Sharing a Meal

I am always filled with admiration for those of you who, not only have wonderful adventures, but have the time after it all to blog about it. At the moment, I'm caught in an avalanche of exciting things that I want to share and it's those very things making me too busy to have the moment to settle down to put the posts together. Life is just too ridiculously good! Anyway, my parents were out for three weeks and we had adventures galore. Then, the moment they left, it was out to tend the garden..... and, well, I've hardly come indoors, since. I can't wait to share about the beautiful orchid that I bought myself as an early birthday present and the air plant (it's the most curious thing). There have been dinner parties - museums and art centers - roses blooming - visits to the nurseries for plants - inspiration - Oh, just lots of shtuff going on!

Well, today, finally, I wanted to share what happened on Mother's day (yes, three weeks ago...)

My darling sister and I have figured out a beautiful thing! She cooks the gourmet meal and I set the table and clean the house. It's very fun entertaining but with half the work. Clever, eh? =D

There she is.....

On the menu was:

~ amuse bouche: herbed goat cheese in a rosemary, cracker crumb crust and fig jam.

~ spring greens with a lemon and honey vinaigrette with grilled salmon, orange slices and almond slivers that were roasted in a truffle oil and seasoned with chipotle.

~ crepes filled with sauteed spinach and mushrooms with a mornay sauce.

~ we cleansed our palates with lemon sorbet.

~ Rib eye (that had been cooked the French way ;-) - wrapped in bacon) with a Madeira reduction with glazed carrots (heaven!!!) and whipped potato.

and for dessert....

~ tranchetto

I had had the idea to use lots of crystal and glass on the table with some soft and simple flowers and, well, ..... I kind of got carried away. We dined in a sparkling forest of crystal. It shimmered in the afternoon sun and came alive with the candlelight, as dusk fell.

Then, on my parents last evening here, we were discussing having fish with an herb butter for their last meal, when my sister remembered.... she forgot the tarragon and parsley butter on the meat - gasp and drat!!!  It was a quietly muted and rainy evening - we lit the candles again - half of us had fish and the other half, rib eye, again. Two wonderfully wonderful and leisurely dinners that included lots of laughter and extremely pleasant conversation.

It's a wonderful thing to share a meal together!

xo

Happy Mother's Day!

 I have a confession to make.

Sometimes, I don't give people the greeting cards that I buy for them.

I like them so much that I don't want to let go of them.

Oftentimes, however, I foresee this trouble and buy doubles if I think one is particularly lovely.

I guess this means that I collect them.

This is one of my favorites and is a lovely Mother's day card.

(I think that I eventually acquired and gave one to my Mom. Mom, do you recognize this one?)

Anyway,

The sentiment is short and sweet and lovely:

"You're always an inspiration!"

Isn't it lovely when a Mother is an inspiration and encouragement?!

My Mom has been that.

She's more than encouraged me to dive into what I love. It's more like it was part of her job to inspire me to have fun with life.

She taught me all about magic.

Not magic, like Harry Potter, nor, magic, like sunbeams, but magic like:

Steuben glass and Russian lacquer boxes that take a magnifying glass to see the precious expressions on the fairy tale character's faces. Magic like the love of foreign places and cities and everything hidden in them like museums and fancy restaurants and bookshops and parks. Magic like history and historic house tours. Magic like children's museums. Magic like decorating our house and having a beautiful home to live in. Magic like miniature dollhouses and ponies and ducks and rabbits and dogs. Magic like books and dolls and make believe. Magic like special international dinners with several courses that took a week to get ready for for pastors and friends.

Oh, geesh! I can't remember it all but I have been completely inspired to live my life open to it.

I, myself, am encouraged to keep trying to be inspiring in some way for my children ....

The true mother of the year award, however, goes to our dog Halle!!!

 

Her brood is growing by "leaps and bounds"  or, well,  by "waddles and flops"!

They've learned to walk and wag their tails at the same time without falling over. 

 

 They've learned how to eat big puppy food.

 

 They've learned how to be adorably cute (no problems there!!!)!

 

 They've learned how to yawn and stretch.

 

 They've learned how to play and romp.

 

 

 

They've learned how to be absolutely, adorably cute!!!

 (oops! Did I say that already?) 

 

 They've learned how to roll over and play dead.

(We do have the most talented puppies ever!)

 

 And, well, they didn't really have to learn this

but

they're really good at going to sleep ....

 

.... especially in a puppy pile!

 

 It is, after all, a dog's life!

 

 Good job, Mama!

Thank you to all of you other Mothers, too.

Thank you for all of your courage and hard work!

 

Happy Mother's Day!

Love,

Katy Noelle xxo 

P.S. I do wonder if any of you would be willing to share how your mothers have been an inspiration and/or encouragement to you.

*"Victorian Lady" is a card published by the Gifted Line and was taken from an antique original postcard c.1910