ALFRESCO ENTERTAINING

​Alfresco entertaining means dining outdoors. It is an Italian phrase that we have become so familiar with. 

Entertaining outdoors is a one of the most enjoyable places to share a meal, a snack or just coffee or tea with family and friends. 

Nitz and I share some red fruity hot tea. 

Our son’s recent visit after missing him for 2 1/2 years due to pandemic 

My sister Annie’s visit last month

Enjoying matcha green tea latte with BFF, Tess

Recently when the pandemic started to wind down we did a bit of entertaining in the garden. 

Former colleagues and friends forever decided to visit us. 

The advantage of dining in the garden is that we have a ready-made backdrop of plants, no need to do much but make the table setting more interesting. 

Alfresco dining is meant to be casual but I always like my table dressed up more than casual but still simple

Last week we invited Butch, one of Jim’s BFF and our dearest friend, Nitz. 

“Why are you going out of your way to make an elaborate table setting?”: Jim asked. “It’s only Butch”, he said.  But I wanted to make it nicer than ordinary; besides I want to use my Orla Kiely tablecloth. 

That’s with Butch and our great friend, Nitz. 

Alfresco parties are fantastic, we can enjoy food and conversation and also have fresh air and sunlight or moonlight depending on the time of day. Moreover, there are the sounds of the birds chirping and the leaves rustling  in the light breeze. 

Nowadays, our calamansi tree is in bloom, I just can’t get enough of the sweet and fruity smell of the flowers I almost can’t leave the garden. The only thing lacking  is good company, though jim and I enjoy breakfast and often afternoon snacks outdoors. 

my walking life

​While waiting for my “next big thing” after my retirement, my younger daughter suggested that meanwhile I do the ordinary things. I didn’t know then that this ordinary thing can be great. 

So I started to do the ordinary, I went walking everyday. Initially I set my goal to 5000 steps but realized soon enough that it is the average walking activity of most people. So I upped my goal to 10,000 steps. 

After walking alone while praying the rosary, thanking The  Lord for my blessings, I started to meet some nice people. I make friends easily by nature and I met Tess often; she walks with me two blocks while she cools down from jog and we learned that we are neighbors. 

At the height of the pandemic, we were just walking on our street when her flights to Rotterdam were cancelled three times. Little did I know that I’ll make one of the greatest friends I’ll ever have. I miss you Tess Schotel!!

Part of the time she stays in Rotterdam but when she is here, we walk and cool down with her power drink in her beautiful home, sometimes even breakfast 

When I walk alone, I meet friends. I thought it was a coincidence when I happened along Josie walking alone; she was new in the community then. I realized that she was also sent my way to be one of my walking buddies. 

Of course there’s Liza who walks with the guys, “the oldies but goodies”. When she’s alone, we walk together. 

There’s also Risa, Juliet, Roda, Lona, Easter, husband and wife Mar and Mellie, Lito and Rency, Nestor and Amor. There’s Bing who used to offer coffee as I pass her home until I asked her to walk with me along with her neighbor, Cynthia.

From left: Josie, Tess, Risa and I posing on International Wonen’s Day. 

When the regulars don’t walk, I find myself walking alone; greeting acquaintances as I pass by; we share a smile and a word or two. Even maids and drivers working outside also greet me.   

Today I met Dolly. I’ve been seeing her walking as well but this morning she chose to walk with me. I welcomed the company while we made the getting-to-know-you conversation. I find her nice and I’m sure we will have wonderful mornings walking together with the others.  

I’ve adapted a friendship mantra from a kindergarten nursery rhyme:

“Make new friends, but keep the old; one is silver and the other gold”.