Comments on: In Behalf of the Dinner Party http://laniersbooks.com/2005/07/20/on-behalf-of-the-dinner-party/ antiquarian gems and gently-loved jewels Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:33:18 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Claudia http://laniersbooks.com/2005/07/20/on-behalf-of-the-dinner-party/comment-page-1/#comment-625 Claudia Tue, 04 Oct 2005 00:24:53 +0000 http://laniersbooks.com/2005/07/20/on-behalf-of-the-dinner-party/#comment-625 I well remember the night of Delphi's feast. I was so worried that I did not have the right pans or kitchen equipment for a true French meal! I was very surprised with the simplicityof Delphi's "needs" -- the willing hands and happy chatter that was such a special part of the preparations. I love the afteglow of a party or special dinner--the smell of candles , the fragrance of the flowers, the lingering aroma of coffee...memories of conversations and faces that we love. I well remember the night of Delphi’s feast. I was so worried that I did not have the right pans or kitchen equipment for a true French meal! I was very surprised with the simplicityof Delphi’s “needs” — the willing hands and happy chatter that was such a special part of the preparations. I love the afteglow of a party or special dinner–the smell of candles , the fragrance of the flowers, the lingering aroma of coffee…memories of conversations and faces that we love.

]]> By: Laura http://laniersbooks.com/2005/07/20/on-behalf-of-the-dinner-party/comment-page-1/#comment-624 Laura Tue, 13 Sep 2005 02:43:51 +0000 http://laniersbooks.com/2005/07/20/on-behalf-of-the-dinner-party/#comment-624 As a happy recipient of that beautiful evening's hospitality, I simply had to second the notion that laboring over each detail of a dinner party is time well-spent, res ulting in a treat for giver and guest alike. Lanier, we left that night and talked on the way home (before I fell asleep) about how quickly the hours flew, how we cherished all the enthusiastic talk about books and music and books again... all this against the backdrop of wonderful food and atmosphere. What a treat. I wonder if you ever feel this way: I like my little home so very much when it's scrubbed (somewhat) and ready, candles lit and something simmering on the stove, just moments before company calls. I remember thinking that about my mother's house just before one of her dinner parties, even when I was so little I knew my fate was to be whisked off to bed. There's such a sweet expectancy in the air. I'm enjoying your website -- I'm brand new to the Internet. I was so reluctant, but your writings make for a lovely introduction. As a happy recipient of that beautiful evening’s hospitality, I simply had to second the notion that laboring over each detail of a dinner party is time well-spent, res ulting in a treat for giver and guest alike. Lanier, we left that night and talked on the way home (before I fell asleep) about how quickly the hours flew, how we cherished all the enthusiastic talk about books and music and books again… all this against the backdrop of wonderful food and atmosphere. What a treat. I wonder if you ever feel this way: I like my little home so very much when it’s scrubbed (somewhat) and ready, candles lit and something simmering on the stove, just moments before company calls. I remember thinking that about my mother’s house just before one of her dinner parties, even when I was so little I knew my fate was to be whisked off to bed. There’s such a sweet expectancy in the air. I’m enjoying your website — I’m brand new to the Internet. I was so reluctant, but your writings make for a lovely introduction.

]]> By: Wendy http://laniersbooks.com/2005/07/20/on-behalf-of-the-dinner-party/comment-page-1/#comment-623 Wendy Sat, 23 Jul 2005 02:39:48 +0000 http://laniersbooks.com/2005/07/20/on-behalf-of-the-dinner-party/#comment-623 Oh Lanier - what a lovely time I've just spent imagining your beautiful dinner party last weekend.... I, too, enjoy taking the time to plan and prepare for an evening with friends and family. Unfortunately, it seems that this season of my life has made it difficult to spend the time doing it exactly as I would like. It has been a real struggle between being able to do it like I would want to and not doing it at all. My children love the excitement of a party and will quickly tell me that the little things don't matter. Their most wonderful memories include adults and friends of all ages, milling about the house and yard as the fireflies come out. With this in mind, I have tried to find a balance by inviting friends to come but doing only the most important things - hoping the dimming daylight and candle glow will hide the flaws and add a little cheer to the hearts of my friends and family. I look forward to the slower days of fall and winter when the wedding season wanes. Maybe then I will have the time to snip a few, late blooming dahlias for a well-appointed table, beckon guests to come sit by the fire and offer them another cup of coffee before they head home into a chilly night. Thank you for the reminder of the lovely things we miss when life gets too hurried. Much love to you. Wendy Oh Lanier – what a lovely time I’ve just spent imagining your beautiful dinner
party last weekend….

I, too, enjoy taking the time to plan and prepare for an evening with friends and
family. Unfortunately, it seems that this season of my life has made it difficult to
spend the time doing it exactly as I would like. It has been a real struggle between being able to do it like I would want to and not doing it at all.

My children love the excitement of a party and will quickly tell me that the
little things don’t matter. Their most wonderful memories include adults and
friends of all ages, milling about the house and yard as the fireflies come out.
With this in mind, I have tried to find a balance by inviting friends to come but doing only the most important things – hoping the dimming daylight and candle glow will hide the flaws and add a little cheer to the hearts of my friends and family.

I look forward to the slower days of fall and winter when the wedding season
wanes. Maybe then I will have the time to snip a few, late blooming dahlias
for a well-appointed table, beckon guests to come sit by the fire and offer them another cup of coffee before they head home into a chilly night.

Thank you for the reminder of the lovely things we miss when life gets too hurried.

Much love to you.
Wendy

]]> By: Sallie http://laniersbooks.com/2005/07/20/on-behalf-of-the-dinner-party/comment-page-1/#comment-622 Sallie Thu, 21 Jul 2005 11:17:09 +0000 http://laniersbooks.com/2005/07/20/on-behalf-of-the-dinner-party/#comment-622 Your evening sounds lovely! We, too, love to use our china and crystal and go the extra mile in preparing a lovely evening for our guests. One of the challenges I face is finding other people who enjoy a "special" evening as well! While there is certainly a time and place for casual entertaining, I long to do more beautiful evenings. It seems that a lot of people aren't comfortable with it though. I've also read that if you do things "too nicely" people will not reciprocate if they feel they can't "live up to" what you did. So it is a challenge to find the right balance. I am thankful my parents raised me using china and silver on a regular basis. They wanted me to be comfortable in any kind of setting I would find myself. My life has taken me to a lot of formal occasions and I'm thankful for this training they gave me. Sadly, I don't see that happening in many homes any longer. The lingering over a meal and enjoying a meal as an event in and of itself with nothing more than wonderful food and lively/stimulating conversation has been a dying part of our culture. Hopefully more of us will seek ways to ressurect it! Blessings, Sallie Your evening sounds lovely! We, too, love to use our china and crystal and go the extra mile in preparing a lovely evening for our guests. One of the challenges I face is finding other people who enjoy a “special” evening as well! While there is certainly a time and place for casual entertaining, I long to do more beautiful evenings. It seems that a lot of people aren’t comfortable with it though. I’ve also read that if you do things “too nicely” people will not reciprocate if they feel they can’t “live up to” what you did. So it is a challenge to find the right balance.

I am thankful my parents raised me using china and silver on a regular basis. They wanted me to be comfortable in any kind of setting I would find myself. My life has taken me to a lot of formal occasions and I’m thankful for this training they gave me. Sadly, I don’t see that happening in many homes any longer. The lingering over a meal and enjoying a meal as an event in and of itself with nothing more than wonderful food and lively/stimulating conversation has been a dying part of our culture. Hopefully more of us will seek ways to ressurect it!

Blessings,
Sallie

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