LA DOLCE VITA--Santa Fe Style......

In the fruition of summer, it is time to celebrate La Dolce Vita (the sweet life) with a portion of the Core kids.....

 Because of the restrictions for space on the deck, there was unfortunately not enough space for our entire group.....

 The cast of characters:  our host, Dwight....(all the men had placecards with their images set upon various poses of one Mr. Marcello Masteianni).....

 Richie, no doubt on the Italian Riviera.....

 Bobert enjoying his Chianti and spaghetti along with his Italian cigarette--Dwight smoked DIANA brand when we were in Italy....

 Miss Josina is part of the Sophia Loren sorority....

 Along with Annabelle--no doubt holidaying on the Italian Rivera herself.....

 David rocks the Coliseum....

 And Miss Theresa enjoys an afternoon in Venice....

 No doubt Adolfo got that well deserved band-aid pulling off some sexy escapade.....

 Special thanks to Terrie for crushing all those grapes for the many bottles of wine.....

 Julie is part of the Lollobrigida gang that includes....

 Miss Juanita--also sporting another version of Gina in Italian provincial garb.....

 And Diana --our hostess (me)--who's photo demonstrates that Gina Lollobrigida had one spectacular body (and this photo was taken long before the days of photoshop manipulation).....

 We have our Italian chef--Giancarlo Antonio.....

 And Jackie's photo is a story all unto itself......

Finally, the day of the party arrives......

 And Giano is busy cooking bacon for the Spinach Florentine....

 In addition to the spinach, he prepared an antipasto, the garlic bread, and cooked the pasta......

 My contributions were the cold cucumber soup and the spaghetti sauce....and the musical score.....

 Not to mention fancy-dancy table decor.....

 Once we got started, we passed a camera around (this isn't it) so that we could get views of all the guests from various perspectives.....

 Sometimes deep in thought discussing transcendental phenomenology,,,,,,,

 And sometimes splanin' how one starts smoking at age seven and gives it up at age eight.....

 Bobert enjoys a hearty laugh.  By the way, he concocted a Mr. Wizard contraption of styrofoam and hot bricks that kept his root veggie medley smokin' hot all evening.  He also offered some Tomatoes Caprese and several bottles of interesting New Mexico wines as welll.....

 Julie and David brought a lovely platter of Caprese with drizzled dressing and more bottles of vino.......

 This was the stylin' duo of vinegar and oil available for bread dipping.  (Yes, that IS the Roman goddess, Diana atop the bottle of olive oil)......

 The King of All He Surveys, Dwightie enjoys cuddling our little DiCaprio.....

 The effervescent Annabelle made a scrumptious Italian Creme cake......

 David is apparently being attacked by one of the flower arrangements....

 As they were scattered along the table....

 Kindred spirits.....

 Terrie is sporting her Italian cameo necklace and earrings and she and Richie brought a large assortment of cookies from an Italian bakery in Albuquerque....

 Always lovely, Juanita poses for her close-up.  She and Jackie brought bruscetta and delicious Tiramisu (sp?).....

 Some of the candid photos were better than the others--it helps if the photographer is a professional like Bobert--and if the subject is as comely as Miss Julie....

 All dogs love Adolfo!  (Photo by Josina).....

 Josina is enraptured by the conversative skills of Dwightie--he probably is telling her how much he liked her gelato.......

Inspired by the Italian theme of the evening, Annabelle is talking with her hands....

 Femme Pensive--Theresa.....

 Have to hug Annabelle--thanks for your help serving and "dolloping" the cucumber soup......

 Richie--practically "in cognito"......

 A totally recognizable David....

 At evening's end we passed around paper and pen for folks to write down all their worries so that I can stuff them inside Old Man Gloom's skirt at the Cocktail Party for Zozobra later this week......and hopefully all our worries will go up in smoke and we can all have the happiest of Fiestas the next week.....

So, as the summer dwindles down, here is wishing all you Gentle Readers the time to enjoy the joys of good food and good friends and all the wonders of LA DOLCE VITA --Santa Fe Style..................