Just last Friday we hosted a brunch for our exercise class. Luckily, it was a pot luck, so there wasn't an inordinate amount of preparation involved, but it took some time. I wanted everything to be perfect, and we fell far short. Mother Nature has given us so much rain, that the gardens are bursting, with flowers AND weeds. I tamed what I could, and resolved not to worry about the rest.
Today, we are in the midst of preparations for a tea for my mother's Empty Nesters group. I rose a little early to get a start on cleaning the kitchen. I fed the birds and watered the herbs that I still need to plant. I ironed the table cloth for the dining room and put it on the table and then we ran for exercise class.
After class, we grocery shopped, and once the groceries were put away, I ironed the white embroidered cloth that sits on point over the burgundy table cloth, and replaced the Waterford hurricanes and cut glass bowl. It's a relief to know that one room is ready to go.
I've had the same quilt on the wall in the great room for some time, and Friday I realized that I have another that might make a pleasant change. When DH is home this evening, I'll get his help making the swap. The new one is slightly darker, and the colors are more organized and less scrappy. It's a Friendship Star quilt, for those of you who recognize quilt patterns. The background lattice is shaded in light cream colored fabrics in one direction, and medium ecru fabrics on the other diagonal. I'll see if I can't get a picture of it, once it's up.
This afternoon, I have to use a hoe on the weeds in the herb garden, and pull up some volunteer oxeye daisies so that our guests can make it up the sidewalk. And, I need to bring in some peonies and lilacs for vases throughout the house.
Tonight, I hope to make cinnamon streusal muffins, and some cookies. And, if I'm lucky, I may get some strawberries dipped in chocolate. We'll offer several different varieties of hot tea, iced tea, coffee, and some soda pop.
It's supposed to rain tomorrow. I wonder if it will be cool enough for a small fire in the fireplace??
This is what my life is like for two days in May. Normally, I'm in the office, but we take advantage of the chance to entertain when the gardens are at their peak. I know this sounds like a bucolic version of Donna Reed's life as a '50s housewife, but believe me.....it's only for a few days! When the heat hits, I'll desert my gardens (though I'll snarl a lot about WEEDS!), and I'll return to my office life, so enjoy the gardens with me, for now.