Ah, the Bentley;
oh yes, my favorite means of transportation.
Yes, recently I said I may not be able to come
to the party with the handsome
Liam Neeson.
But I ask you:
how could I resist those outstretched arms?
(All photos are from the Internet unless otherwise stated.)
Those gorgeous, blue Irish eyes
and the half-smile was just
begging me to allow him to escort me to the
This year my dress is from the Ralph Lauren Collection.
It is a strapless gown with gold bodice.
I love the simplicity of it and always love
the designs of dear Ralph.
The lovely Michelle Dockery is modeling my gown
at The Met Ball last May 7th.
we had a pomegranate cocktail
on my patio.
After a delightful drive we arrived to see
others beginning to make their way to the party.
Of course everyone was very much interested
in drinks that graced the lovely bar.
Liam and I decided to live dangerously
and take our Flaming Cocktails...
...outside on the patio.
I especially love a house
with an outdoor fireplace
on the patio
and this one is elegant & intimate.
The lighting is just the right intensity
to put us in the mood
to dance under the stars.
After dancing for hours...
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| Photo by me... |
...we watched the moon rise through the pines.
The sky was a deep purple behind
the darkness of the trees.
Finally, it became chilly enough that even
Liam's arms could not warm me...
...so we retired to the beautifully decorated
fireplace inside the manor.
The candles on the fireplace amongst the pumpkins
as well as the apple candles on the tables
provided the perfect ambiance.
Soon it was time to sit down at the lovely
dinner table Tess decorated with such aplomb.
The dinner menu was as follows:
Plated First Course
- salad of Four Seasons Farm spinach, heirloom tomato, shaved baby fennel, and feta with champagne vinaigrette
Served Dinner:
- filet of beef tenderloin with bordelaise au jus and horseradish cream
- Maine crabmeat galette with avocado butter and pineapple/mango chutney
- saffron and garden tomato risotto cake
- Carding Brook Farm haricot vert with sesame dressing
- country style baguette and fig foccacia with olive oil for dipping
Served Dessert:
- lemon mousse napoleon with chocolate almond truffles
- freshly brewed coffees and tea
As all good things must come to an end
we toast the lovely Tess
with sparkling champagne cocktails
and vow to return again next year.
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| Photo by me |
...and now that the sun is beginning to
break through the fog,
I shall leave you with this wonderful poem
by Philip Larkin.
We met at the end of the party
When all the drinks were dead
And all the glasses dirty:
'Have this that's left', you said.
We walked through the last of summer,
When shadows reached long and blue
Across days that were growing shorter:
You said: 'There's autumn too'.
Always for you what's finished
Is nothing, and what survives
Cancels the failed, the famished,
As if we had fresh lives
From that night on, and just living
Could make me unaware
Of June, and the guests arriving,
And I not there.
