In the midst of this difficult year where the bottom dropped out of our lives, the Lord blessed me and my kids with an unexpected week’s worth of events centered around Independence Day.
BBQ, GAMES, AND FIREWORKS WITH FRIENDS
On the first of July, my kids took me to their friends’ house from work, whose family had invited the three of us to celebrate an early Independence Day at their lovely home in the countryside with all of their friends.
BBQ, games, and fireworks prevailed for the day, on a gorgeous sunny day that wasn’t too hot.
GIANT PICNIC ON THE RIVER WITH FRIENDS
On the fourth of July, my kids had to work, so I joined a friend at a huge Independence Day BBQ at Occoquan Regional Park, which filled our day.
PICNIC AND FIREWORKS AT THE PLAINS WITH THE KIDS
Late that afternoon, I joined my son, my daughter, and her boyfriend to drive to The Plains for fireworks.
Sitting on a blanket, we enjoyed a picnic lunch of fried chicken, ribs, and potato salad from Harris Teeter, which was delicious, while waiting for the sun to set.
When the last ray of sun hid behind the trees, an amazing show of fireworks lit the sky.
HAND-CRANKING HOMEMADE ICE CREAM
Finally on the eighth of July, my son, my daughter, and her boyfriend joined me in hand cranking homemade ice cream, which is a highly anticipated yearly tradition of fun and flavor.
For the first time we used a recipe from Mount Vernon, using American Heritage Chocolate, from the batch I won in a contest a few years ago.
Yes, I’ve been guarding this chocolate carefully, so I still have some!
American Heritage Chocolate infuses other flavorings from the 18th century grater: nutmeg, cinnamon, orange peel, cayenne pepper.
Yum! After all that cranking, we had good eats for the week!
