I actually really enjoyed the AIC BBQ party on Saturday despite being completely wiped out afterwards. It felt like a real return to the 4th of July parties of the early days of the club. We were 55 people total, with about 14 smaller kids (no babies though). The bouncy castle was a huge hit, and the kids pretty much stayed on it the entire time, when they weren’t eating, throwing a beach ball around as well. Nice because I didn’t have to get Martin to take them over to the playground, or come up with other games or activities.
The weather also cooperated. It was grey and threatening right up until afternoon, and then clear and sunny and warm with a breeze all during the party. It actually started to rain right as we were finishing the cleanup and we got all the cushions put away just in time. Lots of good food brought by everyone. I brought out the popsicles I had bought about an hour or so after we had eaten and they were devoured by the kids (and some adults).
The best was that Frida, Martin’s friend and classmate from early years, came with Martin and Theo, and brought a COLA PAJ that her mom had made. I didn’t even put it out for the hordes, haha! It was quite a small pie, and we’ve all enjoyed it, without sharing. Total pie hogs, but I don’t care! WORTH IT! We had all the cleanup and washing up done by mid-day on Sunday, and in the afternoon, I picked up Karin who was back from a week volunteering at the Roskilde music festival in Denmark and then at 4 pm, Debbie and Camilla arrived.
With Karin’s help, we finished harvesting the cherry tree. 3 more huge bowls, which brough the total to 6 this year! Karin climbed up in the center of the tree in order to reach the highest fruit. Debbie was eating all the cracked ones I would have tossed. Anders got the last of the net off the tree, and then we had a delicious dinner, sitting in the sun on the deck. Leftover pulled pork, and a simple pasta salad I threw together, plus cucumbers from our garden, and of course, cherries for dessert.
Karin climbs up the cherry tree
Camilla in the cherry tree
Debbie and the big bowl
Yesterday I pitted and froze about 3 kilos worth of the biggest best cherries on a tray so they are individually frozen and we can easily take out and use whatever amount we need. There is still a nearly full bowl in the fridge, and I’m hoping Anders will make cherry jam or chutney or pie with some before they are gone. I gave a big bag to Jessika next door as well as a thank you for helping us get the net on the tree a couple of months ago.
Debbie and Camilla took kale and cucumbers home as well as cherries, and today I took 3 more huge cucumbers to work and gave them away. There are tons more nearly ready to pick, so I need to push Anders to get pickling! Most everything in the garden is thriving, but the tomatoes as taking their time and the snap peas are nearly 3 feet high but not showing any sign of actual snap peas! Weird. And in flower news, the roses are blooming like crazy and the neon pink pelargoniums are making a comeback. Pretty!
Next week there are only 2 of us on my team left to hold down the fort while everyone else is on vacation. I’m hoping it’s slow enough that we don’t get stressed out. There are some events that are being problems and we’re really hoping everything is resolved and taken care of by the end of this week so we don’t have to deal with them on our own. Still 3.5 weeks before MY vacaton starts. Seems very far away!
Mood: relaxed
Music: Sister Hazel—Change Your Mind