Last bash of the summer

We have transitioned to autumnal decor

We have a family tradition on Labor Day.

Since it is always within the week of our Stephanie's birthday, we throw her a party.

She invariably arrives with her family late on the Sunday night before the Monday holiday. This year was no exception; they got here a little after eleven thirty.

My mother gave me this rooster many years ago

(Joel is a pastor in Western North Carolina. They have to wait until the conclusion of Sunday night services to pack up and head for Columbia.)

I had all of the beds ready and things laid out for breakfast. They always stop on the way for food, so there was no need to feed anyone that night.

We did stay up too late talking. It was nearly one o'clock before we all headed off to bed.

Dagny wanted to pose with the birthday flamingo

The next morning, I was up earlier than anyone else. I wanted to make sure I was organized and had time for quiet during the coffee hour.

This get-together is always about swimming for the kids. The last swim of the summer. Except, this day, it was rainy.

I was so upset! Although I love rainy days, I hastily prayed that the weather would clear up so that the children -- especially Dagny, who missed out all summer -- could enjoy playing in the pool.

New fall gnomes in the home

And it did. The rain moved off and the cousins swam in the morning despite still-overcast conditions. It helped that the pool water, due to a string of hot days with hours of direct sun, was still a perfect temperature.

By afternoon, it was positively sunny. The children had plenty of time to splash and cavort and dive and snorkel and float and laugh and just be kids.

As for my menu, I broke with tradition.

This year we went with baked spaghetti

Our Labor Day spread is usually a lot like our Memorial Day feast: hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, baked beans, potato salad, mac and cheese, deviled eggs, and the like.

Plus a great big birthday cake.

This year I wanted to do something a little different, and I finally decided on this recipe for Baked Spaghetti. All of my grandkids love spaghetti and you won't hear an adult complaining either.

Mari's spectacular hot taco dip rounded out the menu

I first tried this recipe two years ago, when we all went to Holden Beach in Supply, North Carolina, where we stayed in a rented house for three or four days.

I'd planned for weeks ahead of time, and took huge pans of frozen casseroles that I had prepared so that all I had to do each night to feed everyone was thaw one of the pans, bake it, make a salad, and add fresh bread.

We got our salad course from Olive Garden

We had things like Shepherd's Pie and of course, Baked Spaghetti.

So I doubled the recipe so there would be plenty for everyone, with some left over for TG later in the week.

I made it in a disposable pan so there would be zero cleanup for me.

All the go-withs

Joel and Stephanie contributed a family-size salad and breadsticks from Olive Garden. Joel went to pick it all up at one o'clock that day.

Olive Garden -- at least the one near our house -- is meticulous about preparing and packing your takeout order. It's done so neatly and thoughtfully, and everything you need besides actual dishes, is supplied.

The salad and breadsticks were fresh and went so well with the baked spaghetti.

There's a black cat gnome chillin' on the ledge

For those who observe a low-carb diet, and also just because it's so good, I made Mari's Hot Taco Dip (minus the black olives) and served it with Mission Carb Balance soft tortillas and sour cream.

I also made my signature salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, and onion, with homemade red wine vinaigrette.

I made it and I decorated it and I even ate some of it

For dessert, I again made the ice cream cake that's created by layering ice cream sandwiches with Cool Whip plus toppings -- I used caramel syrup and crushed chocolate sandwich cookies -- and frozen solid.

It's a winner. You should see their eyes light up when they see this dessert. Dagny even requested it for her next birthday.

Last year I made this same cake for Stephanie's Labor Day birthday party, but this year I decorated it differently.

We sprung for the PW dishes that matched my pan and the Happy Birthday topper

This time I made a banner diagonally across the cake, spelling STEPHANIE in pink sixlet candies.

On either side of her name I put crushed cookies, and added a Pioneer Woman Happy Birthday topper, plus some hot pink candles.

It was pretty impressive if I do say so. And completely delicious.

I can't wait each year to light up the pumpkin spice jar candle

I also switched it up this year by decorating for fall on the first day of September.

Usually, the only thing I change on the first day of September is my door decoration; I take down my patriotic display and replace it with a fall wreath.

I also have fairy lights on my porch railing, and I change those out from red-white-blue to orange.

We had candlelight all day long

And I did all of that as per usual, but this year I decided to ditch the patriotic decor in the kitchen and go all-out for fall.

