Queen's Day Recap

In the Netherlands, Queen's Day is the public celebration of the Queen's birthday. Her real birthday is smack dab in the middle of winter so she chose to celebrate on her mother's birthday. And thank you for that. Tulips are up and the weather is nice. How thoughtful of her!

The day is, in my opinion, the most celebrated of the year. Crowds assemble in the streets and on canals, carnivals and side walk sales abound, music pours out of market squares, and everyone wears the royal color: bright orange. This year, however, had a twist. In the morning, our Queen Beatrix abdicated and her son, Prince Willem-Alexander assumed the role as our new King.

With Elly being so young, crowds being so large, and my perhaps over enthusiasm for all things royal, we decided to just stay put this year and camp out in front of the television, watching the events as they unfolded. But I couldn't just let the day go without some kind of party element.

It was decided we would have a buffet and graze our way through the afternoon. Bri helped me with some of the food preparation and helped me make our crown-themed bunting. Not bad for paper napkins, toilet rolls, and scrap fabric, eh?

We watched with a sweet quiet sadness as the era of Beatrix ended and she became Princess Beatrix. We gazed in solemn quiet as each member of Parliament swore their promise to our King Willem-Alexander. And we sighed at our new Queen Maxima and the sweet, charming cuteness of the their three daughters, the eldest being our new Crown Princess.

And we ate. And drank. And were merry.

{row one}
Fruit punch. Bottles from Ikea
Cupcakes and cake, beschuit met hagelslag (round toast with chocolate sprinkles)
Hummus with cilantro and carrot sticks
{row two}
Triple layer royal rose mini-cake
Strawberry blueberry poffertje (mini-Dutch pancake) stacks with citrus whipped cream
Picnic sandwiches wrapped in paper and fabric ribbon

How Do I Always End Up With Orange?

I  just started putting together Elly's baptism and celebration. Which is in under two weeks. Perhaps "just started putting together" may be a tad misleading. I mean, the important part is done. Child born? Check. Called church and got confirmation of the date? Check.

Well, that was easy.

The less important but still a big deal part is done. Godparents asked and accepted? Check. Dress sent to cleaners? Check. All that is really left to "just put together" is the reception. Which, of course, requires me to pin some ideas. Lots and lots of ideas.

Originally I wanted to do a "white on white shabby chic with an emphasis on roses and ruffles" theme. I was doing well. Until I got stuck on the invitations. I was looking for something pretty that didn't scream wedding, I was looking at shabby uber-chic. I was looking at hand quilled brocade corners. And calligraphy. And embroidery. I was looking at spending my entire budget. And then some.

Perhaps it was time to let go of the caviar and embrace the spam.

I started gently stepping into ivory and white territory. Just a bit of a tweak to that white on white. Slowly ease into a more realistic territory. At first I realized it wasn't so bad. I could handle shades of white. But what if I went a bit farther? I gingerly wandered into neutral tones and whites. Then I looked at pastels and whites. Then muted tones and white. Then I got completely side-tracked by subway art. And not just that, but I was looking at orange. Full, bright, very orange.

I know.

Nothing can be farther from "white on white shabby chic with an emphasis on roses and ruffles" than "screaming orange subway art." And we just had Queen's Day which is all about the orange. Two orange parties back to back? What has happened to me?

At least I can use up the leftover orange napkins.

Gone Fishing

With a few scraps of felt, a bit of cotton fabric, and part of Bri's old magnet game, I whipped together a version of the simple fishing game.

I sewed a piece of felt and a piece of fabric together, sandwiching a metal ball in between. Next I tied a little bar magnet onto a stick with a bit of kitchen twine. I didn't go for uniformity. I mean, fish aren't all the same in real life anyway. And I didn't worry about fraying or longevity. I mean, really, I am not expecting this to follow her to college.

It took about 5 minutes to whip up. We enjoyed the rest of the afternoon catching them.

Little House on the Hill Cupcake Series

Someday,
We'll build a house on a hilltop high
You and I

Shiny and new, a cottage that two can fill
And we will be pleased to be called
"The folks who live on the hill."

Someday we may be adding a wing or two,
a thing or two.
We will make changes as any family will,

But we will always be called,
"The folks who live on the hill".

Our veranda will command a view of meadows green,
The sort of view that seems to want to be seen.
And when the kids grow up and leave us,
We'll sit and look at the same old view,
Just we two.

Darby and Joan who used to be know
As Jack and Jill,

The folks who like to be called
What they have always been called:
"The folks who live on the hill".

Cupcakes by Momfetti. 

Inspired by the song: "The Folks Who Live on the Hill"

composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.