…I was just sitting down to write the day’s blog, pleased that I might finish it and still have time to continue working out in the garden.  Who could be at our door at 2:30 in the afternoon?

But as soon as I answered, everything fell into place.  OMG!  I had asked my friends — possibly the most elegant mother/daughter duo that I know — for afternoon coffee.  At 2:30.  On the 12th.  OMG!  I was mortified and delighted to see them and terrified that I was finally lapsing into full-blown dementia — all at the same time.

“We’ll go and come back another day,” they said.  “No!  Of course you won’t,” I insisted.  “I have elegant cookies all ready for you — even if I’m an idiot!”   Thank goodness for Charlotte, the Cookie Fairy!  And how long will it take frozen cookies to thaw, anyway?    “How do you feel about instant coffee?” I asked.  “Just ice water,” they said.  And since I’m sure it was at least 450° inside my muddy garden togs, I agreed.

If you ever fall into this Number One Hostess’s Nightmare, I hope you have guests as gracious and as forgiving as mine.  We spent a couple of hours talking (mostly me; nervously and endlessly) and sampling Charlotte’s baked wonders.  I actually enjoyed myself, though I can’t speak for my guests.  OMG!