Past and Repast . . .

We've been mostly entertaining in the dining room lately,

leaving the more casual breakfast room

for just us

When I have three for lunch, I like to do one at the end

and the other two across from the other

Taking up, just one end of the table

The "centerpiece", then can be taller than what normally would be proper

for company -- for it doesn't block a view.

Alas, with no flowers in the garden,

And no flowers at the market . . . 

I brought in my fourteen year old ivy topiary

(it was the centerpiece at my very first Valentine's Luncheon after I retired)

A tablecloth that I bought in the Azores anchored the table,

The Aynsley Pembroke was the china of choice,

a white damask napkin in a silver napkin ring

Jim's grandmother's cutlery,

a menu

And two little cookies to take home

To savor at tea that afternoon

And because there were no flowers in the center of the table,

a wee Waterford vase

held liarope and angelonia from the garden

(about the only thing blooming now)

Since my guests were from Missouri,

I got a favorite cookbook from the shelf,

Past and Repast

Recipes from the Missouri Governor's Mansion

a project of then First Lady of Missouri Carolyn Bond

I copied a menu that she said that they often served in the mansion,

One, I suspect, was fed to many ladies groups who the First Lady entertained at lunch

Chicken Bombay, Tomato Chutney (homemade) in a peach half (fresh Farmer's Market peach half) and roasted broccoli

And for dessert -- also from the same cookbook

Frozen Cappuccino in Tasse

Coffee ice cream, toffee bits, some Cappuccino mix, and brandy

frozen into china cups, then topped with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick

and liberally sprinkled with cinnamon

And even though I had company for lunch,

I still managed a quick weed of the garden

(Not that I'm that good at doing that -- there were just a few and I quickly plucked them)

And before my guests arrived, 

I was able to can two quarts of those very same Farmer's Market peaches!

We had a delightful lunch

Visiting and catching up on children and grandchildren

Pictures were shamelessly passed

And it was fun to see the kids of the little kids we knew all those years ago!

No nap for me, after the company left

for I had dishes to do

(the downside of using the Pembroke)

and shopping at the Tuesday Farmers Market

It was a very busy Tuesday at Linderhof!

It's Tuesday and I'm joining Susan at Between Naps On the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.