The Good Shepherd’s Garden Party :: Week Two

by | May 10, 2011 | Good Shepherd's Garden Party | 8 comments

Welcome to the Lord’s Table

How good a thing it is, how pleasant to behold,
when all God’s people live in peace, like sheep within one fold.
As perfume, by its scent, spreads fragrance all around,
so life itself will sweeter be where unity is found.

This past week, since we spent Friday attending First Friday Mass and running a few errands, and on Saturday the boys participated in their first Fencing Tournament before coming home to continue building the fence for our new garden, we ended up saving our 2nd Good Shepherd’s Garden Party for yesterday, after Mass on Mother’s Day!   It was such a nice way to celebrate the day with my family, and my husband and children helped prepare some of the menu items while I ran out to take a little gift to my own mom.

Here are a few pictures from this week’s party:

~ The Table ~

Twinkle Toes started setting the table, while Chiquita and Snuggles carried the Wine Glasses, which they all just love being able to use every once in awhile for these special occasions!    
~ The Chairs ~

Inspired by Charlotte, and the last part of the bible verse for for this symbol (“Then he took curds, and milk, and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.”), we skipped decorating the chairs and instead enjoyed Fresh Mozzarella Balls “Cheese Curds.”
~ The Bread ~

Our Lamb of God Rolls didn’t turn out nearly as cute as it did on Easter…  I’m not exactly sure what it looks like, but the kids still loved it.   
~ The Honey ~ 

We already had some creamed honey in the pantry, which we used for this menu item, along with some delicious lemon curd, made by a sweet friend, which I have been saving for a long time to open on a special occasion…. Yum!!!  
~ The Wine ~ 

This year, rather than making our own, we picked up some Sparkling White Grape Juice, Sparkling Peach Grape Spritzer, and Sparkling Raspberry Grape Spritzer. 

Cheers!!!
~ The Fruit ~

I have wanted to try and make an edible fruit bouquet for a couple years now, and decided to make one for my mom for Mother’s Day.  

While I was taking it out to her, my boys and husband made one (left) for me!  As soon as we got home the girls joined the fun and made one (right) as well.

Once again we’ll save our 12 Fruit Salad for Pentecost Sunday.  
~ The Milk ~

This year I pulled out our Ice Cream maker and let Snuggles make Vanilla Ice Cream!  He had so much fun and loved watching the ice cream spin and get thicker and thicker.  And I loved watching him…  He is such a cutie!! 

“I think it’s all done, Mom!”

 
In addition to the delicious Vanilla Ice Cream that Snuggles made, I also had picked up some “Bunny Tracks” (Vanilla Ice Cream with Thick Fudge and Peanut Butter Caramel Ribbons, Chocolate Covered Peanuts and Peanut Butter Filled Chocolate Bunnies) and we set out whipped cream, syrups, sprinkles and Easter Candy for making Sundaes!  

Like last year, it was such a treat! 
~ The Pizza ~

When we were at Costco on Saturday, we picked up a Pepperoni Pizza, along with some mushrooms and bell peppers to add to the top, for this Garden Party. 

Overall it was such a nice Mother’s Day, complete with a (decaf) coffee from my husband on the way home from Mass, which I enjoyed while he made breakfast!!   The boys surprised me with a thoughtful book (spending a Barnes & Noble gift card they had been saving, with a little extra help from their Daddy) and I enjoyed playing with the early Mother’s Day gift (which I love, love, LOVE!!!) my husband spoiled me with just before Easter.

 Be sure to visit Catholic Cuisine to share pictures from your own Garden Party!

I hope you all had a very Happy Mother’s Day!!

8 Comments

  1. Kelly

    Happy Mother's Day, Jessica!!

    Your table always looks so beautiful and of course I LOVE the fruit bouquets!!! Absolutely fantastic. I bet your mom was thrilled. I giggled seeing the picture of Snuggles watching the ice cream maker. So cute!

    Reply
  2. Grace Hincapie

    What a fun party! Your table looks gorgeous. We are going to have our Good Shepherd's Garden Party for week three on Tuesday. We missed the first two weeks, but that's okay.

    Have a great week and Happy Mother's Day!

    Reply
  3. Gardenia

    A lovely party indeed. i love your edible bouquet! and what a perfectly beautiful picture of a mother and her children!

    Reply
  4. Charlotte (WaltzingM)

    Ack… I forgot the honey! How did that happen? I love the picture of Snuggles making ice cream. Your family is just so beautiful! Happy Mother's Day, sweet friend!

    Reply
  5. Tiffany

    What a precious Mother's Day photo of you and your treasures…I need to do one of those before my first chick leaves the nest next year(yikes)! I love your edible bouquets…And the kids did an amazing job on the ones for you! Delicious idea:-)

    Reply
  6. mommysoup

    What great ideas! If you don't mind me asking, where did you get your serving piece for the ice cream toppings?

    Reply
  7. Jessica Gordon

    Our Lazy-Susan Ice Cream Server is made by Boston Warehouse. I purchased it on clearance (for less than $10) at Michaels last year.

    Reply

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Prayer of Mothers

Father in heaven, grant me the grace to appreciate the dignity which you have conferred on me. Let me realize that not even the Angels have been blessed with such a privilege—to share in your creative miracle and bring new Saints to heaven. Make me a good mother to all my children after the example of Mary, the Mother of your Son. Through the intercession of Jesus and Mary I ask your continued blessings on my family. Let us all be dedicated to your service on earth and attain the eternal happiness of your kingdom in heaven. Amen.


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Hi! I'm Jessica, a Roman Catholic wife and home educating mother to our nine children. I was home educated myself, along with my eleven younger siblings. I have a special devotion to St. Therese, through whom I have been given much help and many blessings--the beautiful "Shower of Roses" that she has sent my way! Here I will record a few of the blessings I treasure. Please remember that what you see here is just a little glimpse at our lives, so please say a prayer for us, as we continue to strive for holiness.

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