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?

1/2 cup softened butter

1 1/3 cup superfine sugar (whirl sugar in a blender to super fine it)

2 tsp. vanilla

1/4 cup lemon zest (about 5 lemons)

4 eggs at room temperature, separated

2 1/2 cups almond meal

10 1/2 oz. ricotta

sliced almonds and powdered sugar to decorate top of cake

Heat oven to 325 F.  Line the base and side of a 9" round cake tin with baking paper and set aside.

Place the first 4 ingredients in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer several minutes until pale and creamy.  Scrap down side of bowl, then gradually add the egg yolks, one at a time, continuing to beat until fully combined.  Add the almond meal and beat to combine.  Fold in ricotta cheese.

In a clean bowl beat the egg whites until soft peaks form.  Gradually add the remaining sugar to the egg whites mixture and whisk until stiff peaks form.  Gently fold a third of the egg whites into the cake mixture.  Repeat with the rest of the egg whites.

Pour the mixture into the prepared cake tin, smooth the top with a palette knife, decorate the cake with the almond slices and bake for 40-45 minutes or until cooked and firm to touch.  Allow to cool completely in the cake tin.  Dust with icing sugar to serve. 

 

Latte Baby Coat by Lisa Chemery

Cascade 128 Superwash, 100% Merino Wool at Jimmy Beans

My Ravelry link for more details
Linked to Anything Blue Friday

The gorgeous bride!

The bride and groom dreamed of a backyard garden reception with a casual vibe.  The bride grew up in this house and knew that there could be no better venue for this important day.  Mom and Dad got on board and have a whole year to plan and find they have a perfect reason to get the garden in ship shape making the repairs and changes they had been wanting to do.  My friend Sue walked around the garden for days and days, notebook in hand to decide what needed pruning, pulling, replacing, and general sprucing up. 

Kayti lives in New York, the folks live in California.  They talk often about their dreams for the reception but it was not until Kayti and Sue joined Pinterest that they finally could get their ideas across to each other. They created numerous boards and started pinning away.  In no time at all Sue could interpret what kind of wedding Kayti had envisioned and Kayti could see what changes her parents were making to the garden.  Sue and Kayti were trolling Pinterest most days and having a lot of fun.

Next step was to find the perfect caterer.  Excellent food was very important to the bride and groom so they selected popular local caterers, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.  Kayti wanted long tables set end to end and with the help of the caterer they made a map of where the tables and food stations would go.  Sue shared their vision of the table decorations and he suggested the larger 8'x4' king sized tables that seat 4 on each side when lined up banquet style.  Next, she took her dining room table, which also happened to be 8'x4" and started designing "the wedding look".  She decided that the "look" she preferred had 5 vases of flowers, 3 lanterns and 6 votives on each table.  Multiply that by how many tables she needed (well over 20) and came up with how many vases, lanterns and votives she would have to beg, borrow or steal.  But mostly she purchased and gave herself a budget and stuck to it.  For a year she scoured Ikea, Goodwill, Ross, TJ Max and Michaels and tucked away her finds in boxes stacked in the garage all the while keeping an inventory.

Now enter the father of the bride who is entrusted with the job of illuminating this part of the garden.  He spent the better part of spring bringing in electricity and stringing lights across the large portion of unlit space.  They wanted soft light from above and soft candle light from the tables.

A few weeks before the wedding Sue ordered the flowers from the flower seller at the local farmer's market.  The day before the wedding the flowers were delivered.  Sue set up an assembly line in the garage and what came next can only be classified as a family affair.  The bride, the mothers of the bride and groom, and sisters of the groom and friends set to work to fill over 100 vases and mason jars with flowers.  The medley of vases was made to harmonize by tying raffia around each vase and creating similar, but not matching, arrangements in each vase. They most especially did not want a slick matchy matchy look or a formal designer look.  The look they achieved was eclectic and personal, exactly what they were going for.

On the day of the reception the caterers and their team set up the tables and chairs and placed the linens and settings.   Next the groom and groomsmen, brothers and cousins reported for duty.   They were charged with the task of moving all the vases, votives and lanterns from the garage to the tables.   Sue said they sincerely took their job to heart and scrutinized each table with the eyes of artists, rearranging each piece until perfection was attained! 

This wedding prep was a lot of work, a lot of fun, beautiful to see and a personal reflection of the family's fun and casual style.   It was truly a family affair with both families of the bride and groom coming together to help create a special day for Kayti and Morgan.  And it was gorgeous.

I leave you with this "Cowboy" poem, a genre of poetry I was unfamiliar with but now admire.  The father of the bride recited this, and there was not a dry eye in the house.

Knitionary