Last year, I wrote about the wonderful dinner we had at Casale delle Torre Agriturismo. Our dear friends Carrol and Larry, who rent there during the summer, had invited us to dinner
Carroll, Lapo, Larry – blogginginitaly.com
and it was there we met Lapo and Paola, the Agriturismo’s proprietors, and now also our friends.
Last night, we were again invited, this time to celebrate Lapo’s 60th birthday. The lovely women in the family, Paola, Ilaria and Laura, threw a surprise party for Lapo, and surprising him was no small feat!
The trees were filled with photos of fond memories of Lapo’s life.
Their wedding
Night gowns for two?
Pheasant Hunting
Sempre amore
Their two successful daughters
And a poster representing 60 years of Lapo’s work, with cheese, sheep and hay –
and place cards to match.
Place cards
The setting could have been in an Italian film, with one beautiful table set for 48.
Lapo’s Birthday table
blogginginitaly.com
blogginginitaly.com
And a view no movie set could match.
blogginginitaly.com
Our friend Larry was tasked with keeping Lapo busy from 3:30 till 8:00, not an easy assignment, but alas, they arrived, and we knew Lapo was surprised by the tears rolling down his cheeks.
blogginginitaly.com
blogginginitaly.com
blogginginitaly.com
Appertivo was poolside, with music and dancing, of course!
blogginginitaly.com
blogginginitaly.com
blogginginitaly.com
blogginginitaly.com
Lapo is a proud farmer who among other things raises his own sheep, and produces wine, olive oil and cheese – a man of many talents for sure.
blogginginitaly.com
He is also affectionately known as “movie star” as he is the sheep herder in Under the Tuscan Sun and appears several times throughout the movie.
Dinner as you might imagine was several delicious courses, most of which I remembered to photograph before eating!
blogginginitaly.com
Fagottini di Borraggione – blogginginitaly.com
Rosemary roasted potatoes
blogginginitaly.com
smoked pork
blogginginitaly.com
Toasts and speeches were made, and Paola read a poem she wrote in the local dialect. Even the Italians next to me from Bergamo didn’t quite understand, but there were plenty of laughs and smiles from those who did. We think we got the gist of it, however, from Paola’s antics!
Paola’s poem to Lapo
blogginginitaly.com
Lapo
blogginginitaly.com
While most were eating, Mother and daughter Laura were busy decorating the homemade cake, again with elements of Lapo’s life.
blogginginitaly.com
blogginginitaly.com
Laura decorating the cake, blogginginitaly.com
And the final, very delicious product…
blogginginitaly.com
After dinner, we moved poolside once again to sing Happy Birthday, then Lapo did the honors, fireworks and all!
blogginginitaly.com
blogginginitaly.com
blogginginitaly.com
Time for more champagne and Lapo’s heartfelt gratitude to his wife and daughters for their love and hard work.
blogginginitaly.com
blogginginitaly.com
Afterward, Ilaria read a tribute and followed it with a short and fun movie of Lapo’s life.
blogginginitaly.com
Besides being a great husband and father, Lapo is also a caring and wonderful friend to so many. Just ask his family and friends.
blogginginitaly.com
blogginginitaly.com
blogginginitaly.com
blogginginitaly.com
blogginginitaly.com
blogginginitaly.com
blogginginitaly.com
blogginginitaly.com
blogginginitaly.com
The evening, which began under the warm summer sunshine and ended under the stars, was filled with love, laughter and the happy celebration of a wonderful man by his loving family.
blogginginitaly.com
Tanti auguri, Lapo!
blogginginitaly.com
E un grande abbraccio,
blogginginitaly.com
Ciao,
Judy e Leonardo
Blogging In Italy 