THE PROBLEM
14 adults. 7 children. 2 babies. 3 maybe adults. 14 chairs. How to divide evenly to sit down for dinner. One table in kitchen for children. One dining room table that seats 6 cozily. Two 4 foot folding tables. I could use Pottery Barn benches for seating at folding tables. Should I serve roast beef for meat course when I only own 5 steak knives? 3 guests are allergic to cats.
THE SOLUTION
Set cozy table for six. Keep back a layer cake and a couple of the best pies. Snag first child through the door and wrap in apron; they will wash dishes. Pin a towel to the next available child; they wipe. Hostess and dish washers eat last. Hostess runs around refilling coffee and tea cups. Make sure one person at table at all times is too young to use a steak knife. Those finished eating can congregate around the fireplace and sing. Babies and young children can fall asleep on Pottery Barn benches. Send cat outside to ki-yi-yi neighborhood dogs.
May I suggest roast pork instead of beef? Steaming barrel of potatoes bursting their jackets only adds to the goodness.
