...Of the big family gathering, and all through the house not a creature was stirring.
They're all too pooped to pop, let alone stir, but they had a GREAT DAY!
When everyone was seated, I think we had twenty-seven people to dinner. Several of those people will not have to cook for a day or two, or will have plenty of ham for ham and eggs, ham salad, ham croquettes, turkey and ham tetrazini or bean soup!
It was wonderful. Nan and her family came in last night. We rose before dawn to get ready for church, and filled one entire pew. We made it home for a little breakfast, and Dear Husband and Son #2 came in from the airport around 10:30.
We worked from 11:00 to 2:00 getting tables set, making room for desserts, cleaning shrimp, setting out appetizers, washing and tearing romaine for Caesar salad, and all the things you need to do to feed 27 people.
My sister took over the flower detail and created four beautiful bouquets for the tables, cleaned off the things on the foyer table and organized the decorations, and folded a load of clothes for me. She also found my "To-Do" list, and kept me on track. Her daughters were my slave labor, and they did a fine job of getting the tables and salad ready.
My oldest sis came in with loads of hot veggies and potatoes, and all the girls brought desserts. I have never seen such a collection of sweets, and do not expect to see such a collection ever again! It was absolutely astonishing!
Brownies, iced sugar cookies baked on lollipop sticks, standing in a"garden," a chocolate FOUNTAIN with angel food cake and strawberry dippers, cupcakes, something that looks like Snickers in bar cookie form, white chocolate dipped pretzels, chocolate dipped strawberries, cream and berry pies! There was almost no end to it, and we tried to send it all home with our visitors. And we have enough candy that we could open a candy store.
The best part of the day was the chance to talk to so many of my family members, and that my sister's families got to meet my stepdaughter, her husband, and their two year old daughter. It was a long day, and it took a lot of work to pull it off, but it turned out fine.
I'm going to toddle off to bed. I'll check on all of you tomorrow.
Comments (9)
Twenty-seven. Twenty-seven? Twenty-seven! Hope you got a good night's sleep, my friend. Twenty-seven people make for a lot of commotion. You, your sisters, and your nieces had your hands full. What did the guys do for the cause?
Posted by Cop Car | April 17, 2006 8:19 AM
Posted on April 17, 2006 08:19
Oh, Cop Car, it was wonderful! Bodies everywhere, two toddlers running from body to body, everyone talking at once!
The guys hauled all the stuff in from the cars, entertained the babies, moved chairs, walked the dog, petted the cat....the usual. One might have stood around complaining that the meal wasn't being served fast enough, but we ignored him! *G* The guys have learned to stand back, or at least get no closer than the appetizers, and we work around them.
There's a limit to how many can really function in the kitchen, so DH and I, two of my sisters and a couple of my nieces do all the finishing touches, and let the rest of the family renew friendships and chat.
It was wonderful. I got to talk to almost everyone this time around!
Posted by buffy | April 17, 2006 9:54 AM
Posted on April 17, 2006 09:54
I'm glad for you and your family--especially that you were able to get around to nearly all of them to chat. Now, relax a bit--until the next one.
Posted by Cop Car | April 17, 2006 5:22 PM
Posted on April 17, 2006 17:22
I don't think we have any family gatherings here until Thanksgiving. (sigh of relief)
But....the Red Hat Ladies are coming in May, and the Quilting Bee is having a Fourth of July pot luck. Those are pretty easy days compared to having half the family to dinner. I counted today....and there are sixty of us, sixty-five if you count my brother's second wife's family. (I'm not sure if they WANT to be counted. They're from Kansas, and you know about those Kansans... *G*)
(I'm teasing Cop Car, people......don't take that last comment seriously!)
Posted by buffy | April 17, 2006 5:34 PM
Posted on April 17, 2006 17:34
buffy how fantastic! glad you enjoyed it even if you need a week off work to recover!
Posted by bod | April 17, 2006 5:48 PM
Posted on April 17, 2006 17:48
Bod, it sounds as though YOU could use a little rest, too! You were a busy lady this weekend. *S*
Posted by buffy | April 17, 2006 7:06 PM
Posted on April 17, 2006 19:06
Buffy, great to hear you had such a wonderful day with those near and dear. All that food discussion would normally have me diving into the fridge, but my table was groaning under the extremes of too many desserts and other things as well. So, although, your meal discussion had me drooling, I managed to stay in my chair rather than heading for the fridge. Mentally reminding myself that "It's easier to put in on than take it off."
P.S. Your content adjudicator doesn't like the phrase "dear" followed by "to" -- hopefully it will accept me telling you this as long as I don't string the two words together.
Still, glad to hear all your efforts turned out to be sure a pleasurable and precious time.
Posted by Roberta S | April 18, 2006 10:52 AM
Posted on April 18, 2006 10:52
I understand, Roberta. When we've been faced with all that food, and then have the leftovers to deal with, a simple meal sounds inviting, doesn't it? We're doing salad, with chicken tonight. It would take something really creative to send me to the fridge right now! *G*
I never know what will offend the Comment Gods. Jessica finally managed to get through, and now you're having trouble. I've probably banned something that carried those words, and I'll have to ask T for more help. Thanks for mentioning it.
Posted by buffy | April 18, 2006 4:18 PM
Posted on April 18, 2006 16:18
Filled an entire pew? Reminds me of the movie, "Shennandoah". Remember, with Jimmy Stewart? I love it.
Sounds like you had a busy, but loving Easter Sunday.
Posted by Cowtown Pattie | April 20, 2006 10:29 PM
Posted on April 20, 2006 22:29