A Wrap-Up on Mother’s Day

I had the best Mother’s Day.

It started on Saturday night when we went to see Prince in concert.  I wasn’t sure how much I would enjoy it as I like some of his music but it’s not the sort of music I listen to regularly.  But he gets an 11 out of ten for putting on a show that isn’t just a concert, it’s entertainment.  Starting with the unbelievable set that’s centred in the middle of the arena, the incredible light show (some songs he performed in total darkness – if you were visually impaired you didn’t miss a thing), his rhythm and dance moves, his musicality playing both piano and guitar, and his voice with that so-high falsetto, it was obvious we were witnessing a genius at work.  Seeing him perform his hits such as Purple Rain, Raspberry Beret, Cream and Nothing Compares to U was thrilling.  No cameras were allowed in the arena so here’s a bit of Prince singing Purple Rain somewhere else:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdTBs7Y1YVA&feature=related


On Sunday morning Alfie came sprinting into the bedroom clutching the gifts he’d bought me at the Mother’s Day stall at school.  They were wrapped in paper he had decorated in art class where his little hands had tried so hard to paint pretty hearts.  And there was a card he’d made as well with an acrostic poem about how wonderful I am – isn’t he sweet!

One of the gifts was a face washer and the other was this…

She lifts out of her dress and becomes a pot scrubber!  I love it.  And he chose it all by himself and told me he wanted me to have it because she’s wearing a pretty leopard-print dress!

Archie got me nothing.  His excuse is that he’s a poor uni student.  The comfort was learning he’s earned a distinction in at least one of his recent exams.

Arabella was also cash-strapped but she had the good sense to lean on her father to top-up her financial mismanagement and so I was able to buy a cardigan with the gift voucher she gave me.

We then had brunch as a family plus one extra because a friend of Archie’s had stayed the night.  I made corn fritters, crispy bacon and wilted spinach topped with a poached egg.  The photographer was very hungry so these photos were rushed…

Mother's Day Brunch

I then went for a walk to the shops and spent my gift vouchers and came home to prepare for having my parents for dinner plus one extra because a friend of Arabella’s was staying the night – it never stops!

I made a Chicken Caesar Salad adapted from a Jamie Oliver recipe with gluten-free croutons and a garlic aioli dressing…

Followed by Apple and Blueberry Crumble with ice cream (I couldn’t find my ice cream scoop to make pretty round balls)…

And Mother’s Day is very exhausting, especially for dogs…

I hope you had a lovely yesterday too.

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Comments

  1. Hi,
    Wow, sounds like you had a fantastic time at the concert, and thanks for including the video, I did enjoy the song. 🙂
    I just love the brush that is just so cute, and the paper drawn with hearts, that is priceless.
    Oh and don’t forget me next time you cook such a wonderful breakfast. 🙂

  2. Magnolia Verandah says:

    Good review on Prince and that his concert was well worth it.  At a 50th birthday party on Saturday night her children presented her with Prince tickets in front of everyone – not sure if she was happy or not. 
    Love the pot scrubber she would sit very well in my kitchen. 

  3. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says:

    Glad to hear that you had a good mother’s day Charlie! 🙂 

  4. Glamorousglutton says:

    Sounds like you had a great day. Love the dish washing lady-very well chosen. I’d really like to see Prince, not that I’m a big fan but eeveryone says his gigs are fantastic – he’s a real showman. GG

  5. What a lovely day – and such sweet efforts from your youngest. I wonder when they switch from that to the teenager version?! The dish washing lady is just brilliant.

  6. those dogs are very sweet, they do look pooped!
    glad you had a lovely day.

  7. Glad you had a lovely Mother’s Day 🙂 I love Archie’s present….how cute!

  8. aawwww sounds like a great day 🙂

  9. Niasunset says:

    Of course they are all amazing and so delicious photographs BUT the last one fascinated me… Blessing them all. Thank you dear Charlie, I am glad to hear that you had a nice day. Have a nice new week, with my love, nia 

  10. Glad to hear that you had a wonderful Mother’s Day! So much of life is about how one looks at it, and you have it … so keep smiling!

  11. Aww sounds like fun! Especially the concert…what an awesome way to jumpstart the weekend!

  12. That breakfast looks so good – hope it was appreciated!!

  13. That pot scrubber is so chic.

    Glad you got to see a Minnesota musician in concert and enjoyed Prince.

  14. Well, of course young people always want to stay at your house.  Who wouldn’t?  All that delicious food!  And young people are insatiably hungry it seems.

    I really like the pot scrubber too!

  15. FiSh SzeHui says:

    the scrubber is so cute! 🙂 happy belated mother’s day, and i know you had a great time with your family

    Latest: Spiciest Thai Food 

  16. Prince is amazing … so glad you got to go and see him. The mothers day gifts are so cute and I love how the dogs are exhausted 🙂

  17. Mandy - The Complete Cook Book says:

    What a lovely Mother’s Day you enjoyed.  Pity you had to cook your own breakfast though – scrumity breakie – brilliant choice!
    Your pups are just too adorable for words.
    🙂 Mandy

  18. Happy Mother’s Day! Mine was delightful too, we lazed about all day, even skipped church, and then was treated to dinner at the neighbor’s house. We had agreed in advance that we would wait to celebrate as all I wanted was labor as a gift (funny how that turns around) to plant my flower garden in a couple of weeks. What a lovely weekend for you–the concert, the hand chosen gifts, your family together–sweet indeed.

