Right now I am sitting pool side in the ChicSheikShack. Life has thrown me a curve ball this past week which I will talk about later when I have more information. Those of you closest to me know what I am talking about.

Our pulled pork is cooking away slowly on the Weber grill as I type. The day is not the "perfect" pool day since we have episodes of sun and cloud.  But my sweet husband just brought me down a Caipirinha with lots of lime and I am listening to cool pool tunes like Steve Tyrel and Julio Iglesias. Since the Caipirinha is a Brazilian drink, at least Julio fits (somewhat). I have decided that I was Latina in a former life. I feel most at home in Latin-based countries. The music calls my name. I can see myself dancing the tango or stomping out a flamenco avec castanets with my skirts swirling around my legs.

If you don't travel, you lose.

I am lucky in that respect, and probably haven't taken full advantage of traveling as I could have in recent years. I have vowed to be more open to long flights in the years to come while Rick is still working. The South American sales force that we were with in Cartagena is looking into getting Rick to Brazil or Argentina. It's a long way, but if he goes can I let him go without me? It would be my only chance to see that part of the world. How could I possibly say no?

I am continually reminded to seize the day and make the most of every single one. Make each day count.

We are so spoiled that I am typing on my new keyboard/cover for the iPad via a WiFi booster plugged into an outdoor electrical plug. You gotta love computer geek hubbies.

It's so quiet here this weekend. Neighbors Kim and Mark are at their house at the shore and Aileen must be celebrating the holiday elsewhere as well. So here we sit at the pool with the neighborhood to ourselves.

We'll be feasting soon on pulled pork, corn on the cob and coleslaw. Yum. I can't wait.

I know I am behind in posting and I'm sorry about that. I'll try to make up for lost time in the coming week. Until then, wherever you are, whatever you are doing on this 4th of July 2013 I hope you're having a good time!

I think Spring is finally on the way. As I type the little Carolina wren is singing away outside my window. I just adore those little birds and their sweet varied songs. I can see buds about to pop on the maple trees and the day lilies have broken ground. The daffodils have lots of flower buds coming. Soon it will all burst wide open and I'll be glad for that.

Our three-day weekend went pretty well. On Friday we did some errand running around. Some errands were successful (like our trip to DSW for new shoes) and others weren't as successful as I had hoped (Unique Photo for this new lens which was out of stock). As soon as I made the final decision to actually buy it and spend my reserved "Mom" money they run out due to a super new sale price. Next week!

We took the dogs for a walk, Rick took down the old cabana canopy frame in preparation for the new one and gave Mia a much needed bath.

We branched out for dinner and tried cooking skate for the first time and it was amazingly good. 

On Saturday we took Mia out for a spin. It was nice enough to have the top down once the day warmed up. We drove down to Branch Book Park in Bloomfield (a suburb of Newark) to check on the progress of the cherry trees, and also because I wanted to know the route so I could drive myself when the time comes. Last year this time the cherries were just about done, but this year they haven't even started yet. We saw a couple of trees that had popped, but most had not. I plan to spend a lot of time wandering around the park with my camera (and my new lens!) just taking in all the blossoms and getting some much needed cherry therapy or "cherrapy". Here's what they looked like last year.

When we got home Rick experimented with the new cook book I got him the other day. America's Test Kitchen's D.I.Y. cookbook: Can It, Cure It, Churn It, Brew It: 100+ Foolproof kitchen projects for the adventurous home cook. He made ketchup! It was very tasty and much better than the prepared stuff. Healthier too! It made the house smell so good.

We used it on our homemade onion rings that accompanied our grilled steaks. Here are the rings before frying. Yum!

Easter was spent doing much not of anything. The weather was cloudy and windy and by afternoon the rain had started in. We bathed Alex, who was sorely in need of a bath, and blew him dry dog-show style in the morning. We just stayed around the house and watched TV, read and I knit some (still working on Rick's slippers, almost done) and cooked our free Easter ham. We also had gratin dauphinois and roasted carrots, parsnips and onions as sides. Delicious! Now we'll be eating on ham for the rest of the week: in quiche, split pea soup and so on. We'll also be having Sloppy Joes this week and using Rick's ketchup in them to see how it works when used in a recipe. 

So that's it folks, the weekend that was. I think I covered most of the highlights. I hope however you spent your holiday weekend was equally as enjoyable as ours.

(Top Photo explanation: I was intrigued by capturing the play of light on the fencing around the pool late in the afternoon as we grilled our steaks. The wrought iron chair on the opposite side of the fence was casting a shadow.)

Our dinner party was a huge success. The food was wonderful, the guests all got along and had a great time and everything went according to plan. 

The day of the party was a little strange because it snowed most of the afternoon. Big, fluffy flakes that mostly evaporated as soon as they hit the ground but did in fact manage to pile up enough to leave the branches and grassy areas coated with white. At least it didn't stick to the roads. I didn't take any photos because, well, frankly I'm tired of taking white photos and showing them here on the blog. And I'm certain you are getting tired of me prattling on and on about our weather as well.

The temperatures haven't varied very much since last month. Yesterday it barely got above freezing! Our nighttime temperatures are still dipping down in to the 20's. As I type this entry this morning at 8:30 it's only 24. I am tired of wearing jackets and gloves and layering my tops two deep. Tired of lugging firewood up the stairs (our stash for this year is running dangerously low).

Today we are expecting more snow--this time leading to one or two inches, then some ice, then rain. I hope this year's spring is really sweet and pleasant to make up for its late start. At least I sure hope so. If it ever does get here that is!

I am tired of pointing my camera at the colors of gray, white and brown. I'd much rather point it towards blue and green.

(photo: Doorway to … Spring?)

Thanks to all who came, either in person or vicariously.

Preparations are being made. The plates and glasses sit on the sideboard awaiting the setting of the table.

The wine is waiting to be opened.

The dinner party will start soon. Did you get an invitation?

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