Hey, the rain stopped here!

The weather people have gone out on a limb and announced there will be no rain today, we can put away our umbrellas. So far, so good! Actually, I am sweating from the brow as I sit here in the window with the sun beating on me, and loving it!

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During the night, I understand, there were storm warnings and announcements on the TV but neither Joanne and I were aware of it. She did mention waking a couple times to the pounding rains but went right back to sleep. Evidently I slept right through the whole thing, with my full tummy and content heart.

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My lady friends had been here for dinner, enjoying "Breakfast for Dinner" and oh, what wonderful foods we had! As I was dressing the table and got wine glasses out of the cupboard, using my hot dog tongs to reach them, my phone went off. It was Justin, asking me if I needed anything from the grocery store. Huh? Why are you asking me this???

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At the head of the table is Sandy, next, her daughter, Jen; then Christine and Martie. In the kitchen you see Justin, perhaps getting some champagne for the cranberry juice. Glad someone thought of that, because I did not!
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He was coming for dinner! I never even invited him or sent him the memo about it, but he was coming anyway! Well, blow me down! I asked him to pick up some mayo, a jug of water (for my guests!) and of course, what else?, soda. Justin said he wanted to see Miss Brenda, so decided to come. The rest of the ladies then? Chopped liver, I guess. It turned out both Brendas were able to come, with Brenda W. arriving late as she was in the midst of preparing for an insurance audit.

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I made my frittata in the afternoon and had it ready to put into the oven when Christine arrived to mix up her quiche lorraine. I think I might be able to make such a dish as that, it did not take her but a minute to put together. The baking is what takes so long, nearly an hour. My dish was ready sooner which made room in the oven for the biscuits and quiche. Joanne arrived in time to reheat her sausage gravy which she made the night before.

My back to the camera (my best side) and to my left are Brenda N., Joanne, Brenda W., Sandy, Jen, Christine, and Martie. Justin took the photo which is how he avoided being in it!

My slow cooker in the middle of the table in the photo is ancient, possibly even 25+ years old and still does the trick! In fact, three times we had to reset the breaker for my kitchen with all the appliances hard at work at one time, including the slow cooker. My kitchen was huffing and puffing when it was all over!

Besides my frittata, the quiche, and sausage gravy, we had French toast, hash brown casserole, Cinnamon crumb cake, mixed fruit, and the delicious cranberry/champagne mixture. Oh, my, delicious! Justin was delightful as usual, and made a joke about getting me to eat breakfast by having it at supper time! Thanks, kiddo! He received many compliments for his more clean look, the super short hair and shaved face except for his chin whiskers. Wednesday we had forgotten about changing the light bulb in my bedroom so we did that real quickly last night before he went home. He can reach the fixture by standing on my bed, but I could not reach if I put the foot stool on the bed.....not a good idea!

The ladies are so good about clearing the table, too good in fact, but I have learned to not say anything about it any more. Just let them go, even though I tell them I have nothing else to do the next day but clean up the kitchen. I hate it when they have to go home but last night I gave them a pass as the storms were brewing and the rain had begun. Many had miles and miles to drive home so they were excused.

This a.m. I read an article in Forward in Christ about a lady whose mission is to distribute "comforters" to women battling cancer, started because a friend had given such a comforter to her years before. She provides a journal for the woman, Bible passages for support, and follows up with periodic newsletters, etc. She has quilting clubs making the "wraps" and sharing in the ministry. For some reason this made me think of my friend, Judy R., and her knitting. My childhood friend, Susie, is a quilter in Manitowoc, and I wonder if they do anything like this as part of their club. Hmmmm, such great ideas for reaching out with the Word, you know?