Saturday, February 07, 2009

R.S.V.P. DINNER PARTY AT EIGHT! ~ DREAM 'FLOW BLUE' DINNER

NOTE FROM KAREN HALL (An Artist's Garden)~
The date Saturday 7th February
The venue VP’s blog and your own blog
The event A dinner party
___________________

Guest List:
Guest of honor: Karen Hall
(Artist, Embroiderer, Designer Maker, and Gardener - Dyffryn Ardudwy, Wales)
Vincent van Gogh
Henry David Thoreau
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn
Claude Monet
Anne La Flamme



Vincent van Gogh

Henry David Thoreau


Rembrandt


Claude Monet

Anne La Flamme
(Garden Mentor)

_______________________


MENU:

NASTURTIUMS FILLED with GUACAMOLE

CREAMY MOREL SOUP

TYROLEAN BEEF TENDERLOIN

DEEP DARK CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

(A click on above will take you to the recipe)


~ 'Flow Blue' Dinner Party

(click on Flow Blue for history on this charming china )

The 'best of the best' for a night to remember!

______________

Note: A rush to get dinner on the table for my honored guests by 8:00, left much unsaid. First, thanks dear Karen, who honored me at 'Mrs. Grumpy's' feast ... then the delightful meme at veg Plotting ... a creative day for sure ... give it a try! Each guest was chosen, not only to delight my honored guest, an artist herself, but because they have all held my heart throughout my life. Click on each name to discover wonders for yourself (my photographs speak in praise of those who have lived before me) and click on the food, chosen with each in mind ... the chocolate cheesecake, on Karen's request. Though only 3-5 guests were to be invited, once my mother knew Monet was coming (not only for his artistic hand but love of food), she insisted on being included, and rightly so. Though she has not touched this earth in over 34 years, she lives beside me ... my first garden mentor, knowing gardening was a good thing simply watching her smile, wiping her freckled nose coming in from the garden and then again watching her magic hand in the kitchen.

23 comments:

Rose said...

Oh my goodness, Joey, how does one wrangle an invitation to this party? Perhaps you need a server--I had a little practice working banquets in college; I promise I won't spill anything on anyone:)

This would be a dream dinner party (and the food doesn't sound bad either, LOL). Just a word on Van Gogh--uneducated as I am about art, I never thought that much of his work until I saw an actual painting of his in a museum in Paris. Now I understand the adulation...

Anonymous said...

Those mosaics are brilliant! I found this one too late...but it sure looks like an amazing time. I hope to read some accounts of the fare! :)

Gail said...

Wow! Love the guests and the food sounds divine! I want to hear more about your garden mentor! Gail

Gail said...

ps I am honored to have one of Karen's beautiful works of art! gail

F Cameron said...

WoW! This is wonderful! You put a lot of work into your party for your illustrious guests.

Cameron

Anonymous said...

Joey, you should be so proud. You have excellent taste in guest, your food sounds delish, and the collages, well, they are breathtaking.~~Dee

beckie said...

Joey, what a beautiful post! Each collage is candy to the eye and heart as well. You have chosen some very interesting dinner guests. I have always loved Monet and would love to visit his gardens some day. Your Mother sounds like a divine soul-a wealth of knowledge and experience. And thank you for introducing Karen. I visited her site and what lovely work she does. The Morel soup is a must this spring. I may not wait that long though as I do have some dried morels...Sunday supper?

joey said...

Rose, you have a standing invitation to any party I host! I know how you love books ... please consider LUST FOR LIFE, a 1934 biographical novel about Vincent Van Gogh (Irving Stone) ... you'll thank me and never forget it!

Dear Nancy ... wish you were here! Would love to have another fine artist in on the conversation.

Karen is amazing, Gail, and how lucky you are to own one of her fine pieces of art. Wish you were here to join us :) My garden mentor is my mother, a beautiful story that lives on.

I love to entertain, Cameron. Please note my husband joins me in this ... he not only set the table but gathered fine wines from the wine cellar to celebrate this event.

Thanks Dee ~ your party was awesome also. Each guest lives within me so finding photos to gather was easy.

TYRA Hallsénius Lindhe said...

Hi Joey, extraordinary beautiful collages today. This dinner party most have been a dream come true all these wonderful artists and mum. The foods sounds wonderful too.

Great job Joey, take care, you must be dead tired today./ Tyra

Anonymous said...

Wow!
I don't know what to say ....
Thank you Joey - what could be nicer than a dinner hosted by you, with your wonderful menu, your husbands fine wines, your Mum and artists whose work I love.
Wow!
I adore all the images that you have made into your montage you have such a good eye for beauty.
Thank you from the heart, Joey
Karen (and Mrs Grumpy)

Anonymous said...

Joey this is a wonderful post! All your guests hold pieces of my heart as well. I am inspired to paint in hopes for one day possibly being considered. You inspire me to create yummy dishes and entertain. Karen Hall has been a wonderful new discovery. I loved her comic and have enjoyed surfing her site! thank you!

