I wanted to set the party table for my sister's birthday ahead of time, with a white tablecloth and confetti and cupcakes baked in their dear little polka dot baking cups and the colorful polka dot napkins and the fluffy white birthday cake. I decided to serve the meal buffet-style, from the kitchen counter. I had the white dishes on the plate rack, and I was arranging Mom's roast beef and gravy, Ron's mashed potatoes, Kristin's homemade rolls, my niece Amy's spinach, zucchini, and mushroom salad, and a host of other sides along the counter in an orderly fashion...but I was running out of space to put everything. At the last minute, I chose to leave the mounds of mashed potatoes in the big pot on the stove, rather than try to fit another large bowl in the line-up. This plan, however, slightly offended my sense of aesthetics. (Serve the potatoes from the pot?)
Ron asked the blessing on the food, and then asked me if there were any instructions. I told people where to grab a plate, where the napkins and utensils were, and then I informed them that the mashed potatoes were in the pot on the stove. "I'm sorry," I said with a sheepish grin.
"Apologizing for the potatoes...," I heard someone say.
And Ron looked at me and in a low voice said, "Not to impress, but to bless."
Yep, they heard me.
Mea culpa. Point taken.
~ You see, our dh's are listening,smiling,~ I was away from blogging when you posted Thirty One Days of hospitality, so I went and read it this post. A beautiful post, Cheryl. I hope to come back soon and read the others.Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Sue
Oh my, I probably never have someone over without apologizing for something! My daughter told me during a Christmas event not to do that. Her husband has been telling her, not to do that! I will try harder to break the habit!
ReplyDeleteBetty
Oh how great is that! There is something wonderful about hearing our words reflected back to us. Bet that these potatoes stayed warmer on the Steve, too. See now that is just so funny that I am leaving it. IPads are not always best for leaving comments.
ReplyDeleteCheryl, as soon as I started to read today's post, I thought of the wonderful month-long series you did on hospitality. I am so glad to see it made a big impression. For big holiday meals, I keep mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes warm in my cheery red crock pot! xo
ReplyDeleteCheryl,
ReplyDeleteI read your blog daily and must comment today for the first time. I loved your 31 days of hospitality. So many wonderful ideas to implement. I try very hard to bless my extended family with dinners etc in our home. At our Christmas party in our home I always serve the mashed potatoes in the bowl that they were mashed in. It's a dinner buffet with food on the counters in the kitchen. My family loves to be together and that is what is important.
Martha Ellen
What a wonderful illustration of true hospitality! Love the pot on the stove. I'm allowing myself to do that kind of thing more and more! And, by the way, I love to make a list, even if only for the joy of checking it off!!
ReplyDeleteI KNOW what you mean...
ReplyDeleteLove the party pretties...great cake, cupcakes, polka dots.....
I am sure she felt your love in all the details, even with the potatoes on the stove!
Love
Deanna