4th of July

Today is Independence Day, also called 4th of July, a day we celebrate our nation's independence from Europe with patriotic parades and cook-outs.

Last year we had several friends over for drinks and appetizers, went to watch the Doo Dah parade, came back for a cook-out, then went to see the fireworks.  It was great fun but also a lot of planning and work.

So this year we kept it simple.  Our buddies Steven & Thad came over for a snack, we watched the Doo Dah parade, we had a cook-in, and skipped the local fireworks.  Instead, we watched them on TV from the comfort of our home.

Spouse & me waiting for the Doo Dah parade to start

4th of July

Today is Independence Day, otherwise known as the 4th of July.  Spouse & I have invited some friends over for drinks/snacks around 3:30, then we'll watch the Doo Dah parade about 5:00, then return to the house for dinner, then watch the fireworks around 9:00.

The Doo Dah parade is a great little small town parade with everyone and everything draped in red white and blue stars and stripes.  In past years I've driven Big Ella in the parade but am not doing so this year.  The parade is rather long and is hard on Big Ella, causing her engine to get hot and run rough.  So rather than be in the parade, I'll be a spectator this year.

Spouse selected a terrific 'make ahead' menu:  BBQ pulled pork made in the slow cooker, macaroni and cheese made in the pressure cooker, and BBQ baked beans.  For dessert he's making peach/blueberry pies. 

The fireworks should be nice, as this will be the 1st year of "official" City-sanctioned fireworks.  In past years volunteers have supplied and set off fireworks on the beach, which the fire marshal put an end to last year.  I'm hopeful it will be a nice display.

Hope all of you have a FUN and SAFE 4th of July!

Holiday weekend recap

On Fri morning, July 4th, tropical storm Arthur blew through the area.  But my office was open 1/2 day, so I had to dash through the puddles to get to work at 9am.  Arthur was pretty much over by 11am, and the office closed for the holiday at 1pm.  Spouse & I had lunch together and picked up some things from the grocery store.  About 4:30 folks began to arrive at our house to watch the Doo Dah parade, have dinner, and then watch the fireworks.   I took Big Ella for a spin to make sure she was running smoothly, then got into the parade line-up.  Steven & Thad, Joe P, Jack & Alisha, Mike, Dan, and Spouse walked over to the parade route together.  The weather was absolutely dreamy and the parade was really fun, as usual.

Big Ella was a big hit, as she always is at this parade.
Afterward we all returned to the house and had dinner.  Spouse grilled chicken in advance which he warmed up and served with tzatziki, hummus, olives, feta, warm pita bread, and Greek salad.  We ate on the screened porch since the weather was so nice.  It was delicious and a nice change from all the burgers and dogs we'd been eating since Memorial Day.  Joe P brought chocolate cake and apple pie for dessert.  After dinner we drove down the street to the public beach and settled in to watch the fireworks.  They were good, but not as good as last year's.

Sat I had to work again, so Spouse went to the beach with Steven & Thad and Joe P.  Late that afternoon we stopped in briefly at our neighbor's open house (they bought the old church on the corner, gutted it, and turned it into a home) so we could see how it turned out.  It was nice but too stark and modern for my taste.  After that we met up with some other neighbors for a little BBQ.  We took my special barbequed baked beans.  We had a nice time and again, the weather was delicious.

Sun I had to work yet again, but we invited Steven & Thad and Joe P over to eat left-overs from Friday's Greek dinner.  Again we enjoyed being on the screened porch since we knew it was the last "nice day" we'd have for a while.  (Today and tomorrow are scheduled to be well into the 90s.)  

So it was a nice holiday weekend of fun, food, and friends despite my having to work all 3 days.

Independence Day in our little town

I don't know if our area is just getting more popular these days, or if the affects of Hurricane Sandy have caused some Jersey shore visitors to come to our shore instead, but there is a TON of people here.  So Spouse & I wisely decided to stay in our own little town (and not drive) today.

We started our morning with coffee and a little TV watching.  Then we each chose a flower bed and spent about 30 minutes weed pulling.  Then we decided to clean the back/screened porch.  First we swept the spider webs, dead ants, and dirt/dust out.  It always amazes me how much dirt and dust and bugs are inside our SCREENED porch.  Then we used a rag and scrub brush to clean off the grey mildew-looking stuff from the white trim.  Surprisingly it came off rather easily.  Spouse was happy to use his new Pocket Hose to rinse the suds off!

After a light lunch (the heat reduces my appetite) and several glasses of cold water, we walked over to the canal to watch the 4th of July decorated boat parade.  We opted for a shady spot further away from the water than most people, feeling we really wanted the shade more than the details of the decorated boats.  Apparently our neighbors Dave & Georgia had the same thought so we joined them on a bench and chatted with them during and after the boat parade ended.