VP said...

Joey - thanks for putting so much care into your reply to my meme. I'm completely bowled over by it.

Van Gogh is my favourite artist - I cried when I stood in front of his paintings in Paris.

Having spent an afternoon with Karen I know she'll be a wonderful guest and will enjoy being amongst such great artists.

And I'm so glad you're mother's here too - she's obviously been such an inspiration to you.

The food is gorgeous - I must find the recipe for your cheesecake. Having sampled it over at Karen's, I can't resist a second slice ;)

joey said...

Thanks dear Beckie, and yes, mother still guides me from above. Lucky you to still have dried morels ... I'll be right over for a taste of your soup that I'm sure will taste better than mine, since YOU made it :)

You are most kind, Anonymous, and thank you for the thoughtful words. I live in awe of the inspirational talent that walked upon this earth!

Hi dear Tyra, actually, I did sleep in today :) Thanks for the kind words ... how delightful if you could have joined us (I can think of nothing lovelier)!

Thanks to you, Karen, it was great fun! Before your note, I was clueless to this delightful "Alice in Wonderland' adventure. The night was a wonderful dream and I've learned much about your many talents ... you are a lovely and most gifted woman.

... and thank you, VP, for the delightful meme, perfect for the gardener's February lull (my husband even joined in on the fun ... setting the table, choosing favorites from the wine cellar, etc.) Time crunch prevents me from joining in many posted memes but hard to resist your garden/dinner party theme! Sounds like a wonderful time was had by all, thanks to your creative idea.

joey said...

Thanks dear Beckie, and yes, mother still guides me from above. Lucky you to still have dried morels ... I'll be right over for a taste of your soup that I'm sure will taste better than mine, since YOU made it :)

You are most kind, Anonymous, and thank you for the thoughtful words. I live in awe of the inspirational talent that walked upon this earth!

Hi dear Tyra, actually, I did sleep in today :) Thanks for the kind words ... how delightful if you could have joined us (I can think of nothing lovelier)!

Thanks to you, Karen, it was great fun! Before your note, I was clueless to this delightful "Alice in Wonderland' adventure. The night was a wonderful dream and I've learned much about your many talents ... you are a lovely and most gifted woman.

... and thank you, VP, for the delightful meme, perfect for the gardener's February lull (my husband even joined in on the fun ... setting the table, choosing favorites from the wine cellar, etc.) Time crunch prevents me from joining in many posted memes but hard to resist your garden/dinner party theme! Sounds like a wonderful time was had by all, thanks to your creative idea.

Bren Haas said...

This is an amazing Dinner Party. Why was I not invited ( wink) ?
I posted a recipe after documenting my cooking in the kitchen yesterday. It was loads of fun. I think the best party was setting the table.
http://momingarden.blogspot.com/2009/02/chicken-and-white-bean-recipe.html

Thank you for inspiring and sharing your wonderful life online.

Warm wishes from your friend in the garden.

Brenda Pruitt said...

Pansies! You know how much I love pansies! Such sweet little faces.
Brenda

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

How exciting, an artists' party! Better hide the knives, though, with Van Gogh coming. I'm so lucky to still have my mom around; it's touching that you invited yours.

joey said...

Hi Bren and thanks ~ you missed a good dinner party (wink)! I'll be over soon to check out your recipe!

It's impossible not to adore pansies, Brenda, for the very reason you mention ... their sweet faces.

I did hide the knives, MMD, and sat his good ear near mine. You indeed are lucky to have your mother near ... though she will never leave you.

Marysol said...

You know, this is one of those rare occasions when I'm left speechless.
Big hugs to you my dear.

joey said...

I almost called upon you to create a memorable dessert, dear one! Wish you were here to enjoy :0)

Woodland Fay said...

Wow, love the wine choices depicted in this collage, Pomerol, Margaux, Sauternes and not just any chateaux at that, perrier champagne glasses et al. Some party!

Catherine said...

Wow Joey~What an extradorinary post! All my fav's..Vangogh, Monet, Rembrant, Thoreau, & of course Flow Blue!!:) I am not familar with Anne La Flamme, Or Karen Hall, but I am looking forward to checking out the links.
Your collages are FANTATIC!!
And the menu~wow! Crazy about Guacamole...& Deep Dark Chocolate Cheesecake~mmmm!! ~I missed the Dinner Party of all Dinner parties!! :( But I've known since my first visit to your beautiful blog Joey~that no one could give a better dinner party than you!!:)
Can't wait to check out the flow blue link too!!
Hug's
Cat

joey said...

Welcome Woodland ~ Indeed, a delightful dream dinner party. I enjoy entertaining and this was great fun to create :)

Hi Cat ~ wish you were here :) We had lots of fun creating this. Do visit Karen Hall's site(s) ... you will be most impressed. As for Anne La Flamme, you will only find her through me ... she's my dear mother :)