Autumn Potluck Party

Fall has officially arrived! Crisp air, golden and red leaves, and all those tempting autumn flavours set the stage for our Autumn Potluck. After several gloomy, rainy days, we were lucky to have a bright, sunny afternoon for the gathering.

But the day actually started much earlier, at 10 in the morning, with a small group of volunteers facing dozens of chairs, folding tables, and boxes. It didn’t exactly look like an easy set-up! Under the direction of Connie Cunningham, however, it was almost as if she waved a magic wand. Large and small pumpkins appeared neatly in a row, tables were dressed, and garlands of autumn leaves went up. In no time, everything was ready and beautifully decorated.

I asked Connie how long she had been decorating for Mountain Terrace gatherings. It turns out, she has been doing it for about 25 years. Decorating is a creative hobby for Connie, alongside teaching pottery, making her own ceramic pieces, and arranging the display cabinets at Parkgate Rec Centre. (Want to know more about Connie and her long involvement with Mountain Terrace? Read her profile.)

Then Isla Link brought beautiful little flower arrangements for each table. Isla also has been doing this for our gatherings for years. You may have noticed that after some parties, her little bouquets, get a second life on the marble shelves by the mirrors on each floor, brightening up the hallways for a while (unfortunately, not this time because of the hallway renovations).

By around 4 o’clock, neighbours began arriving from all directions, arms full of food. Some carried large trays of something hot and delicious-smelling, others brought big bowls, baskets of pastries, and tempting homemade treats. Before long, the tables were overflowing with an amazing variety of food. And what a spread it was: crostini with whipped feta & prosciutto, Salmon gravlax on cucumber slices, cheeses, meat and vegetarian samosas, little pirozhki stuffed with sauerkraut, baked potatoes, meatballs, pasta, colourful salads, tempting desserts... and the list goes on.

Soon the tables were full, conversations were flowing, and the evening was in full swing. There were plenty of children too, laughing and playing nearby. Face painting was a big hit, followed by games of hopscotch. It was lovely to see so many generations together, from babies and young children to teenagers, young parents, and our grey-haired neighbours who have called Mountain Terrace home for many years.

As it gradually grew darker and cooler, the lights in the fountain came on, but nobody seemed quite ready to leave. Hot tea with tiramisu or flan, more conversation, and even some discussion about plans for the next gathering kept everyone together a little longer.

We don’t often get many chances to really talk with our neighbours. Most of the time, we pass each other in the hallway or meet in the elevator:

“How are you?” - “Fine, just fine.” - And off we go, back to whatever we were doing.

That’s what makes gatherings like this special. For a few hours, we slow down, sit together, share food, laugh, and actually get to know the people who live just a few doors away.

And perhaps that is the best part of a potluck: it brings good food to the table, but it brings neighbours together too.

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