Party of two

She weighs one hundred pounds even, and rides a Harley on the weekends

Last week, on Wednesday I threw a tiny party. Number of guests: one.

And that single guest was my friend Marsha.

Marsha is the receptionist at my dentist's office.

We became friends over the past three or four years, in just the few minutes we had to chat when I would arrive for an appointment, and later in the few minutes before I left.

There were red grapes, strawberries, and a birthday present

A few months ago I said to her: You need to come over for lunch one day! She agreed.

(I live about two miles from my dentist's office. Marsha gets an hour for lunch, so that would give us fifty minutes to eat and talk.)

Which we should have known was not nearly enough.

Nevertheless, we decided on the day and I began to make preparations.

I used a few things left over from Henry's birthday party

I kept it simple: The main dish was homemade chicken salad.

I used canned chicken and added hardboiled eggs, red grape halves, celery, Granny Smith apple chunks, julienned carrots, sweet pickle relish, kosher salt, coarse-ground pepper, a dash of yellow mustard, and a dollop of Duke's mayonnaise.

For Marsha's sandwiches, there were soft white Pepperidge Farm Hawaiian slider rolls.

Funny story: TG had taken me to the store the night before, to buy the things I needed for the lunch.

I hung out the birthday banner

I asked him to pick out some slider rolls while I looked for other items. Get something Marsha will like, I said. (I don't eat bread. At least not that kind.)

TG loves Hawaiian bread and since he figured correctly that there would be lots of rolls left over and they would fall to him, I knew he'd choose wisely.

Moments later I said, Sweetie please go pick out some chips. They're for Marsha (I don't eat chips).

A short while later, as TG piled several bags of Lay's Lightly Salted chips (his favorite, and they were on special) into the buggy, he said: Who's Marsha? 

Star of the show was homemade small-batch chicken salad

Haaahaha. TG does not go to my dentist and I guess I had not talked much about Marsha or the plan to treat her to lunch at our house. Or else I did, and he did not listen. Which do you think it is?

(Because he knew I was having a guest, otherwise I would not have needed to go to the store.)

Anyway.

Besides the chicken salad I had chunked up some tomatoes, cucumber, and onion, and dressed them with a homemade vinaigrette of light-tasting olive oil, red wine vinegar, a dot of mustard, the aforementioned kosher salt and coarse-ground pepper, and a dash of powdered stevia.

These PF Hawaiian slider rolls were tasty ... but I didn't taste them

The chips rounded out the meal, along with small dishes of red grapes, fresh strawberries, and Wickles.

There was an assortment of soft drinks in the fridge, plus sweet tea (Marsha ended up choosing a Pepsi).

Since Marsha had had a birthday the previous Saturday, August thirteenth, I bought her an oversized red velvet cupcake for her dessert.

On the day, it was raining and cool. Seriously! In South Carolina, in August! The temperature topped out at about seventy-five degrees, and the rain continued throughout the daylight hours.

TG is partial to Lay's Lightly Salted chips

Marsha brought me a small hostess gift: a fall decoration, just in time for that happy season.

Of course I had bought her a birthday gift, and I had baked six miniature loaves of banana-nut bread: one for Marsha and four for her to take back to the office for the dentist, his assistant, and the two hygienists. 

(I consider them all my friends, and if I could have had the whole group to lunch, I would have.)

There was one tiny loaf left over for TG.

Wickles kick everything up a notch or two

The whole thing was wonderful. I had my autumn candles burning and the smell of mulled cider (arguably my favorite fall candle fragrance) permeated the house.

Marsha arrived slightly late, having been led astray by her phone and missing the turn onto my street.

Fifty minutes to talk and eat became forty-five.

Marsha brought me a wooden leaf fall decoration

It may as well have been five, as quickly as it dissolved into thin air.

I talked more than I ate (I'll thank you not to sneer), and Marsha got a few words in too, and she was so entranced by my picture table that she spent as much time as she could walking around it and commenting on the photos, and before we knew it, she had to hurry back to her desk.

I could eat this tomato cucumber onion salad every day

We decided that she should return on an evening after she gets off work, so that we have time to sit and relax and talk to our hearts' content.

Audrey and Dagny use the same dentist as me, and they love Marsha and she loves them -- they're all so lovable -- and so they will be invited too.

We look forward to that.

But what a lovely occasion it was! A short visit, but sweet.

I don't have a huge number of friends, but the ones I have, are quality

I am grateful for sincere friendships, wherever I find them. Also I love to feed people.

So when you come here, come hungry.

And that is all for now except to ask, what have you been up to?

=0=0=0=

Happy Tuesday

Comments

[Ginny Hartzler]

I think you are the kind of woman who everyone loves the moment they meet you. And BOY, do you know how to throw a party, or even just a visit. You make everything a special and memorable occasion.

[Lori]

You are the dearest person. I wish we lived closer. I also love making new friends and feeding them. What a time we would have. Your chicken salad sounds amazing and as always everything looks so beautiful and tasty. Take care my friend!

[Bijoux]

Bahaha….well, if TG is anything like my hubby, then he would not know who Marsha is or that she was coming over, despite me mentioning it a time or three! LOL! I love chicken salad, so yum! I bet Marsha was tickled over all the fuss you made. I love my dental hygienist and was so excited to see her last Fall, out in the ‘wild’ (a restaurant nowhere near the dental office). I got up and gave her a big hug and my husband had no clue who Renee was. Lol and we go to the same dentist, though in his defense, there are quite a few hygienists.

Great smiles in that final photo!

