Wow. What a weekend. Lots of company, lots of activities, lots of meals, and especially, lots of fun. On Saturday both our boys and their girls came up from Seattle. We invited their aunt and uncle (Mike's brother) to join us for pizza so there were eight around the table that night. Joel's (our youngest son) fiancee Becca borrowed her mother's VCR so we could watch our old family videos. Our VCR broke years ago... its been over ten years since I have seen them. They are excruciatingly boring for those not involved, but I have trouble tearing myself away. Seeing and hearing my babies, the younger versions of me and Mike and my parents and siblings, and the people who have since died is mesmerizing. Fortunately Becca took the magical machine away with her, so I'm not tempted to sit here by myself all day peering into the past.
On Sunday my sister Lisa visited with her husband, her two boys and their girls. We took a hike around Little Cranberry Lake in the local forestlands (the one with the floating bog islands...very interesting) and came home for another dinner. Lisa's boys and mine are very close in age and in feeling. We have always lived near enough to each other for the kids to play and grow up together. It was truly wonderful to have them all around the table again, although twelve people is my absolutely maximum capacity.
The table setting was dictated by the numbers. I only have one set of twelve plates, my blue and white Spode reproduction set, and only a couple of undercloths big enough for the extended table. I chose the dark green undercloth and a green and blue printed kantha stitched scarf from my Asian Eye stash. When I got them on the table together I decided to add the turquoise square I just had on the seashell table to lighten it up. The flowers were simple white ones from the grocery store that looked pretty stiff until I added some honeysuckle vines from the yard. I asked permission to photograph the party so, by popular demand, can show the table before and the dinner in progress. The girls were so quick to clear up the dishes afterwards that I couldn't document the mess we left. It was a really good day.