Midweek Musings - Great Expectations

Great Expectations!

This is an exciting time for our family.  Philippe and Amanda are expecting their first child, a baby girl! Our first grandchild, Georgia Grace (Gigi)!!

And Adrien will be here for Thanksgiving, his first time back in Atlanta since he left for college in August.

Our lives are filled with joy!

This past weekend, with the help of my BFF, Gloria from Long Island, and Carolina (a lovely young lady with a passion for tea), I hosted an Afternoon Tea Baby Shower for Amanda.

Glorious Gloria Ladling the Lemon Curd!!

Carolina, Queen of the Cucumbers Sandwiches!

Vanilla Raspberry Trifle

Perfect for a Tea Time Baby Shower

2 Large Packages of Instant Vanilla Pudding prepared as directed

1 Tbs Vanilla Extract

1 - 12 oz package of frozen raspberries, partially thawed

1/2 cup raspberry jam

2 cups heavy cream

1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup Chambord (Raspberry Liquer)

1 16 oz pound cake sliced into 1/2 inch-thick slices

2 6 oz containers fresh raspberrie - reserve 15 to garnish the top

Prepare the Pudding as directed.

Puree partially thawed raspberries with raspberry jam in food processor to make sauce.

Whip heavy cream together with sugar and Chambord.

In a 4-quart trifle assemble 4 layers in this order:  1 cup pudding, 1/4 of the fresh raspberries, 1/4 of the pound cake slices, 1/4 cup whipped cream, 1/2 cup raspberry sauce.  Top last sauce layer with remaining whipped cream and garnish with reserved berries.

Refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving.

Among many other beautiful presents, Gigi received a lovely collection of books for her library.

From Grand Dad Denis, a colorful fold-out book of nursery rhymes.

From Nana*Starr, the book that tells the story of Anabelle Applewhite, the tap-dancingest girl in Fiddler's Creek, Tap Dance Fever.

And, of course,  Gigi's first pair of shiny black tap shoes!!

It was a fun afternoon spent with old friends and new family members.  By all indications, there are a lot of loving folks just waiting to meet that little Gigi!!

Thanks to all of you that participated in this fun event!

The signs of a successful tea party!

And now, with hearts full of thankfulness, we begin our Thanksgiving preparations.  By special request from Adrien to his Aunt Gloria, we are having an Italian Thanksgiving this year!!

On the menu...

Spicy & Creamy Butternut Soup with Cranberry Coulis

Three cheese Lasagna with Aunt Gloria's That's Italian Marinara Sauce

Eggplant Parmigiana

Broccoli Salad

Succotash

Denis' Focaccia

Later that evening we'll have dessert hour with Philippe & Amanda and her parents, Donna & Joe and her brother Jared.

Pumpkin Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream

Pecan Pie

Brownies

And if we're lucky, our first holiday sing-along with Adrien at the piano!!

Adrien will celebrate his 19th birthday this weekend with a tea time gathering for his friends.

I expect that we will have a splendid time over the next few days, celebrating all of our blessings.

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Praise God from Whom all Blessings flow.

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Happy Thanksgiving to all,

Starr