As the Broyles homestead was once again back to normal after months of remodeling, we decided to host our Holiday Neighborhood Gathering again this year, opting for a Saturday, rather than a Sunday (too hard to schedule around Packer games).
I promised Steve (and myself) that I would cut the food back by 1/2. When last we hosted a holiday get-together two years ago, we sent people home with MOUNDS of left-over food. Must be a southern thing, but I am always afraid that I won't have enough.
This year's menu:
Tortilla Soup
Crustless Spinach Quiche
Angel Biscuits and Ham
Peach Mango Salsa and chips
Tzatziki and chips
Artichoke Dip with baguette slices
Veggie Platter with Onion Dip
Trifle
Cheese Cake made by Steve-on-the-corner
Coffee Cake made by Joan-two-doors-south
And here is the groaning table:
Here are neighbors Ruth and Sue chatting in family room (and poor Joan's truncated limbs on the left - sorry Joan!):
The pix below proves the truth in the old adage that states
"No matter where I serve my guests, they like my kitchen best!"
Here we see friend hubby serving as wine steward for Wendy and Marge:
Musical entertainment was suggested by Joan, our neighborhood Suzuki violin teacher and legendary performer in her own right. Alas, the pesky piano light hogged the spotlight (so to speak):
Joan and I were playing a hauntingly beautiful piece from Ken Burn's Civil War series on PBS. Alas, my stage fright has not gone away since it caused me to switch from being a music major (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth). That, and my lack of time to practice sufficiently (after all, I was also the cook!) made for some wobbly playing on my part, but Joan was superb!
Marge also played some carols, with Bob leading the singing.
I opted this year to forego a tree - so putzy to decorate and so time-consuming. Am happy to report that not one person noticed the absence of "O Tannebaum" - until I pointed it out. Phew. Not that I didn't decorate. I concentrated on...
the mantles; both in the living room:
and in the family room:
wreaths on windows:
garlands in chandeliers; in the dining room:
and in the kitchen:
The theme was red and green, inspired by the artificial cardinals and red peacocks that I found at Michaels:
My favorite "Oleander" bowl - brimming with orbs of burgundy, gold, bronze, pearl and red:
Even the grandmother clock was not immune from my bedecking hand:
On Christmas Eve, when we were all in the family room relaxing, the fireplace crackling (actually burning silently - after all, it is gas - but you get the picture) with Miss Molly-the-Cat lolling on the hearth and "It's a Wonderful LIfe" playing on TV, we had to compare this scene with the one a year ago. I was watching the same movie, but poor hubby was INSIDE the fireplace, working on the new insert (see first blog posting for pixs!). Indeed, what a difference a year makes!
Here's to a wonderful 2011 for all (and to one remodeling-free for us)!
