Harvest festival report

[deborahjross]

We hosted our 2nd annual Harvest Festival and anniversary/housewarming party yesterday. I'm saturated with social contact, but boy, was it fun. We rearranged the dining area, set up seating on the porch and barbecue area, thereby creating spaces for people to both encounter one another and sit and talk. I did homemade bread (hearty wheat walnut baguettes and a slightly sweet egg bread) and Kadoo, our favorite Afghani sweet spiced pumpkin with mint yogurt, also piles of cherry tomatoes and lemon cucumbers. Dave grilled chicken and Freddy's (amazing marinated sirloin or tri-tip -- people were snatching slices as fast as I could cut it). People brought all sorts of other goodies, including about 10 pies, all of which were wolfed down except for a tiny bit of rhubarb, which I am ignoring.

But the real party was the people -- local friends, neighbors, writers, Quakers, co-workers and bloggers. We decided, for the comfort of some of our friends, to not serve alcohol until about half way through, and even then, very little was consumed -- I think people were so engrossed in lively conversation, they couldn't be bothered.

It was such a delight to see all the various friends making connections -- sometimes exchanging business cards -- and the wide range of topics. Many, like us, are avid readers, and the tour of the library shed was a highllight. Rose made a splendid guide, before retreating to her room with various guests of approximately the same age. A couple of younger boys (6ish) had a high old time running races through the "maze" of hedges between house and barbecue area. We had incarcerated the cats in Dave's study (with a note that visiting was encouraged, but please don't let them out, no matter what they tell you), but left Oka out. Enough people played with his "bug" (laser pointer) to keep him in a state of perennial hope, very calm and watchful, so he was no problem.

Now is the Day After, rounds of cleaning and re-rearranging, letting the intensity of the event settle down, resume normal life. Whew! I think that's our big social event of the year, and a good time was had by all.

Comments

[mira-fastfire.livejournal.com]

Approximately the same age? Uh...noooo. XP Really, I would've preferred to talk with teh adults.

[equesgal.livejournal.com]

Sounds like great fun. After reading that I feel the need to plan a party at my house. LOL

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

I highly recommend a low-maintenance approach, so you can relax and just enjoy the company of your friends. What works for me is to supply some protein (in this case, BBQ, but in the past, I've done a whole salmon or a turkey, things that don't need tending), bread (because I like to bake and it can be done ahead of time) and anything else that's fun and easy, and then have people bring stuff. I don't try to coordinate a menu -- one year in LA, we had 25 desserts, another year it was international potpourri. Whatever the outcome, there's a ready made center for conversation.

Dave and I have decided that next year, we will hire someone to do the BBQ so that he can circulate and socialize instead of being tied to the grill. And maybe help clean up, althougy that wasn't a big deal. Several of our guests pitched in and washed platters as they were emptied -- usually when I was out of earshot and couldn't stop them. I had only 1 load of hand-wash and 2 of dishwasher, plus wiping down the counter. Our housecleaning helper is coming tomorrow to scrub floors and do a deeper kitchen clean. A bigger problem is dealing with all the produce Dave harvested to make the centerpiece.

[mira-fastfire.livejournal.com]

A bigger problem is dealing with all the produce Dave harvested to make the centerpiece.

We should've had guests take them away XP

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

We're going to eat them all winter, my dear!

Aside to everyone else: Rose is not particularly fond of squash, either zummer or winter varieties.

[cardigirl.livejournal.com]

Sounds absolutely wonderful! I have had gatherings like that (when I was in more social-gathering-conducive quarters) and they were golden. Thanks for sharing; it brings reminders of my own. (And since I'm planning a much-smaller December "do", is giving me ideas and reminders.)

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

Oh good. Let us all know how it goes!

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

Dave put some pics up on his blog: http://www.davetrowbridge.com/MT/index.php, scroll down to Oct 16. Under "read more", that's me in the far right in the bright red, taking a welcome rest.