I thought I was sitting in the middle of a Tinkers's page-long passage describing (brilliantly) the words and laughter from a conversation past remaining in the air, floating around and up and down on air currents.
Sitting on one of our four Plantation-style chairs, upholstered in grayish aqua and white paisley fabric, in my living room. The round wicker coffee table in front of me had just hours ago held trays of parmesean cheese cubes, proscuitto and salami circles, spinach-artichoke dip with crackers. Next to me sat dear Beth and Mike, all of us sipping full glasses of Pinot Grigio. Catching up on the day, waiting for the first guests to arrive.
Now I sit there, just Mike in the house with me. He's getting a dog biscuit for Sporty, I can hear the clink of the biscuit jar. It is quiet. The lights are still dim. I'm pooped.
I can see the words floating around up there, spiraling up into the air of the 22 foot peaked ceiling, over the white trusses crossing from lake side wall to front courtyard wall. I can see the sentences. Then the laughter. The emotions are thick like a tiny cloud caught up there.
I love gatherings.
"I sang with Barry Manilov!"
"You mean you were pregnant when you got married?"
"Abbey the English Bulldog."
"He's buying a used car in Chicago."
"First tap dancing, now this."
"What, she's a prostitute?"
"There are more females than males in college today, why?"
"Sweet tooth."
We missed those who couldn't make it. Pot Luck Suppers are so cool. A construct all their own. As a child, I went to so many at our church. Mom made macaroni and cheese. And we would learn of so many cutting edge recipes at those Pot Luck Suppers. These were the years before Food TV and internet searching for recipes. Then our recipes were either handed down verbally mother to child, or gleaned from those handful of trusty cookbooks such as Joy of Cooking or Bennet Farm Cookbook. Seven Layered Salad! Cool Whip Jello Mold! Chicken with Broccoli and Creamed Mushroom Soup!
Pot Luck Suppers have evolved. Starting with a spread worthy of an apartment off the Plaza Popoli, we savored cubes of aged Parmesean, surrounded by the spread of cured Italian meats. Retro Artichoke-Spinach Dip with Wheat Thins. Rounded off with Camembert and a Boursin. Self service drinks in the living room Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Cabernet, and sparking waters was an experiment by the hostess, and I think it worked. Got us meandering out of the kitchen.
For the mains, we had garlic and rosemary Turkey Tenderloins, marinated Flank Steaks, Chicken Greens Salad, Orzo/Feta/Asparagus/Peppers Salad, Roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli, Butter Lettuce with Fruits and Nuts. And the grande finale was a Made-from-Scratch Chocolate Cake w whipped cream frosting, strawberries and vanilla ice cream. Oh man. Savor that coffee or peppermint tea, this was quite a feast.
We all fit at one table, and some enjoyed a spell outside on the porch. It was mentioned that it would be fun to do this every quarter, not only every year (or two or three.) Great idea. Who will put it into action? Mike and I agreed, everyone is so nice, and such fun to be with. Thank you all for these moments of gathering. I just love them!
Sitting on one of our four Plantation-style chairs, upholstered in grayish aqua and white paisley fabric, in my living room. The round wicker coffee table in front of me had just hours ago held trays of parmesean cheese cubes, proscuitto and salami circles, spinach-artichoke dip with crackers. Next to me sat dear Beth and Mike, all of us sipping full glasses of Pinot Grigio. Catching up on the day, waiting for the first guests to arrive.
Now I sit there, just Mike in the house with me. He's getting a dog biscuit for Sporty, I can hear the clink of the biscuit jar. It is quiet. The lights are still dim. I'm pooped.
I can see the words floating around up there, spiraling up into the air of the 22 foot peaked ceiling, over the white trusses crossing from lake side wall to front courtyard wall. I can see the sentences. Then the laughter. The emotions are thick like a tiny cloud caught up there.
I love gatherings.
"I sang with Barry Manilov!"
"You mean you were pregnant when you got married?"
"Abbey the English Bulldog."
"He's buying a used car in Chicago."
"First tap dancing, now this."
"What, she's a prostitute?"
"There are more females than males in college today, why?"
"Sweet tooth."
We missed those who couldn't make it. Pot Luck Suppers are so cool. A construct all their own. As a child, I went to so many at our church. Mom made macaroni and cheese. And we would learn of so many cutting edge recipes at those Pot Luck Suppers. These were the years before Food TV and internet searching for recipes. Then our recipes were either handed down verbally mother to child, or gleaned from those handful of trusty cookbooks such as Joy of Cooking or Bennet Farm Cookbook. Seven Layered Salad! Cool Whip Jello Mold! Chicken with Broccoli and Creamed Mushroom Soup!
Pot Luck Suppers have evolved. Starting with a spread worthy of an apartment off the Plaza Popoli, we savored cubes of aged Parmesean, surrounded by the spread of cured Italian meats. Retro Artichoke-Spinach Dip with Wheat Thins. Rounded off with Camembert and a Boursin. Self service drinks in the living room Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Cabernet, and sparking waters was an experiment by the hostess, and I think it worked. Got us meandering out of the kitchen.
For the mains, we had garlic and rosemary Turkey Tenderloins, marinated Flank Steaks, Chicken Greens Salad, Orzo/Feta/Asparagus/Peppers Salad, Roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli, Butter Lettuce with Fruits and Nuts. And the grande finale was a Made-from-Scratch Chocolate Cake w whipped cream frosting, strawberries and vanilla ice cream. Oh man. Savor that coffee or peppermint tea, this was quite a feast.
We all fit at one table, and some enjoyed a spell outside on the porch. It was mentioned that it would be fun to do this every quarter, not only every year (or two or three.) Great idea. Who will put it into action? Mike and I agreed, everyone is so nice, and such fun to be with. Thank you all for these moments of gathering. I just love them!
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