..so, OK, then it was off to our home...

...to see what Mr. B was up to.

You could smell it from the driveway. And not is a bad way...(gotta love a man that cooks!)

...he "sears" the meat first and the spices get all hot and aromatic...then roasts it in a slow oven..so the smell "gets ya" all day long!

A sirloin roast, in the oven, sprinkled with whatever concoction he puts on it to make me think of good times with good food and good friends.

Rachael's birthday was on Monday the 15th, and we usually see them on Saturdays. So, last Saturday, we said "Why don't we have a little cook-out to celebrate your birthday...ah..late??"

She said "OK"

..and so the plan was set into motion.

Mr. B said, "well, why don't we invite Jenny, Brooks and the boys over?"

I said "That'll be good...we should ask Rachael's parents, Pam & Steve..."

"Yeah, we haven't seen them in quite a while..it'll be fun and I can always throw another burger on the grill.."

"OK - great, now let's see - Grandma Evelyn, Jeff & Rachael, Steve & Pam, Jenny, Brooks, Brahm and Oliver and you & me..ummm..how about Sacha from work?"

"No problem. We've got plenty of room - we can always set up another table outside.."

Seems we let everyone know, maybe with the exception of Mother nature. Rain in the forcast for Saturday.

Change in plans - the simple cook-out turned inside- and why serve hamburgers if you can't grill them...and why have just anything when you have good friends and family coming over..and one thing led to another..and another..and .....this is the result -(and oh, by the way, no rain. Nope. Nada. )

Menu

(Salad)

Beef roast w/ Horseradish Sauce

Loaded Smashers

Risotto

Corn

Mixed Veggies (straight from Sacha's garden!)

Sesame Bread

Cherry Yogurt Pie

Key Lime Yogurt Pie

Cupcakes

The kids brought these flowers they picked for us on their drive from their home..

I don't know why I didn't take photos of the food- I usually do - I think I was too hungry to take the time to take pictures!

Grandma Evelyn found this darling "cake" that was actually a combo of white cupcakes and chocolate cupcakes! They were a big hit...they smelled good..heavy sigh...

It looked better before the rush was on to get a cupcake - I finally yelled "STOP! I don't have a picture of it!"

I said "lean in and act like you like each other..

Jeff & Rachael - and Brahm...

Steve & Pam...and Brahm..

Grandma Evelyn & Sacha...hey where's Brahm??

Oh, here he is..with Oliver trying to give himself bunny-ears..

(and, no, that's not a beer on their table..Cream Soda..yeah, you know you were thinking it was beer..you totally were..ah huh)

Jenny was out of town, so I told Mr. B and Brooks to "act like you like each other"..

Oh, and then Sacha grabbed my camera and said

.."So, act like you like each other "

which is an easy thing for us to do...

Have a great week and maybe you can figure out the mystery of how, when trying to put away the left-overs, the amount of food to put back in seems like more, even when you've feed everyone and sent home "doggie bags" ??

-me