My 89-year old father has Parkinson's Disease, and last month was hospitalized with pneumonia. He was very weak afterward. I promised him that as soon as he was able to walk down the stone steps from our driveway to our house, he'd come for dinner.
He loves to visit, and he loves my cooking, so he worked hard to get better.
On Sunday, he was ready!
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My apologies to anyone who was expecting to see several metamorphoses of my fireplace mantle, as I promised in my Saturday post. I'm finding this mantle project more time-consuming than I'd anticipated. Next Monday, the fireplace mantle makeovers -- and I will ask you to please vote for your favorite!
But the good news is, the mantle no longer sports the old-flower-water-and-spent-petals-look.
That was just plain shabby, no chic there at all.***************************************************
Today, I'm joining Mary of Little Red House, with her Mosaic Monday meme.
As I prepared for my Dad, my sister, and brother-in-law, to come for dinner on Sunday -- a meal of
seasonal fresh vegetables and fruits, grilled chicken, and whole grains -- I took pictures:
As I prepared for my Dad, my sister, and brother-in-law, to come for dinner on Sunday -- a meal of
seasonal fresh vegetables and fruits, grilled chicken, and whole grains -- I took pictures:
I had planned to continue taking pictures -- of the finished food, the set table, the (hopefully) smiling guests -- but when my Dad and his entourage arrived, there were three more people with them, and I had to switch gears from Dinner for Five, to Dinner for Eight.
Quick addition of place settings, removal of salad bowls and votive candles to make more room, another cup of brown rice popped into the microwave -- all done so the guests wouldn't notice it happening -- and a whisper to Howard to take only one small grilled chicken cutlet, or risk getting kicked under the table!
There went my plans to carefully record A Summer Supper in pictures.
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We had a lovely time. I thoroughly enjoyed squashing in three more people, especially my lovely nieces and a boyfriend, and as usually happens when your house spreads its arms and hugs a few more people, there was plenty of food. I have leftovers in the refrigerator . . . even some leftover chicken!
I think of it as the Loaves and Fishes effect.
He always provides. -- Cass
Quiz: In the Mosaic, can you spot Howard doing the most romantic thing a husband can do? Ladies, teach this to your sons!
It all looks scrumptious!
ReplyDeleteI smell garlic. Great mosaic.
ReplyDeleteHow did you get so many pictures in your mosaic? That is wonderful and so is the vacuuming man!
ReplyDeleteI am so excited to find your blog and I DREAM of living in a house like yours! Can't wait to follow along with you as you continue to work on "That Old House"!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you had a wonderful dinner with family plus extras. Your mosaic is great.
ReplyDeleteLOL! Hi Cass -- I saw Howard vacuuming! Bravo! That's a good man and I'm lucky that I have one just like him.
ReplyDeleteThat was certainly a delightful dinner party you had for your Dad! I enjoyed seeing your beautiful mosaic story about the preparations for it. I'm glad your Dad was well enough to come over. Parkinson's is such a challenge! Two of my neighbors have suffered from it.
Thanks for the info about the house in the North Fork of LI -- we hope to take a trip to the NF this autumn and I'll try to visit that house...I love learning more history!
Yes, the Wychoff house is now located in a run down area of car body works shops and gas stations ... not the bucolic setting of long ago. When it was abandoned it was surrounded by weeds and litter. So many worked so hard to restore it and now wonderful educational programs are conducted there for schoolchildren. I have a few more wonderful old Dutch houses in Brooklyn I'll be blogging about soon. I've been so intrigued by their history!
What a beautiful mosaic...I bet everyone had such a great time together! Love that china pattern too! That is wonderful that your dad recovered from being sick and was able to come eat with you....I know that made for an extra special event! Your blog is beautiful and you are so blessed to be living your dream in that old house...it is lovely!
ReplyDeleteP.S. I enlarged the mosaic to find DH vacumming....there's not a sweeter site than finding hubby breaking out the vacumm. LOL! Mine vacumms too,(I think he breaks the thing out more often than I do), and I love him to death for it! LOL!
ReplyDeleteGlad your dad was able to enjoy. Looks like a colorful meal and I can see why he worked hard to get better. I would imagine your company had something to do with it too!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I see him vacuuming.
ReplyDeleteI have always equated emptying the dishwasher with foreplay. Lol.
As long as I like the people I don't mind extras because I always do cook too much but if I am not fond of them I just feel insulted.
I really would like to know ahead of time.
Glad your Father was able to come for dinner, and based on the photos I bet it was very good.
