InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Tweak: mascot extraordinaire!"

NOTE: Hortense was quite vague in the journal entry and I lost track of the date. I just realized that the "flower picking" had to have taken place today, as the entry says "in time for Christmas" and tomorrow is already Christmas eve! Following the positive response she received over journals, Hortense sent out a formal invitation with a response card and menu of the lunch being served attached.

Lunch was served at approximately noon. The meal was of the French cuisine and consisted of:

APPETIZER: Creamy mushrooms on toasted country bread
SOUP: Bourride with lemon aïoli
SALAD: Asparagus salad with celery leaves, quail eggs and tarragon vinaigrette
MAIN DISH: Duck terrine with wine-glazed shallots
DESSERT: Apricot and chocolate bavarois

Following lunch was the "flower picking". Among the wide varity of flowers there was a cluster of christmas flowers near the front and a rather a large selection of numerous species of white flowers. The poisonous plants and those with magical properties were properly marked (but were still available for any of the ladies to collect for potion-making or healing). There was also an adjacent, siginificantly smaller greenhouse containing the tropical flowers which required a different climate. Rain falls periodically in this greenhouse but the enchantment was lifted during the ladies' time in there.

Once the ladies had chosen the flowers, they could have left or stayed to arrange the bouquets. Hortense made an array of ribbons, tissue paper and so forth available to them, as well as simple glass vases in which to take them home. During the bouquet arrangement, several bottles of white wine were brought out for the women to enjoy.

Throughout, Hortense spent time with each woman individually and while chatting amicably, ensured that each woman felt welcome, enjoyed herself (hopefully) and was properly thanked for her company.