Romans 8:20-21I getting behind on my blogging, and my chemo brain doesn't remember things easily, so I'm jumping to the Fourth of July, and then I'll go back. I have been busy of late, especially some time working on a family cookbook blog, which is still getting up.
"For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God."
Anyway, today was just right. Sarah was the one to organize it all, with just some help from me, suggestions that is. She was going to bring chicken and potato salad. Annie did baked beans. Heidi brought a bowl of grapes that was almost all eaten and several bags of chips. Corey brought a black bean salad (vegan of course). Marilyn brought a veggie platter with a humus dip. Gramma brought watermelon, which Corey cut up for her. And finally, I brought organic brownies, oven roasted corn on the cob, and organic strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries.
Caleb, dreaming about being being able to play croquet someday.
In the morning Riley and I walked over to Pete's. Then while we were there Annie joined us. Then we walked walked back, and at some point Annie left to go to her house, as it was lunch time. At home Riley ate his left-over sandwich from Rose's and I ate my left-over food from Nicholas's - a spinach tart, humus, tatziki, tabbouleh, and falafel. It was really quite pleasant, which is always nice for a change. Then after a little while I helped Riley make organic brownies. He did a good job, but instructions were definitely needed. Actually I sat there writing down the recipe as i thought it up while he cooked.
Then, when the brownies were out of the oven, Riley and Annie and I went to the store, where I bought 9 ears of white corn, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. The fruit was mainly for Caleb and me. That kid loves berries, especially if I feed them to him. And Annie got beans. I told her that I would pay for the beans if one of the two cans was B&M baked beans, as that's our families true American heritage from my New England grandmother.
A Frenchman eating corn - he was a good sport.
As soon as we got home Riley shucked the corn for me and I prepared aluminum foil for each ear, buttered each ear, and carefully wrapped them and set them aside to be baked just before going to the picnic. Then before I was even done Sarah, Zac, Caleb, and Corey showed up. It turned out that Corey's boss, realizing that her family was having a big party, had let her off work early. She was all excited to get her black bean salad made. Then I realized that they were going to cook bacon, which did not sound good to me, so Riley and I decided to go to Pete's again, just to get out of the house.
When we got back home Gramma and Grampa were there, as were Ken and Marilyn. But unfortunately Annie had decided to cook onions! I had very specifically said that no onions were to be cooked. Sometimes it's hard to figure out what is going on in Annie's mind. I know she means well, but for gosh sakes! So I opted to sit out side for a while, which was difficult, as it was very hot out there. Gramma, Marilyn, and Ken came out to sit with me. Eventually Grampa came out. He was in a bit of a state. He said he wanted to go home, because there were too many people in the house. All told there were 11 of us so far, but four of us were in the garden. So I guess there were 7 in the house including Grampa. Well Gramma was not going, so that was that. He settled down pretty quick.
It was soon decided that Sarah and Zac and Caleb and Annie and Corey would go ahead to the park to set things up, so it would not be a hassle when Grampa came. They packed up a lot of the food, and chairs, and a small church table, along with a badminton set, and a croquet set, and frisbees, and headed to Grant Park. Now right here I have to say that we have found that having a family picnic in Grant Park is absolutely the perfect place. There's this small parking lot at the north edge of the park, on a dead end street, and right by that is a lovely flat, treed area where we have our picnic. Grant Park is not known as a picnic park, so the spot is always free, and the park is relatively void of people, except those coming through on their bikes, or waking their dogs, or what have you. And today, as an added bonus, there was a lovely breeze.
All the food and chairs were set up, and Grampa found his seat, and that's pretty much where he stayed, except when we moved him to watch the croquet match. First we all ate, as it was getting on to to 6 o'clock. Soon after we started eating Heidi, Christian, and Emily showed up, and they said Stephane would be along soon. My favorite food of the day was the corn on the cob. I never know what food will be the one I like today. My brownies also tasted good, but I'm trying really hard to cut out as much sugar as possible, so I ate only 1/2 a brownie.
Then some of us played badminton and some of us played croquet. One badminton racquet broke and the croquet course was grass needing mowing, but it was all a lot of fun. Stephane won the badminton game and Heidi won the croquet (I came in second), so they were pretty pleased about that. Then after that Corey and Zac and Stephane played frisbee, while the rest of us packed up. Actually, Gramma and Grampa left mid-croquet, but by then Mom had made it to the far post. She was still in good lively spirits, but Grampa didn't want to be driving after dark. Most understandable.
Then everything was picked up. All I did was watch Caleb and Emily. It wasn't long before it was all picked up and we headed toward the cars a short distance away. Each one of us set our chair out on the end of the street so we could watch the fire works. Eventually all was packed, and everyone had a chair. Emily sat on one side of me and Riley was on the other side. She was pretty excited. Actually she told everyone as they arrived that she had fireworks. I don't think she really knew what they were, but she was pretty excited.
Finally Christian stepped out to start the fireworks. Unfortunately they only had short matches and the process was going to take forever without someone helping him. So Zac and Heidi stepped up. Christian wasn't too happy with this. But maybe next year they'll have longer matches, and lots of them. The first fireworks was a big one, so it was pretty exciting, and Emily was very impressed. She was a very good girl and sat in her chair the whole time. We all enjoyed the show very much, even though there were no big wowers. It was so nice to have our very own end of the street, where no other cars could drive. Then, when it was all over, we all helped pick up the debris.
Then the kids tried out Stephane's motor cycle. He has a really cool one. It was so nice to have a Fourth of July picnic and I wasn't the one organizing it. Sarah did such a good job. I have a wonderful family, and we had a wonderful time.
Psalm 128
1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
who walk in His ways.2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your sons will be like olive shoots
around your table.4 Thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.5 May the LORD bless you from Zion
all the days of your life;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem,6 and may you live to see your children's children.
Peace be upon Israel.
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