Sunday October 13

Sunday October 13

Our first time at a meeting in what will be our branch for the next 23 months.  Because it is so small, the block as it is called, lasts 2 hours.  Today it happened to be Ward Conference (make that branch conference....well... the members affectionately call it twig conference.)  We had an inspiring sacrament meeting with enthusiastic talks by the Bishop, Stake President and a couple of other speakers and some rousting hymns.
Since I am not yet on Danish time, I only got 3 hours sleep last night.  Consequently, we came home and took a nap!
Saturday night at the branch/twig party, a fairy-tale-prince handsome young man sat down and visited with us.  A after awhile he asked what we were all doing on Sunday.  We replied "not much."  He promptly invited us all to his house for dinner Sunday.  After assuring us that his wife would be fine having 8 extra people for dinner with nearly no advance notice, he was off to other meetings.  I think he may be the Elder's Quorum President.
We drove to their house around 6.  It is an old house....3 stories high with many of the windows glowing warmly against a dark, cold and wet night.  It is surrounded by trees.  I will put pictures on tomorrow.  We entered the door and hung up our coats and umbrellas, and took off our shoes (everyone takes their shoes off here when they enter a home - I'll have to make sure Stan's socks don't have holes in them!)  We walked up to the next level and entered a lovely Danish modern dining room.  The long table was set with four places on each side and a place at each end.  It was beautifully set.  We entered their kitchen/family room and visited for about a half hour and then all went in to dinner.  The food was not only delicious but so beautiful!  On a long skinny white platter that looked like a piece of modern art (when the meal was over, he washed it and hung it on the wall!) was a dish called hakkebof - large lean meatballs covered with sauteed sweet onions - yum!  Side dishes were small delicious boiled potatoes served with 2 different cream sauces, green salad, a hard rye bread/cracker with butter that was sooo tasty!  We sat around the table talking and enjoying each other's company until dessert was served....delicious ice cream with a spicy apple sauce.
We were amazed to find out that our host had cooked the meal, had remodeled the house from ground to roof in the last 3 years,  and is a computer genius.  The remodeling was quite remarkable.  I hope to post pictures.  It looked very Danish...simple but beautiful interiors...streamlined...white used extensively on walls and cabinets with darker wood floors etc.  He is in his late 20's or early 30's and has already had a career as a ballet dancer (he does look very fit).  His wife is fairy-tale beautiful and is a ballet dancer in the Danish National Ballet.  May I just say it was an enchanting evening?