One might well say that mankind is divisible into two great classes: hosts and guests.
~ Max Beerbohm
I'm a guest. I am a kick-ass visitor. I am NOT a hostess.
Having confessed this, you should know that I'm hosting a very dear friend and her family on the upcoming long weekend. While I want everything to be perfect, it won't be -- because that's not how things go. It is not her expectations I fear, but rather my gnawing tendencies towards perfectionism. Strangely, once she's here, I will stop measuring "things" like how clean the cottage is, or how good the food is, or if there's anything "missing." I will go crazy stressing over food, cleaning, lawn care and activities until she arrives and then those shallow things will fall to the wayside as we simply enjoy our time together.
Until then....I make lists. Lists for food, lists for ingredients, things to do, things to buy, things to have, things to clean, things to fix, lists, lists, lists. I make lists. I even make a list of lists I will need. Lists, lists, lists.
I initially asked for help with the menu from my dear friend "The Foodie" whose strength (as you can imagine by the nickname) is food and menu ideas. He is a very good cook and food is important to him -- he is my life's version of Wolfgang Puck - food is his hobby. It drives me nuts. I subscribe to the "live to eat" notion that food is necessary fuel for our bodies. I remember to eat when my stomach growls but more often than not, I skip meals like a hopscotch champion. On weekends, I generally eat a pot of coffee in the morning and then make something late afternoon when I have a chance. It's a terrible, unhealthy habit but it's an incredible time-saver and I don't usually have a sink full of dishes waiting for me. The Foodie plans his activities around meals most days. I have a real problem with it.
The Foodie and I had a falling out, however, so I took it upon myself to Google some meal ideas. I have a rough idea of dinners, lunches and breakfast. We'll have at least 1 meal out -- maybe 2 -- and the rest will be taken care of. First night is Mexican-ish-y fare ... mostly because I want to mix up some Margaritas...bad...I know. Saturday will be seafood lakeside with cedar grilled salmon and skewered shrimp with vegetables and rice. Sunday is either steak or chicken...maybe both. I think I have this food thing down.
I spent the last week doing deck repairs to avoid an injury (or worse, a lawsuit) involving my company. My friend has a young daughter so I'm cleaning up the kayaks and have found a small(ish) life jacket for her. The pool at my parents (across the road) is on stand-by.
I weeded the garden, and The Foodie dropped by today to apply a fresh stain to the bench on the deck. He also kindly dropped off two lounge chairs in anticipation for my "girl time" lakeside catching up. Thoughtful!! Hmmmm, maybe sucking up....not sure...possibly both.
I spent the weekend burning crap from my deck repairs and cutting the lawn and stacking some wood by the bonfire pit. The lawn looks pretty good except for all the crud washing up with the high water and the flooded part of the lawn. It's as good as it's going to get.
I cleaned the bathroom and washed the floors and took a stab at the cobwebs -- though cobwebs grow overnight here at the lakeside. I know, I know, I will freshen up the bathroom before she arrives -- maybe twice.
Things won't be perfect, but the weekend will be. She has already warned me..."We are not coming to see your house...we are coming to see YOU." She is an absolute joy to be around so I know that everything will be just fine and our time together will be fun and full of laughter.
I found this quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, however, and I thought, "I can live with that."
"The only advantage of not being too good a housekeeper is that your guests are so pleased to feel how very much better they are."
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
