Luncheon with friends

a gift from Margaret (the French Bear) 

I can't believe it's been almost 2 weeks since that memorable visit to Evi's house. There hasn't been a day since that I haven't thought of it. It's like seeing a great movie and for days later parts of it happily swirl in your head. The difference is that this time you and your good friends are in it. It's a good feeling. As you may have seen in posts done by Laura and Evi herself, her home is decorated throughout with touches of Christmas that are totally enchanting.  There is an undeniable European styling to her decorating and testament to her German heritage. Evi grew up with the  dollhouses as a young child in Germany.  Her father would take them out and display it on Christmas Eve and a couple of days later would pack it up until the next year. Now Evi leaves it out in her downstairs family room all year long. It's too wonderful to stay boxed up and not enjoyed. The 6 year old child in me wanted to play with the little farm animals and make pies in the bakery. Speaking of cooking lunch was divine with the creamiest mushroom soup, green salad, Waldorf salad and two different quiches. I had two helpings of all of it....I have no shame. I need to get some recipes. Laura was saving herself for dessert. I didn't deny myself that either. Deanna wanted to get a better look at Evi's studio to get ideas for her own so we headed downstairs. When I grow up I want to be as organized. She was patient with us as we pulled out drawers and drooled over her art supplies. That was when we got a glimpse at the sketches that she had done years ago when she was in the fashion industry. In her folder were etchings her granddaughter had done by using examples of her grandmothers. The apple does not fall far from the tree. Planting the seeds of creativity I think :)