The Captain and I had our annual Christmas Open House on Sunday evening…the 21st of December!
It is always a fun time to meet and greet old friends and new, and share a cup of hot wassail and finger foods.
This year, the Captain decided we would have our local supermarket make up the deli platters and it really gave me more time to prepare and enjoy the fellowship of all our friends and neighbors, who numbered about 65.
One of the first attractions we had set up was the way Santa arrived at our house.
None of this old sleigh and reindeer, but real horse power.
Santa also had a large bag of toys in his sack in the passenger side to be donated to our favorite local charity!
Personally, I think ole Saint Nick needs to have his suit mended…..don’t know if you noticed, but he got a little scorched coming down one of the hot chimneys.
Santa has obviously changed his modus operandi….(MO) because of such hazards to the job.
OR he could of gotten scorched when someone…not naming names here ;)…put a string of Christmas Lights around his neck and let them drape over his hand…and the white fur on his suit got a little “warm”!
OK…I have to confess ….it was me! 🙁
But I digress…again! 😉
If you ever need pretty party platters…check out your local supermarket deli.
They make up some very pretty platters that are really tasty!
Below are the food platters we ordered.
The chicken tender platter with various sauces
The turkey and ham platter
Gotta have veggies….
And of course fruit!
The Ham and cream cheese spirals were very good
Has to be shrimp platters….
All kinds of cookies….
I made this peppermint fudge…yum
Chips, Dips, Barb-Q Lil’Smokies…and those delicious Hawaiian Dinner Rolls
See Wassail Recipe under Beverages…cinnamon, red hots, nutmeg, apple cider…Yum!
It was all so very good and tasty…and all I had to do was set out chips, make the dips and the Lil Smokies and a big crock pot of wassail!
Perfect!
Did you my dear readers, have a wonderful Christmas Season this year?
Me
Kari, I just wanted to thank you for extending your open-house to us last night. The Bliss lights have become such a topic of conversation and web searches we needed one more look at them. I was as surprised as you were by that phone call that roused you out of your cozy bed but really appreciate your gracious hospitality.
I hope your midnight toast was as special as ever.
Blessings,
Donna
Thank you so much Donna for dropping by…if you all hadn’t been on your way to dinner, we could have had a few sips of wine and I always have snacks available. 🙂
I thank you for your dinner offer also, but as you know…the Captain and I have our Orange Crush tradition and he was waiting in Chicago.:)
Please feel free to drop by anytime….you certainly don’t need an invitation to our home. We love company…and I am usually presentable, even though I may be propped up in bed watching sports!
Be prepared, my friend for March Madness…I have already got a plan in the works!
Blessings back at ya
Kari
Hi my friend…..I will send you some of the interior pics…Only put up 5 trees this year….and you can see some of the decor in the post “Secret Christmas Visitor…” from a couple days ago.
For the exterior, We put 3 Bliss lights (green) in the front yard facing the house and added a bliss light in the secret garden on the East side…really pretty and we received lots of compliments. Everyone wants the laser lights.
We also put up farolitos (little brown sacks with sand and a candle) all around the pool and Spa…
The Captain and I did toast you and yours on Christmas Day!! 🙂
Hugs and XXX
Kari
Oh what fun…. and so right to allow you to enjoy the company of your guests instead of slaving over the chopping board. Lovely to see the community spirit is alive and safe in your hands too. I think the fruit platter is just the perfect balance for the festive cookie selection.. yummy.
Are you able to share jithe table decorations too?
Hugs from across the pond…. Had a little snow on the car yesterday.. nothing left today… xx
It was a wonderful open house with great people, food and decorations…especially the Bliss lights.
Thank you Donna…The Bliss lights are certainly a conversation piece….and it was so lovely to share food and drink with you and Dick and all our other great friends!
Thanks for stopping by….
Kari
Kari, all the food looks wonderful, and you really had a big crowd.
Yes, our Christmas was delightful.
It was so much fun….the Captain’s idea of using our Publix Supermarket for food platters was genius! 🙂
It gave us more time to really enjoy all our wonderful guests!
Me