Oh my. Sorry for the lack of posts lately. Forget about anything quilty. I have had so much going on. I had a "Harvest Party" on Saturday, complete with honored house guests. Lots of cooking. It was basically a Barefoot Contessa dinner. I started with her Eggplant Caponata, moved on to Michael Chiarello's Butternut Squash Soup, switched back to Ina's Scalloped Tomatoes, Lemon Chicken and Couscous with Pinenuts. Luckily my sister Andrea (one of the honored guests) brought a Carmelized Apple Pie for dessert, so we ended the day on a sweet and delicious note. Some of us may have roasted marshmallows over the fire pit on the back porch as well.
I've been spending my time making the guest room nice, cooking food, cleaning the house and trying to be organized. No time to sew, no time to blog, no time to think.
In other news, my daughter Sara is planning to move into a house of her own, so we will be empty nesters in a couple of weeks. She and Eva have been living with us for just over two years. Sara has decided to take the plunge into independence and find a place of her own. I am very proud of her and think this is the best decision. It is time for her and Eva to set up their own household and own traditions. It is a good thing. We are in a flurry of list making of all the things she needs for her new home.
And. And, I get to help her decorate, help furnish the new place and just generally stick my nose in everywhere! She and Eva will be about a mile away, and plenty close to Eva's daddy, and of course Nana and Denny (that's what Eva calls me and my husband) too. We have a bit of furniture to contribute to the new household and will acquire the rest of the necessities over time. We are super close in proximity, and I will see Eva just about as much as I regularly do. For those of you who are wondering what I am talking about--my daughter and her husband separated and divorced over the past two years, and Sara and Eva have been living with my husband and I. Everyone is friendly, we all live within a mile of one another and see each other all the time. We are still a loving family even though we may not meet the standard accepted criteria for a "normal" one. What's normal anymore anyway? We all still love each other even if we don't live under the same roof.
So, my friends, please be patient with me in the next few weeks. I may not have such a regular blogging schedule, due to all the activity that is going on around me, but i will make an effort to keep you posted as to the proceedings, even if I am not doing a lot of sewing.
Oh, and hey, the family Halloween Party is this coming Saturday, so I should have some fun pictures to post next week!
Good luck with helping Sara and Eva with the packing, moving, and settling in ... especially the settling in! ;-)
Posted by: Kathy | October 21, 2015 at 04:43 AM
Your dinner sounded wonderful. All my favorite foods!
Best of luck with the move and all of the activities associated with it.
Posted by: Lorraine | October 21, 2015 at 05:41 AM
wishing Sara and Eva good fortune. I was in the same boat when my son was Eva's age. As long as they have a supportive, loving family, they'll be fine!
Posted by: suzk | October 21, 2015 at 06:20 AM
The party sounds lovely, the food heavenly. I am sure everyone had a great time. Good luck with the move. It will be an adjustment but a good one! Hope you get some sewing time soon. I do not do well mentally without it for too long.
Mary
Posted by: Mary Kastner | October 21, 2015 at 07:17 AM
Families have always come in all sizes and configurations, but love is the essential ingredient! So happy for Sara and Eva and all who love them. Best of all ... you have another whole house to help decorate!!! Joy!
We started out housekeeping with a couple of new pieces and the rest was "early attic" as a friend of my mother's called the donated pieces!
Your family dinner and menu sound so very delicious. Fun, too!
Hugs!
Posted by: Barbara Anne | October 21, 2015 at 08:47 AM
My son and his daughter live with us too. I think that I am so lucky to be part of my granddaughters daily life. Some families live on opposite coasts and do not share all the special times that we do. I admit this little one wears me out but the day is coming when they exit our home too. Enjoy!
Posted by: Susan | October 21, 2015 at 12:55 PM
Your dinner sounds yummy! You were busy creating in another room-- the kitchen😊😍. Hope all goes well for Sara and Eva in their new home. It is nice you each will still be close in proximity. As my mom would say "life is a series of adjustments". Take care.
Posted by: Beverly | October 21, 2015 at 05:35 PM
I too have a two year living with us, a full house in fact.my 26 year old daughter had just return from London. Middle son heading back from studying on the east coast of australia, youngest son, his partner and two year old all in the house. I see light at the end of the tunnel and will miss those early morning cuddles, as I am sure you will. Lucky your bunch will be close by. Love your blog!
Posted by: Helen storer | October 21, 2015 at 09:27 PM
How nice that Sara & Eva will be moving to their 'own' place, but not far away! We've had family members come to live with us & have happy memories of those times together. When they move out it's an adjustment to the new 'normal' but everyone needs to try their 'wings!' That's just how life works!
Posted by: Jan | October 22, 2015 at 07:29 AM
Great post, thanks for sharing even though you don't have to explain anything. Your family is so lucky to have you :)
Posted by: Anita | October 22, 2015 at 05:32 PM
Your supper sounds incredible!
Posted by: Tracey Holzer | October 23, 2015 at 07:09 AM
I know you'll miss Eva and Sara, but I wish them all the best in their new life. I hope they'll be close.
Posted by: Susan Ramey Cleveland | October 26, 2015 at 11:46 AM