Friends and food on the Fourth

I know a lot of people (including myself) are disappointed right now because of the recent  Supreme Court decision against women's reproductive rights. Many aren't celebrating the Fourth because of this, but I still wanted to bring together friends, food, flowers and all that is good. After all ...

"We have only this moment, 

sparkling like a star in our hand 

-- and melting like a snowflake. 

Let us use it before it is too late."

            -- Marie Beynon Ray

One of my first Tucson friends, Beth (left), 

and one of my first Gig Harbor friends, Nancy, 

who just moved here.

So let's start with the cake! It's the chocolate Texas sheet cake that I've been making for decades as I've moved around the country, and now it has a new following in Tucson. We decided to salute the cake before cutting into it.

Crustless green chile quiche

Black bean and corn chili-lime salad

Fresh fruit

Pasta salad

Tomato salad

Turkey meatballs with marinara and mozzarella

 

And yes, there was wine ...

... and flowers from my yard

After we ate, we walked the short distance to a city park that was having a laser light show. I couldn't get good photos, but the coolest part was when a fog machine layered fog over the crowd and reflected shimmering colors and designs in the air. Our little walk might have burned off a few bites of that cake!

Have a colorful day