May 20 Julie's Garden

Monday:  I received an invitation for dinner a few weeks ago from my friend, Julie--the woman with the gorgeous gardens all around her house who I met through MNBS. Julie also invited Jen (another friend from MNBS) for dinner; so it was the three of us! Julie and her husband, Victor, are marvelous cooks; so Julie treated us to a wonderful Italian dinner, homemade in every way and delicious. We had wanted to eat outside on their terrace overlooking the gardens, but rain was definitely in the forecast--it held off just long enough for Jen and I to walk around in the gardens and take it all in before it began to pour.

Jen owns and runs a floral shop on the W. side (near the zoo) and knows so much about flowers--so she and Julie could name these ferns and ground cover and flowers with ease.

It's really peaceful back here--this is mostly behind their house; and beyond their property is a nice quiet meadow.

Here are the ladies! On the left is JEN, and JULIE is on the right. Julie puts a lot of work into this beautiful place.

I didn't take nearly half the pictures I would have taken if we'd had time to wander at our leisure. But we could hear the thunder and could feel the rain approaching; so we had to cut it short.

We enjoyed a delicious dinner--some kind of Italian pasta (meatless) with the most delicious sauce, an interesting salad, bread with seasoned oil; and then the desert was really over the top. Victor (Julie's husband) not only cooks, but he bakes as well. Their son's birthday was over the weekend, and they were able to save a few pieces of the strawberry cheesecake Victor made for him. I can't even describe the deliciousness! Victor had a meeting to attend, so it was just us ladies who enjoyed the dinner and fellowship together. Thankful for these friends!