Mom's 84th birthday

In the midst of our craziness this month, I decided that we needed to celebrate Doug's mom's 84th birthday with a BANG!!  I called Mom to select a date, which was two days after her actual birthday because it was our only free night that week, invited the siblings and we were able to get 13 of the 14 of us here!

Denise and I left at 8:30 that morning, enjoyed breakfast at Angies, then hit Sam's Club and Lee's for all that we needed and we needed a LOT!  I'd decided that it would be fun to create a charcuterie board for the family to feast and gather around the table for talk and laughs.  Doug's family are all about health and nutrition. I knew that the cost would be pretty high, but for Mom's birthday, it was worth the expense, which we all split.  Denise and I were back home from shopping just after 11 and I finished putting things on the board just before everyone arrived at 6PM.  We had a ball cutting, slicing, rolling and arranging all of the food! So fun!

This was one of the prettiest tables that I've ever set and the best part was, WE ATE IT!

Here is a list of what we had on the board:

7 different types of crackers

7 cheeses - asiago, Gouda, cheddar-jack, pepper jack, mozzarella, Havarti and a rosemary/olive oil Gouda that was rolled in more rosemary (oh my!)

7 meats - a maple turkey, a smoked ham, pepperoni, salami, a pepper-rolled salami, prosciutto and hot suppressata

3 breads - rosemary, asiago and a multigrain bagette

2 bowls filled with mini-cucumbers and slices of red, yellow and orange peppers

green olives stuffed with garlic cloves (I even tried one.  I'll pass next time, but they were a hit!)

dates, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, grapes

homemade from scratch ranch dressing

a gourmet spicy hot mustard (not my favorite thing, but again, a hit with Doug)

marscapone mixed with a sour cherry jelly (oh my!)

dill pickles, cherry tomatoes

cashews, raw almonds,  olive oil marinated almonds, peppered pastachios, candied pecans

strawberry bundt cake with vanilla ice cream

It really was as pretty to look at as it was fun to eat!

No forks allowed.

Grazing is a good word for what we did for two hours.  We ate until our hearts content and talked about everything from gardening (a normal and expected topic) to food to gospel topics (another normal) all evening long, until the table talk questions were pulled out and then we talked memories and favorites and Mom!  (Note, even I drank ice water, so as not to take away from the many flavors on the table!)

Mom is always happiest when surrounded by her children.  All but one son-in-law, who had commitments that he couldn't be excused from, were able to join us.  Norm, as always, expressed his gratitude for Mom and her kids.  He's sure been a gift to our family!

One candle will suffice when you are 84!  With all that we'd eaten, no one expected a cake when Zeej brought it out with the candle lit.  Aleece led us in "Happy Birthday" without a word.

It was a fun evening, filled with love for Mom.  Ironically, the next night, we received a call that Mom had fallen and was being ambulanced to the nearest Idaho hospital.  Doug's sister, Anne, immediately went to the hospital as Mom was being released with a fractured upper arm. We were so relieved that it was not more serious!  Doug's mom is one of the most loving and kind, gentle women that I've ever known.  We are so grateful for her every day!  Personally, I look forward to planning another fun party for her 85th and many more!