A Lovely Party! 1 week, 5 days!

Yesterday from 2 to 6 (well, it ended up being more like 6:30) I had a going away party at our church. I was a bit worried that not as many people would come as I was hoping, but my fears had no grounds! It ended up being a very busy and successful party.

Heather and I spent Friday and Saturday morning working on goodies to make for the open house. I made oat cakes (a recipe from Grandma Jean from a Scottish hotel in Canada), and Heather made shortbread and a fancy form of oat cakes - with chopped nuts and almond extract, both of which were very delicious. We were concerned about just offering sweets, though. But we were also worried about the Scottish options for savory food. We were pretty sure no one would eat Haggis, and we thought people might be affronted if we offered them oatmeal. So, I suggested we make Chicken Tikka Masala - which, if you recall from some time earlier, I found out was a Glaswegian/Indian dish! So...I seasoned the chicken (with garlic, onion, cumin, tumeric and a few cardamom pods) but then, in the interest of time and labor, we bought some jars of Tikka Masala sauce, and warmed up the sauce and chicken in our crock pot. We served this with rice in small dishes and surprisingly enough it was a HUGE success! I had no idea it would be so popular. Of course, I was thrilled, as it is just about my favorite dish!

Everyone was so kind and wonderful to me - full of generosity, praise, love and heartfelt good-byes. It was a truly wonderful party!

Here are some of the guests:

Me, Katie & Martille Nohle

Johannes Mason, myself, Eileen Bontorno & Judy Scheepsma

Heather, Michael, Ed Houghton, and his lovely mother Grace Houghton

Greene book group ladies: Karen Scott, Amy Marsland & Jannette Nelson

Holding my Breath***2 weeks, 5 days

It is two weeks and five days until I am scheduled to depart to Glasgow (via Syracuse, via Boston, via Iceland, via Manchester!). My future plans, however, are in the hands of the Visa application folks. They have my passport, my former transcripts, my flight information, my bank account information, not to mention forms, photos, finger-prints and other ephemera. Everyone say your prayers that I get this visa soon!

This and That *** 5 weeks!

There were a few things about which I wanted to write. The first being a P.S. I wanted to add about that book ELSIE & MAIRI GO TO WAR. I just finished it a few days ago (it was wonderful, I really recommend it!) and the author lists her website in the end of the book. I looked at it and it is a fascinating website. And I really recommend that you look this up too:
http://www.dianeatkinson.co.uk/
Currently she is performing a sort of readers theater of the story of Elsie and Mairi with two Scottish actresses. She's also campaigning for a statue of Elsie and Mairi!

Secondly, I just got my address! I don't know my apartment number, but I have the address. Heather looked it up on Google street view, and it was pretty exciting looking at my future home - I mean flat!

Everyone seems to like my posts better when there is a picture, so since it was my birthday earlier this week, I'm including a picture of the beautiful portrait my friend Nick painted of me.