Making Friends & Building Relationships

 

That's what we're here to do......it's both a generous and vague job description ;-) when you first start thinking about it.  In reality, it's a living, breathing organism that claims nearly all of me. 

But, that's okay -- it's a good work, I think. 

United Kingdom, Poland, Estonia

November was a great month for Memorial Days, Remembrance Days, National Days, Independence Days and lots & lots of receptions....the trend carried on in to December, as well:

four Wreath Layings
four Church Services
seven Receptions
eight Evening Events Out

It was actually really fun for me.  I find I like the Wreath Layings the best.  It's hard to explain.....and I regret I have NO PHOTOS of these events...... but I do feel like there's more for me to give of myself in showing up early on a Saturday morning to honor those graves important to another country.  The Polish Attache told us that his Ambassador was so pleased to see all the foreign Attaches lined up at Mindelunden for their remembrance ceremony on November 10th.  That meant a lot to me, in turn....and I make sure I go to every single wreath laying I can possibly attend.  If you click on the Mindelunden link above, it will take you to the Polish Embassy's site, and there are some photos there.  Alistair is visible in one of them, wearing Service Dress Blues and white cover.  I'm standing behind him....not visible, though.... :-)  On that same note, the Polish Embassy itself is a breathtaking building.  There might be a photo of it on the homepage.  It's red brick, with an enclosed courtyard in front, and you just think Mr. Darcy himself is going to walk down the steps at any minute. 

So, that is the reason for six weeks of silence. 

getting ready for dinner at home - with some sunlight

 

Plus, there were five dinner parties going on at our house -- the door was nearly revolving, in fact -- but it was fun, I have to say. 

this vase will go into the guest bathroom

I'm finding my feet with the dinners, but each dinner party comes with it's own unpredictability, (as well as my utter inability to remember to take photos.)

Some groups eat like birds, others eat everything.  Some groups drink only juice and water, other groups send me looking for more bottles of wine.  Some groups stay late, others leave early.  Some groups lovelovelove the raw vegetable salads (jerusalem artichoke :-).....) and others can't get enough 7 layer dip.  One couple asked after dinner for Mint Tea (him) and Black Tea with Lemon (her) -- thankfully, I had all those ingredients;  I almost did a cartwheel I was so happy to be able to oblige. 

I haven't been able to trace any kind of line through the dinners to find a "trend"  -- it feels random right now.   And is another reason to have a well-stocked pantry :-).

my go-to table centerpieces these days....

 

 

....three herb pots down the middle with votives in between -- there's a source  for this

back in my pre-move purging and the  days of agony discarding good ideas....

thank you, Norwegian magazine from my previous life.

:-)

I have learned one thing though:  Appetizers are basically to keep the children happy.  The adults rarely eat from the appetizer trays.  My children, on the other hand, go through those plates like wild, starving jungle cats. 

And I've learned another thing -  my very favorite part of getting ready are the lanterns: 

 

It's Danish to have lanterns out by the door, near the entrance, down the walk.  We set them out and light them about 45 minutes prior to arrivals....I've started tasking Ian for this.  So far, so good.

The lanterns say "Welcome" and add some warmth &  hygge in the dark evening.   I like how they look -- and use three of them in total outside our doors each time there is a party. 

turkey brining outside, getting ready for Thanksgiving

 

Of course, all of this business of receptions, vases, lanterns and ceremonies has meant that while I am spending a great deal of time making new friends and building new relationships, my current friends and relationships have been inadvertently placed in "quiet mode" -- and they hear nothing from me.  I'm still trying to figure out a way to reconcile all that.....but, in the meantime, I should probably announce here & now that:

All Christmas Cards And Christmas Parcels Will

Most Definitely Be Late

 From My Side Of The Globe. 

I suppose I could just go ahead and combine those Christmas Cards with the Address Change Cards I've never sent, while I'm at it...... ;-)