You know that warning given about mutual funds and other investments: “Past performance is no guarantee of future returns.” Well, if you’re a regular reader of the blogs on this website you may remember my post over in the food section about the last Cherry Creek Chorale retreat breakfast, which I said was pretty stress-free. I had things done ahead of time and it was almost a little bit boring to be standing around and waiting for the crowds to descend.
I should have remembered the slogan given above. Just because I did it right once doesn’t mean I’m going to do it right again. So I found myself strangely reluctant to get going this time. I wasn’t making anything too demanding, not like the previous sweet-roll extravaganza. Just homemade granola with yogurt and my signature green-chili-cheese-corn casserole. It was as if I thought that the lack of procrastination from last time would magically carry over to this time. But of course that wasn’t true.
So, finally, I dashed to the grocery store Friday afternoon to get the ingredients I didn’t already have, dashed home, and threw together the granola. People were coming for our college group that evening and I felt completely under the gun. (Elsa, if you’re reading this, I am indeed glad you came. We had a lovely evening!) Jim and Gideon brought in the groceries. At some point there was a thump. There on the floor was one of the 32-ounce containers of yogurt that I’d bought. It had been put TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF THE COUNTER, fallen off and cracked open. I was irate! Why on earth had whoever-it-was, Jim or Gideon, put it so close to the edge? Why hadn’t he put it in the fridge right away? I said to Jim, “I am infuriated!” (At least I didn’t say I was infuriated with him. And at least I didn’t launch into the “why didn’t you?” speech. But I think it was pretty clear that my comment was indeed aimed his way.) Of course, you will say that it was pretty nice of the guys to bring in the stuff for me. And that losing a few ounces of yogurt wasn’t that big of a deal. Of course, of course. The only reason for my overreaction was my procrastination. (Funnily enough, I had knocked a container of yogurt onto the floor myself at the grocery store, but it hadn’t broken.) The event itself went great. I felt very nervous the next morning as I raced to pick up the bagels and then get to the event in time to set up. We were ready, though, thanks to the great helpers I have. The casseroles, two huge chafing-dishes’ worth, were eaten down to the last crumb. And the granola garnered much praise, with very little left over.
So, this coming weekend I have yet another food event: a women’s tea at our church. I’m making little lemon tarts, and chicken salad, and goat cheese/red pepper dip, and fruit salad, and cranberry scones. Plans are currently in hand to have everything but the scones done the day before. I need to plan out the logistics of getting the hot water into the teapots and baking the scones at the last minute. I need to make sure that we have enough seating for everyone who has RSVP’d. It has turned out to be a pretty small event–only 24 or so–but that’s fine. Oh, and I need to be sure I have my talk ready, as I’m doing a short devotional. There’s plenty for me to procrastinate about. Maybe this post will act as an accountability spur to get me going, as I plan to report back here on how things went.