Party paranoia

I'm having a luncheon for the Junior League of Dallas Garden Club Committee, of which I'll be President next year. It's a turn-over meeting, meaning that past officers are supposed to "turn over" their notebooks (this is the Junior League, you know). It would have been so easy to just invite them all to the Woman's Club or to a restaurant - but no - I decided to host them at my house.

I figured that for the cost of the Woman's Club, etc - I could entertain at home and get some of the things around the house fixed for the same cost. - Like replacing the St. Augustine grass in front that has grub worms (I did add nematodes, which are supposed to kill the grubs), getting the front door painted, polishing up the front door knocker and door knob, putting out colorful, perennial, shade-loving plants, and cleaning up the house. (Except for Byron's study - we'll just shut the doors on his study.)

I'm having chicken salad, fruit salad, rolls (Sister Shubert), two-bite brownies and potato chips - which all sounded easy last week.

Tip - put all the serving dishes - plates, glasses and polished silverware - in the dishwasher before the party. I made the mistake once of not doing this and having a guest look askance at a plate with dried-on scrambled egg.

It will all be over at 1:30 tomorrow, and as Rick Reilly says "1 and a half billion Chinese don't care."