List Check

I hope you had a great July 4th, regardless of where you were and how you spent it!

I had a list of 12 things I wanted to accomplish this weekend, but regretfully, I only managed to cross five of them off. But I didn’t lollygag around all weekend, I did a lot!

Friday, my two sisters, their husbands and my mum came for dinner. I still have not learned to light the grill (it’s charcoal with some sort of chimney-type thing) so I had to light the oven. Before everyone came over, I had made some pennants to brighten the back garden. Dinner was a success, even though I had to cook the chicken in the oven. Hopefully by the time Easy & Elegant Life and Toad of To the Manner Born arrive for dinner on Wednesday, I will have mastered the grille!

Saturday was a wedding down on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Glorious day with a nice breeze blowing and a very happy bride and groom! The groom’s cake was so perfect – a bushel of crabs, complete with an ear of corn on the cob! I managed to find the yardage of citrine Thai silk I’ve been looking for (I knew it was in the house somewhere!), and made curtains for the guest room. In addition, I also made my niece some curtains for her room.

For the 4th of July, I went to the annual parade on Federal Hill, which was such fun. It’s a small-town event in a big city, and this year, the Mayor of Baltimore was the Grand Marshall. Last year, it was the local butcher! There are games for the kids, and my little friend Will proved to be a cool one while doing the hula hoop. Friend Len, a high-powered corporate lawyer, showed up in the most hilarious shoes! Rose, the event’s organizer, was lovely as ever swathed in red and blue tulle and sporting numerous American flags on her vest. Nolan and Michael were sharp in their seersucker shorts, perfect for a summer day! We managed to make it through the fireworks displays without Connor or his pal Halas having a major meltdown. Connor’s preferred spot during these sorts of loud events seems to be on top of my head, although I am not sure exactly what that accomplishes.

Hope your weekend was as much fun as mine!