After a brief respite in the air conditioning, I fired up Big Ella and drove her to the gas station to fill up her tank in preparation for the Doo Dah parade.  Steven & Thad came over shortly before 5pm to watch the parade with Spouse.  It was hot, but I drove Big Ella in the parade and had a great time!  People are always so appreciative of Big Ella and I enjoy 'sharing' her with them, which makes it worth it for me to endure the heat.  After the parade I met Spouse and Steven & Thad back at the house and we went up the street to the diner for dinner.  Then we went to the beach to watch the fireworks.  Our town doesn't have an official fireworks display, but several people set up "volunteer" fireworks at the beach at dusk and set them off at dark, providing a non-stop fireworks display for well over an hour.  Fortunately the temperature cooled down and there was a nice breeze at the beach so it was actually very comfortable.

It was a very nice day spent in our little town.  Happy Independence Day everyone!

Festive Fourth

We had a festive 4th of July weekend!

Sat I worked until 5, then Spouse & I met up with Steven & Thad, Allen, and Joe P for dinner at Saketumi. Afterward we went to see the Legends show. Patti LaBelle, Liza, and Alan Jackson performed! We hung out for a while afterward, then sat on a bench on the boardwalk and talked. It was a beautiful night.

On Sun we arrived at the beach at 10 and stayed until 4. It was 1 of those days when the sun kept darting in and out of the clouds. We were joined at the beach by Steven & Thad, Allen, Joe P, 1 of the Bobs, Robin & Bill, and John. We also saw many of our friends at the beach. That evening we met up with everyone for burgers, grilled dogs, and salads at Steven & Thad's house. I was amazed at how much they'd done to get settled in and organized.

Yesterday Spouse went to the grocery store early in the morning - I will still in bed when he left! Then we had coffee together when he got home and planned our day. He was responsible for the food and I cleaned the house in preparation for our 4th of July parade/dinner/fireworks. That afternoon we met Steven & Thad, 1 of the Bobs, and Joe P over at Joe P's pool. We hung out for a couple hours, then came home and finished getting ready. Robin & Bill, Steven & Thad, 1 of the Bobs, Allen, and Joe P came over to watch the Doo Dah parade. I drove Big Ella in the parade, of course.


After the parade we had grilled chicken, rice, and sauteed veggies for dinner on the screened porch and hung out until nearly dusk. Then we headed to the beach to watch the incredible 'volunteer' fireworks display. It seems each year they're bigger and better. The weather was dreamy and we really enjoyed the colorful celebration.

(Long) Weekend highlights

The construction guys worked hard to get the porch screened before they quit working on Fri. Bugs & Roger arrived on Fri at 12:30, but unfortunately I had a conference call at 1:00 so I couldn't go out to lunch with them. They had lunch and shopped at the tax-free outlet malls. When Spouse got home they returned from shopping and we chatted until it was time to leave for Fri Night Dinner with 'the usual suspects'. After dinner, we sat on the newly enlarged screened porch and talked until bedtime.

Sat morning Spouse went to his personal trainer appointment while Bugs & Rog and I chatted over breakfast, then walked to the farmer's market. It was pretty hot but the humidity was low so it was nice in the shade. They got tomatoes, cucumbers and baked goods; I got a gorgeous bunch of cut flowers. Bugs & Rog helped me sweep the screened porch and bring in the tables, chairs, and lounge furniture. When Spouse returned and showered, the 4 of us had lunch and then walked to the art show. Two friends were exhibiting, and we enjoyed looking at everything. Then Spouse & Roger went to the grocery store while Bugs & I went to the Dollar Store and liquor store. 'Divide and conquer' was out motto. Later Steven & Thad and Joe P came over for dinner and we had our 1st meal on the new, enlarged screened porch. We had peppercorn pork tenderloins, orzo with oven roasted veggies, romaine salad, and fresh tomato and cucumber slices. For dessert we had a fruit salad of watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries and blueberries. Although it was very hot earlier, it was a gorgeous night for being outside.

Sun morning it was very hot again so we had breakfast and just hung out indoors. Spouse & I dropped Big Ella off for a wash 'n wax and when we got back we all had lunch. Then we walked to the canal to watch the decorated boat parade. We brought Big Ella home and we went to a neighbor's cocktail party, but couldn't stay long because we had to get ready for the Doo Dah parade. (For an explanation and photos of the Doo Dah parade, click here.) Spouse doesn't like to be the center of attention so he watched the parade with Rick & Nick from their usual post at our friends Mike & Steve's front porch, right on the parade route. Bugs & Roger had never experienced the Doo Dah parade but were game to give it a try. I'd purchased bags of penny candy for them to toss at the kids along the route and we all had a great time. Big Ella was duly adored by everyone and received many cheers and rounds of applause. Unfortunately we have no photos since our camera was acting up again. After the parade, Spouse and Rick & Nick met me and Bugs & Roger back at the house for a 4th of July cook-out on the screened porch. We had hamburgers, bison burgers, bison dogs, cheddar brats, potato salad, macaroni salad, baked beans, and sliced tomatoes and cucumbers. Just before it got dark we grabbed our beach chairs and walked to the beach to watch the fireworks. Our city doesn't need to have a budget for 4th of July fireworks, as a dozen or so citizens have taken it upon themselves to furnish them. For about 90 minutes the public is treated to a free fireworks display that spans a couple miles up and down the beach. It was a beautiful night!

