Party Time

There were two things I could count on from my mother when she chose to entertain in our home.  Her Party Feet and her Party Steak. Party Feet sounds happy but in reality this phenom spread dread in our family ranks.  Invariably, it began early in the morning while my four siblings and I were happily sleeping off whatever mischief we encountered the night prior.  We would wake to the 'slap, slap, slap' of my mother's bare feet marching down the long hall that led her to each of our respective slumbers.  The word 'Achtung!' comes to mind as we all jumped to attention to receive our marching orders for the day. Being a guest in our house was memorable.

Now Party Steak was the 'carrot' we all followed with hopes to enjoy after the last guest departed.  A classic 'Never In The Kitchen When Company Arrives' (The Zen bible in early sixties cooking), no-fail recipe, for a Sirloin Roast with Piquante sauce (I have brought the recipe forward and substituted portabellas for my non-steak eating friends) that one can Do Ahead and Serves A Crowd.  We were the left-over crowd. And it was tasty.  Really tasty.

Good lord willing and with safe travels, tomorrow, the five of us gather, most likely, one last time in our family home to dismantle sixty-three years of our collective life crafted by our parents who are now gone.  Ugh....its 'the stuff' part. It's time.  Its good. And I am excited about the weekend.  Not so much for the inevitable roller coaster of laughter and tears but because I get to spend two nights with my three brothers and sister under one roof! And so many I know are no longer able to say that. And we like each other.  We are the gift that our parents left us.  Anything else can be found on EBay.  My mantra this past weekend has been to repeat out loud "I am so happy for you to have that....".

In hopes that we all behave as we were raised, I am dangling the 'carrot'.  Yes we will be sitting together to enjoy Steak Piquante.  Although the dining room table has already moved on, we will find places to perch and hopefully savor collectively the tastes of our childhood.  And it will taste happy.   Perhaps we will all do the Party Feet dance on the bare wood floors.  This is my hope.

I am so happy for you to have that.......


(Secret weapon #2.....56oz bag of Peanut M&Ms... a party in your mouth).

                                                        (Our street addresses growing up.)

Choose to Connect.

It seems each summer, life on Pleasant Lake offers me an opportunity to make an unusual connection.
One year I hung out with a group of owls canopied in a willow room; we eyed each other almost daily with tilted heads. Another summer, a pair of Sandhill Cranes allowed me into their marshy inner-bog sanctum, a perfect evening cocktail cruise destination in my kayak.  Some years, Great Blue Herons play a non-stop game of  'I Am Ahead of You' as they fly from limb to shoreline to limb all around the lake. And if I happen to take the lead....'Squawk, squawk, squawk'.

 This year's connection however, is proving to be elusive. Typically each spring, we are pleased to receive a visiting Loon who pauses for about a week as he or she heads up to Northern Wisconsin.  This summer, perhaps due to our extreme winter, the Loon chose to stay on Pleasant Lake.  And better yet, somehow found a mate!  Loons are intriguing and not so interested in connecting. They quietly swim  along and the minute I get a tiny bit close, they turn butt-up, dive deep and swim underwater popping back up clear across the lake.  Their lyrical call is plaintive and yes, just a little bit crazy sounding. I love the call of the loon.  Our pair didn't have much to say on Pleasant Lake most likely because they were mated.  I remember a line from a favorite camp song titled, 'The Voyageur', that talks about  'the call of the lonely Loon'.  Although I missed hearing the calls, I was happy for their contentment.  And then things changed.  Now there is only one Loon again swimming alone at sunset.  Nature can be so heartbreaking.

Enter the Girl Scouts.  Last night, the girls at Camp Pottawatomie were having a big time.  The lake echoed with the peals of their laughter, singing and chanting.  Girls unabashedly being girls.  As I happily listened to their squeals ringing from shore to shore, I heard another sound.  Our lonely Loon...trebling along to their joyful noise.  Girls then loon. Girls then loon. Ahh...connection!

