night.  Someone once described my humor as 'self-deprecating'.  I don't think that's the case, I'm just straightforward about myself.  I've tried putting on airs in the past, and I always end up tripping up the stairs or stepping on the front of my ball gown, so really, what's the point?  So, we are in the room with a lot of big decision makers whom I had never met, and in the middle of one of my boisterous "Hey!!!"'s I just had to drop my plate of vidalia onion dip all over my freshly dry-cleaned jeans.  Because the night is never complete until I have dropped or tripped over something.    And instead of being embarrassed, I just said "Oh well!" and headed back to the bar and then start a new conversation.  And eventually sing a little karaoke... badly.  I think people have started to expect this from me.  I call it the new college roommate syndrome.  Secretly, everyone is hoping that they won't be the one who plasters dip all over their pants, and they are relieved when it happens to someone else, and it  breaks the ice.  Or their just holding in their laughter at me because they are polite and pitying.  Or waiting to snicker behind me... because I've done all of the above when it happens to someone else!

The Epiphany of My Mother's Advice

Today during gala setup a wonderful local artist did quick caricatures of some of us committee members that are now hanging in one of the party rooms.  She is on the gala committee with me and her daughter Meagan is the development manager for museum, and also the staff member in charge of the gala.  I love that she did the caricatures showing us at work.  A lot of people have been digging in their heels this week to make this party happen, and I think that the drawings pay proper homage to that.  I am so honored that she asked me!

Here's the thing about caricatures... they are quick and exaggerated, so it never hurts to be dressed up when having one done.  Not in your gardening clothes, sporting poodle hair, and toting around a camera that you don't even like that much.  At least if you are wearing stilettos and a little black dress your legs end up looking rocked out and you are suddenly very well endowed up top.  Lord knows I could use some help in both those areas these days!

Debbie did a fantastic job with mine... she and her daughter Meagan are both multitalented artists.  It just drove home my mother's point... always make sure you look nice for every situation!  When I tell this to Jr. and any other Juniorettes we may have in the future, I plan to add, "You never know when someone is going to want to draw a caricature of you for 800+ people to see!"

We had a great time today.  If you've never been behind the scenes to see how much goes into setting up a fundraiser, here are some photos (at least of how it is turning out so far) of today's work!  This first shot is from the roof... I was hoping to get a shot of the entire plaza, but it would have required some major acrobatics and a lack of care for space between me and the ground.  

Lavender and Geraniums

I need a trip to Provençe.  Like, now.  Unfortunately, it's not looking like my calendar will allow it at the moment, so instead I'll settle for some lavender and geraniums.  That's how I spent my morning at the Columbia Museum of Art setting up for the afore mentioned Soirèe du Soèil.  The smell of the lavender and the pop of the geraniums made me want to float off.  I'll be setting some up on the patio, for sure, though at the rate I'm going my patio is going to look like a flower jungle by the end of the summer!  Hmm... maybe some new plates for out there, too.

The above picture is of the terrazzo stairs at CMA.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if it were practical to have this many flowers lining your staircase every day?  There are so many reasons why you shouldn't.  In the case of this photo, impracticality screamed at me when I went back down the stairs and heard the flower cart come crashing down behind me.  It was one of those moments where common sense would have told my body to move, but I was rooted in my spot.  Thank God there was a landing to stop it.  Yikes!

Who's working on a flower project?  Send out some ideas!

The unplanned plan

Do you know those weekends when nothing goes as planned, and it could generally be considered a disaster?  I had one of those, except I think I would consider it a success!

To start off, my pink paradise patio plan inspired by Bloomacious.com and DIFFA 

kind of went phhhhhhhhfffffffttttt and died.  Being the anal retentive/ADD/organizational nightmare that I tend to be, I couldn't find anything remotely close to the fabric that I had envisioned, and it was entirely too late to order any.  What did I gain from running around town? A beautiful Gerbera daisy plant that brightened up the patio table all on it's own. 

My friend J. from New England breezed briefly into town, and since she was coming over I invited another good friend

 from high school and another who is starting a really interesting career blog.  You law librarians will want to check it out when it goes live.  I'll give a shout out when she's ready!

I did not serve the beloved Principessa that I was all atwitter over.  I couldn't find that, either.  In a rush because I had spent too much time obsessing over the fabric and Mr. M had a date with the golf course, I hurriedly grabbed a few bottles of La Vielle Ferme Rosé*, some rosé salami, marinated olives (all from World Market).  The fare, with the addition of my personal staple, Fromager Daffinois from The Gourmet Shop, and strawberries with homemade

whipped cream** was wünderbar for a mild day on the patio.  Obviously... we were out there for seven hours!

So, that was "disasterous" event #1... remember we're heading into Easter weekend, here.

We got to Easter Day and I realized that for the first time ever we weren't obligated to run to three sides of the state in one day with a toddler in tow. Yippee!  What's most amazing is that we didn't even realize this fact until we woke up that morning to get ready for my nephew's baptism.  There were no plans for after the baptism.  A holiday was wide open from noon on.  Pigs must have been flying out of windows or something.  Has this ever happened to anyone else?  Well, of course I had to go and ruin it by telling the Dr. and Mrs. and my brother's family that they should come by.  I mean, who passes on an opportunity to do nothing on a holiday?  And what's more, who passes on it and it magically turns into the perfect day?  Seriously.  Jr. napped for 3 hours. I worked in the pitiful plot of dirt that is calling itself a garden. My parents showed up bearing wine and champagne.  My brother and his family arrived bearing more wine and food.  Mr. M disappeared for a while and materialized with burgers for the grill.  Untraditional, yes, but quite possibly one of the best Easter gatherings ever.  Men and boys playing basketball on a Little Tykes goal, a toddler running around with a pinwheel, mothers and daughters and sisters-in-law relaxing in the sun.  I may never plan another holiday again! Yeah right, whoever bets on that one needs some serious help.

*This is a great rosé for under $10.  It'll be making some repeat appearances on our patio this spring and summer.

**Homemade whipped cream?  Yes.  I think that purchasing whipped cream is a waste of money when most of us have the necessary ingredients already.  Just take 2 cups of heavy whipping cream, add 1/4 cup of sugar, and a tablespoon of good vanilla (I actually really like the Earth Fare brand) and beat it with a whisk until it starts to peak.  You can do this with a handheld mixer, a whisk, or a stand alone mixer.  It's all good.