A True Hostess

Chocolate Cake Nana made for a Sunday night treat.

I remember one day not so long ago saying " I will never get stoked about dishes, it just won't happen!" That
 time has come and gone. One of the things I am most excited about in my new married life is having an organized kitchen filled with beautiful dishes that all match. I am excited to serve dessert on actual dessert plates, and coffee in cups with saucers. I am excited to have serving pieces that match instead of finding random bowls that fit the portions prepared. I don't believe this would at all be a big deal to me if I didn't grow up surrounded by people who instilled in me the joy of hostessing. This seems like a trivial lesson but after years of watching my Nana and preparing to embark on my own hostessing duties I am so much more appreciative and wowed by her meticulous dinner planning and the importance of it. Nana always puts place mats down on her tables, whether it is breakfast alone (before my Mom rises from her slumber cave) or if it is a dinner for 20. The table is always fully set with flatware and napkin. She takes great pride in serving her food in beautiful bowls even it if is just a few of us eating together. She frowns when someone comes to her beautifully set table with a paper cup, and  why not after putting in the effort to make it look amazing I would hate to have someone use a red solo cup instead of my lovely goblets to drink from. We used to all moan and groan when Nana would break out the gold ware for Thanksgiving dinners because it all had to be hand washed. As I watched her get the gold forks out to serve along side a birthday recently I realized she uses these little touches to make moments even more special. She takes such care in her dinner presentations and desserts sharing or even a mid afternoon coffee because she cares about who she is serving and wants to make them feel important. Plus she just really loves her beautiful dishes. I am so grateful and proud to have been able to watch and learn from such a wonderful hostess. I know I will take these lessons with me into many many years of hosting my own dinner parties for friends, family or just my husband and I. Thank you Nana for being such a wonderful teacher.

The past two months I have cherished my time spent in my Mom and Nana's home. I have joked that after I marry I won't move out because they have taken such great care of me. Nana always has a homemade treat around for snacks and takes pride in preparing meals for her guest, me! This time in their home has reminded me so much of the months I lived with Nana and Grandy before moving back to Amarillo. We shared our evenings together, morning coffee, lunch breaks. It was such an wonderful time of quality with Grandy and Nana which I will cherish forever! This time has been just the same with Mom and Nana! I have been so blessed by this time and am so grateful the opportunity it has given me.