Rose Lunch, Y'all

 Violet has a BFF named Charlotte Rose.  She just turned 1 and Violet got it in her head to throw a small Rose-themed lunch in honor of Charlotte Rose.  Just a small little lunch, no big deal.

Here is each place-setting.  My favorite part is in the tiny baby sized silver and real plates on the left, where the bread plate would normally reside.

 Oh, and the flowers.  Stolen roses as far as the eye can see.  Thank you to Audrey, Audrey's next door neighbor, Yuan, the house up for auction across from Yuan, Kristen, the bank parking lot next to New Seasons... (No well manicured gardens were injured in the making of this lunch.)

Oh!  And what is in the boxes you ask?  Each baby was given their own fancy bib!  In rose colors or prints, with pearls, lace, or buttons or bow-ties for the boys.  You can see them wearing them in most of the photos. Rachel made them, you can read about them on her blog.

Violet saw to each place setting.

Napkin folded as a rose.  Which I didn't even use.

Another something I didn't use but wanted to: I had several images like this along with short poems about roses layered over them and I had creamy paper to print it all on and cut out and place on the table but at the last minute, my printer was out of ink!  Violet is still irritated about it.

printable source here

Here is little Charlotte Rose.  She was the perfect Guest of Honor, maybe a little bit of a ham. Charlotte's ancestry is Southern, and she has charm to prove it.

Kylie was also an ideal guest.  Friendly, sociable and good natured, but didn't try and steal the spot light.  She is very mature for her age.


Each baby was given a wrist corsage or boutonniere. Charlotte is a model child.

Graham nobly wore his boutonniere and his fancy bib without complaint.

Not all behavior was ideal.
Perhaps Violet over did herself, stayed up too late arranging roses and baking.  That can partly explain her cranky behavior over lunch.

 Here is what she thought of her corsage. It actually angered her.

 I overheard her spreading gossip...

"Do you see how Eliza didn't show up today?  She's afraid to show her full head of hair at my house apparently.  See if she gets invited to another party in the next 5 years."  Charlotte, "gasp!"

"Well, I heard that Sawyer isn't here today because a few particular sores from a particular hand, foot, and mouth virus refuse to heal in a particular area, and he might still be contagious!"
Graham, clearing his throat and clearly embarrassed, "certain things should not be said."

Here is where the day turned a little.. too Southern.

Charlotte insisted on eating with her feet on the table.  There was no talking her out of it.  She's just like her mother.

In the end, Graham paid us the ultimate compliment. (see inside joke here)

What did we serve for lunch, you ask?

The photo-less menu:

Chilled Strawberry Soup

Pimento Cheese, and Ham and Pickle finger sandwiches with Oven Fried Okra and Greens

Southern Rose Pound cake with strawberries and cream

If you would like to read Charlotte's version of the day, and you do, go to here.