Dinner Party for 11

Mama helped me clear off the table.  It was in the garage with all of his word-working tools.  A beautifully old drop-leaf maple table, the one that my Grandparents used when they were first married.  My Father and Uncle found at the old Homestead and said that if they would like one piece of furniture to remain in the family, it was this table.

So she helped me clear it free of nails and drill bits, of saw dust and the green scratchy cloth that covered it.  And we carried it through the raindrops to the house.  It fit perfectly at the end of the homemade table, the one he built for me, for us, the summer before we were married.

With a Pottery Barn runner draped across the middle and wine bottles topped with tapers we set the table. 7 women, 3 young daughters, and one 2-week old baby boy.

A dear friend from just up the street and her daughter were the first to arrive.  The daughter is just a few days older than Tirzah and what a sight they are to see together.  Chasing one another and hugging one another.  They brought the freshly made tortillas and a Tres-Leches Cake.

Next came my dear friend and her daughter, the ones we met in Georgia.  They brought the homemade guacamole and salsa.

Kendra came and made delicious frozen strawberry margaritas, mixed right here and refreshing from that first sip.

My neighbor, just 5 doors up with her new little son and a new friend whose husband left along with Daniel came last.

We gathered around the table to share Chicken Tortilla Soup (recipe to come soon!) and sweet sweet fellowship.

Dinner party for 11?  Yes please!

Friends, healing foods, a reason to spend the day cooking . . . I could do more of this, I do believe.