Roselee, Such nice colors, feel like taking a stroll in your garden. I have a suprise cantaloupe vine growing. I thought a squash vine came up from the vegetable scrap I threw in my garden. I put a trellis and let the vine grow vertically. I cut one off the plant to get a closer look and thats when I realized it was a cantaloupe. It was not ready yet,I let it ripen for a few days. It was quite good, I am sure it will taste great had I left it on the plant till it was ready. I have some more on the vine and I am figuring out a way to give support to those Cantaloupes. I read old panty hose may work good. Any ideas ?

Luvs - some days I wonder myself how everything stays safe!LOL Panda will be a big Tom....he's not even a yr old and weighs 10 lbs - that equals big potential damage! Here's an observation I sent my sister: I'm watching Panda going from the kitchen to the LR window - to do so, in the DR he had to jump up on the buffet walk across that, then jump onto the round table between DR & LR cross that, then walk across wing chair seat, jump up onto the linen storage cabinet in LR, walk across that, then go onto next wing chair, walk across the back, then get on top on my big Buddha head next to wing chair, then jump down to the floor and then jump up onto the bookcase cabinet in front of window. He could have just walked the distance on the floor - I wonder if he has OCD? LOL jaybird - LOL, I can imagine my Panda doing that as well - when it comes to something he likes, he's not bashful about going for it! When I was frosting a cake he took a swipe at the spreader to get some icing. He also had to have a piece of the cake. kathie - believe it or not, that was from a wedding done on the cheap but w/great style! karen - When Panda sits quiet too long...the next shoe will be dropping soon! slinkey - I too thought the simple blu&wht,yelo combo was really attractive and I drooled over the jelly cupboard and the blu & wht arrangement.

If the usual vilification is over.... maybe this isn't quite the disaster everyone is telling you it has to be. Is this going to be a potluck? If so, has anyone asked them to say what they're bringing? Otherwise, have to assume all is going to be provided. How many shortcuts do you want to take? How many kids? How many roasters/slow cookers can you round up? Pulled pork/beef is easy - just season & slow cook 'em in the roaster and put on the BBQ sauce (homemade or store bought), sloppy joes... Brats, polish, dogs can go on the grill and/or in a roaster. You could also do meatballs/cocktail franks for appetizers. Scalloped/Au Gratin potatoes usually send back a clean dish. Bakery buns do well for sandwiches. A smoked turkey is very popular at our picnics and I made a ham one year which is always popular. Chicken salad can be sandwiches or a side. Could even do coldcuts and make your own sandwiches or a taco bar. Sides? Beans seem traditional. As is potato salad and slaw. Pasta salads, green salad, strawberry salad, corn on the cob, wild rice salad, bean salad and take whatever shortcuts desired. Desserts? Ice cream (sandwiches are easier), cookies/bars, apple pie if you want to go All-American, watermelon, grapes or any fruit... Snacks? Chips, nuts, platter of crudités, dips, salsa... Beverages? Water & lemonade are simple and popular. Cooler of pop & water is simple and a 5 gallon dispenser of lemonade is simple too. Alcohol of your choosing. Juice boxes for little kids? Supplies? Paper plates, plastic SFK, I like to use paper towels rather than napkins since a roll won't blow away like a stack of napkins. Garbage cans with liners spread around. Charcoal/propane. There's always the concern if people are going to demand special food because they have dietary issues, which I usually say is their issue at an affair like this. Also put out a call for tables, BYO chairs. It really doesn't have to be a big thing. Or it can be elaborate with crystal wine glasses, Dom Perignon or Cristal? Caviar. Or could hire someone to roast a pig. Does anyone have a volleyball net/ball? Basketball/hoop? Football? Horseshoes? Bat/softball? I usually enjoy the "simpler is better" philosophy. Have fun.

We were there for a couple of days (from Texas) before we went to see DH's Grandma in the nursing home. Loved the view from Sam's Chowder House (but thought the food could be better), loved the shopping in town, esp. a little store called "Half to Have it" (lots of coastal decor stuff...and just lots of stuff!), Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. - yummy food and beer. We aren't surfers ourselves - but it was fun watching! Look out your balcony early in the morning... We wondered what the heck those people were doing digging deep holes in the sand. Turns out they were digging for gooey ducks (nasty looking things!) Have fun!!!! p.s. fun to take a winery tour too!