I had my first art show last Saturday. I’ll put up pictures as soon as my sister sends them to me. The show was from 12-5 and I was there around noon to help set up the food and to get the first look. It was great! Everything was displayed well, the lighting and the mood was excellent. It was pouring rain outside but warm and cozy in Jeanne’s home.

Our first guests were MK (my previous boss) and his family. It was a bit awkward for me because I didn’t know what to say about the show and about my work, but they were a good audience. Jeanne took over after a few minutes to explain the whys and the hows. After they left, a few more people came by and by 1:30, I had to leave to pick up my sister at the bus station.

We went back to the show around 4:00. I saw Francie with some of the ladies from the B’s-group from work. Jeanne, our teacher, told me that MM came by with his little girl, Ella, while I was away. I was disappointed I missed them, but I was having MM and his wife over for dinner, so it was okay. My sister and her friend Mia enjoyed the ‘country’ and my teacher’s home a lot more than they did the art show, I think. We left after having some cheese.

That night, I had 5 people for dinner. My sister, Mia, Manny, Mike, and Sarah. Here’s the menu (ala Daisy).

Appetizers:
1. Fried pork and leek dumplings
2. Pastry pocket with sauteed mushrooms, parsley and Gorgonzola cheese

Main Entrees:
1. Chicken Adobo with hard boiled eggs
2. Slow cooked beef stew with red wine
3. Potato Gratin Dauphinois (from Jeffrey Steingarten, and taste tested from Lyds)
4. Roasted veggies
5. Rice

Dessert:
1. Lemon souffle from Sarah
2. Rick’s homemade ice cream from Manny

You’d think having 4 filipinos and 2 Keene-ians would be awkward, but we had a really good time. We didn’t even have time to play Cranium. We just kept on talking until Mike and Sarah had to leave at 10:30. People said that the food was excellent, which was a relief, after cooking so many hours that day and the night before.

It was my first time to have people over, aside from family, so that was kind of cool. All of us ended up eating on the coffee table, with 4 people sitting on the floor. When later offered chairs though, M and S refused, saying they were comfortable.

So all’s good.

And I slept in my bed last night. I had a good night’s sleep comparable to the sofa’s. I think I might just start doing that regularly.