(Actually, in a day or two I will change it again, to my October display which is not Halloween per se but which is definitely recognizable as being distinctly October. Then on November first, I'll bring back all of the autumn decor and add more, for Thanksgiving.)

I had the pumpkin spice and mulled cider candles going, so the air was scented with the requisite autumn fragrances.

My two-tier tray was decked out in autumnal cuteness

Everyone noticed and seemed to appreciate my efforts.

So it was that after a morning of hanging out, drinking coffee and getting ready and whatnot, I put together the baked spaghetti and the hot taco dip and laid everything out for the meal.

We ate at two o'clock. Sometimes we wait before having dessert, but this time, after clearing the table, I went ahead and made coffee and cut the cake. I'd taken it out to thaw a bit just as we sat down to eat.

Stephanie was pleased but she doesn't like all eyes on her

We enjoyed our cake, and then Stephanie opened her presents. When all of that was accomplished, everyone went outside and the kids got back into the pool.

Everyone had gone home by six forty-five, and TG and I had the evening to relax. 

What did you do to observe Labor Day? I hope that whatever it was, you thoroughly enjoyed it.

There will be blessings

Forward into fall! Just a few more days to wait. Queen Elizabeth's beautiful funeral will be summer's swan song.

And that is all for now.

=0=0=0=

Happy Tuesday

Comments

[Bijoux]

Your fall decor is a delight! I always wait to get mine out the day after Labor Day. And I bought my mini gourds, as well. That cake looks yummy. We had family here for LaborDay. My husband grilled chicken and steak. I made panzanella salad with our homegrown tomatoes and I also made a big baked Potato bar with all the toppings, which was a big hit. I bought a small variety of bakery cookies and middle child made some homemade chocolate milkshake cookies. My BIL’s wife made a fruit salad. It rained here most of the day, so the ‘kids’ (most in their 20’s-30’s) played pool, ping pong, and foosball in the basement.

[Mari]

Happy Birthday Stephanie!
Once again you have proven yourself to be a supreme party planner! It looks perfect, and now I'm getting hungry. I haven't made Spaghetti pie or that taco dip for some time, so I need to do that again.
I'm so glad the weather cleared so the kids, especially Dagny could swim.
I finally got my Fall decor up today. I've been procrastinating...

[Betty]

Another great party "under the belt" for you Jenny! Love it all. How does that baked spaghetti taste compared to "regular spaghetti" (everything cooked on the stove and not put in the oven). I have picky eaters here so if something was off texture wise it might not go over real well though I always wanted to try baked spaghetti. Ingenious to get the salad from Olive Garden too (along with the breadsticks). They do make good salads and breadsticks. That cake looked so delicious. Loved all your decorations too. Happy belated birthday to Stephanie! So glad too that the weather turned out great so everyone could enjoy swimming! You always make entertaining look so easy. Do you stress out about it?

We had a mini birthday party on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend for my DIL whose birthday was September 7th. It was just son/family and me and my husband. I made my DIL's favorite meal (tropical funeral sandwiches), some salads and chips and had a cake with ice cream for her (bakery bought). They like swimming at night but now that school is back in we've been swimming in the afternoons on Sundays when they come over. But since it was a 3 day weekend, we did dinner instead of lunch so they could swim at night (of course the pool has a light and we have outside lighting). So that's what we did for Labor Day weekend :)

betty

[Ginny Hartzler]

Your shelf is done beautifully. And I love the fall tiered tray! And the gnomes!!! Where did you buy them? I collect gnomes and would love this pair. What a huge and cool looking cake. I can't wait to see all your decorations for the rest of the year, month by month!

[Lori]

I just LOVE all of your celebrations with your family. Happy Birthday to Stephanie!! You did an amazing job on the cake!
I begin to decorate for fall in mid September. October 1 I add the Halloween decorations. After Halloween it is back to all Fall and Thanksgiving decorations. I don't do as much as I used to but I used to go a bit overboard really.
Have a wonderful week!

[Jeanette]

I've made that baked spaghetti before and it's delicious and always a hit! The party and your decorations look amazing and that cake is always delicious! I'm glad the kids got to swim, especially Dagney! Happy Birthday to Stephanie!

