Happy Birthday America
This is our third 4th of July celebration together and it keeps getting better and better.
You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. - Erma Bombeck
Did You Know? - America. It is the only place where miracles not only happen, but where they happen all the time.
We strolled the garden on this fine Independence Day morning talking to all the veggies and telling them about all the noise they will hear this evening.
"I am patriotic! Have you seen the blue tomato?"
"I'm here!!"
The small tomatoes are going wild!
Turning colors
Ready for picking!
"I am ready for the holiday!"
Growing tall!
The watermelon needs another three weeks!
More bugs!
The new spaghetti squash is taking off!
The squash garden is doing well!
Did You Know? - Ronald Reagan: If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.
The bees are busy, a good sign!
He will need support in another two weeks!
All summer long we will have these little fellows around.
A few more days of heat and we ill munch on blackberries.
The lemon-limey is doing well!
Mary prepares the edible bugs; they made a great hit today with everyone!
Why do bees have sticky hair? A: Because they use a honeycomb.
Mary made deviled eggs for the grandsons!
Charlie and Alex love these little guys!
Lookout! One is getting away!
Mary is in the delivery room!
Making babies!
Each have their own personality!
Our kids have a secret receipe for ribs; something about simmering them in smoke-flavored water? It is a Duda family secret dating back to prehistoric times.
If god made Eve from Adam's rib… Does that make Eve his side chick?
Simmering in the pot in Baja Corona!
Looking good!
Bob does the honors! They will soon be on their way to Orange!
Bob and Robin came over early and assisted us in getting ready. Bob and I got the outside ready, moving tables, firing up the BBQ, and other such things. Robin and Mary did inside things! It all came together just in time for Jim, Vicky, Brenda, and Irene to join us.
Ready to go!
Finally we were able to deliver Brand's shirt to her!
Vicky made homemade chips and a special salsa; to die for!!
Visiting is the big part of getting together; swapping stories about those things that never really happened! Great fun!
"Remember that life's most valuable antiques are dear old friends."
There are friends, there is family, and then there are friends that become family.
Vicky inspects the bugs!
Oh dear, we do not have any blackflag!
Chef Duda does the honors outside putting the finishing touches on todays feast!
Neighbors from three blocks around are drooling!
"Baste me! Baste me you little devil!"
David was feeling pretty good today so they joined the fray! As always, David loves to talk and share stories. Dianne is surrounded by Robin and Mary. They made the day very special!!
A sea of Red, White, and Blue
"hic"
Ladies! It's time to go outside!
Bob adds two more places; easy piezy!
Now we are ready!
"Scotty! I need more power!!"
"Bob... That's all she's got or the atomic warp engine will explode!"
Bob brought the shishito Peppers from his home; they were a real treat!!
Did You Know? - Shishitos are small, mild peppers from Japan. Their flavor is sweet and slightly smokey, not spicy (althought it is reported 1 in 10 are hot).
Japanese shishito peppers are trendy in restaurants and farmers markets, but this is a vegetable you can also grow in your home garden. In fact, shishito pepper plants are easy to grow, early to mature, and yield a heavy crop of fruits.
Out butler was on vacation today so we had to serve ourselves (image that!). It is only about ten feet from the kitched to the outside patio so it was easy!
David does a "fly-by" inspection
Never heard such a mashing of knives and forks!
The plates filled up quickly! Jim makes sure the table top is safe.
Mary heard the oven beep! I think is was saying, "OK, how about me!!"
The corn was cooked perfectly! We killed off fourteen ears in a matter of seconds!
Serve yourself!
The ribs disappeared quickly!
No wonder! Fall off the bone tender!
Vicky always makes a gathering more interesting!
Friends for over thirty years!
(Yes, I met her when she was ten!)
Potato salad and Watergate salad!
Dianne came in for her "seconds" before we had finished!
Mary gets the camera ready; we take team photos; just not of us!
Mary's bug friends were a definite hit!!
Food and drink are consumed in record fashion... .The chomping sounds were heard two blocks away!
ROBIN!!!! You can not hide!!
Robin dunks the ribs into the margarita; a new way to dine on ribs is discovered!
Dianne brought a Dolly Pardon cake receipe! It was delicious!
Tummies are full; stories follow!
We jabbered until 6:00 pm
Vicky's private jet on the runway ready for takeoff!
We are decorated!
Tradition dictates we go to La Mirada and spend the evening with Joe and family plus Amy's folks. We joined them this year about 7:00 pm and had a great time. Mary and I love family.
Ka-Boom!
We could see explosions all around us and it was loud!
We had to back up!
It lit up the entire street!
Love those colors
Joe puts on quite a show!!
Next year he gets a patriotic shirt!
The wind was coming up the street!
We had quite a show!
We should have brought marshmallows!
Joe's stand was perfect!
Bam! Time to head home and get Scout off the ceiling!
The sky was lit up; so was Scout.
God Bless Our Dear Country