This morning Bugs & Roger left just after breakfast and we joined Steven & Thad, Joe P, The Bobs, and Alisha & Jack at the beach. Again it was very hot out but low humidity, and there was a cool breeze coming off the ocean so it was very pleasant. We laughed and talked and I couldn't believe how quickly the time passed. Upon returning home, Spouse & I had a late lunch consisting of last night's cook-out left overs. He's napping now.

It was a terrific holiday weekend, and I feel very fortunate.

Crush du Jour: Noah Mills

Pomegranate weekend

Sat morning after breakfast the Newlyweds, Spouse & I walked into town for the arts and crafts show (again). It had a nice variety, from ceramics to jewelry, to watercolors, to stained glass, to acrylic oceanscapes, to wood carving, to hand-blown glass. The 4 of us agreed the prices were very expensive, but the quality was definitely there. (No planters made of painted popsicle sticks.) The advertisements indicated over 130 artisans, mostly locals. Speaking of locals, our neighbor George had a booth to show his watercolors which were just gorgeous. I didn't even know he painted.

After finishing our fruit-flavored shaved ices, we started to walk back home when we noticed a van with a bunch of bumper stickers on its tinted windows. As I began to read them I felt as if I'd discovered the vehicle of my kindred spirit! Fortunately Jamie had brought his camera so I asked him to take pictures of the stickers for me. (Photos may be clicked to enlarge.)

Aren't these fantastic? I'd like to have T-shirts with each of these on them so I could wear a different statement each day. Oh, I'm kind of a liberal if you hadn't noticed.

After arriving back at the house we ate lunch before going to play putt-putt golf. This is sort of a tradition when the Newlyweds visit. During a past visit I told the Newlyweds that I enjoy putt-putt but Spouse couldn't care less about it so we never went. Michael said he enjoyed putt-putt too, so we always make a point of playing while they are visiting. It was fun, but hot. For some reason, the always present breeze appeared to be 'off for the holiday'.

When we returned from putt-putt we had a light lunch, which included pomegranate/blueberry juice as yet another installment of our pomegranate weekend, and decided to go for a swim at our neighbors' Alan & George's pool. They have a sparkling blue in-ground pool in their backyard, surrounded by years and years of meticulously tended gardens. There is no grass in their entire backyard, just the pool, concrete pool deck, and thousands and thousands of gorgeous plants, flowers, and trees. When we arrived we found Bill & Dean, Tom & George (the artist), Nancy (George's mother), and Michael & Carl (Tom & George's weekend guests) already at the pool. We enjoyed a refreshing swim and jovial conversations with our friends.

After showers we enjoyed pomegranate margaritas as the final installment of our pomegranate weekend. The Newlyweds had brought the pomegranate margarita mix (they know me so well) so we enjoyed a lovely little happy hour before dinner. Even Spouse, who usually doesn't drink, had 1/2 of a pomegranate margarita, probably for the 'health benefits' of pomegranates.

After a lengthy discussion about where to eat, we walked into town and to our favorite Lewes restaurant Striper Bites. Unfortunately even at 8:00 there was a 30-40 minute wait, and the high ceilings make it rather loud, so we decided to pass on dinner there. We found Jerry's Seafood to be much more suitable for conversation and there was no wait for a table. Michael had curry chicken and corn soup and a crab cake sandwich, Jamie had beet bruschetta and a hamburger, Spouse had the same soup as Michael and a flat iron steak, and I had pan-seared scallops over creamy fettuccine with asparagus. We all enjoyed our meals.

Since the 4th of July fireworks were cancelled due to the storm, we thought they'd likely take place Sat night instead, so we walked back home and put a few beach chairs in the trunk before driving down to the beach. Sure enough we saw fireworks going off as we set up our chairs and blanket. The display was rather nice, especially considering it is not Lewes-sponsored but completely provided by volunteers at their expense.

Sun morning after breakfast the Newlyweds packed up and left shortly before 10:00. Spouse & I just relaxed and watched TV for a while, with the idea that we'd go to the beach with Rick & Nick in the afternoon, which is our typical Sun routine. But around 1:30 the sky became very cloudy, by 2:00 it was raining lightly, and by 2:30 the thunder and lightning cancelled any further thoughts of going to the beach that day.

Spouse & I just relaxed, spent time on the computer, watched TV, and rested for the remainder of our pomegranate weekend.

Crush du Jour: Carlos Ponce