Happy New Year

It sure makes us think about how old we are and how quickly times passes when one year ends and another one begins.   Every year there's a countdown to Christmas Day, and before you know it, it's come and gone.  You sit back and think about everything you accomplished, the good times you had, and then you start planning for another year.

Between Christmas and New Year's Day, I was very excited.  I enjoy entertaining in our home, and this year we were continuing our tradition of a New Year's Day Gathering of Friends.  This tradition started in 1994 when we first moved to Florida.  Our families were back north, as were our friends, so we invited our "new friends and neighbors"..........and it has continued each year with the exception of the time we were full time RV'ing.  This would be our second in our new home here in Lake Placid.  WOW!  We've been here for two Christmas/New Year's Holidays ALREADY?

Friends started arriving around 1:00 pm and soon the house was full of chatter and the aroma of good food!   Joining us this year was: Our neighbors Al and Barb, Phil and Doreen and Jack and Diane.      ( Oops!  John was coming down with something and stayed home to rest.  Hope you're feeling better!!).  There was our good friends Nick and Tonyia, and Nathan and Krystal.   Speaking of time!  With Nathan and Krystal buying a home WAY over in Myakka City - this is the first we have seen them in more than a year!  It was very special visiting with them again.  AND........a week or so ago we learned that our friends Bob and LaVern (aka Silly Willy and Fluffy) were staying right here in Lake Placid and teaching at the Clown Museum!   Another special treat for us to be able to have them join us.

Isn't it always the way........that the men seem to gather and talk "man talk" while the women do their " girl talk" in another room?  Here are the guys!  Below: The guys in the "food line" filling their plates. (Yes - they were the first in line, with Rich leading the pack!)  That's Phil, Rich, Nick and Bob in the top two photos, along with Al and Nathan in the bottom photo.

And here are the ladies...........(left to right) LaVern, Doreen, Krystal and on the stool, Diane.  Funny story!!!!  Diane called about 2:30 to say that John was not feeling well, but that she had made here salad and would be over by 3:00.  She had told John she would only be stay for a few minutes.  I think it was after 6:00 when she left!!!

Top right - that's Tonyia with Krystal at the table, and bottom right is Barb.

About 4:00 we gave thanks and headed for the food line!  Our holiday feast included, Ham, Party Meatballs, Smoked Sausage and Veggies (Tonyia),  Macaroni Salad (Krystal), Potato Salad (Diane), Fruit Salad, Hungarian Scalloped Potatoes (Lavern), Macaroni and Cheese (Barb), Dinner Rolls and Broccoli Cornbread (Doreen).  Appetizers: crackers, cheese, sausage, cream cheese and ham roll ups, yogurt covered pretzels and chips. For dessert: chocolate dipped chocolate chip cookie sandwiches with whipped cream filling (Nick and Tonyia), peanut butter/chocolate chip cookies and oatmeal raisin cookies, peanut butter fudge, rice crispy Santa treats ( Nathan and Krystal) and our New Year's Cake.  Beverages of choice included: iced tea, lemonade, bottled water, beer, wine ( Al and Barb and Bob and LaVern) and Eggnog with Cinnamon Whiskey ( Nick and Tonyia) and coffee.

It was about 7:00 or maybe a little after by the time everyone had left. But not before we had promised to visit Nathan and Krystal one weekend, and talk about a trip to the Broadway Palm for dinner and show.  And not before we were invited to join the folks from TT Peace River on January 10th for a show at the Lake Placid Clown Museum.........and not before Diane promised to share the star fruit she picks from neighbor Tom's yard........and not before the guys had shared their fish tales, stock market forecasts and solved the problems of the world!  And thank you Doreen for the Broccoli Cornbread recipe (awesome!) and LaVerne for what she says is the "Very Best" macaroni and cheese!   Here they are if you want to try them!

Thank you to all of our friends who made this day very special.  We hope that they are all blessed with a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2015 ( Live Well and Prosper - as Rich would say) .  We are truly blessed with good friends and are so fortunate to have them to bring in the New Year. 

Here's our Cake!