after concert party

September 30, 2013

I sing in my church choir and besides singing most Sundays, we have two concerts a year, a Christmas concert and another in spring or fall.  I wish you had ALL been there for Saturday's fall concert, it was, well, wonderful!  Our choir director chose the most fun music and this year's theme was "What a Wonderful World".  We sang that lovely title song and sacred songs too, but also jazz, show tunes, gospel, and for girls only, a medley of Motown songs that included Baby Love and Please Mr. Postman.  Plus so many more.  We enjoyed it so much and know that the congregation and guests enjoyed it too.  We work so hard and practice for months and after the concert we are just not ready to end the night, so we have a party.  In my opinion giving a party is MUCH easier than singing. (I have to say that I work especially hard at music as it does not come easy to me; a love of singing and a love for my wonderful choir mates and director keeps me plugging away.)  Three close friends sing in choir with me, we are old friends that met when we took our now 30 year old kids to nursery school!  Each year we invite our friends to attend the concert and afterwards we invite them to a party.  Just wine, beer, a few appetizers and a few desserts.  All finger food.  All easy.  We share the work and share the costs and each year we rotate houses.  This year it was my turn.  I had my house decorated with lots of candlelight and sparkly mercury glass and plenty of hydrangeas with their beautiful muted fall color.  I love fall entertaining.

I have a collection of vintage medicine bottles that I am drying my hydrangeas in this year. Learn about that process here.

Hydrangeas are so pretty this time of year.  These will last all season.

I adore this lime green hydrangea.

I borrowed two cases of sturdy wine glasses and lined them up on the bar in the background.



The first fire of the season is so welcome.

In a few minutes the house will be filled with chatty people.

Our husbands serve as bartenders.
 They pour the first glass and typically the next glass our guests will have to fend for themselves!
 

Finger food, both sweets and savories, were served on the dining room table.
As for the party, we had to keep it simple, after all, we would be arriving at the same time as our guests.  I had everything laid out the night before (and took these pictures) and when I walked in the door only had to take a few minutes to light candles and start the fire, get out the chilled wine and set out the prepared food.  With 4 hostesses to share the duties it was done in no time.  Within ten minutes the crowd had arrived and the room was filled with chatty people enjoying a little nibble and a glass of wine.  We've found over the years that our guests don't eat a lot this late in the evening, just a bite and a drink or two.  It's a pleasant way to wind down the night and we keep it simple, why complicate a fun evening?

Menu

Kathy made a smoked salmon platter.
Ellie made pork tenderloin sliders.
Maryann made artichoke nibbles.
I made rumaki plus several short breads for a little something sweet.




The month of October I'm giving away Rowan Magazines every Friday.
If you are a knitter, stop by every Friday and enter!

Linked to Between Naps on the Porch
and No Minimalist Here.


You Might Also Like

8 Comments

  1. oh Kristen, lovely as always! those hydrangeas are so pretty amidst the candles. looks like it was a wonderful way to celebrate your choir's fall concert!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love reading about your beautiful parties and dinners! Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Next time invite ME! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello Kristen, thank you for visiting and your kind words. Your party sounds lovely. You always decorate with such flair. The menu is lovely, as is all of your decor. xo Linda

    ReplyDelete
  5. The concert was wonderful, as they usually are. It helps to have friends performing. The photos of the party should have sound. Such fun.

    Carole

    ReplyDelete
  6. Kindred spirits, I'm telling you. I have the same music napkins sitting on my table now. K

    ReplyDelete
  7. I’ve learned so much online in the past four years. The majority of my knowledge I attribute to reading great blogs like yours. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the pheasants on the wooden stand. They are beautiful. Your home is lovely all dressed up for the after concert party. The food looks great too. Is that bacon wrapped water chestnuts? What else did you use in them? Do you have a recipe? Have a wonderful Sunday.....Candy

    ReplyDelete

You make my day when you make a comment!

Labels

afghan Alana Dakos ally pally ambassador Amy Herzog Ankestrick Arte Italica baby Baby Cocktails bakelite baking berry picking Best Friday of the Month best of Ravelry Big Sur blue transferware book review books boutique brook cables California candy child children children's activities Christmas Christmas crafts Christmas knitting cleaning collections cookie cutters cookies cooking craft Crafts crochet cross-stitch day trip decluttering decorating designer spotlight discount diy dog dolls Easter eau de vie Elizabeth Bradley Elizabeth Zimmerman embroidery entertaining Facebook fall fall decorating fall garden family featured first car fit flower arranging flowers free pattern Friday night party group friends funny Fur garden gardening Giants Gifted Hostess give-away giveaway gluten free gourmet group Halloween herbs holiday home how to set up a party group jewelry Kaffe Fassett KAL Kim Hargreaves kitting Knit Picks knitting laundry Le Jacquard Francais Little French Knits Los Altos lunch Mailbu Making Things Marie Wallin Martin Storey menu minimalism money talk mosaic movies my house my patterns my town nails needlepoint needles October challenge Octoberfest ollalie organizing original design outdoor seating owl party prep pear peg dolls pies pomegranates poncho preview quilting recipe recycling redwork review roses Rowan San Francisco Sarah Hatton sewing shawl shopping shower social media softie spring spring garden stash Stitches West summer summer garden summer knitting Sunday Morning Swans Island table setting test test knit Thanksgiving Three Irish Girls TNNA tomatoes top 10 list toys travel tutorial twinning ufo Uncommon Threads vacation Valentine vegetable garden videos wedding winter garden wip Woolfolk yarn yarn for sale Ysolda