LUNCH WITH FRIENDS ~ ~ ~

 This lunch date was actually last year ~ it takes me a long time to post ~ better late than never!!  This is the home of our friends, Pat and Chuck Knapp ~ long time collectors and antique dealers.  Everything in their house is either primitive antiques or primitive folk art along with some reproductions. Pat is the best at display and just a terrific person all the way around!

It's hard to believe but this is a condo!  It was featured in one of Judy Condon's home decor books last year ~ I can't remember which one ~ but there are lots more photos there ~ a really nice tribute to Pat and Chuck's decorating style!

We were treated to one of Pat's wonderful homemade soups, some of her fabulous homemade bread, a great salad and scrumptious dessert!  She even put out a cookbook last year with family recipes and family anecdotes ~ it's a treasure for sure.  Sonny has used her recipes in the past ~ he keeps them in his own files because I tend to misplace things and he wanted to make sure he had them at his fingertips!

Pat's kitchen is huge ~ even though they are condo dwellers! The island is a combination of table and cabinet adorned with primitives and makes the perfect divider between the work area and the dining table!  We were a small group of five that day ~ five gals that have known each other a long time but don't see each very often ~ we had a wonderful afternoon being entertained by 'the hostess with the mostest!  It's great fun spending time with creative, strong women friends!

Sunday was Sonny's birthday ~ 68 years old ~ still cute ~ still working like a dog ~ still lots of fun!!  We had our annual gathering Saturday night of his 5 brothers and their wives and were so glad that sister-in-law, Pam, joined us, too.  This was the first 'brothers gathering' (as I call it) without their brother, Paul, so there was a lot of reminiscing and pictures and lots of great food!  Those women can cook!  I made 7-layer salad and barbeque beef for sandwiches ~ it turned out great but it was a combination of recipes ~ probably never to be created again! They brought scalloped potatoes, broccoli casserole, sweet potato casserole and the greatest array of pies, brownies and pumpkin bars!  Needless to say, I'm dieting this week ~  getting ready for a trip to Florida ~ hopefully, I can fit in my summer clothes!  This is a battle I don't seem destined to win ~ so much good food in this world and too many adult beverages!  We went out three evenings last week ~ all to the Happy Grape!! One night, a farewell to friends who are moving, one night our Homebuilders meeting was there and Friday night we went to hear a blues singer from Cleveland (who didn't sing blues) ~ some of our kids were there ~ they and their friends liked her ~ we're old ~ we didn't!!!  But lots of fun was had by all ~ and you can see it on my hips!!  I read a saying recently that indicated  "regardless of what we write down that we ate, there is a permanent record right here on our bottoms"!!!  Isn't that the truth?! 

Last week, I told you I had just joined Pinterest ~ eeee gaddd ~ that can be addicting! Have you checked it out?  There's a link on my sidebar if you want to take a look! You can see lots of great inspirational things on there ~ and some great recipes ~ that food thing again!

I'm working on year end things for the business ~ and clearing my desk so that Tad's sitter doesn't have to look at the piles of paperwork that loom high in front of me. It's sad that the thing I've mastered most in my life is procrastination ~ I've got it down to a science!!!  I'm burning the midnight oil to get a handle on this before we leave ~ certain things have to be in to the government by the end of January ~ bills have to paid before I leave ~ clothes have to be readied ~ yikes!  I gotta go now!!!  Talk to you soon!  Have a good day!
Alice