We may spend our week in jeans seasoned with hay and horse poop, but the ladies of NCEFT love a reason to get cleaned up and pretend–at least for a weekend–that we don’t live with dirt underneath our fingernails. When the Wounded Warriors Polo Benefit rolled around last Sunday, everyone donned their finest country club attire for a day of picnicing on the sidelines of the field.
We partnered up with one of our volunteers, Tricia Seibold, to put on what can only be described as an elaborate spread. Appetizers included homemade hummus and pita chips, mixed nuts, and savory roquefort shortbread sandwiches. By noon we were glad to have a bit shade overhead and ready to attack lunch. Slow-braised lamb was served over a bed of couscous and topped with an herbed yogurt sauce. Marie supplied a decadent sausage quiche, and I brought an heirloom tomato, cucumber, and goat cheese salad inspired by the garden goodies volunteer Paula Panzica shared at work earlier in the week. An assortment of drinks were served in glass champagne flutes, and we all had the opportunity to sample some wine from the commemorative glasses handed out to guests.
Nothing goes better with good food than good company and entertainment, both of which we had in spades. One of the oldest clubs in the states, the Menlo Polo Club entertained onlookers with two matches on the expansive field of the Menlo Circus Club.
Both ponies and players were stunning to watch, and we had our share of excitment when the ball happened to get a bit close to our blankets on a few occasions. To top it off, the Peninsula Carriage Driving Club put on a demonstration between matches, showcasing a variety of different rigs and horses.
Having eaten our fill of lemon bars and jam tartlets, everyone packed up their picnic baskets and called it a day. Though we may have started the day channeling Holly Golightly, by late afteroon we were barefoot and sticky. You know what they say, you can take the girls out of the barn, but you can’t take the barn out of the girls…
