Thoughts and Things - This week ... Food, Fun & Fireworks on the 4th


Hey everyone, I hope you had a great weekend!  July certainly arrived this week, and with that came all the celebrations of the 'Fourth of July' holiday over the first weekend.  I enjoy all the 'glory' surrounding Independence Day.  It's always nice to see so many American-flags waving high and proud everywhere.  It's a beautiful sight!  Hurray for our red, white and blue!  And, for those who protect our freedom and help to keep our nation secure, to whom I am most grateful.   




There was quite a bit of rain on Saturday morning, but the forecast gave us clearing skies for late afternoon and the evening.  We (hubby and I) had a nice cook-out at home just the two of us here, along with our favorite golden retriever Aeon of course.  We chose to stay home and view fireworks from our neighbors, that proved very entertaining.  Our lawn-chairs perched atop our driveway we were able to see and hear fireworks from a few different locations nearby.  Some adult-beverages kept us refreshed out there in our lawn-chairs and also had me humorously saying to hubs that we were "drinking and driveway-ing."  It was kind of funny at the time!  I sure do amuse myself sometimes ... and hubby too apparently, since he found it pretty funny also!

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Hubs was the grand grill master so while he prepared the Big Green Egg outside, I did some other prep for our meal, inside.



I did a simple table setting with a little 'Fourth of July" theme ...just a touch to make it a bit more festive.




A little prep before grilling our steak dinner.  My Stuffed Jalapenos.  Oh and can't forget the wine!


The Stuffed Jalapenos Peppers were cooked on the grill first and we enjoyed them as our appetizer before enjoying the rest of the meal, Grilled Steaks, Sauteed Mushrooms, and Skillet Potatoes along with a nice bottle of wine.  Our dinner was delicious, and those steaks were absolute perfection, cooked and seasoned just right!

Here are links to my Stuffed Jalapeno Peppers and Skillet Potatoes recipes if you are interested. ;)  They're a couple of our family favorites!   


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After dinner we moved outside for the fireworks.

A neighbor put on a great fireworks display at the cul-de-sac near our house.  It was nice to stay home and still have a show of fireworks.   All from the comfort of home!  Below are a few photos of the fireworks that I captured with my camera phone.  


    








We had food, we had fun, and we had fireworks!
  

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 Here is a little something extra special:

"Between the fireworks and other festivities, it might have been easy to miss a video posted to YouTube on July 2nd of a patriotically moving rendition of "Amazing Grace" performed by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and celebrated violinist Jenny Oaks Baker."

Enjoy!




Truly Amazing...





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Tammy is the design enthusiast behind the blog, Tips, Treats & Treasures, where her creativity is explored with a mixture of her artistic abilities and style through her home decorating, thrifty finds, DIY and creative craft projects, along with her family favorite recipes. She shares through her blog her ideas and helpful tips on everything she has learned over the years and much of which she is passionate about in the hope of inspiring others, with her own unique style storytelling.