A boy is Truth with dirt on it's face,
Beauty with a cut on its finger,
Wisdom with bubble gum in its hair,
and the Hope of the future with a frog in its pocket.
Author Unknown
And he loves going to the beach.
His favourite food is pasta so we had spaghetti bolognese for dinner. I used the recipe that I posted the other day as a starting point and then added a few extra ingredients.
First I fried up some pancetta, onion, garlic, chopped celery and capsicum (red pepper) with some olive oil.
I then added some mushrooms and some fresh basil and oregano.
I cooked everything over a low heat (adding water when it looked a bit dry) for about 3 hours.
That gave me time to set a beach themed tablescape.
We had to fit quite a few people around the table so there wasn't much room to set an ornately decorated table.
I placed a Maxwell and Williams square bowl on a seashell serviette and a Maxwell and Williams side plate.
I used our Strachan silverware.....
and I used lots of seashells for a beach themed tablescape!
I served the pasta "family style" with a green salad and some cheese bread.
The birthday cake was a white chocolate mudcake (recipe from the great foodie blog Exclusively Food found here) and to continue the beach theme it was decorated with Guylian seashell chocolates.
All-in-all it was a lovely evening and I am pretty sure that Big Al had a good day.
Happy double-digit birthday my handsome son!
Thank you for visiting today and for helping me celebrate my son's birthday-I am so glad that I can share these special moments with my very special friends!
Best wishes always,
Natasha In Oz
Please join me each weekend for the Say G'day Saturday Linky Party!
Bonne FĂȘte to your son. I love it, the table, the seashells with the candles, the food,that Cake and you have fresh herbs;all I can say is Wow!he is lucky boy.
ReplyDeleteRita
Bonjour Natasha,
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to your handsome son. He must have had such a great birthday party with all that delicious food and decorations - right down to the chocolate seashells and fresh herbs. I love hearing about family celebrations.
By the way, your new header looks so good!
Enjoy the rest of the birthday week!
Your post makes me excited for summer and warmer weather and the beach!! What a great tablescape! Happy 10th to your son!! Hurray to him for loving the outside and sports!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your sweet comment today, you are a true gem!
Wendy
Happy Birthday to your son. Your table is lovely and the dinner too! How great to have those fresh herbs from a garden! Thanks for sharing that. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to you boy! What a wonderful day with your famaly, the table setting is superp!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to your son!I love the tablescape and I also love the pasta with "bolognese".
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day,
hugs,Annalisa
What a fabulous job you did on that table setting Natasha! I'm sure your son was appreciative. I like the way you angled the chairs, great idea.
ReplyDeleteMy eldest turns 16 today and all he wants is to get his "L's"! Won't be much of a party for him as hubby is taken our middle daughter to the Taylor Swift concert in Brissy tonight.
Have a happy day:o)
Angex
How delicious! Nothing like a good pasta and mud cake to celebrate a birthday. And your table setting was just lovely - your boy would have felt very special.
ReplyDeletebeautiful seaside table for a special boy on his birthday!
ReplyDeletei am so going to copy it, someday. :)
Happy birthday to your son! Love your table setting.
ReplyDeletei now host a party every Thursday called get your craft on. Come on over and check it out...
Lori
What a great BirthdaY! Everything looks so yummy and the table is really neat!!~
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to your son...love the beach table...nice to see instead of the snow that is outside my window!
ReplyDeleteOh Natasha sweetie...
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your beautiful son sweetie, and oh my goodness what a beautiful table you set for his special dinner, and that cake looked so yummy. I bet he was tickled "pink" over it for sure.
The picture of him wondering the shore is just beautiful, and I love seeing him play ball. How sweet he is. Enjoy him sweetie, they grow up so fast. I find myself wondering where the time has gone.
Thank you for sharing with me tonight. Lovely post. Country hugs and much love...Sherry
Everything looks so yummy, especially the cake! Your son must have felt very special. I used an ocean theme this week too. Thanks for sharing your special event. Wishes for a special year for your son. Joan @Americana By Candlelight
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't like your shells and candles, I LOVE them! Way to go! You are so making me want to go to a beach right now. We do have beaches around the lakes here, unfortunately, they are covered in four feet of snow right about now... I have been wondering what you were going to do with the many choices for your sideboard, I think you have the perfect start with all your lovely shells and candles. Your tablescape is so pretty, and your silverware... Love it! Happy Birthday to your son, I know he must have had a great day!
ReplyDeleteKate
And don't even get me started on that yummy looking cake!!! Adore the sweet poem, it's the truth!
Very fresh and calming colours! Love the shells down the runner of the table. Happy Bday to your son!
ReplyDeleteDD
Happy Birthday to your boy. You have a beautiful house and I like your kitchen and your dressing up the table..... nice theme
ReplyDeleteYour Birthday table is just beautiful, fresh, simple and just the perfect touch of the beach,,, love the shells down the center and all the beige and white and crystal, beautiful...Phyllis
ReplyDeleteHi there, dearest Natasha, I truly enjoyed reading your post. Bit of laughter when reading 'baby boy' I recognize the feeling ...
ReplyDeleteSo much fun, the Bertoli bottle on your sink... her twin sister lives on my sink right here in the Netherlands!
