Kinfolk - My New Love

 Those who know me know that my most favorite social event is a small, unpretentious dinner party -  sitting around the dinner table over a tasty meal with good friends, or new friends, and talking.....and eating....and drinking wine or tea or whatever pleases you.....and more talking, sharing stories and joys and sorrows and lots of laughter.  

Then comes more coffee and dessert, and more good conversation with more laughter thrown in - good stories and sharing, and more wine or de-caf at that point. 

All of this is soooo much more fun and meaningful to me than a large social gathering of many small conversations and loud music.

I have just discovered the journal/blog and on line magazine Kinfolk and am totally enamored.

                                                                 
                                                                    In their own words,

"Kinfolk is a collaborative effort to encourage a more natural approach to entertaining. It's the marriage of our appreciation for art and our love for spending time with family and friends."

 Three things I love a lot - art, family and friends.

The people in our lives are what makes life rich and full. I have shared a photo from an annual Christmas party we used to have. 

We don't have this particular party any more as traditions have changed, but still love gathering small groups of friends around the table for dinner and conversation. 

I try to practice what I preach,  which is that it's not about being a gourmet cook, but about the sharing of one's home and time. 

Take out Chinese or pizza is just as good as the finest meal.

Sometimes I forget and get insecure about my inability to juggle food prep, decorate, and be a gracious hostess all at once. 

Then I remind myself what I truly believe:

Loving and sharing with the people in our lives is what it's all about.

 Kinfolk has great photos and articles about good food and waaaaay more adventure than it in my life.

Here I am on one such adventure, though......

 Source

 That's my husband in the red union suit and I am just to his right in the black nightie - (mmm..hmmmm....maybe in my next life)

Seriously, it is a cool blog

 and I have to quote them again because I couldn't say it any better if I tried:

 Kinfolk is a growing community of artists with a shared interest in small gatherings. We recognize that there is something about a table shared by friends, not just a wedding or once-a-year holiday extravaganza, that anchors our relationships and energizes us. We have come together to create Kinfolk as our collaborative way of advocating the natural approach to entertaining that we love.

 Every element of Kinfolk – the features, photography, and general aesthetics – are consistent with the way we feel entertaining should be: simple, uncomplicated, and less contrived. Kinfolk is the marriage of our appreciation for art and design and our love for spending time with family and friends.

 Love this image from Kinfolk Journal.

Kinfolk - check it out .