Saturday we got up early as I was baking a cake and wanted to finish with the oven before it got too hot! I found this recipe and decided it was the perfect dessert for a 4th of July BBQ. We are heading to Noelle & Steve's later to set off fireworks with Tayler. Yes officer, every pyrotechnic specimen we bought in Washington will be set off in Washington. We would never dream of bringing them back to Oregon! Sorry- little disclaimer needed! While the cake was baking, we did a little weeding, watered the roses and tomatoes and laid in the sun. It was another lazy morning but all too soon it was time to leave. We stopped at the post office (to mail the birthday cards, duh!), went to Popeye's for a bite to eat (what better snack than fried chicken?!),
stopped at Freddies for extra lighters and headed cross the border. We had a great time visiting as we figured out the schedule for when our parents visit at the end of the month. You know, who can take off when, whose house they will stay at on which days, when they have time alone, on and on we plotted and planned until it was time for dinner. Time out- we almost forgot the fireworks! We piled into the "gangsta mobile" as my friend Rebecca calls Ben's car and headed to the stand. Now this is no ordinary firework stand.
There are competing "barkers" on the corners and you have to lower your eyes as you pass them to go to the grand daddy stand of them all. Several times, I heard Ben and Steve say "what recession?" But at the same time, their eyes glossed over and you could see the drool beginning at the sides of their mouths.
Let's go boys. Our budgets won't allow for everything you want to pile into your carts! So much to choose from- there was even a section called "Grand Finale Aisle." Those fireworks were anywhere from $50-100 a piece! But we managed to get out of there pretty reasonably and drove past the barkers as we made our exit.
When we returned, Steve fired up the grill and Noelle and I cut up fresh veggies for a green salad (thanks Farmers Market!). We had fresh grilled corn, green and cabbage salad and yummy marinated chicken (thanks Steve). It seems like minutes later as the sky darkened and the sounds of neighborhood fireworks began to be heard. We took our desserts outside, gathered the bucket of water and unfurled the garden hose and were ready for action. There were only a few casualties. Did you know that sparklers are now like fire sticks? They weren't pretty sparkling sticks- They were on fire! And the old fashioned metal ones just hurt!!! What were our parents thinking letting us run down the road carrying one in each hand?
I seemed to be the target of the evening. There was an out of control garden bloom that shot sparks at my foot before I could get out of the way. There was a shooting "bomb" that while beautiful over head, had to come down and decided that the remnants should catapult themselves at my temple. I was sure I had suffered a mortal wound but I just ended up with a slight headache! But a little cake and pie (Noelle made this chocolate silk caramel pie that was to die for) made things all better! It was a great night on the block as the neighbors shared fireworks, stories and fun! Thanks N, S and T for sharing it with us again this year!
Sunday is home chore day- do some laundry- yippee!! Ben pulled out his "never used" handheld GPS. I read up on how it works and the geocaching opportunities around us so that will be our next adventure. Stay tuned!
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