Arrrgh!!!

And thank God for that! IT was an absolutely wonderful day, but it's time to rest now.

This morning, roughly half of our exercise class came to a pot luck Soup and Salad brunch at our house. We go out to breakfast once a month to celebrate the birthdays in that month, and this time we decided to try the concept of sharing soup and bread ( and salad, crackers, and DESSERT!!)

For the past two weeks (or more), I've been working to get the house into order so that we could host the event. I spent two weekends working outside to clean up the gardens (It wasn't enough...it's NEVER enough, but we made do.) Something I do when I work on the gardens in the fall always hurts my back, and I've been limping around, wincing when I hit just the right position and pinched the nerves in my back. Since the doctors tell you that you should keep moving through something like this, I've kept moving, but moving slower. I regret that I don't run at the same speed as I did when I was twenty.

I rose at 5:00 and started cooking. I made minestrone, a butternut squash and granny smith apple soup, and Golden Cheddar Chowder. There were at least four other soups: Ham and Bean, Hamburger, Broccoli Cheese and something with Farina dumplings. Added to that were half a dozen salads, every conceivable kind of cracker, bread bowls and incredible desserts. I NEED that coconut cake recipe, and I don't usually eat cake!

It was like having family come to dinner. People began streaming in at 9:30, just after class, and all the early birds helped to set up chairs, arrange a beverage station, and lay things out on the counter. Others answered the door and helped people deal with coats. I finished the cheese chowder and it was time to eat! I set tables in the dining room, and the area off the kitchen we call the Green Room. I also set up a ten foot Samsonite table in the foyer. You could hear conversation throughout the house. This group really enjoys chatting!

After everyone was filled to the brim, and had eaten dessert and had a cup of coffee, they gravitated back to the kitchen and washed the dishes for me. I would have been very happy to do that chore on my own, but they had it done in no time. One washed, one rinsed, and two dried, while I kept them in dry towels, and put things away. The last guest left about a quarter to three.

One of the nice things about hosting a day like this is that there is so much food left over you don't have to cook that evening! Of course, we had soup, and then I went to my chair and napped for a bit. Dear Husband was smarter, he went to bed early. I should have done the same, but I wanted to remember what a great day it had been.

We were blessed with great sunny weather that wasn't too cool, and the pleasure of each other's company. I'm SO glad I know these people....just so glad.