Andy, Goobers, and I had a great weekend relaxing at home on a RARE sunny Fourth of July in Seattle. We ate yummy Cuban sandwiches at the beachside stand Paseo and then visited the Phinney Ridge Farmer’s Market. We bought 2 flats of berries and should be set on pies, muffins, and pancake toppings until next summer!

Andy raised the flag on our front porch. We often forget to do this (like on Flag Day), so we were darn proud of ourselves for remembering.

We were finally able to enjoy our new backyard! And I think my little container garden may actually make it!

I was excited to start using the mint in some of my favorite drinks, and I made a caprese salad with our basil. I felt incredibly capable and cool, even though I know that if I lived on a Depression-era farm with only my gardening skills to feed us, we would starve!

Andy enjoyed the view from the patio:

Goobers enjoyed the sun in the backyard. We were airing out the duvet in anticipation of my birthday gift (which I knew about, having made Andy take pictures of it at Crate and Barrel with a list of what sizes to get!) and Goobers did a good job of not getting on it. Instead he sat right next to it, inching closer to it through out the day!

It was time to open the much-anticipated, not- surprising birthday gift!

Andy shucked fresh oysters and I enjoyed them in the hammock with some champagne!

Then it was time to downshift from fancy to patriotic– brats and beer! Andy mistakenly tried to grill ALL of the hotdogs present!

We enjoyed our food while watching, appropriately, Yankee Doodle Dandy. And then it was time for cake! My favorite– Mint Chocolate Chip cake from Baskin Robbins.