the fourth

When Independence Day falls on a Sunday, things get tricky. You learn perhaps that your community put on a fireworks show on Saturday because I suppose it's easier to recover on a Sunday from late night booms and bangs. Our neighbors did the same: we heard pops and sizzles yesterday. 

So does that mean we're done with celebrating? Not necessarily. You can still put on your blue and white striped shirt,  add a dash of something red to your outfit, and display in this way pride of country. Or, you can bake something that has those colors popping at you. I do just that.

But first, I get up early, smiling at the sound of our overnight guests' voices. Or really one little girl's voice. Primrose is eager to start the day.

 

Okay, little one! I have to run over to the feed the animals and do a quick check on the garden. Be back in a minute!
 

The young family isn't staying long, but there is time in the morning to play, to go outside for a little walk...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

... to eat a leisurely breakfast (in the kitchen, where it's cooler), to catch up on all last pieces of missed information, to hatch plans, toss around big ideas. And to eat lots of good fruits!

It's hot enough for us to limit our outdoor play. Next weekend maybe. As we get closer to lunch time, the young family takes off. They have a bit of driving to do today. One last romp...

Lots of hugs and kisses and happy smiles...

And they're off and I return to my garden, which is looking July good right now!

I snip spent lilies and return to the kitchen. I have another baking job. This one (thanks, Ina Garten):

And then the local young family is here for dinner.

(relaxed...)

There was a time when I would have grilled on the Fourth. Everyone grills on the Fourth. But interest in grilled foods fizzled and my own interest in lighting up a grill out on the porch while also tending to foods in pots on the kitchen stove fizzled as well. So what to do for a Fourth dinner? I'm sure you'll think this to be weird and not at all fitting for this particular holiday, but I decided to finally cook something the kids keep stumbling upon in books but have never had -- spaghetti and meatballs.

("spaghetti and meatballs??")

Was it a hit? Well, out of the seven at the table, two were enthusiastic, one was polite enough not to commit one way or another, one changed his mind halfway through, two were strong "no!" votes, and one abstained (from pretty much everything). But no one will forget that we had spaghetti and meatballs for Fourth of July dinner in 2021.

I hope you had a happy holiday. Wait, let me say this really loudly, because the neighbors in the new development are really popping those fireworks loudly tonight: I hope you had a happy holiday!!!

With love...