Without a doubt - our Harry Potter Feast in August for back to school.

The table was set with the best China, crystal and Scabbers had fallen in the water pitcher and couldn't get out.

We made X-mas crackers as place cards, strung spiderwebs all over the dining room with little pipe cleaner spiders and hung bats from the lights and lots of candles

Appetizers were deviled eggs and puffed brie and egg bites followed by onion soup. We served Turkey, stuffing, roasted vegetables as the main dish. Desserts were jello brains, ghostly meringues and espresso.

Drinks included pumpkin beer and other stuff I can't remember.

The evening was a total blast. I don 't think I can ever repeat that one!

On one of those impossibly beautiful late fall days, my cousin and I went kayaking on the Long Island Sound. Halfway through our 15 mile trek, we paddled over to a deserted beach and had a great lunch of grilled veggie sandwiches on ciabatta bread, fresh chocolate chip cookies, apples and bottled water. It was a perfect meal.

In early May we were sitting outside on the deck of an Alpine chalet outside Davos belonging to our friend's friend. 2 bottles of wine, one red, one white, several cheeses, several breads, apples and chocolate. I can feel that brisk air, hear the nearby stream, feel the warm sun and see it gleaming on the Alps as Christian tells stories of his ski patrol days. A wonderful lunch. (Those little white specks in the grass are some of the million crocuses we saw!)

The second one was Election day in Rome. We were at a small place, sitting outside near the Vatican. They were having a porcini menu. We shared a dish of porcini and clam spaghetti. The clams were the size of my fingernail, and so sweet. The combination was magical. How do the Italians get so much flavor into the pasta? We had a wonderful conversation about the election with 2 young Swedes at the next table, but I really wanted to just focus on my taste buds.!

This past year it would have to be a dinner at a local place. Six wks ago my 21 yr old GD Stephanie decided to move to NC when she found out she could transfer her position with all her seniority & benefits-- Stephanie has always been extremely close to DH & I and to her Aunts, my 2 girls. So Debbie , Judy & I took her for a farewell dinner , just " us girls"-- we had the best time-- sat at the bar gabbing & drinking wine for probably an hr-- then laughed- reminisced thu appetizers ( a hot spinach artichoke dip with toasted pita chips , roasted vegetables bruschetta ) -- then sampled each other's entrees-- drank more wine-- ended with poached pears & homemade honey ice cream & turtle cheesecake-- spent 3 hrs in that place having a great time. DSIL picked us up & delivered us home-- all of us just a bit tipsy ( & blue that Steph's moving but glad in a way to see her spreading her wings).