Tuesday, December 15, 2009

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.

11 comments:

  1. Wow, you decorate so beautifully Linda. What a gorgeous table!!!

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  2. What a thoughtful and lovely treat to the eyes and taste buds! You thought of everything.

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  3. I eagerly await each of your posts to see what wonderful things you and Tom have thought of lately. Makes my day.

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  4. what a lovely celebration full of warmth, light and friendship...

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  5. Beautiful! The table is beautifully done and the roses are a wonderful touch. How wonderful you celebrate the day with dear friends.

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  6. Everything looks gorgeous! What a lovely dinner with friends and roses! Love your photos, really captures the feel of a wonderful evening!

    Enjoy the season!

    Sylvia

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  7. You arranged and succeeded in having a memorable evening Linda. Well done! - Dave

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  8. Oh Linda, you do such a beautiful job of everything! I admire so much your appreciation of beauty and good wholesome living at it's best!

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  9. Good gosh! I am totally impressed! You and Tom are the hosts to beat all hosts! Everything sounded perfect down to each red rose. I'll bet people are just waiting around for an invitation from you.

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  10. You really do a lovely job with the table scape and having guests. Something I rarely do and always makes me so nervous.. The idea that everyone takes home a rose is just perfect....

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  11. It sounds (and looks) like a wonderful event! I think I can smell it too!

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