This is the power of gathering: it inspires us, delightfully, to be more hopeful, more joyful, more thoughtful: in a word, more alive.

- Alice Waters

We have quests for dinner on Saturday night, someone other than our kids. It has been a long time since we entertained, and as I am setting the table in the afternoon, I find myself having a bit of fun. I dig out tiny vases for flowers and fill the votives with new candles. I mix things up a bit, and set out a different wine glasses at each place, thinking everyone can grab the one they like. I then go about the day; I wash the greens for the salad, make a smoked salmon dip for an appetizer and whip the cream for the frozen key lime pie. Every time I peek into the dinning room I smile. My sister would be proud of me, as she loves to set the table.

Me, not so much. We always sit at the table for meals, and have done so for as long as I can remember. But my family was, and still is way more interested in what we are eating, and to this day pay little attention to other details. I found it lovely however, especailly as the day faded over the lake out the dinning room window and the candles glowed.

It was just as lovely this morning as I drank my morning latte and watched the sun come up over the hills behind the lake-
right before I headed back into the kitchen, to unload the dishwasher for the second time.