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Simple Joyful Food

happy eats + simple living

hospitality

Add a little whimsy to entertaining.

November 22, 2011 4 Comments
Her townhouse was on the second floor and up a flight of stairs. Dennis and I each came bearing a bottle of wine.  It’s what you do when invited over to an impromptu dinner.  With people you don’t know.  On vacation.  Invited by people you don’t know.
Two bottles felt right.
A few days earlier Dennis and I were in the Clearwater/St. Petersburg Beach area of Florida on a vacation.  Gulf side.  We went to church services and arrived as hymns were being sung.  We didn’t know a soul.  We just knew the address and what time to arrive.
After services Moe and Ali, two of the most adorable and welcoming (not-invade-your-space-welcoming) couples came up to meet “the new folks.”
Us.
They were originally from Miami and chatted with us like we were old friends who had come to visit and were ready to catch up.  It was refreshing since we were fish out of water in a place unknown to us.  Besides, we were just there for one more day and weren’t looking to meet new friends.  We just wanted to go to Church that day.
We left with bear hugs.  She initiated.  I freely gave back.
Five days later.  We were in St. Augustine, four hours Northeast of St. Pete, and attending a convention of sorts with our Church. There were 1,500 of us including family and friends I hadn’t seen in decades.  It was simply, well, awesome.
Six days later.  Ali was there!  She ran up to me and hugged me like a long lost friend. “I’ve been looking for you every day,” she said.
She presented me with a beautiful custom invitation to a dinner party.  That night.  At her daughter’s townhome in Jacksonville, twenty minutes away.
With people, we didn’t know.
We said yes.
Long story to get to the point:  I am convinced that friendliness, hospitality, and whimsy make for an excellent entertainment experience.
Friendliness and hospitality, you just read about.  What great examples they were to us!
Whimsy?  Where does that come in?
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.  Moe and Ali’s daughter Catherine is a chip off the old block.  Immediately upon entering her townhome and up those long flight of stairs, were greeted as if we were forever friends.  Her cozy abode was set up to invite, engage, and entertain.
Her entertaining skills were inspiring.
She also added a bit of whimsy to everything she touched.  Old vintage cameras were strewn about.  Yard sale photos and prints were arranged as if they were museum-quality heirlooms.  Every utensil, dish, or glass were unique and interesting.
The one thing that I noticed that literally made me laugh out loud and instantly liked were her were two pitchers, filled with adult beverages.
I instantly liked her because of them.
I knew I wanted to be like her and do the same when I entertain.
Check out the adorable signs placed in front.
This Thanksgiving, or Friday, or Tuesday, or whenever you have family, friends, or strangers come and visit… add your own touch of whimsy in an unexpected place.
Your guests will love it.
Thank you, Moe, Ali, and Catherine for watching out for the “the new folk” by making us feel at home.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Eat well, my friends.  Eat well.
Lyndi

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Recipe Rating




  1. Vicki W says

    November 22, 2011 at 7:50 pm

    Thanks for this sweet bog! Happy Thanksgiving to you and all of your family too!!

    Reply
  2. Message Matters says

    November 22, 2011 at 9:15 pm

    Very cute, Lyndi!

    I think less solemn and more fun could make all holidays more enjoyable!

    Glad you guys had fun.

    Kris
    @kghbiz

    Reply
  3. Kim says

    December 1, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    That is really impressive! I will certainly use this tip when I'm throwing my next party.

    Reply
  4. nwafoodie says

    December 1, 2011 at 6:17 pm

    I thought you would like it, Kim!

    I made my own whimsy card at Thanksgiving, describing my pomegranate-blueberry basil infused vodka in a pitcher. It was a conversation piece!

    Thanks for the comment!

    Lyndi

    Reply

hello + welcome

author image of thejoyofeatingwell blogMy name is Lyndi. Hello!

I love slow living and embracing an edited life.

In this blog I encourage food joy by focusing on simplicity tips and tricks.

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“Just like becoming an expert in wine–you learn by drinking it, the best you can afford–you learn about great food by finding the best there is, whether simply or luxurious. Then you savor it, analyze it, and discuss it with your companions, and you compare it with other experiences.” – Julia Child

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