  19. Prince used to live in Toronto, he was married to a local girl, believe it or not. He lived on what they call the Bridal Path, a very rich area (where the servants quarters are bigger than our home!)
    What an adorable pot scrubber, Charlie! Sounds like you had an amazing mothers day!
    What colour sweater did you get?
    http://kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com
     

  20. Choc Chip Uru says:

    What an awesome mothers day!!! We were planning to go to Prince’s concert but it never really happened – haha I could have met you 🙂

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru
    http://gobakeyourself.wordpress.com/

  21. Justasmidgen says:

    I think I’m particularly smitten by that last photo with your dogs lolling about with a “licked clean” plate and spoon.. precious.. they’re your kids as well:) Sounds like a perfectly wonderful Mother’s Day!!

  22. What a feast!  I particularly love the sound of that chicken salad.  My son was cash-strapped as well, but he called me from LA on both Mexican mother’s day and the American one (the 10th and 12th).  I loved it that he did, but I must admit, I rather covet that scrubber that Alfie gave you!  I shouldn’t complain–I did get to celebrate twice!

  23. ChgoJohn says:

    Although I’ve never seen him perform live, I’ve heard that Prince puts on one heckuva show! Glad you went, enjoyed yourself,  and had such a nice Mother’s Day — you deserve it!

  24. Gretchen says:

    Ok, so this shows what I know: I didn’t realize that other countries celebrate Mother’s Day at the same time as we do!  Is that myopic of me?!!  I knew that in Canada they celebrate Thanksgiving on a different date and somehow I just assumed that other thigns were different in other countries, too!  I’m just glad I’m now clued in!!  Good grief!

    I’m glad you had a nice Mother’s Day!  I love that pot scrubber!!!!  My husband is in Germany for a week so we’ll go out to dinner late…which is better than nothing! 

  25. What a great day(s)! You know what I like the best? That brush in a dress, so cute! 🙂

  26. What a fun day!  I love that pot scrubber.  A little glamour in an unlikely place!

  27. I am glad you had such a fun day!!!
    Mother day is special for us moms right….
    I love the stylish brush…LOL

  28. 1. I am going to see Prince tonight, hope he puts on as good a show as what you saw.
    2. You made your own Mother’s Day brunch????
    3. That pot scrubber is juts gorgeous!
    4. So are your dogs. 🙂

  29. Happy Mother’s Day Charlie 🙂 seems like a great day and Alfie sure is the model child ~ he’s sooooooo sweet I wouldn’t want to use the brush because it’s so precious hehe oh Archie needs to learn from Alfie to get you something! But i guess the thought that counts 🙂

    Wow you still cooked even though it was Mother’s Day?! You need a break Charlie! you work too hard 😀 Corn fritters look yummy!

  30. Juliet Batten says:

    What a sweet mother’s day gift from Alfie. Sounds like a special day.

  31. InTolerant Chef says:

    Sounds like a lovely day indeed! I was spoilt with brekkie in bed, yumcha for lunch, then slow braised shanks for tea- lucky I spent the afternoon in the garden working!

  32. foodrehab says:

    awww, even the the dogs were pooped! How rad that you got to go to Price as well! Best day ever. 

  33. Your dinner looks amazing, I can understand your kids… I hardly ever have money to buy a decent gift so I always end up doing dessert or something like that but since you cook so well I get why your kids wouldn’t do that either, because nothing would look as great as what you do!!!!!

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Yes, I don’t expect much from my kids, I’m just happy if they stay home and be with me for the day – it doesn’t happen very often anymore (I must be sounding really, really old!) xx

  34. Prince? I LOVE Prince! Great concert.

  35. Deeps NaughtyCurry says:

    what a fabulous mothers day u have had! loved the cute gift.. and the spread u prepared looks fit for a king 🙂

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Thanks so much Deeps. Yes, we had a lovely meal and my mother really enjoyed it so that was what was most pleasing xx

  36. I hear only good things about the Prince concert! Anyways, sounds like you had a wonderful mothers day, just as you deserve! 🙂 xx

  37. Oh how nice you had a lovely mothers day. Cant even begin to tell you how much I loved Prince and would like to go again!!. Love your little brown babies

  38. Rachel - Executive Beader says:

    What a great weekend! Good food, good entertainment, family plus one, and sweet gifts. Happy Mom’s Day!

  39. I was at the Prince concert on Saturday night too! Would’ve been cool if we sat metres away from each other 🙂 Loved the concert, but disappointed that he didn’t play 1999 or Little Red Corvette. His accoustic performances were magnificent though.

    Happy belated Mothers Day!

  40.  I am very pleased to be able to read your writing, writing a simple but very nice, thank you

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