What is in your Hand?

Meet my Guest:

Fiona from A Little Bit of Honesty

My friend, Fiona, is my New Zealand friend who lives in my home town. It's a long story how we connected, but she's an amazing girl who loves her husband, 2 adorable boys, and God. She shares her meaningful thoughts over at A Little Bit of Honesty, and did I tell you she loves to bake? Yes, she loves to bake! I know, because we've been a recipient of her hospitality!

  I am thrilled and honored to be posting here today!  I am blessed to call Sandy my friend – she is an inspiration to me and I'll be forever grateful that she has opened her heart and her kitchen to me.

  I love people.  Some would call me nosey, others would say I am inquisitive.  I believe everyone has a story and I itch to know your story.  I also love food.  I love to shop for it,  the process of cooking it but most of all I love to eat it!  Food + People = Hospitality.  

  In my mind hospitality is the art of making people feel loved and valued – by investing in them with great conversation and great food.  Rick Warren says that 'Entertaining declares, This is mine – these rooms, these adornments.  Look, please and admire.  Hospitality whispers, What's mine is yours'.  (Acts 2: 44).  

  When I was growing up my Mum (oops I mean my Mom!) wasn't a great cook...thankfully I didn't know any different (I do now!)....but what she and my Dad were great at was the habit of opening up their home very regularly for potluck lunches for their different circles of friends.  I saw first hand what it was to share what they had.  

   Now I am in the process of finetuning that whole concept myself.  The concept of sharing what is in my hand.  Using what is in my hand to make something for someone else.  To be aware of another's need and to do something about it.  

  For me, my time is my biggest asset.  I am a stay at home Mom, with financial resources that are limited – but time and time again, after getting what I call a God 'nudging', I find I have exactly what I need, to fulfil a need in someone else's life, or to simply bless them and encourage them.

  It doesn't take much to whip up a cake or a batch of muffins, but it speaks volumes to the recipient of the goodies.  

 

  I've been on the receiving end of 'baked blessings' – I'll never forget the time when I had only just been diagnosed with coeliac disease and a friend painstakingly  made a cake for me with only 'safe' ingredients.  It really touched my heart.  So I know just how amazing it can make you feel to know that someone has thought about you, and put their time and effort into making something specifically for you.

  I am very good friends with my Doctor in New Zealand.  Over time I also became friends with the receptionists, the other doctors, and the cleaners at the medical centre that my Doctor works at because of some batches of cupcakes and muffins. As a result of a God nudging the medical centre became my semi-regular targetted baked blessings drop off point. I never had to wait for appointments that's for sure!  I never had issues getting seen at any time of the day!  

  

   No seriously – it was more than that.  All the staff at the medical centre are Christians and do a fantastic outreach into the community I lived in.  As a Christian I believe I should honor and bless those who are in Christian ministry.  'Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples' John 13:35.  I love to bake – by baking for those around me who are like-minded Christians I am loving them.....the best thing we can do for our communities for Christ is to love one another.  The giving of cupcakes is a great indication of love – especially black forest with cream cheese frosting.....and they were made from things I already had, what I had in my hand.

 

  You never know what your simple act will mean to someone else – you never know how it will impact them and touch their hearts by filling their tummies!  

  So, I'm on this journey to carry on finetuning myself, to follow the God nudgings more and more, to use what is in my hand.

What is in your hand? And what nudgings have you felt lately?

Relax. Just Do It.

Meet my Guest:

Annie from A Stones Throw from Insanity

Annie's post, Relax. Just Do It., is perfect for RE. I can so relate to the food and construction dust! So I asked Annie if she would be my guest. If you get a minute, head over to Anni's place and say hi, ok? She's a great mom and writer, and she really knows how to capture the moment. Besides she has an "Ab" and an "El" in her family, just like us! Thanks, Annie!

*  *  *  *  *

Sometimes I am a bit slow on the uptake, but there are some days (although few and far between) when things just click.  After following Sandy’s blog for ages and reading about her entertaining philosophy, I slowly learned about relaxing, enjoying the moment, and savoring the relationships with my friends and family.  It finally sunk in one day when I least expected it. 

 

When I saw the text, “CALL ME ASAP!”   I didn’t.  Instead, I raced home to see what the ASAP was all about.

 

"Paul?  What's wrong?  Why the ASAP?" I asked my hubby breathlessly.

 

"Oh nothing . . . except I invited Jay and Brian and their families over for a cookout."