Have a sweet festive day!
Saskia
ox
Natasha, The birthday dinner is just too perfect. We had a bridal shower here last week with a beach theme. If you would like to see pictures of our seashell studded cake and table, go to my blog and check out the previous 2 posts. Happy 10th year to your son...I hope it will be very happy and healthy for him
ReplyDeleteSusan
Hi Natasha
ReplyDeleteThank you thank you for your very nice comment and thank you for following my blogs to!
I was so excited when saw the pictures of your tables with seashells earlier today, they are absolutely gorgeous.
It's nice to meet you too - I'm looking forward to seeing more lovely table ...
Have a nice early weekend!
xx
Lene
And a big Joyeux Anniversaire to your lovely boy Natasha all the way from France ... Bisous
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your son! What a great looking meal and beautiful tablescape.
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday to your son!
ReplyDeleteYour party theme looks wonderful and yummy!
Hi Natasha,
ReplyDeleteThis is my first visit to your blog, so glad I found you through Cindy's! You set a lovely table, the food looked divine, the cake was fabulous. A perfect party. I love that there were no cartoon character or movie hero paper plates! All very civilized for a handsome and grown-up 10 year old. Wish him a very happy birthday. Don't the years go by fast?
I'd love for you to stop by for a visit sometime.
XO
Heidi - Heart and Home
Natasha, Happy Belated Birthday to your son! I hope his day was extra special, and with a meal like that, I'm sure it was. YUM! Not only did you have that delicious menu, but your tablescape it equally lovely. Thanks for sharing it all with us.
ReplyDeleteHappy Foodie Friday...
XO,
Sheila :-)
Your tablescape is breathtaking. I love the shells as a centerpiece. Happy Birthday to your son--the cake is awesome!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun birthday party for your boy. Happy birthday to him! I love your beachy tablescape. It looks so relaxing. And you just gave me an idea of using the shell chocolates to decorate the cake. Neat! I bought the servers (rectangular and oval) with warmer at Marshall's and they were so cheap I thought. I paid $12.99 for each of them....Christine
ReplyDeleteI'm a little jealous that you are enjoying summer since it's quite cold here! Please wish your son a very Happy Birthday. It sounds like you made his day extra special.
ReplyDeleteYour table is so lovely and tell your son happy birthday too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful birthday celebration for your son! I am drooling over your tablescape, it's gorgeous. Love all the beachy touches! Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful table, beautiful food, and beautiful 10 year old. This looks like the perfect birthday dinner! The sea shells down the center of that long table are quite stunning. Like the chairs at an angle for the photo. Great job!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lucky boy to have such a wonderful birthday. Great table and great food! I love the beach theme!
ReplyDelete~ Tracy
Happy Birthday to your son! Everything looks so great! (Loved your table)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your son. Nice table, makes me think of summer! good weekend catherine
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your growing son. What a beautiful table setting you did up. Its nice to know that there is summer somewhere in the world. Thank you for your sweet comments on my blog. Rosie
ReplyDeleteHappy b'day to your dear son.The table with the delicious meal and the yummy cake must have made your son's day.Just the perfect treat.
ReplyDeleteNatasha, Happy Birthday to your Handsome Son! What a wonderful spread you planned for him- The table and food look perfect! He must have felt so very grown up and special. That mudcake looks so yummy!
ReplyDeleteYvonne
I love it when kids ask for REAL food for their birthdays. Happy bday to him!!
ReplyDelete:)
ButterYum
Hello, Natasha! Sending happy birthday wishes to your son! You are most kind to share your secret for delicious pasta sauce. I do add sugar but will try the instant coffee the next time I have some.
ReplyDeleteYour beach theme table was just lovely. Looks like you didn't miss a single detail.
Thank you for stopping by my place and leaving you comment!
Kindly, ldh
Happy birthday to you son! 10 is such a wonderful age!!! Your table looks amazing and so does your pasta! Thanks for joining in on Show and Tell! And thanks for saying my blog is beautiful and inspirational! That was so sweet!
ReplyDeleteI love your tablescape and the cake is adorable. I have to remember to decorate a cake exactly like your cake this summer. thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteJoyce
Your table, food and home are beautiful! I hope your son had a wonderful birthday! :)
ReplyDeleteOh what a wonderful beachy birthday! Wishing your son many blessing for this year and your table is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI have a son ,soon to be 7,its a pure joy see them grow.My best wishes to the handsome young man :D
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your son!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your cooking posts so much and looking into your beautiful and refined life!:)
hope its not too late to wish your son happy birthday and many happy returns! and your table setting really lovely.. thanks for sharing..
ReplyDeleteGod bless him.
ReplyDeleteThere are very few kids who like to play outdoors.
Happy birthday to your son. Your table is just wonderful! Thanks for stopping by and visiting. I so enjoy stopping by and seeing all your wonderful post. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSandy
Happy B-Day to him and congrats to you on a beautiful table setting decor... ;)
ReplyDeleteThat's lovely Natasha! Love the tablescape; very "grownup" for Big Al's 10th! Wow, double digits :)
ReplyDeletexx
everything looks great! I LOVE your table setup! Fantastic!
ReplyDeletehugs! Kim @ http://frostmeblog.blogspot.com
party inspiration