[Jennifer]

@Bijoux ... well I have never heard of panzanella salad so I'm going to have to look that up! But I LOVE a baked potato bar! We did that once for a Christmas party and it was hugely successful! Your party sounds rather spectacular, what with all the good food and family! I also need to look up chocolate milkshake cookies, haaahaa! xoxo

@Mari ... YES do make the hot taco dip again! I am always surprised at how utterly fantastic it is. We LOVE it! And I think you were not as much procrastinating about the fall decor, as savoring the last few days of summer. I know how you hate to see it go! xoxo

@Betty ... The baked spaghetti is different in that the spaghetti is not as coated with sauce as when you make the pasta and sauce separately. Since you layer butter-and-egg-and-parmesan coated pasta first, then add the cheeses and sauce, then repeat the layers, the sauce lays on top of the pasta in a different way. But I don't think that texture would be a problem, since it's exactly the same ingredients, only layered in a different way! Maybe you could do both, just in case! I do not stress out at all, because I take my time in the days leading up to the party, to plan and organize. Doing as much as I can beforehand is the secret for me; I don't like pressure on the actual day! Well, I don't like pressure at all, haahaha! Your family party sounds wonderful and now I must go and look up tropical funeral sandwiches! I love funeral food ... I even have a cookbook named To Die For, haaaha! xoxo

@Ginny ... I've gotten lots of inspiration from you! Your decorations are always so adorable. I'm not sure where I got the gnomes! I'll try to figure it out and let you know! xoxo

@Lori ... Haaahaha you used to go overboard on decorations ... that's funny! It's always fun though, no matter how much or how little you do. And I firmly believe that it matters, even if no one but you and your beloved see it. I don't know why this is, but every year when I get out my fall decorations, I can't believe that I am touching all of that stuff again! It's just amazing to me, how quickly the time goes. It's even stronger than when I get out the Christmas stuff! But I love all the fall doodads. They make me happy. xoxo

@Jeanette ... Yes ma'am, the baked spaghetti is a nice dish to have in the arsenal! Certain of my grandkids are picky eaters so I never want to serve them anything that might bother them, and this is the perfect solution. They love spaghetti and the baked version is fun to make, and so it's a win-win! Happy fall to you and Rich! xoxo

[Mari-Nanci]

Please send me an email....

I can't even make my GMail work.

Sighhhhhh

Thank you.

And Happy Birthday, of course.

Gentle hugs,
Mari-Nanci
🍎 🍁 🍎

[Jennifer]

@Mari-Nanci ... Hey friend! Will do! xoxo

[Ginny Hartzler]

Hi Jenny, this is Ginny. Thank you so much for the beautiful gnomes, they just arrived. What a wonderful surprise! This was so kind and thoughtful of you! It is not often that I get such a lovely surprise. They are the only gnomes that I have seen that are both cute and beautiful, looking rather vintage. I always enjoy visiting you and seeing what you have been up to, and you have given me some fresh ideas. You have such exquisite tate; I think you should be an interior decorator. Again, thank you so very much, I am now looking for the perfect place toput them.

[Jennifer]

@Ginny ... YAY! I told a little white lie when I said I did not remember where I got them, haaaha! Of course I got them at Amazon. I wanted you to have them and I know they'll be happy with you! You're too kind in your praise but I appreciate it! Have fun trotting those gnomes around the house, looking for the best place to display their cuteness! xoxo

[Carla TePaske]

Hello Jenny my favorite Pirate,
Your parties are the best. I have learned many a thing from reading your posts regarding entertaining. I love to host our family as well. I do like that you share recipes and ideas like using the disposable pan. That makes such good sense with clean up.. gives us more time to visit.

Your decorations are lovely.
Happy Birthday wishes to your birthday girl.
Love, Carla

[Jennifer]

@Carla ... You have learned from me? That's one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me! Because everything I know, I have learned from others ... and I am eternally grateful to them. Learning is my favorite thing in the whole world. Yes aluminum foil and parchment paper and disposable pans are among my best friends. Anything that makes for less work, I'm in! Here's to more parties with loved ones! Happy fall, my friend. xoxo

[Donna]

Love the cake idea! Will have to try it out for a birthday!
The family is beautiful...Glad the babies got to swim one last time!
hughugs
Donna

[Jennifer]

@Donna ... me too! I am always sorry to see the summer go, although I do love the fall. I embrace it all. That cake really is good! You must try it. xoxo

[Gayla]

That sounds like a great party. I have been do hungry for spaghetti lately. We celibate my son's birthday on labor day. He requested steak and Asian coleslaw and green bean casserole. So that was easy!