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Harvest Festival 2007
Oct. 8th, 2007 10:31 amSince 2004, the year after Dave and I were married and moved into this house, we have hosted a fall Harvest Festival. It usually coincides, at least approximately, with our wedding anniversary, house-anniversary, and Oka's birthday. We invite friends and family and neighbors, and open not only the house, but the library and garden, for enjoyment. Last year, friends helped harvest, shuck, and cook our corn crop. This year, we were hoping to harvest and crush grapes, but the sugar content wasn't high enough. So we got a dozen and more strong people to move the spa (which Dave found free on Freecycle) on to its pad. Small children and supervising adults got to taste the grapes and pick their own apples. Our pumpkin crop was poor this year, so we bought a few to carve.
One of the things I love about this event is watching people connect. Personal friendships and business deals are made as the various communities of people we know come together. We open wine about half way through the party, so that our friends in recovery can come early and feel comfortable. The food, as usual, was spectacular. I made bread and tomatillo salsa; Dave made pears poached in red or white wine (separate, because they turn colors) and grilled wild salmon -- lots of it -- that got devoured almost as fast as it came off the grill. No Freddy's this year (Freddy's is amazing marinated tri-tip, but we don't eat red meat any more, hence the fish). Sue, our Thai daughter, made her amazing Pad Thai, and people brought many wonderful yummy things.
Still slowly putting the house back together. Clean-up is usually simple -- our friends just make themselves at home in the kitchen and do a fair amount of the washing-up. I think a good time was had by all, and for those that didn't make it, there is always next year.
One of the things I love about this event is watching people connect. Personal friendships and business deals are made as the various communities of people we know come together. We open wine about half way through the party, so that our friends in recovery can come early and feel comfortable. The food, as usual, was spectacular. I made bread and tomatillo salsa; Dave made pears poached in red or white wine (separate, because they turn colors) and grilled wild salmon -- lots of it -- that got devoured almost as fast as it came off the grill. No Freddy's this year (Freddy's is amazing marinated tri-tip, but we don't eat red meat any more, hence the fish). Sue, our Thai daughter, made her amazing Pad Thai, and people brought many wonderful yummy things.
Still slowly putting the house back together. Clean-up is usually simple -- our friends just make themselves at home in the kitchen and do a fair amount of the washing-up. I think a good time was had by all, and for those that didn't make it, there is always next year.
