Candle Glow

Our friend Mavis, an octogenarian and retired teacher, stated at breakfast a few weeks ago "Just give me roses!" I can't remember the context, but my thought then was "I can do that!"

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As I prepared for our Lucia Day dinner party, I kept that in mind. I gathered greens from the garden and bought red roses. And there, as my centerpiece on our feast table, were roses for Mavis, and for all of us.

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I took photos of the dining room in the afternoon, before guests arrived in the dark and the rain. By then the candles were lit and spread a warm glow. Holiday music played and the kitchen was fragrant with herbs.

My decorations included Swedish straw ornaments, red hearts and Dala horses, and a nod to Tom's Dutch heritage with wooden shoes.

The cedar planked salmon Tom prepared on the outdoor grill was perfect. It was accompanied by roasted, herbed fingerling potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and a bibb lettuce, orange, avocado, dried cranberry salad.

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Someone asked me it we served traditional food for Lucis Day, and in the past we have, including a smorgasbord, but lately we have settled on the wonderful fresh foods now available to us, with salmon as our bid to the Norsemen of old.

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For dessert I presented my cookie and fruitcake tray, and we sat for a long conversation over cookies and coffee.

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It was a lovely evening, marred only by the absence of our dear friend Jeanne, who is in poor health, and was not strong enough to come yesterday. We drank a toast to her.

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And as we sent our guests back out into the dark and the cold, each lady went with a rose.