The holiday’s are coming and there is so much pressure to have everything perfect for our visiting family and friends. It just makes me laugh. With the addition of Baby J to our lives, we’re lucky to get the basics done. Add that to the fact that most of our family will arrive at our…
Tag: hospitality
Thumbprint Cookies
I love when I am cooking up something yummy for my friends and family. There is a certain satisfaction in it all. In years past, I have baked dozens of cookies to share with my husband’s co-workers. They were not just any cookie. They were one of the best cookies I’ve ever tasted and have become my go-to when a gift of food is called for. I have had people casually mention that Christmas was coming as a reminder they hoped so were the cookies.
Downsize the Party? Never!
“Meatloaf!” My friend exclaimed in amazement. “How did you bake this?” It was a bit of surprise at our dinner party, I suppose. You see over the Christmas holidays, my stove along with its oven broke. Yep, it just gave up. Surrendered. It had cooked many a good meal not only for my family,…
Going Home
I went home this week. Well, not exactly my home but the one that belonged to my mom until she up and moved to heaven. It had been nearly two years since her death and this would be the first time I would be back in a place that had always included her presence. I wasn’t…
Blend Well
A loud ruckus could be heard in Maria’s dining room. This was the first time the gals on the hospitality team that I am part of had met together outside of our regular Thursday mornings. Friendship was evident through the teasing and laughter that was happening around the table. We have gotten to know each other through working together every week. A friendship has…
The Gift of Hospitality
Forty years ago, I found myself living far from home in San Jose, California. My husband took a job with his dad in that city so we packed up our belongings and moved. No longer could I just drop by Mom’s for a quick visit. As a newlywed with no kids, no job and no car it could have been a very…
The Party’s in the Kitchen
Our guests stood around the kitchen chatting. Although there were more comfortable seats elsewhere in the house, it was where they wanted to be. That’s saying something because our kitchen is small according to today’s standards. Not much space to turn around let alone gather for a meal. Yet, here they were bowls of soup in hand enjoying each other’s company. There…