 

And, I swear to you it was like one of those movies where everything seems to be in slow motion for the main character, but instead the character's thoughts zoom through her head at a mile a minute.  That was me.  Those were my thoughts. And the slow motion pan of the camera was the mess that was my house being ready for guests in less than 2 hours.  I took in the cereal on the floor, the construction dust. . .

 

 

 

... on, well, everything, the 2 baskets of dirty laundry in the hallway, and the rubbermaid tub full of various and assorted tools from our remodel.  I could have passed out right there on the spot, but hubby and the kiddies were looking to me and my reaction.  I didn't want my kids to see the crazy mom that runs around the house before having guests, so I just swallowed, smiled, and sucked it up. Plain and simple.

 

 

"OK, " I said.  And then to hubby, "What's the food plan?"  He detailed that one family was bringing some pulled chicken and rolls, and the other was bringing snacks and a salad.  Not bad, I thought.   I knew that we had chicken thawed to BBQ, corn on the cob to roast, and I remembered that we had the makings for s'mores too.  "Alright!  Food is covered."

 

Then to the kids, "Straighten up the basement.  Dad and I will straighten up these rooms." With a clap of our hands, we were off.  And no sooner than 30 minutes later, we were done. 

 

I won't say that my house was spotless.  It wasn't.  There was still the whipped cream stain on my curtain, and the cherry juice stain on the floor.  I am sure that there was still dust in places and let's just say that my glass doors could be the before picture for Windex.  But, my house was presentable, guests were due to arrive, and for once, I was not stressed.

 

This was momentous.

 

I was not stressed, because, well, I just decided not to be.  There was no way that I could help some of the messes in my house, but I realized, that if I was going to let my remodeling mess bother me, than I may not be able to see my friends for a long, long, long time.  That was just not acceptable.  So, I let go.  I relaxed.

 

And, you know what?

 

Without all of the stress, the prep work for a "planned" party, and the over-reaching expectations, I had a fabulous time.  There was more than enough food, everyone enjoyed contributing, and my friends got to see our work in progress that is our OLD house.  We ate, enjoyed each other's company, and when it got dark, we made a fire and roasted marshmallows.

  

 

A super evening, all in all.

 

So, I am glad that I didn't have my phone on me yesterday afternoon and that I didn’t immediately receive that ASAP text.  If I had, I may have rushed home to needlessly prepare my home.

 

Instead, I learned that I only had to give myself a break.

 * * * * * * * * 

 

Special thanks to the Reluctant Entertainer, Sandy, for allowing me to guest post on this blog.   After last night Sandy, I get it.  To have a wonderful time with friends and family, I only need to relax and just do it!  Thanks again!

Would you be willing to share a recent "Relax. Just Do It." story? We'd love to hear!

Neighborly Fig Love!

My neighbor Ellie is known in our home for her yummy fig appetizers!

And just when I'm trying to figure out what to serve for dinner, she shows up with a plate of this goodness ... perfect timing!

She has a fig tree, so she's creative with figs and using them up. Last week we received a plate, covered with foil ...

And it was so beautiful, I had to find a white platter, a perfect garage presentation!

The taste was ... divine!

Thank you, Ellie, for sharing your yummy recipe with us! And for your neighborly love!

Fig and Walnut Tapenade with Goat Cheese

(Recipe for the very top photo)

1 cup chopped figs 

1/3 cup chopped pitted Kalamata olives or other brine-cured black olives

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon drained capers, chopped

1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme

Two 5.5-ounce logs soft fresh goat cheese

1/2  to 1 cup chopped toasted walnuts

Baguette, sliced and toasted (or crackers)

Coarsely chop figs.  Mix in olives, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, capers, and chopped thyme. Season tapenade to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.)

Spread cheese on toasted baguette slices.  Stir chopped walnuts into tapenade; spoon onto center of cheese. Also good served with crackers instead of bread.

This recipe serves about 20!

The difference between a date and a fig?

While growing up, my Mom always made brownies with dates! I don't remember her cooking with figs ...

Figs grow on a fig tree and taste best fresh. Dates grow on a date palm in more warm environments. Dried figs in the store are generally imported. 

I'd love to hear if you cook with fresh figs? Or dates?

Lunch for the Secretaries!

A faithful reader, Chris, sent me this inspiring story a year ago, with lovely photos. And I just knew by sharing it with you, you'd be encouraged. Read along and you'll know exactly what I mean.

