Balcony Brunch for the Fairies

Hello, Viewers!

It was supposed to have been an early September Backyard Brunch for eight Fairies – but in the end only four Chosen Ones were able to attend, so We, the Fairy Queen, made an executive decision to move the party to the balcony of my Fairy Palace instead. So rather than packing up all my stuff and taking the show on the road over to the Fairy with the Backyard, I was able to focus all my powers on transforming my own environment.

The first order of the day is curtains. (I am reminded of Moominmamma, who is so eager to nest and decorate her new house-to-be, that as soon as the weight-bearing beams are in place and the cement has barely dried, she hastens to hang up some pretty curtains. Walls – who needs them?)

These pretty, rosy (shower) curtains from Europe are my go-to staple in all cases of exterior decorating. This time they were enhanced by some hot pink sheers that often come in handy. 

As usual, I am suspending it all on the Sukkah frame that sits up all year round. The "sun roof" is a marquee canvas that IKEA sold a season ago, and which fits the frame almost to perfection. 

In an effort to camouflage the pug-ugly dog fence a previous tenant installed on the balcony, I draped it with a length of lace, held in place with tiny binder clips. The silk flower bouquets in their buckets are prevented from falling over by S-hooks, attaching the bucket handles to loops in the fence. 

Two gold-framed mirrors (hung with S-hooks) added some magic of their own – don’t underestimate the decorative usefulness of mirrors outdoors as well! Mirrors always open up a space, and if they reflect something beautiful, so much the better. A cliché, I know - but so true!

 The table was covered with a pink-on-white tablecloth, and the wicker chairs with quilts and over-sized, squishy pillows - all in various floral patterns.

 The small, round table that usually sits on the balcony was used as a sideboard.

Then to the flowers: beyond the three bouquets in buckets, and the peony plant on the sideboard, there had to be hanging decorations as well. (The "crossbeam" over the table would support lanterns at an evening party, but in the daytime I hang flowers.)

This hanging planter (Skurar from IKEA), really calls for a trailing plant - which I didn't have. So I plonked in a rose nosegay that I did have, and the "trailers" had to consist of curling ribbons in pastel colors. The rose pompoms added more festivity.

The green pompom was a present from one of the fairies - who had no idea how the party was going to be decorated. What an inspired gift! 

The table setting was fairly unpretentious, but pretty nonetheless. Disposable plates with a rosy rim (bought in Jerusalem) set the tone, and some roses and mini fairy wands in a vase made a simple centerpiece. Individual fruit salads (apple, kiwi, mango, pineapple) are in place, and the champagne glasses, each with a strawberry, are awaiting the Mimosas, without which any brunch would be a sad travesty. (50% champagne + 50% orange juice = Mimosa!)

Salad in a hat box is a very good thing!

The hat box is "lined" with a disposable plastic bowl - the bowl on its own would have been just too tedious. (And one of the fairies got to take the box home with her - also a good thing.)

The salad itself?

Arugula

Red bell pepper

Mango

Red onion

Feta cheese

Roasted, salted hazelnuts

Olive oil

               - voilà!

Wholewheat mini baguettes, and omelets - one with onions & lox; one with asparagus and kani (fake, kosher crab sticks) - were also on the menu. The dessert was a Butter Loaf with strawberries. Loads of coffee, of course, and loads of Mimosas - some fairies got quite loaded!

We sat at the table for almost four hours - the sun was shining and the breeze was breezing, and nobody had the heart to tear themselves away. It was truly an enchanted event!

Regards from Rosebud!