😎 - off to enjoy a long holiday weekend with DH and friends - staying away from here for a while.

For those looking for a new cocktail. From Ina G.

30 large fresh mint leaves, coarsely torn by hand

• 3 to 4 thick slices fresh watermelon
• 12 ounces light rum, such as Bacardi
• 1/2 cup simple syrup
• 6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (3 limes)
• Sprigs of mint and spears of watermelon, for serving

Use a mortar and pestle to mash the mint leaves. Remove and discard the rind and seeds of the watermelon. Put the fruit into a food processor fitted with the steel blade and purée. Put the mashed mint into a large pitcher with 2 cups of puréed watermelon, the rum, simple syrup, and lime juice and stir to combine. Pour the mixture into a pitcher for serving.

Place ice cubes in 6 glasses and pour the mojito mixture into the glasses. Garnish with sprigs of fresh mint and spears of watermelon. Serve ice cold.

That cocktail looks good! I’m feeling lazy so this weekend I might stick with Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy. I will, at least, pour it into a glass. The dishwasher can do the rest of that work.

Thanks, maddielee. I hope you are feeling well and have a fun and relaxing 4th weekend.

That cocktail sounds delicious and refreshing.

Happy Fourth of July, everyone!

We will be at lake all weekend! So crowded this weekend, but you just can't beat being around people who love America and to celebrate it, is just the best! House (not ours) full of friends and some will be sleeping on the boat. Eating at the yacht club and cooking out combo is always something to look forward to also-gonna have that hot dog this weekend! My DS is already there with the boys-water skiing. Happy 4th of July!

Have a happy and safe Fourth everyone!!🇺🇸

Maddie, thanks for sharing that cocktail recipe, looks delicious. I love watermelon.

DD and her SO will be visiting Sunday, can’t wait. :)

I couldn't care less about patriotic displays and events personally, but will never turn down the opportunity to enjoy an extra day off. Will be avoiding the heat here, likely just a low-key long weekend, which are the best. However you're spending yours, I wish you well.

Our 52nd anniversary is the 4th. Poor Mom, I didn't even realize it was the 4th. Just that he was leaving to go 300 miles away and I WAS going with him, lol. We could have a wedding or not, her choice.

Ida, my DH is with you. He won’t even put out the Maple Leaf today. He hates fireworks. I enjoy them. But he’ll have a beer..

I turned down an invite to go to the Copperhead Palace (that's what I call my son's house now) for BBQ, depending on the heat we may meet up for some local activities. I do in fact appreciate snakes and live and let live but I just want the venomous ones to live somewhere else. Far away.

Due to a flurry of scheduling snafus, we are home this weekend with no plans. It is super hot today and tomorrow’s forecast is stormy, so my plans revolve around two new books I took out from the library. Hoping to do a hike with DH on Sun morning and, don’t be jealous but I have exciting plans to get boosted on Sun afternoon. DH had zero side effects from his last week, hope I get lucky too.

Well, if absolutely pressed, I might have a margarita. 😁

Happy to be home. Just going to the farm stand to pick up produce in a bit. we also have margarita mix and tequila.

The Mustang club isn't participating in the July 4 parade this year, so I will not be doing that.

Our July Fourth plans were curtailed somewhat by Covid. I’m just recently over it now, but this was my second time getting it despite getting both jabs in the Spring of 2021. I sadly gave this latest to our DD, and although feeling better now, she’s still testing positive, so we won’t be having even her boyfriend over to party with.

We will be grilling out, though, and working on our landscaping. And, DH will be making his wonderful homemade ice cream on the Fourth. Our mountain village always has a great parade that DH and I’ll attend along with our furkids. We’re all praying that no one starts a fire here with fireworks, as we've been in such a drought.

Lynn, ugh! Sorry you and DD have been sick!

Yes, Lynn, hope you're both feeling better soon and enjoy the parade.

Live music tonight. Farmers market, yard work, and hanging with my DS tomorrow. Sunday, biking with friends to listen to more live music. A friend is hosting a bbq on Monday.

Our local fireworks are half-mile up the street from me, and I may walk down to watch. I'm not big on fireworks.

Wishing everyone a wonderful and safe Independence Day weekend!

I love fireworks. We have no plans to go to a show this year.

We frequently go to Monticello on July 4 for the natualization ceremony. I have heard some wonderful speakers including the very impressive Sam Waterson. The new citizens are offered the opportunity to share their thoughts and that can be mind- blowing.

Went to the fireworks last night....our only plan for the weekend. Perfect night for sitting outside and people watching. But the show was not as good as years past. But the band before hand played straight through for 2 hrs with lots of oldies mixed in.

In the past, we had huge family picnics, but the people who arranged and attended them are all gone, so instead I cook up some hamburgers and get some summer slaw for dinner in remembrance.

Lisaam, what a wonderful place to spend The Fourth!!!

Not flying but driving to my aunt and uncle's house to watch a small town (VERY small town) 4th of July parade and see extended family. The parade is all fire trucks, old cars, and kids on bicycles. Perfect!

Hope you are on the mend, Lynn.

DH decided to smoke a pork butt, so that will be good. Hope the rain stays away! Don’t know if anyone saw there is a tropical storm that formed off Myrtle Beach, so some areas will get rain.

🇺🇸Well said Mark! 🇺🇸

@Sueb20 what books are you reading? Any good?

I just had a week at the beach and came home Saturday morning. D17 was able to come for a few days then went home with Dh midweek to work, and Dh had an unavoidable/unexpected business meeting in Atlanta. My sons both had to work so it ended up being a vacation mostly for myself! It was actually quite nice. The weather was absolutely perfect.

Nothing exciting planned today. Another beautiful day. I was up early and took one of my dogs for a long walk. Dh is smoking a pork butt so we will have pulled pork, corn on cob and potato salad for dinner, We can walk to the end of our block to see the city fireworks tonight out over the bay.

D23 flew from her home in San Diego to a wedding outside of Denver over the weekend. No line at security in SD and no flight issues on the way to Denver. They fly back to SD tonight so fingers crossed they have no problems getting home.