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So it was a really stressful week, and come Thursday Michael and I were almost in a panic about not having enough energy to cook and clean. I had been spot cleaning all week, pick up a few things here, throw something in the closet there, but the cooking was something we had been avoiding.
So, we called a few of our closest friends and asked if they could help us out of a bind by bringing a plate of savory finger food to share. All four people we called agreed. Then we spent the rest of the evening doing our own cooking. We made a shrimp and pesto dish, making the pesto from scratch wasn't too bad. And we made a caponata (eggplant goo) which was much more time consuming. Michael loved them both and that was the point because he is on a weird new diet and it's easy as the host of a party to starve while doing a million other things to get ready. Me? Well, everyone who knows me knows that I don't eat much of anything. If you don't know me, well, maybe I'll write about it some other time. Anyway, we did it.
I took a long lunch on Friday and did some more cleaning and felt pretty good about it. After work I went to the store for some cider and wine for mulling, brought them home and got them started.
The first of our helpful elves (Solomon and Kelly) showed up about 7 pm, and started slicing and preparing a dozen little bowls of things. Sol gave Michael a haircut too, which looks great. I almost took a picture but was afraid of startling him. Next were Jeanine and Scott, two plates of food and willing to make a run to the store for something forgotten (a firelog, I think).
Got dressed at a few minutes to 8 pm, and then the guests started arriving rapidly. More elves, Peggy and Dorothy, arrived with things that needed to go into the oven, no problem. I showed them where everything was and let them go for it.
Last of the elves, but certainly not too late were Andrea and Tom. They brought two big platters covered in these little pockets of something in philo dough (spelling anyone?) Lots of people talked about how wonderful they were, big hit.
Lots of people mingling and talking, Delerium playing in the background. It was lovely. This is the third year I've participated in this event with Michael. The first year I was just a guest, last year I helped co-host it with Michael and Lauri. I brought my own personal touch to the party by taking pictures of the guests. No pictures were taken at these parties before. This year it was Michael and I hosting, and I took pictures again at the end of the night. I think I missed a couple people because I waited so long to start, but I suppose that happens. A few people had to be coaxed in front of the camera, I hope I didn't whine too much. *grin*
Michael's existing traditions are; savory foods to nibble on, black paper and metallic pens and request for folks to write something in celebration of someone who made an impression on their life who has passed away. "We dress dark, but the mood is light." he says.
Very few of the guests were new to me. I had a good a time chatting with them a little, and felt very loved to have some of my very favorite people here. Thanks to them I had a wonderful time.
~Snow
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Snow and Michael |
Sol and Michael being silly |
Snow and Andrea |
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Andrea and Tom |
Scott and Jeanine |
Burt and Barbara |
Sol |
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Ivo and Alyce smiles & serious |
Dorothy writing in the black book |
Sol and Kelly |
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Sol and Michael |
Eric and Rosemary |
Vivian, Rick, and Joan |
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Jennifer and Michael |
Alyce writing in the black book |
Sol and Kelly |
Eleanore and Michael |
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Andrea and Eleanore |
Michael and Peggy |
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