Last Native Gardens performance, cast party

It was FREEZING when we got up on Saturday (9/24); it was somewhere in the 60’s outside. Luckily we had closed some of our windows when we got home from the play Friday night. Michael was feeling REALLY tired on Friday….so he cancelled golf for this morning and he got to sleep in late, and make a relaxing breakfast for himself…and of course….me!

I got to spend most of the day in my studio…working on my customer quilt. I got the quilting all finished and got it cleaned up and off of the frame…now I just have to get a label done before I call Darlene to come and pick it up.

I also got binding made for the striped quilt:

and I got borders put together, but not applied.

Michael and I spent a bit of time in the afternoon working on cast gifts….we wrapped 3 tulip bulbs apiece for each member of the cast and crew, as well as separate gifts for the director and stage manager:

We had leftover Chinese for dinner before leaving at 6 PM for our next-to-the-last performance. We had a full house and got a lot of laughs, and we gave out our gifts after it was all done, since this was my last performance:

-Polly (director), me, Dwayne, Michael, Ginger, Taryn, Andrew

I think everyone was surprised and pleased by what they got! We were home just after 10 PM and in bed by mid-night.

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I was up early Sunday (9/25) to get everything ready for the cast party. I was at the grocery store first thing, and home by 8 AM!! Then it was cooking, cooking, cooking:

I had put out cream cheese to soften, so first up was making Party Spirals:

-I mixed the cream cheese with a bunch of chopped up veggies and spices and spread that on low carb tortillas:

-sprinkled on some shredded cheddar

-and rolled them up

-I put them back in the fridge to chill, and sliced them just before the party

Then I wanted to give my éclair cake a chance to set, so that’s what I made next.

-it's basically a layer of graham crackers

-then a layer of pastry cream

-another layer of crackers and pastry cream....topped by a third layer of crackers and a chocolate ganache topping

Janice’s Asian slaw was up next, and then Vidalia Onion Dip (which I served with toasted slices of French bread):

Finally I put together the ham/cheese sliders:

-slice 20 Hawaiin rolls horizontally and cover with some of the butter/mustard/Worcestershire/poppyseed mixture

-then layer on ham

-and swiss cheese

-before popping the bun tops back on

-and covering with the rest of the butter mixture

Just before the guests arrived I also put out washed grapes and a bowl of peanuts.

-the food was pretty much wiped out!

At that point I needed to start cleaning…frankly, the kitchen was a disaster zone (so much so that when Michael came home from the play, he couldn’t believe how good everything looked!), so I spent a couple of hours making that look presentable.

Michael got home at 6 PM, and the rest of the guests followed shortly afterwards:

-Taryn & me

-Michael and Ginger

-Shelby (a board member) and hubby William (who was facinated by our kinectic sculpture!)

-Dwayne & wife Erin

-Harry & Martha

Polly came a bit later as she had to go out with some guests just after the play...and of course I was done taking pictures by then!

It was a lovely cast party and we heard many, many compliments on the food (always music to my ears). Everyone was gone by 8 PM and after 25 minutes of clean-up, the dishwasher was running and Michael and I collapsed in front of the TV.

And it’s time to tell you about the latest book I am in love with…it’s not a mystery….it’s not a thriller….it is just a wonderful story….everyone should read it! It’s Remarkably bright creatures : a novel by Shelby Van Pelt….please let me know what you think if you read it!

*** I have abs….they’re just hidden under my love for cheese! ***

*** Ladies.....if he:

-is HOT

-always smells good

-makes your mouth water

-leaves you feeling happier than ever

HE’ IS NOT YOUR MAN....HE’S A PIZZA!! ***