Africa Day Preparations

The pace is starting to pick up around here. We are planning a big dinner next Saturday (26^th) for about 200 people. We love to entertain and having 75-100 people has been a not-too-rare occasion for us. This time it’s going to be more of a challenge trying to take care of 200 people.  I'm going to have some great help in the kitchen though, so it will relieve me of a lot of responsibility. 

When we were in South Africa in March we met a man who owns a rehabilitation center for wildlife. He takes injured animals from Krueger Park, doctors them up and reintroduces them to the wild. He is so incredible. He also takes people out regularly for a BIG taste of adventure with the wild animals. (Ever hear of having a tug-of-war with lions.  This man does it.)  He’s raised lions, cheetahs and other kinds of animals in his home. He’s coming to Arizona for 5 days (staying with us) and while he is here he’s going to give a talk on God in Creation. When we were there in March he just kept us spellbound with stories. You could sense his love for the animals as he shared little details of how each animal was specially designed by God.

I’ve went shopping the last few days getting some very large bowls, serving utensils, paper products and other serving dishes.

We’re planning a Mexican Fiesta (for an African? go figure). This is my menu:

Red and Green Chile Enchiladas (beef & chicken)

Beans

Green Salad

Chips & Salsa

Various desserts w/ Ice Cream

I have 3 chafing dishes and then I just purchased 9 more of the pan inserts so that when one gets empty I can remove it and put another in its place. All in all we will have 14 pans of enchiladas.

I have 20 people bringing green salads. I’m just going to take the various green salads that are coming and keep refilling my 3 gigantic bowls with it. Twenty people are bringing 9×13 desserts. We have a large commercial ice cream maker that’s going to make the ice cream.

I’m feeling pretty good about everything but a lot of times it’s the little details that cause the snags.

Hard at Work

My kitchen helper cooking meat for the enchiladas.

Finishing up a front yard stone planter.

(A great learning experience for SM who's 15)

“27 Trash Pick-Up” (modeled after the FlyLady's 27 Fling Boogie)

 What can I say?  I just can't seem to tear him away from his books.  Diligent homeschooler.  Not! but getting better and better. 

Just a little bit of what's happening around here.  One thing about it, when you plan a shindig things get done that otherwise might take a very long time.