Today, the weather for the Fourth of July is about as perfect as it can get—sunny, warm but not too hot, with a bright blue sky. Because of my creaky knees—aka arthritis—we decided to simplify our Fourth of July gathering this year and celebrate with an appetizer and dessert party. There will just be two seatings, which means far less running up and down the stairs for me. Tomorrow, my knees will be so happy.
Besides, as my daughter Shannon noted, who doesn’t like an appetizer party? I know I sure do. A little bit of this, a little bit of that. Everything prepared ahead of time so that I can just relax when the guests come. And even though we don’t look like it, Clif and I have gotten to the point where we can’t eat as much as we did when we were younger. A good thing, too, because if we did, then we’d be in real trouble.
Here is the menu: Chopped salad and dough for grilled bread (Alice); devilled eggs and artichoke dip (Jill); a salsa and cream cheese spread, tortilla chips, cheese and crackers, and grapes (Clif and me). For dessert, homemade vanilla ice cream pie with a blueberry sauce and a strawberry sauce (both sauces are also homemade).
The ice cream pie has become a Fourth of July tradition at the little house in the big woods.
A very happy Fourth to all American readers!
Notes From the Hinterland 
Looks wonderful! Hope everything is as perfect as the weather. Ain’t it grand?! XOXOXOOXOX
Happy 4th!! Glad the weather is so beautiful for you guys!! Not so much here – thunder storm just passed and now is just a steady drizzle. Ah well! 🙂
Happy 4th to you! A more beautiful day in Maine it could not be.
That reduced capacity for scoff is one of the biggest problems of ageing 🙂
So true, Derrick, but perhaps not an entirely bad thing as the metabolism slows w-a-y down, too.
It does 🙂
Sigh – that ice cream pie looks SO good!
Thanks, Eliza. So hard when you can’t eat the things you love.
IKR? 😉
A belated Happy 4 th of July! The party sounds great – that ice-cream cake looks delicious, and appetizers are such fun to eat. Our Canada Day was on July 1st, and the weather was also splendid, perfect for celebrating and kicking off the summer holidays!
Thanks, Carina. So glad the weather was great for Canada day.
It looks like a perfect day.
Thanks, Brenda. It was a lovely day.