Another random word Parties

Ok, I am at a loss for a thought so here goes my random word. Well that was short I cannot come up with a random word. Let me see what is around me - sun, window, printer, computer, coffee, keyboard, mouse, table, crap (yes there is a lot of crap - I am not neat) , paper, inhalers, glasses, empty sprite zero can, outlet, tv, reindeer antlers (ok they are the kind you wear on your head - made of felt -- at Christmas parties) - ah parties. there is my word for the day.

Parties. Soon my men will be attending parties - dinner and balls. I did not include a card party or did I? I forget. MOst of my chapters were written in the Florida sun (which surprise me because as one reader wrote "your story has a dark side to it") and I was last in Florida in February.

What do I know about parties? Not much. I have attended enough to qualify me as experienced at them and each year my friend and I host a Soup and Ornament party. It is a very casual affair. My friend, Bert (and she is a she) and I live in a duplex and our decks connect to each other. We each make 4 soups in large quantities, invited about 45-50 people and bring out the booze, nibbles of appetizers, and soup. Everyone is invited to taste as many as they like or find one and dive in.

Last year I made Vodka Tomato Basil, Rosemary Chicken Florentine with Wild Rice, Hearty Burgandy Noodle, and Salmon Corn Chowder. I was left with only two bowls of Hearty Burgandy Noodle. they cleaned me out. the Vodka Tomato went first and then the chicken, followed by the Salmon. Bert's soups included her most sought after Clam Chowder, a Sausage Peasant soup, and two others I don't recall.

Everyone sits everywhere with soup bowls and drinks and they have a wonderful time. No one regrets so it must be well received.

I make this egg nog that people that don't like egg nog love it. It is simple - Pet Egg Nog (or Giant Brand), Bryer's creamy French Vanilla Ice cream, the Christian Brothers brandy, Jack Daniels, and Jim Bean and topped off with nutmeg.

Ok last year I was an idiot. I had some nutmeg I brought back from a carribean cruise (Grenada was a stop- the land of spices) it was in the shell. I even had a nutmeg grader. Here is there real stupid thing I did. I did not know it was a shell so I graded the shell itself over my egg nog and did not crack it open to get to the actual nutmeg. lol still laughing today. I find errors to be most entertaining especially when they are mine! Everyone had a gigantic laugh. Such fun.

Now about the ornaments, if you wish to participate you bring one wrapped up and we do an ornament exchange. We play games and sing carols. Everyone goes home happy. a little lit but happy.


Now in Regency there were no Christmas parties. Twelth night seems to come the closest. In fact the whole gift exchange sort of life came later. christmas was just another day at church.

But parties were plentiful. All classes of people had them. I guess that is another difference between humans and animals. We party hardy! lol there are cocktail parties (which seem to be reserved for us old retired farts) and dinner parties, mardi gras parties, fundraisers, sweet sixteen parties, and even retirement ones. If someone can come up with a theme and offer free food and booze, they guests will come. lol

I don't think there was such a thing as casual parties in the regency era. Heck there was not casual dress either. I have come to the conclusion I am pleased to have not lived in that era. I like my flushing toilet thank you very much and a shower and a washing machine and a dishwasher and a microwave. I cannot live without a phone either. But on ocassion I wonder what it would have been like to attend the parties. Dressing up in beautiful gowns, wearing jewelry, and dancing complicated dances with men that actually could dance.

There will be parties for our men but the question is are they in the mood for them?

till tomorrow

gayle

PS this year I will make Chicken Cheeze Enchilada, Roasted Red Pepper with cheeze torrilini, Asian beef with green pepper, and perhaps some fish or ham one. Ham and scallop potato soup sounds good and filling too!