On May 4th, the St. Marys Memorial Hospital Foundation, along with the St. Marys Kinsmen, hosted a gala dinner and auction to raise funds for our local hospital. One of the many items up for auction was a four course dinner hosted in four different St. Marys heritage homes.
This item offered the generous winners the possibility to start the meal with the appetizer in one home, and finish with dessert three houses later. Doug Holliday, member of the St. Marys Memorial Hospital Foundation, president and chair of the board, is head of the Fundraising Committee. He and his wife Barb are the instigators of this original and very successful idea. This dinner raised $1,200 divided between four couples. We were delighted to host the dessert portion of this special evening, which took place on July 20th.
The appetizers were served in this charming limestone cottage. It's one of the oldest in St Marys.
Then the entrees were served a block away in this grand red brick Victorian
with a rounded veranda.
The main course was served in the elegant limestone home of Doug and Barb Holliday, the organizers of this fundraiser.
And the evening ended at the DV with yours truly, Brian, Astrid, three crazy dogs and two budgies. All the houses were a short walking distance from each other.
Preparation for the exterior included many tea lights all the way up our steps...
and little sugar bowls, also containing, tea lights hanging around the veranda. The glassware was found at my local Salvation Army Thrift Store for 25¢ each.
The paper lantern gave a hint of what was to come on the inside.
This night shot gives you an idea, but doesn't really display how effective it was.
My old chinese paper lanterns were given new life with flowery tissue paper, the biggest one hanging from the entrance medallion.
The library
The lanterns in the dining room were made with the frilly part of leftover coffee filters from my paper dress of last October. Astrid did my garland using the round centre part of the filters folded in half and sewn together.
The table was extended to its full three leaves so we could sit eight people comfortably.
The pocket doors were opened up to my studio so it would feel less cramped.
The buffet or sideboard served its purpose nicely.
Flowers and branches of raspberries from the garden graced the table and the ladies were given all natural homemade soap as little thank you gifts.
Moi. We had the most delightful guests. Does it show?
Petit Gâteau Angelique au Coeur de Framboise - my mother's angel cake recipe.
It was the first in a two-course dessert; I forgot to take a shot of the second: Mousse au Chocolat Demi Demon served with butter pecan cookies.
A month of preparation flew by in an instant.
Hosting family and friends is one thing, but hosting people that we had never met before was nerve-wracking to say the least. Upon meeting our guests, we were instantly put at ease
and charmed by them.
They were the embodiment of graciousness - the spirit of St. Marys.
St. Marys Memorial Hospital
