Thursday, February 15, 2018

Happy Valentine's Day 2018 - Florida Style

"Howwwww-dy" to all the dedicated followers of my blog. Yes, all seven of you.  As you know, it's been FOREVER since my last entry, which was from way back in the spring of 2017. I'll eventually finish up my draft of our "Summer Sojourn," but for now, I'm feeling creative so I'll try to generate something worth reading now.

Yesterday was Valentine's Day and George and I hosted our first official, big bash, dinner party on our pretty little piece of heaven here in Florida. We started with a small list of tried-and-true friends and little by little my list grew to allow us to fill our lot with old, new, newer and newest friends who melded together ever-so-smoothly.

I'm my own worst critic, but even I have to admit the night was totally enjoyable, made possible by the food, the friends and fun. Can't beat that combo.

Thanks to Charlie, one of the "old" (Webster Dictionary Definition: adjective - long-time) friends, a photo documentary of the evening follows. Today, I had a less-busy day than he, therefore the publishing of my blog entry will beat out his, however, it's his photos that will tell the actual story in the end. A huge thank you, Charlie, the longest-known friend of the bunch.

This first group of photos consists of the appetizers. I came to find out that, in the future, I need to instruct my friends to NOT make spectacular "main course" appetizers.

Veggie "Pizza"

Spinach Dip

Dungeness Crab Dip

Uh, just a little Italian Antipasti....



Picured left, Amanda.  Not pictured: Amanda's delicious appetizer - just simple rounds of  Polenta topped with caramelized onions, cranberry jam and goat cheese.  OMG - simple, yeah. The caramelized onions alone took 8 hours in a crock pot and the homemade cranberry jam...yummmmm  Remember folks, we're living out of RVs. There were leftovers of this app, but I ate those before composing this entry.

George, Tricia, Me, Connie, Randy and back of  Rob's head.

Randy and Alonzo

Kristin, Connie, Ray and Leona

Bob, Rob, and Randy-not a musical trio, but entertaining, nonetheless
Tricia and Leona
Dinner followed just as the sun set.  I failed to realize that it would be difficult to see the food on the black tablecloth.  A handy-dandy flashlight saved us from having to feel our way down the table of food.
Meat sizzling on the monster grill

Surf....

and turf.

Healthy sides: Green and yellow squash, mushrooms and onions.

Craig, The "Great Grill Master."  I heard a comment that he resembled Mark Wahlbergh and that he smelled good.
Kristin and Connie

Leona, Bob, Kristin, Alonzo and the back of Amanda's head.
"Fair Weather" friends. Me, Tricia and Charlie.

Last, but not least, Kathy!
Tricia's Crumb Cake

Tricia's back-up cake, just in case the crumb cake was a flop - it wasn't
Recreation of the bride cutting the cake. PS:  Husband waiting for a piece - of cake!!!

Kathy's Healthy and Tasty Fruit Salad

Connie's "Cupcake Lover's Heaven."

Lucy, the only one happy to see the night come to an end.
At the end of our official "first big bash," we got the site cleaned up with "a little help from our friends." Miss Priss (AKA Lucy) was the only one happy to see the night come to a close. She was hankering pretty badly for her daddy's lap. 

Now to start planning the next.....


Deep thought for the day:  It's the friends we meet along the way that helps us appreciate the journey. ~ Unknown source.