Welcome to the kitchen, Deirdre:

If a home is a living organism, the kitchen is the heart.

We had about 20 family members and friends here for Christmas day. My side of our family lives too far away, but my wife Ruth's family is mostly within driving distance, and in the ten years we've been amrried, they've beomce my family, too. Forget the in-law part. We have a "Great Room" connected to the kitchen with a half wall/counter dividing the two rooms. Our house is not really large, and with close to twenty people, it gets crowded. I spend the whole day heating and serving food so that my wife can sit down and spend time with the family. She's usually been up most of the night doing last minute prparations, no matter how many weeks in advance we start getting ready. The most popular place in the house is the space that connects the kitchen and the Great Room. When I'm constantly moving back and forth between the two rooms, I have to weave my way through a group of people who choose to stand right in that spot. As you do. While it makes it a lot more awkward, having to constantly excuse myself, I am very happy to see it. The purpose of a gathering is for everyone to enjoy each other and have a good time. When I see that happening, I'll just stop for a minute and look around the house and see how much people are enjoying themselves and I think to myself, "This is really a great Christmas!"
It's what my wife and I work so hard for.

If you're ever over in the Colonies for Christmas, you're invited to stand in the doorway and just enjoy yourself. I'll just say, "Excuse me," as I'm passing you.

This thread is about nothing in particular, and everything.

Jerry