Post Script

Nature did not break any hearts here....She was just being very, very patient and very busy.   We now have baby loons on Pleasant Lake!    In true loon fashion though, they are not interested in a photo op.

Fresh Water Fun

Many have asked if I have another book in me.  I think the answer is finally, yes!  This
idea, documenting our life spent on Pleasant Lake (yes, it truly lives up to its name) was going to
be my first foray into publishing until 'Stay For Lunch' bubbled up and demanded to be heard.

So there... I have said it which means I must do it.  Here is an inkling of what's to come:


Kayak Waltz

A slow sunset dance
in the middle of the lake,
our kayaks spin
as the light changes.

First a brilliant glow
on the far shore,
illuminating the last row of cottages
edged with dusky blue
and deep green reflections.

The sun melts golden
into the horizon
as the light shifts to the west
and transforms into blood red orange
highlighted by smoky streaks of gray
sketched across the sky.

Billowy puffs turn into
medallions of magenta
outlined with pools of shimmering silver.

Sky meets lake, reflects sky,
only the kayak edge separates the two.
Night after night, spin after spin,
we do the sunset waltz
and remain wonder struck.
.

It Was Nothing!

Years ago in Ireland, we were house guests of unknown 'friends of family' for two nights.  It was an exquisite experience due to our host Sarah's impeccable finesse in making one feel royal in a special 'make yourself at home' combination of grace and attention to detail.

I was in awe.  Dinner party for twelve in our honor? And there is Sarah, 6pm, feet up, perusing the newspaper...the epitome of calm and happiness.  And Prepared.  Later, sitting at her hearth table she produced platters--first a whole chilled trout surrounded by a lacy collar of cucumber and herbs and then from her toasty Aga ---a combination of roasted lamb and vegetables that I secretly wished would come around 'just once more' repeatedly.

A little back story...We first met in our host's driveway as we unfolded ourselves from a rented Nissan 'Micra', weary and a little nervy at the end of a chipper-filled road trip across Ireland. Sarah and husband Raymond greeted us and led us to their endless kitchen table adorned with a tapestry of home-made pates, breads, preserves, cheeses and desserts.  Two nights seemed hardly enough.

Sarah and I shared comfortable chats.  Towards the end of our visit I asked about her passions and her answer changed my life.  She stated simply, "I like to feed people".  I used to say ' I love the creative process' (from concept, to 'aha' moments to nth degree implementation), I now say 'I love the creative process and I love to feed people'.  And I especially enjoy melding these passions while hosting guests in our home. And cooking for them. While hopefully experiencing that 'Sarah-kind-of ease'.

Another dear friend Holly, who left our world way too soon, was noted beautifully in her obituary as..."Holly was known for her dinner parties'.   Although she and I were geographically mismatched and did not grace each others' tables , I now imagine Holly, eyes twinkling, bright smile, surrounded by warmth, light, love and tasty creations. A dinner party heaven.

This week we hosted a welcome dinner for new friends choosing to move from the UK to Beloit.  As I was
in 'multiple lists' mode I thought of my Mother whose love for home entertaining I absorbed through osmosis, and Sarah and Holly and my cadre of friends who get the 'it' of  the work involved to make it all seem effortless ...this one is for you.  Welcome to our table.

                                                      'Welcome to Beloit' Dinner
                                                       Platter Dinner for Twelve
                                                             Chez Goodwin

                For any foodies interested in details----

                                                       The Menu
                               
             Vidalia Onion Baby Swiss Bake with Crackers (ala Ruth French)
              Fresh Medly Miniature Sweet Tomatoes with Carrots and Dip
              Steamed Artichokes with Mama Russo's Cooked Chunky Vinaigrette
              Grilled Pork Tenderloin/Port Currant Sauce
              Orzo with roasted peppers, onions, fresh moz, basil and Parmesan
              Roasted Butternut Squash with Roasted Sweet Corn
              Fresh Wilted Spinach
              French-cut Aparagus
              Coconut Cream Pie
               Assorted cookies