Where to begin...

First, a little history...
When we lived in Michigan over 7 years ago, we lived down town over a small flower shop named Blossom Land, it was a great loft apartment. Our neighbors were some of the owners of the shops downtown. One of the shops Green Wellies was our favorite to visit because of the wonderful pond and beautiful plants in the courtyard of the shop during the summer growing season. Over the years of living there we started having "after Hours" in the summer with the shop owner Leisa, Heidi and Ruthie from the travel agency two doors down and it was great weekly tradition. We would take turns bringing wonderful food and drinks after the shop closed and we would sit by the pond and talk about life, what happened that week, share old stories and laugh, laugh, laugh. It was a little break from work, life, the kids and men.

Leisa had mentioned that she would like to have an "after hours" for Heidi on her 40th birthday and the rest is now history. I found a great price on airline tickets and that was all it took.

Leisa and I started cooking for the event on Thursday. We both love to cook and thought an event like Heidi turning 40 required good food.

Here is Heidi enjoying her fresh, homemade food.

The menu included:
Black eye pea salad


Couscous with homemade citrus-ginger dressing goat cheese and garden fresh peas


Cucumbers in sushi vinegar


Fresh greenhouse tomatoes


Salt-top Rye from Bit of swiss


Boursin


Baked Artichoke dip* (*Photo missing, substituted photo of spinach dip from another night)


Olive Focaccia


Cream Cheese Pound Cake with fresh Michigan Strawberries


Assorted drinks in the appropreiate colors


Cake was served, Happy Birthday was poorly sung


GIfts were given


Friends gathered


Fish calmed...


...and Heidi turned 40. Happy birthday Heidi, Just wait until your 50!