Last weekend we finally had my graduation party at our cottage in Mäntyharju. I spent most of the weeks before planning and trying out recipes since I had stubbornly decided to make the food myself (with the help of my mum and brother of course). So, you can imagine how I spent the last few days/nights slaving away in the kitchen making cupcakes, mini pies, preserving oven dried tomatoes, cooking savoury marmalades, marinating chicken drumsticks, salting fish... When Friday came around I was tired and slightly stressed.
On Saturday morning everyone was a bit cranky and it felt like our small cottage kitchen was about to burst. Luckily it was nice weather outside and we had loads of tables and seats in the shade. The party got off to a fairly slow start and I was getting a little nervous since only my three aunts and their families had arrived. To add to my anxiety my in-laws had just called and said they were still getting ready. They happen to live less than a kilometer away so I was counting on them to be the early birds.
People coming at different times was a good and bad thing since I was having some trouble keeping food warm, but at the same time was able to keep making new food as people came. We had a little 'tapas' table with all kinds of nuts, wasabi peas, sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts... So, when people arrived I directed them there and then had time to check the other stations. Our main course was assorted salads (thanks mom), different smoked fish (thanks dad for going down the road to the local farmers shop), oven roasted salmon and chicken (thanks to me) and a bunch of other little things I can't remember right now. My brother who is working for a large food company got us ample amounts of cheese, juice and cakes.
In terms of booze I had made sure that we were well stocked since I had seen what lack of alcohol does to Finns at Elina & Janne's wedding. So when people were still arriving I was already very happy! And I think others were too.
Later we had singing and jamming on the piano, sexophone and guitar... more eating and socializing. There were lots of little kids and babies and Bobby was having the time of his life running around with them. All in all the party went brilliantly in my opinion. Seeing as it started at around 12:00 on Saturday and people were still going at it past 2:00 Sunday I thought it was a success.
Now to the all important awards...
Most Busy Person Award:
3rd place my brother for sourcing all the cheese, cakes, juice etc.
2nd place me for staying up the week prior prepping random food
1st place for my mom who slaved away the week prior AND stayed up till 5 am(!!!) washing and cleaning up after us
The Drunk Award:
This is a difficult one since we have so many many many good contenders however I have revised my notes and chosen there three fabulous/scary incidents...
3rd place goes to my dad's colleague who asked him how many cows he would sell me for...
2nd place goes to me for running after my brother-in-law up the outhouse stairs and on on on even though you should either (a) turn left for the outhouse door (b) stop running... and ended up sprawled behind the outhouse in a prickly bush wondering what happened. Bonus points: my mom saw the whole thing and wondered were I was going and why I suddenly disappeared (thanks mom).
1st place goes to our 50+ year-old close family friend who frolicked around naked. Walked around the table where my bro, fiancé and brother-in-law were sitting (twice), sat down and began to pee (yes while sitting).
So, yes a good party and photos will follow. I had no time to take any between slaving away and getting drunk so I must wait for guests to send some my way.
On Saturday morning everyone was a bit cranky and it felt like our small cottage kitchen was about to burst. Luckily it was nice weather outside and we had loads of tables and seats in the shade. The party got off to a fairly slow start and I was getting a little nervous since only my three aunts and their families had arrived. To add to my anxiety my in-laws had just called and said they were still getting ready. They happen to live less than a kilometer away so I was counting on them to be the early birds.
People coming at different times was a good and bad thing since I was having some trouble keeping food warm, but at the same time was able to keep making new food as people came. We had a little 'tapas' table with all kinds of nuts, wasabi peas, sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts... So, when people arrived I directed them there and then had time to check the other stations. Our main course was assorted salads (thanks mom), different smoked fish (thanks dad for going down the road to the local farmers shop), oven roasted salmon and chicken (thanks to me) and a bunch of other little things I can't remember right now. My brother who is working for a large food company got us ample amounts of cheese, juice and cakes.
In terms of booze I had made sure that we were well stocked since I had seen what lack of alcohol does to Finns at Elina & Janne's wedding. So when people were still arriving I was already very happy! And I think others were too.
Later we had singing and jamming on the piano, sexophone and guitar... more eating and socializing. There were lots of little kids and babies and Bobby was having the time of his life running around with them. All in all the party went brilliantly in my opinion. Seeing as it started at around 12:00 on Saturday and people were still going at it past 2:00 Sunday I thought it was a success.
Now to the all important awards...
Most Busy Person Award:
3rd place my brother for sourcing all the cheese, cakes, juice etc.
2nd place me for staying up the week prior prepping random food
1st place for my mom who slaved away the week prior AND stayed up till 5 am(!!!) washing and cleaning up after us
The Drunk Award:
This is a difficult one since we have so many many many good contenders however I have revised my notes and chosen there three fabulous/scary incidents...
3rd place goes to my dad's colleague who asked him how many cows he would sell me for...
2nd place goes to me for running after my brother-in-law up the outhouse stairs and on on on even though you should either (a) turn left for the outhouse door (b) stop running... and ended up sprawled behind the outhouse in a prickly bush wondering what happened. Bonus points: my mom saw the whole thing and wondered were I was going and why I suddenly disappeared (thanks mom).
1st place goes to our 50+ year-old close family friend who frolicked around naked. Walked around the table where my bro, fiancé and brother-in-law were sitting (twice), sat down and began to pee (yes while sitting).
So, yes a good party and photos will follow. I had no time to take any between slaving away and getting drunk so I must wait for guests to send some my way.
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