March 27, 2008
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After Easter Party
Antipasto plate: marinated vericots, those little green italian olives, kalamata olives, wine-cured salami, summer sausage, three kinds of white cheese, roasted red peppers, and pepperoncinis. I have a lovely spring platter I use. Next to that was a long silver tray with two kinds of baguette, along with good mustard, cream cheese and butter.
In the dining room I had decorated the table with chocolate eggs and fuzzy little ducklings, beautiful candles and two large foil-covered bunnies Grandma always gives the kids. I’d bought this Art Deco looking, verticle structure that held eight of my dyed eggs. An oversized salad bowl, loaded with Shrimp Louie, along with a tray of warm asiago bread completed the luncheon. Thousand island dressing sat in glass boat. All I had for drinks were mango, apricot, V8, and orange juice. Mostly, people drank coffee.
Oh, but dessert was the best. Someone brought a banana cheesecake. I had never had it or even heard of it, for some reason. And I bought some sort of brittle, I guess you’d call it. Henry’s mother really went for that. It was a thin layer of chocolate on one side and made of cereal I think, along with coconut and several kinds of nuts.
The youngest was home for spring break and she arrived with hair that made us all wince: bleached blonde and blunt cut, if you could call that a cut. I hadn’t realized my party was going to turn into a beauty parlor. After lunch was served the oldest went to work, dyeing and cutting.. She (the youngest) is a strawberry blonde but now she’s more of a red-head. The oldest brought her brand new puppy so my dog was delirious. Plus, the youngest brought her childhood best friend, who we all love, and she brought her boyfriend. He brought his coach’s HUGE chocolate lab, Romeo, who he was taking care of while the coach was away. We all watched the three dogs frolic on the floor near the growing pile of hair.
It was the first time my mother-in-law (she doesn’t use the ex so I won’t either) has been to my house and she was busy taking it all in, watching the salon act, amidst the menagerie of dogs. She’s been used to seeing the girls, for the last four years, in a more formal setting, and I think she liked the way everyone was at home here. They say the house their dad is living in (his wife’s) is like a museum.
Grandma is still spunky in spirit but frail in stature so the trek from couch to porch, through the jungle of canines, was precarious. As soon as she reached for her purse I was by her side. Like a basketball player I fielded my dog so she didn’t get in the way. “Grandma” still smokes Pall Malls. I have a nice, covered porch but it was cold and raining so I tried to talk her into smoking in the house. I was relieved she didn’t take me up on it.
I wonder how she felt being here, seeing all our old furniture in my house. She liked the house. I think she must have loved being back with the girls and me, like old times. But maybe she felt like a traitor. I hope not.
Comments (12)
You’ve such a gift for painting exquisite pictures for us to peek in on. Lovely. I’m wondering about your mother?? marilyn
Sounds very nice.
My favorite cheesecake is the banana cream pie version from the Cheesecake Factory . . .
Sounds great. I’m glad she came.
Sounds very nice
I’ve never had a banana cheesecake. Cheesecake is totally on my forbidden foods list! lol… I just look at pictures of it and drool and daydream hahaha
That antipasto platter is what’s making me drool. I’d pass up the cheesecake any day for that! I agree with maggie70 – you painted such a beautiful, colorful picture I started salivating!
~rita
My “ex” MIL was Mom til the day she died. She always loved me. More than I loved myself often, she was the best. She taught me so much, your story brought her back. You do have that knack.
Ohhhhhhhhh that sounds so lovely! And it sounds as if everyone had a great time. I can hardly wait to have my big house with lots of room for guests! Speaking of…no the house warming is not virtual…it is a real house warming, I guess I sent out the invitational post while you were away. It was an open invitation to a certain group of people on here that I fell have become friends here in our Blogville community! And of course…this includes you Pru! I would be honored to have you come and visit when I get moved into my Taos Ranch.. The photo that was in my post…is one of the homes I am looking at. Of course I am not sure it will still be available when I am ready to buy…but I loved the living room.
Well I am at work and folks keep coming in so I need to go.
Hugs, Ashes
I’ve been blessed with wonderful ex-mother-in-laws. The first one became very frail in her old age and finally passed away after being struck with debilitating heart disease. I always enjoyed her and she enjoyed me. I visited with my second one about 5 years ago. It was fun to see her and we fell into great conversation. No need to be mean to one another. Good for the two of you!
The first paragraph alone makes me want to be a part of that gathering. Sounds like a good stress free time. Very nice that your mother-in-law could see the place and how people feel at home there. It doesn’t seem like a traitorous time so I’m betting it was as good as it felt.
ryc: Mia said she still had her MySpace, but I don’t have one of those anymore. I remember Petra has one and was on Mia’s friend list there from when I did have an account, so was Shah of course. So if you find them you can find her. She updated the blog there once in a while for family and such. I have not had the chance to write to her but will soon. I don’t know if she’ll be gone for good or not. She’s kind of taught me not to take her for granted when she is around. You did that too. I’ve fallen behind due to recent events and a fuzzy mind but I am coming back to normal now. If I hear of anything more about our own divine ms M I will let you know!
Well, after reading the first paragraph I had to go get something to eat before I could read the rest.
The whole thing sounds lovely. Your MIL also sounds lovely. Lucky you.
Yes, now I’m starved.
Your house sounded warm and alive with all of that going on. That’s how houses should be, imho. :0)
I love you…GFW
Sounds like a great gathering. I’m glad your MIL could join you and I’m sure she enjoyed seeing the girls and you. Nothing traitorous about it.