W3 Book Club-"Suddenly Sixty and Other Shocks of Later Life"

by Teri E. Popp & Laura Chin, Tastemakers in Residence

In the summer, Jean Echtenkamp hosts a lovely W3 Book Club on her boat "Bella" on magnificent Lake Minnetonka.  And, once a decade, three of the ladies in our group share a BIG birthday within a couple of months of each other.  So, what better way to celebrate a milestone than to enjoy the beauty of the lake while visiting with great friends and a fun book!

Because this was a big event, the theme chosen was Queen Bees.  And, as we were out on a body of water, some of the ladies enjoyed wearing their "bathing costumes" that came from our group trip out to Newport Beach the previous spring.

The book chosen for this momentous occasion, "Suddenly Sixty and Other Shocks of Later Life" by Judith Viorst, contains lots of truth and humor about what it's like to be a woman, wife, parent, grandparent, friend or widow in these stages of life.  Since the book consists of Viorst's poems, some of the ladies shared their favorite lines with the group.

The menu, served as a buffet on "Bella," consisted of:

Specialty Drink
Fresh Minnetonka Gold Honey Lemonade served with Vodka and a Sprig of Mint

Dinner
Salmon and Cucumber Appetizer
Salami and Cheese Platter
Kabobs and Pita Bread
Fresh Fruit
Fruit and Vegetable Platter
Artichoke Dip and Baguette
Pontoon Dip
Guacamole and Tortilla Chips
7 Layer Dip
Kettle Chips
Turkey Roll-up Sandwiches
Roast Beef Panini Sandwiches
Princess Torte Birthday Cake
Pink Champagne
Chardonnay

And, in the end, these ladies know we will always "bee" there for each other!!

Celebrations, PartiesCynthia SutterTeri E. Popp, Laura Chin, W3 Book Club, Suddenly Sixty & Other Shocks of Later Life, Judith Viorst, Lake Minnetonka, #Jean Echtenkamp, #Bella, Bees, Minnetonka Gold Honey, Fun in the sun, Book Club Ideas, The Big 60, Birthday1 Comment