Celebration Weekend for Two (and Pets)

Hello, Dear Friends, I hope that you all had a lovely weekend. 

Here, we celebrated the Fourth of July, Independence Day, 

'quietly' at home. Our animal companions 

do not like the noise and commotion, 

so we stay home to comfort them
 and enjoy our own version of Independence Day. 

Although we live on the edge of the forest, 

that does not insulate us from the revelry 

going on all around us. The sound of fireworks

 carries for miles, especially

through silent canyons and elevations. 

Sound carries upwards....

Woodland walks were peaceful alternatives. 

The wild black raspberries are ripe. 

The robins love these, so we only find a few. 

They are sweet and delicate. 

We found this giant mushroom, too. 

I believe it is a Lepiotas - Chlorophyllum.
Impressive, right?
(I identified it from my guide book :)

It is growing by itself, although I have seen tiny 

mushrooms growing nearby. 

Usually we have mushrooms in autumn, 

but this summer, so far, has been unusually cool and damp. 

You can see how big it is compared to my hand! 

Some of these types are edible, but there are also 

some varieties that can be toxic. 

I would never take a chance. I noticed that it has not

been nibbled.........

Pretty blackberry blossoms and an ancient western red cedar

with huckleberry, ferns and creeping blackberry.

Western red cedar was extensively utilized by
 Native Americans, its wood made into a variety of objects,
the bark peeled for baskets and other items, and foliage used for kindling.

Ramblin' Man has taken the week off work
for a 'stay-cation', so while he tended to
mowing the lawn, I did some baking.

I made Whole Wheat Scones, but left out the raisins
and added two tablespoons of honey for sweetness,
to make shortcakes.

I have been experimenting with healthier
versions of shortcake lately.

I also made some potato salad, and marinated
cut-up boneless chicken in Teriyaki for kabobs.

I make Potato Salad with:
 peeled, diced, cooked and cooled Yukon Gold potatoes,
diced hard-boiled eggs,
a little bit of minced, sweet yellow onion,
and equal parts mayonnaise and Miracle Whip,
(enough to moisten)
with salt and pepper to taste,
 garnished with smoked paprika.

The Miracle Whip is the secret ingredient :)

The evening of the 4th was cool and cloudy.

Too cool for sitting outside, so I set a Patriotic
table inside.

I grilled the chicken with whole, sweet mini-peppers
and brown sugar bbq sauce.

The evening sun shines through the forest
and illuminates my collection of electrical
insulators under the canopy where I am grilling.

The pot of yellow flowers on the rail is
a form of perennial creeping Jenny.

White hydrangea and mint grow in a planter box.

You can't have a proper bbq without corn on the cob!

Time to eat!

Save room for strawberry shortcake!

Sooooo good!

The whole wheat scones are perfect -
and the leftovers can be served with butter and jam
for breakfast.

Unedited clouds at sunset over the Cascade Range of Western Washington State. 

While the sun sets on this patriotic holiday,
we count our blessings that we live in the
land of the free.

America the Beautiful.

And even though we stayed in for the celebration,
we did enjoy watching the fireworks
on television over our beautiful city of Seattle.

With happy pets sleeping at our feet :)

xoxo

"And so, my fellow Americans: Ask not what your
country can do for you - ask what you can do for your
country.
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not
what America will do for you, but what together
we can do for the freedom of man."

John F. Kennedy

xoxo

Today I am linking with:

Cooking and Crafting with J&J

Won't you join the fun?