The surroundings

After having the two main problems settled for real, the barn and the ceremony, I have turned my attention to the rest of the space. It's got to have some sort of festive feel to it too.

In front of the barn there's a farmyard (obviously) where people will spend quite some time. Especially the smokers in the congregation, but I suspect everyone will hang out there from time to time.

The plan has all along been some sort of a lounge next to the entrance of the barn. It's going to be quite simple, with a thatched roof of twigs, back against the barn wall, a cast iron sofa, a rattan lounge chair, some blankets, a chiminea, cushions and some rag rug. It'll be decorated with lanterns basically.

There's another spot on this yard where people potentially will sit and that's where the current garden furniture are. With some lanterns hanging from the branches of the chestnut tree in that corner it'll be a bit more festive. Some blankets would be needed as well.

We'll have to have a portable toilet here too, but where it's going to be located isn't decided on yet. There are two possible locations but either way it's going to be somewhat hidden. Not sure how that's going to be solved.

I'm thinking we might need some fabrics and hang them from clothes lines just like for the ceremony on strategic places, but I also came across an image with an idea I liked a lot.

Yeah, the truck is cute, but it's the flags I liked. We don't have a fence like that along the road past the farm but perhaps it could be solved anyway. There's a phone line along the road and the poles can be used and incorporated on the decoration. Not quite sure how yet.

Party space

We've got 600 m² air to fill up in the barn where the festivities are held.That's an awful lot of space and you really have to think big. It's a challenge to make it feel festive without looking silly and tiny and to a very low cost. So, what can you put up there in abundance that hardly will cost you anything? The answer is fiesta bunting and balloons.

When I was in a toy store yesterday they had bags containing 100 balloons for €4.20. I got one bag, then went over to a hobby shop and bought a big pack tissue paper for €10.55. Balloons hanging in string and Mexican fiesta bunting on strings along with some globe string lights will ensure festive light and colour. I have enough tissue paper to make pom pom flowers too for the table decoration, which means we can finish the barn a day or so in advance and concentrate on food the last days instead.

The batcomputer is none too frisky today, Batman.

This evening I have been working on Batman and Robin outfits for lollipops. As I mentioned the other day I was thinking I perhaps should have Chupa Chups, mostly because they're so simple and the bright colours go well with the theme in general. Then I spotted the idea to give lollipops superhero looks and decided to make a Batman and Robin outfit for those Chupa Chups. It's of course with the small ears on the mask and the less pointy black bat against a larger yellow background, just as in the original series.