Knights and ladies; feasts and friends
Aug. 8th, 2004 01:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eve_primeTM's party was amazing and fun, and the kids are going to have such great memories of it. I was very impressed with how theatrical and involving it was, and it made me very happy to know that I helped, slightly, by giving Carol the URL to a site with lots and lots of ideas for themed birthday parties. The theme for this one was "knights and castles," and they had built a cardboard castle large enough for a dozen of the kids to be inside, which they set up on the lawn at Tugman Park. Carol gathered the children and told them they were all squires and ladies who were to complete five feats, representing speed, skill, honor, loyalty, and bravery. These were a stick-horse race, a ball-toss (into the castle), a treasure hunt, a game of "dragon-tag," and whacking on a dragon-shaped piñata. Next, they assembled around a table to decorate "goblets" with "jewels" (stickers) and to eat a great "feast" (birthday cake). They then presented the birthday gifts to the guest of honor, and then each of the children was "knighted" and received a box of party favors addressed to Sir or Lady whomever.
The digital camera battery ran out after the first feat, and I couldn't bear not having pictures of this, so I actually ran back home and plugged the card in to recharge, then ran back to the party, then half an hour later home again to get the camera. I only missed the dragon-tag, which the kids decided to play again anyway when the party was essentially done. When I say "ran," I meant that literally, though mostly it was jogging and brisk walking, as home-and-back-to-the-party was a one-mile round trip. I also had fun hearing about the plays SG and DO saw in Ashland last week at the Shakespeare Festival, one of which ("Oedipus Complex") was written up in today's newspaper, in an article entitled "Oedipus Meets Freud."
Then in the evening was the celebration of H's 60th's birthday. His sister came from Wisconsin, and friends from Colorado, and it was one of those parties where they even posted a sign at the end of their block suggesting other places to park. Foods (both potluck and catered) were served in three courses: appetizers, main dishes, and desserts, with the cake, and of course since it was H's party, wine flowed freely. Tables were set up around the back yard: on the deck, the lawn beyond the deck, and part of their basketball court. Lights were strung all around, and logs glowed in the fire pit, becoming a full-blown blaze after dark.
Sarah and Larry shared our table, and when they left to dance, Julia and Michael joined us. This was great -- the former couple share some of our tastes in British comedy, and we learned that R. and Sarah grew up on some of the same music, though on opposite sides of the Atlantic. They recommended that we watch "Father Ted," so now I'm eager to rent it, since it may take ages for it to reach our local PBS station. Larry is a very amusing storyteller. Julia and Michael were fun and interesting, and we would have talked more, but then it was time to listen as Herb's friends and family toasted and roasted him. We also had a great chat with one of our neighbors, Bill, who is Cynthia's husband, and who recommended a movie we think we'd enjoy, "Brassed Off." I even got to dance a bit! I'm afraid I've been humming "Love Rollercoaster" all day. D. had fun making friends with two boys, who looked to be Eric's sons, and then danced and danced with little Claudia, who remembered him from when he was a baby at preschool with her. I want to introduce myself to Eric soon, both to thank him for being so fun with D. and also because I have the impression that he's an interesting person and a very active researcher; he recently joined ORI and is an expert in eating disorders. Whenever I hear about people busy with their research, my own ideas start flowing; it's very energizing and exciting.
We stayed out 'til well after dark and were there long enough for the delicious birthday cake. What a great party!
The digital camera battery ran out after the first feat, and I couldn't bear not having pictures of this, so I actually ran back home and plugged the card in to recharge, then ran back to the party, then half an hour later home again to get the camera. I only missed the dragon-tag, which the kids decided to play again anyway when the party was essentially done. When I say "ran," I meant that literally, though mostly it was jogging and brisk walking, as home-and-back-to-the-party was a one-mile round trip. I also had fun hearing about the plays SG and DO saw in Ashland last week at the Shakespeare Festival, one of which ("Oedipus Complex") was written up in today's newspaper, in an article entitled "Oedipus Meets Freud."
Then in the evening was the celebration of H's 60th's birthday. His sister came from Wisconsin, and friends from Colorado, and it was one of those parties where they even posted a sign at the end of their block suggesting other places to park. Foods (both potluck and catered) were served in three courses: appetizers, main dishes, and desserts, with the cake, and of course since it was H's party, wine flowed freely. Tables were set up around the back yard: on the deck, the lawn beyond the deck, and part of their basketball court. Lights were strung all around, and logs glowed in the fire pit, becoming a full-blown blaze after dark.
Sarah and Larry shared our table, and when they left to dance, Julia and Michael joined us. This was great -- the former couple share some of our tastes in British comedy, and we learned that R. and Sarah grew up on some of the same music, though on opposite sides of the Atlantic. They recommended that we watch "Father Ted," so now I'm eager to rent it, since it may take ages for it to reach our local PBS station. Larry is a very amusing storyteller. Julia and Michael were fun and interesting, and we would have talked more, but then it was time to listen as Herb's friends and family toasted and roasted him. We also had a great chat with one of our neighbors, Bill, who is Cynthia's husband, and who recommended a movie we think we'd enjoy, "Brassed Off." I even got to dance a bit! I'm afraid I've been humming "Love Rollercoaster" all day. D. had fun making friends with two boys, who looked to be Eric's sons, and then danced and danced with little Claudia, who remembered him from when he was a baby at preschool with her. I want to introduce myself to Eric soon, both to thank him for being so fun with D. and also because I have the impression that he's an interesting person and a very active researcher; he recently joined ORI and is an expert in eating disorders. Whenever I hear about people busy with their research, my own ideas start flowing; it's very energizing and exciting.
We stayed out 'til well after dark and were there long enough for the delicious birthday cake. What a great party!