Hi, I’ve been reading Sandy’s blog for a couple years now and have been inspired to be less reluctant at entertaining ...

But to be honest, with 3 kids – 2 in college and 1 in high school – and all still living at home, my husband and I find ourselves surrounded by piles of books. And with their hectic schedules, I was finding a difficult time scheduling times at home to invite others in. 

So I decided to try a different theme. 

I’m a church secretary and I thought it would be fun to connect with other church secretaries in my town. 

So I invited them to lunch at the church where I work.

-  I called each one to see if they had received the invitation and would be able to attend. This helped to “break the ice” and helped them to feel like they already knew someone that would be there.

-  Using one of the Sunday School rooms, I decorated a table with fall decorations and Walmart dishes from home.

-  I made some “tried and true” recipes: crockpot chicken noodle soup, salad mix, pumpkin cookies (I had baked the night  before), homemade rolls from the freezer (I made homemade ones but you could easily buy bake and serve rolls).

-  And I waited for my guests to arrive. They were greeted at the door with the smell of fresh baked bread and a warm welcome.

We all had a wonderful time sharing and getting to know one another. We plan on making it a regular event and they want to take turns hosting lunch. 

We also talked about “brown bagging” or each one bringing a dish to simplify the preparation. 

Thank you, Sandy, for inspiring us to look beyond our limitations and reach out to others - It’s always worth it!

And thank you, Chris, for reaching out to the ladies in your community! I bet they were so appreciative of your time and effort!

If your home is just not working for entertaining, have you considered a fresh approach to hospitality, outside of the home? 

I'd love to hear your story!

How to Host a High Tea Party!

Meet my Guest:

Edie from Life in Grace

Edie and I met in Nashville this last year - briefly. We hope to do some more catching up with each other this next year! I love her flare for hospitality and the spirit of her blog, Life in Grace. She's a very gracious, beautiful person, and I won't even tell you how much she reminds me of my brunette friend, Robyn L., who could be Edie's twin!


Here's Edie's story on an elegant party she held in her home ...

Hello RE readers! This is the 2nd tea party birthday party I've hosted but the first one at my own house.  My daughters' birthdays are close together and they turned 9 and 17 this year.   I thought this was the perfect year to combine their parties into a multi-age tea party.   I recruited my 19 year old son to be the escort/server.

It was definitely our best party ever!   So, here's my advice on how to host the perfect tea party birthday:   


1. Make sure your sister and her darling daughters are available to come (and help----thank you so much girls!)



2. Invite your daughter's friends, who just so happen to be beautiful and....



and well-mannered.



4. Assemble the finest vintage tea cups you can from places like Goodwill, antique stores, or T.J.Maxx.

5. Cut some beautiful flowers from your garden to dress up your tables.

6. Advise the bakery to make your cake look like a wedding cake---very formally decorated.



7. Make sure your handsome son (who is always such a good sport) is available to escort the ladies to their tables and serve food and drink---always with a smile of course. We made calling cards (with the girls' full names on them) and announced the arrival of each girl (thank you Abby) as she entered the foyer.



8. Start setting your tables 2-3 days before the party so that there are fewer last minute things to do. I placed Emme and her friends in the Duchess of Windsor Dining Room (because there were more of them), Caiti's friends in the breakfast room, and Elea's friends in the school room. We played a few parlor games and practiced our finest etiquette (after a few short 'tea' lessons). This site was very helpful in all things 'tea'.



9. Serve an eclectic mix of tea sandwiches, pasta salad, chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate chip short bread cookies, and of course, a wide variety of teas, both cold and hot. Several of my dear friends and my mother stayed to help in serving and then washing the voluminous dishes that are generated at afternoon tea. And I mean LOTS of dishes.

Sing Happy Birthday.....



blow out candles and finish the day with a great game of Pictionary.



10. Most importantly, RELAX, make sure you take time to enjoy the birthday girls and their friends. I had a list of things that didn't get done. No one noticed. 


We had oodles of fun and it was one of those very memorable parties that will become part of their story----a story I am so grateful to be part of.



Edie and I would love to hear about your tea party experiences?

(Visit my Life is a Cup post, here, about my special Aunties.)

Moms, Munchkins, and Muffins!

