Catching up with Friends

What a great evening we had last night with Cliff and Carlene. Carlene and Rich were friends in highschool back in New York. We ran into them quite by mistake a couple of years ago here in Peace River. They travel down this way each winter, and we have made it a point to meet up with them each time.

They arrived here in Wauchula a couple of days ago and we immediately made plans to get together. It was Carlene's idea to do a cookout instead of going out for dinner so a cookout it would be at our place. The weather Tuesday evening was a little cool, but we planned dinner for 4:30 - 5:00 , so it was not uncomfortable eating out.

We had sooooooooo much food!!! We started out with some crackers and cheese, chex mix, nachos and cheese sauce and shrimp coctail. That was followed by dinner - chicken/veggie skewers, cabbage/fruit slaw, Carlene's EXCELLENT potato salad, fresh strawberries and fresh Italian Bread.

I had opened a bottle of Chardonney before they arrived but their beverage of choice was a much much better. Marguaritas!!! They came with this HUGE bottle, the Marguarita salt and the lime. I got the glassas and ice.............and put the wine aside. I can't believe we FINISHED that bottle. And for some reason the evening temperature, while dropping quickly was even more bearable!!! I wasn't counting - but I think Carlene had ONE more than everyone else.

But it was getting a little colder and so we moved the party inside....where after a while we had some KeyLime Pie for dessert. And we talked, and we talked and we talked about everything from how reckless (some of us) were in highschool, to favorite recipes, to old age plans and nursing homes to politics and solving the health insurance crises!!

And we called it a night. But in a week or so, we'll probably do this again one more time, before they head north and we have to wait till next year.