ReplyDeleteHappy day for you and your Dad and I am laughing that your husband was kicked under the table to only eat one piece of chicken. I also do that to my husband and read him the riot act (as I call it) before the company comes and tell him to let the guests eat first:) Love the mosaic with all the photos. What program do you use to achieve that? I made a mosaic today and in the past but am limited to the amount of photos????
ReplyDeleteJoyce
Was Howard mincing the garlic? I give up...the suspense...how will I sleep tonight not knowing? Looks like you all had a lovely time seeing the photos that were presented. Yes, it's always a miracle how there is enough to go around under those circumstances, and always merrier when there is more people!
ReplyDeleteOohhh love the colors and I can smell that garlic from here! Heavenly. RYC: Riding the trolleys was great fun. Each of the three we got to ride had it's own special character.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute story! I'm so glad you Dad was feeling good enough to come for dinner. You are definitely the "hostess with the mostess!!" Your mosaic is lovely!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to your dad for the recovery and walk up the stone pathway. You made a very special day of celebration that will be remembered forever. And is that hubby behind the vacuum...between the garlic and the empty dish? Now THAT is ZANY!!! ;-)
ReplyDeleteMore than once I've had "surprise" gifts show up with my grown kids and barely had enough food prepared so I can definitely relate. Sweeping is romantic, but so is taking out the trash :) Your mosaic is WONDERFUL. I enjoyed looking through all the photos.
ReplyDeleteWhat a scrumptious feast! And every picture in your mosaic pulled me in to study it more closely. Loved every piece of it! And what a sweet man helping out with the vacuum.... :-)
ReplyDeleteQuick thinking Super Mom! Your meal looks so delicious! And I love Howard! Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteCass, so nice to meet you. I'm a bit slow today with the mosaic monday as I have company but I'm so glad you stopped by, sugar! As for your mosaic, that's fantastic and very creative. I really do love it. I tend to not be too creative with the mosaics but I'm new to MM so I'll be coming up with better things I assure you, chickee!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Connie
My husband does that 'most romantic' thing for me every time we entertain :)
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful your father was able to be well enough to come for dinner. May he join your table for many more!
~Susan
Thanks for stopping by! What a BEAUTIFUL mosaic, of what I am sure was a fabulous dinner with loved ones and more!
ReplyDeleteYou asked about the name of the china on my blog, bottom left,..it is an antique Carlton flow blue, no name stamped on it.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, vibrant colours!
ReplyDeleteI would not roll so well with 3 unexpected additions to a planned dinner... kudos to you for being such a good sport!
Sweet story, lovely mosaic
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday
♥Ita
Those beautiful colors, a Dad holding his own, a fine meal with your family and friends..it doesn't get much better than that Cass. I always did love a vacuuming man, and he taught our sons the finer techniques. My daughter in law says that she is grateful. Beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteWell, look at that, he's vacuuming! You've got yourself a keeper :)
ReplyDeleteI think it's so FAB that you just go with the flow as the guests keep coming.....my sister's like that too. I love that about her as well!
Great and beautiful mosaic.
ReplyDeleteand you call mine a beauty. WOW, what gifts for me today with your mosaic. I love how people see the world! Thank you for a plethora of color.
ReplyDeleteI too have a romatic vacuumer!
ReplyDeleteWe must have been on the same wavelength on the weekend because my dinner for five turned into barbecue for ten - fun in the end, but a bit hectic in the prep!
Beautiful photos, and the story behind them, lol! "Mutter, tu Wasser in die Suppe, wir kriegen Besuch! (=Mom, put water into the soup, guests are coming!) we say in Germany...
ReplyDelete:)
Rabenfrau
Looks like a fantastic meal! Your mosaic has me inspired to get in the kitchen!!
ReplyDeleteHappy (belated) Mosaic Monday!
What a MARVELOUS mouth-watering mosaic of your summer Sunday food preparations. How lovely you could enjoy this day together. Thanks for your visit to Small Reflections yesterday. After being away from the computer all day, I'm doing what I can to catch up today. Hope you have a wonderful week ;--)
ReplyDeleteHugs and blessings,
Great mosaic!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! Howard vacuums too. If he'll go treasure hunting AND vacuum the floor, he is a prize catch. Your mosaic is so colorful and pretty. laurie
ReplyDeleteOK, so when are you cooking for me? That looks WONDERFUL! thanks for sharing at Mosaic Monday. Sorry I'm so late visiting here. :(
ReplyDeleteOK, so when are you cooking for me? That looks WONDERFUL! thanks for sharing at Mosaic Monday. Sorry I'm so late visiting here. :(
ReplyDelete