This weekend was THE weekend we have been working towards for months! Several months back my sister and I discussed the fact that our mother was having her 80th birthday this month and we really should do something about it! We tossed ideas about and one idea rolled into another and another, and suddenly the weekend of all weekends emerged!! And I am quite happy to say that it was a success.
My mother lives in a great retirement community (independent living) not far from my house. On Saturday we had a cake/coffee reception there for her birthday. We had relatives comes from all over Texas and Arkansas, plus a few friends too. The chef and staff at The R where Mother lives did a fabulous job of decorating the room with tables and white linens, pink and white balloons with long streamers all over the room, and a gorgeous pink and white cake. The staff did all the serving and cleaning up. All we had to do was be there and enjoy each other’s company. The only thing I did supply was the flowers. I bought out the supply (practically) of pink and white roses and other flowers and greenery and baby’s breath at the grocery store. Once I got it all home I filled six small vases and two large vases with some lovely arrangements, thank you very much! I was rather proud of the end results. I was able to have flowers on each table, as well as the buffet table. We probably had about 45 relatives/friends, plus a few of the residents stopped by to help celebrate (or at least find out what was going on!).
Saturday night, the party continued at our house. For weeks we have been getting ready. We had wallpaper stripped from the kitchen, the wall textured and repainted. We replaced the cabinet hardware in the living room, the kitchen, the powder room and the laundry room (all rooms that would be on display during the party). We had a new light fixture installed over the breakfast table. We had all the area rugs taken away for cleaning and returned smelling fabulous and looking gooooood. We have cleaned porches and knocked down cobwebs. We have scrubbed outdoor furniture and indoor floors. We have pruned and raked and tweaked and improved and done everything we can to make it look like we live well! We DO live well, we just tend to take it for granted and let things slide most days…not unusual for many, perhaps! But for this weekend, the place is shining!
For Saturday night, I had the event catered by Macaroni Grill. I would have loved to have cooked the entire feast and fed all 40+ relatives on my own. Finally common sense took over! Having it catered was brilliant. The food was fabulous with minimal fuss on my part.
This morning (Sunday), I did do the cooking, but the crowd was much smaller–only 14 of us today. I had one of my “moments” last night when seeing four of my favorite relatives out the door. I knew they were spending the night in town and thought I would see them this morning too. I had not had much time to visit with them yet, and had been looking forward to getting to spend that time with them this morning. Unfortunately, they had decided to try to get an earlier flight out due to changes in weather that are expected. I couldn’t help but start to cry, as I was so disappointed. But you know what I’m realizing? I have ALWAYS been a drama queen, for as long as I can remember. I will probably ALWAYS be a drama queen. So if I cry, I cry. It’s me and that’s not a bad thing. Anyway, I hated to see them go with out a longer visit with that particular group. But I will work to see them again soon.
Back to me cooking…the chef is IN! I had sausage and scrambled eggs and biscuits. AND tortillas and migas. Along with all the accompanying jams, jalapenos, hot sauce, butter, and of course pot after pot of coffee and orange juice. We pretty much managed to squeeze around one table, more or less, and it was cozy and fun and wonderful and a weekend full of love and memories past and memories for the future.
I am so very blessed.