[Jennifer]

@Ginny ... Haaahaha well, not really but that is a nice thought! I have my detractors! But I do admit to having a compunction to make even the smallest occasion extra-special! There is no time to waste! xoxo

@Lori ... We totally would have a great time cooking up this and that, and eating and talking! There is just something about feeding people that makes me so happy. And everything WAS good! xoxo

@Bijoux ... OK so you get it! I mean we talk and talk and talk and I think the husbands hear maybe a third of it, haaahaa! And it wouldn't matter how many hygienists there were at my dentist's office; I am buddies with one of them and she's the only one who gets to clean my teeth! What an honor, haha! I actually don't know the other one at all, I'm so selective! But she got a tiny loaf of banana bread nevertheless! xoxo

[Mari]

Ha on TG! Bon would be the same. He has selective hearing you know! He would also be picking out the Hawaiian rolls. :)
You always put such sweet touches into your gatherings. I'm sure Marsha felt very special. Your menu looks so good. I'm very intrigued by the tomato cucumber salad - it looks so good! And with fresh veggies, yum!
The leaf she gave you is cute and I know you will enjoy seeing it in your Fall decorating.
Such a blessing to make a new friend.

[betty]

I love how TG got to pick the rolls and the chips, knowing potentially there would be leftovers for him :) I'd have to give my hubby a lot of cues over who was coming for lunch and repeat myself often afterward every time I mentioned that person. Case in point. We had coffee years ago with a blog buddy I bet in real life. I just can't say her name to my husband and him knowing who she is without saying "Debby, who we had coffee with". I think they listen to us, but with half an ear!

That being said your lunch for Marsha looked so delicious! I bet she appreciated it all and what a nice touch for you to bake something not only for her but everyone in the office!! I see a great blooming friendship continuing with you and Marsha. Think you'll ever go motorcycle riding with her??

And yum on the chicken salad. I hadn't thought of adding all that stuff to it. I'm going to have to make it sometime. I bet it would be so refreshing on a hot summer day!

betty

[Jeanette]

How nice that you struck up a friendship with her! I never made friends with any of our patient's when I was a dental receptionist! Looks like a very nice if short lunch! I hope she comes back some evening to spend more time with you! I smiled when you wrote about you talking a lot and her very little! Sounded familiar! I bet they all loved your banana bread! I can personally attest that it's delicious! I guess you could say I'm pretty friendly with the office staff of my dentist. That's because he's my brother and the office manager is my sister-in-law! Have a good week my friend! XO

[Carla TePaske]

Hee Hee, TG.. I love it, "Who is Marsha?"
I also had to laugh, because I feel the same about our Dental Staff. They are so nice, they have become friends I would like to have over for lunch.

I will be sure to come hungry. :-)

[Jennifer]

@Mari ... That tomato cucumber onion salad is so good, I can practically eat it all myself. In fact, before the next day, I had actually done that! Haahaha I don't think TG got any although he also did not clamor for it. I can't wait until you and Bon come to lunch someday! Now THAT will be a special feast! xoxo

@Betty ... Marsha was SO appreciative of everything I did. She called me later that day just to tell me how much she enjoyed all of the food and her gift and the bread! NO you will never see me anywhere near a motorcycle, haahaaa! I'm not the least bit adventurous. But Marsha just rides that thing, down to the beach, up to the mountains, like it's nothing! Her bike is bright orange! She's a hoot. YES please do try the chicken salad with all of those ingredients. It is SO good! I think your beloved would maybe like it too, and he'll say, Who's the Pirate? Haaahaha xoxo love to Winslow x

@Jeanette ... Hahaha yes you know the deal ... in truth I should never order anything or put anything on my plate at such times because all I want to do is talk! VERY cool that your brother is your dentist! I think that would be pretty awesome! I bet he'd like my banana bread too, haahaa! xoxo

@Carla ... Absolutely do come hungry and I will enjoy feeding you and talking your ear off! Isn't it nice to enjoy going to the dentist just because you feel you're among friends? xoxo

[Gayla]

Oh, what a wonderful post! I loved every word, read it two times, and ordered 54.00 of Wickles! Oops! Did you know you were an influencer? I know Marsha will never forget this kindness. I've copied your menu in case I ever get to entertain again! Loved every word. If I lived closer... that cupcake might be mine! Hugs

[Donna]

hahaaa...sweet TG...Hope he got to finish up all those slider buns!
Your friend sounds lovely! My neighbor and buddy of 48 years now has Alzheimer's It started to really become apparent about a year ago and seems to be progressing fast. Hug your friend tight...
That salad sounds just like MY favorite except I also add a large dollop of Cool Whip. Takes the taste over the Moon!
What have I been up to?? Been loving on the new family addition!!
hughugs
Donna

[Jennifer]

@Gayla ... OH wow! No I had no idea I was an influencer but it's a long-held dream of mine, hahahahahah! I hope you like the wickles ... I find them totally mesmerizing. I hope you get to entertain again, and maybe you'll try the chicken salad even if you don't! xoxo

@Donna ... Oh girl he ate every one of those, haahhaa! Thought he'd died and gone to heaven. I'm so sorry about your friend. That's sad. Cool Whip on cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions? I'm not sure I could handle that but to each his own! I'll have to cruise by your site and see that baby! Congratulations! xoxo

[Diana]

Did you look closely at that photo you took of yourselves? You two could be sisters! You are such a truly special person to be doing-up such an awesome meal for someone you barely get to talk to going in and out of that office! Maybe someday I will figure out how to come all the way across country just to see what you fix for me to eat! Blessings, my friend!! 💕

[Jennifer]

@Diana ... So good to see you my friend! I have missed you! And I would be fortunate indeed to have a sister like Marsha! We had a great time and YES when you travel south I promise I will lay on a feast worth talking about! Haaahahaha xoxo