Thank you Jean for posting that email. Internet has been flaky - was in the middle of a long post this AM and it bailed on me.
Maryann I'll give you a call after we get through this wedding. It would be fun if we could get together - or at least talk for a while.
Billy - we stopped at Penzey's (in Beechwood) on our way to Ashtabula from the airport - luckily Thursday is the only night they're open late. Kathy and Dawn (sister and daughter) had never heard of Penzey's! $40 later we were on our way home - could have bankrupted us in there!!!
Kathy hooked us up with a wonderful little motel room, all knotty pine walls and very cozy. She had a little refer put in the room and stocked it with water, milk, and orange juice. She filled a basket with grapes, pears, plums, cheese, crackers, cookies, coffee, and a bottle of wine (with corkscrew and wine glasses and coffee mugs). She also put a microwave and coffee maker in the room.
Today we got a bit of a late start. There was a lot of meeting and greeting to do. Then we had to go shopping. More about that later.
We started cooking at almost 5!
There was a lot of knife work - no food processor! The blender had a hard time making pesto. But the torta is made and in the fridge, the muffaletta filling is done, the bacon is cooked off, and the eggs for the bruschetta are done. Due to a shortage of bowls, and equipment we had to give it up for tonight.
We're going to hit it early. Focaccia, meat loaves, mac & cheese, pigs in a blanket (:p), the corn salad, the bruschetta, and possibly bacon bleu cheese mini muffins should wind it up.
Then we'll come back to the motel and get cleaned up. Whew! The wedding's at 5! We'll be doing the setup after that.
The only downer was that Jennifer called just as we were pulling into the motel parking lot yesterday - her Dad passed away yesterday.
I feel so bad that I'm not there for her! I'll take the time to cry after this is all done. My heart is breaking for her - and I'll miss him (13 years together and we were still friends). Well time to browse a bit and head to bed.
Nite all!