MacGuyver this, baby

I had planned a beautiful outdoors Shabbat dinner tonight, as the weather is going to turn after midnight and tomorrow is forecast to be rainy and breezy, with a high of 60 degrees (ugh). It isn't supposed to get nice again until the middle of next week.

I got out the lamb at 5 p.m. after Big Rachel and I picked up Little Rachel from school today. I rubbed it with a mix of oil, lemon, marjoram, sage and garlic and popped it in the oven -- only to realize that I had gotten a big lamb -- eight pounds -- and the cooking time would have to be doubled, meaning we wouldn't be eating until 9. So, I made an emergency call to Dan, my catering partner, and he gave me instructions on how to cut the cooking time. So, I relaxed a bit and watched funny videos with Rachel and Rachel until about 7:20, when I checked on the meat. (I had called Drew and told him not to rush home from work, that dinner wouldn't be ready until about 8 or even 8:30).

Right after I called him, I looked at the oven -- it was out. So was the microwave. So was the refrigerator; the light was off. I tried to turn on the toaster -- nothing.

I called Drew back; he told me to check the fuse box. All looked okay, and we still had electricity in the rest of the house.

When Drew got home, he tried troubleshooting, to no avail. He called the rental company's emergency line and after they talked for a while, the electrician said the company would have to send someone to check things in person. Meanwhile, I was worried about losing the lamb (which was almost done, but not completely) and making plans to eat out.

And then our brilliant Little Rachel suggested the grill.

Yorkshire pudding was out (unfortunately I had already made the batter), but Drew took out some frozen challah, plugged our toaster in outside, fired up the grill and we finished off the lamb there. Then we discovered we could still use the stovetop if we used matches near the burners, so I was able to make the asparagus dish I had planned on.

So...we didn't eat until 9. But we were outside, the food was great, we had other candles besides the Shabbat ones, and we had chocolate-chip cake for dessert. Everyone was happy and Big Rachel said, "I so admire how poised you are," and I told her that compliment meant the world to me.

Tomorrow we grumble about not having an oven, and all the things in this house that are falling apart, but...tonight we rescued Shabbat dinner, and we got to eat outside, and we all talked and laughed and played word games, and it was just what I wanted it to be.