I found Jenny earlier this year when she wrote this post. Jenny, from Vintage Mommy, is a mommy after my own heart. I love her heart-felt posts, her love for aprons and cooking and for her family. I hope you will take a minute and check out Jenny's blog - it's all about hospitality! * * * * * * * * Reading Sandy's blog has inspired me to think outside the box, in terms of opening my home to others. With 4 small children and a husband in school who studies most evenings, it's been difficult to carve out convenient times for our family to entertain. I know this busy season of life will pass, but I don't want my kids to miss out on the joys of sharing our lives and our home with others.  This summer we found something that works great for our family! One morning a week, I invite a few moms and their little munchkins over to play. Everyone brings a sack lunch, and I make muffins and a pot of coffee to share. We moms sit and enjoy our coffee and muffins while the kids play together.  My girls enjoy helping me bake the muffins beforehand. I love that they're learning the art of hospitality! Sometimes I let them choose which kind of muffin to bake. Mini muffins are always a hit with the little ones! One morning we moms noticed that our kids were quietly congregated over at the picnic table. We walked over to investigate with coffee in-hand, only to find an empty bowl and eight little mouths stuffed full of mini muffins. All 36 muffins had vanished in less than 5 minutes! Opening our home to friends has blessed our family in so many ways. I can see the positive effects it has had on my own children: preparing our home for company, sharing toys and developing relationships, just to name a few. I treasure this time that I can be with other moms. We're always refreshed and encouraged after spending a morning together! * * * * * * * Thank you Jenny! I love this post. Some day, when my kids are raised and my life is less-hectic, I plan to do something similar to this. I love hospitality that happens smack-dab in our homes! Jenny and I would love to hear if you think outside of the box when it comes to hospitality? What are some creative ways that you've opened your home? (I'm over at Skip to my Lou's today, talking about tomatoes again.)

In a Bite of a Cupcake!

Meet my Guest:

Tracey from Notes from A Cottage Industry

Tracey and I connected years ago through her blog, Notes from A Cottage Industry. Tracey shares wonderful crafting ideas and inspiring stories - like cupcake giving - on her blog, and she's such a beautiful person. You have to check her blog out.

Cupcake giving has become a way of life for Tracey. Like this Bunko party!

What I love about hospitality is that it can be so simple. 

As simple as a cupcake.

Here's Tracey's story ...

It’s common practice to take a small hostess gift when attending a party or visiting friends out of town, but we often forget about the opportunity to show folks we care when we are at work.

Sure, there are a couple of times of the year when we are reminded to do something nice, like the Hallmark holidays known as Secretary or Boss Day, (if we have seen a commercial to remind us!) but, think about how nice a co-worker would feel if, sometime, out of the blue, they were treated to a bit of hospitality…just because.

Teachers have this idea down to a science. They even have a name for it. They draw names at the beginning of the year for something they call “Secret Pals”. Oh, how I love this concept! 

I love it for two reasons; first of all, it’s anonymous. You don’t pick your Secret Pal. Instead, names are drawn from a hat, and that encourages everyone to take a closer look at someone they might not necessarily know as well, so that they might surprise them with little treats that will delight them throughout the school year. Second, it encourages hospitality. They surprise each other with little treats at unexpected times, not simply Christmas and Teacher’s Week.

I am a fanatical cupcake baker, and about once a month I bring in cupcakes for my coworkers at the bank…just because. It brings a smile to everyone’s face each and every time I do it. (After all, no one can be uncheered by a cupcake!)

Now, maybe you’re not a cupcake baker. How tickled would someone you work with be, say, the day they return to work after a vacation or a business trip, to find a “Welcome Back!” banner or simple sign made on a piece of computer paper, taped to their computer monitor? It’s all about making people feel special, and it doesn’t have to cost a dime.

     

What little thing can you do this week, to make some one’s day?

My Own Grower's Market!

I've been limited to time and space, in using all the veggies from our garden this year.

I'm still roasting my tomatoes and freezing, and I actually came up with a new idea for using our plentiful crop of tomatoes, but I just can't let anything go to waste!

So last month I started doing this: Instead of letting any of these beauties go to waste, I decided to put them out on my front porch, fill the basket daily, put a bucket of plastic sacks out too - and tell my friends and neighbors to help themselves!

It's what my Grandma used to do on her farm, except on a much smaller scale.

I guess you'd say it's my own little Grower's Market, right outside my front door!

Do you buy summer produce from a Grower's Market or the grocery store? Do you grow them yourselves, or do your friends share them with you?