Free Range Friday ~ Beach Food and Fun

Yesterday was what a few of us call a 'tiny day' for me. I really couldn't look at any more photos of food, fun and frivolity for awhile. Today, rainy and cool with Invest 96 passing through? I'm almost hungry again.

Green!!!

When it comes to food and parties around here, I can only pass on what I heard maybe five times the other day at Francie's farewell fiesta. "There won't be any parties like this, wherever she is going." No one would dispute that. Almost all of the parties, be they birthday or holiday or see ya down the road celebrations, are "Bring what you drink and something to eat." We rarely assign dishes because somehow everyone brings just what we all want and then more of what we didn't expect but find we wanted that too (like funnel cakes!).

Since I knew this party was happening and since it has been sooooooooooo hot, I've basically been eating avocados and cheese to avoid cooking. Good thing, as there was enough food here to make up for a week of eating lightly.

We had Carlos make what we thought was going to be way too many panini sandwiches, cut into thirds - Cubanos - outstanding! and vegetarian - eggplant, peppers, goat cheese and I don't know what delicious else, but in case you think vegetarian is boring? Think again. Far from being too much, I think there was one whole sandwich left. Well done, Carlos!

Clouds and sunshine. We had a backup plan for rain but the rain we got wasn't enough to make anyone scuttle for cover. Tough crowd!

What are those strange shaped plates Diane is carrying? Funnel cakes! I can't begin to say what was on that table in total, but there was everything from just picked bananas from Walt's tree to yummy pimento sandwiches from Yolanda to mini corn muffins to pasta salads to...well, you get the idea. Sort of. 

Rain? We've got plastic. It got rolled out a couple of times and worked just fine.

Peri made a very fun cake of memories she gathered by phone and text - moments with Francie here and there. Plus, the cake was delicious, hazelnut (or filberts, as Francie insists) and chocolate and I don't remember the whole description. I think there was one piece left in short order. 

 Boy, there sure were a bunch of old people there. I don't know where they came from.

Ok, they weren't all old. We had a few posers young'uns as well. 

At the picnic table next to us were some local guys who were fishing. I didn't take photos, figuring we'd intruded on their quiet time enough. They enjoyed some of the largesse. I didn't see any fish caught but a good cast of the net did bring in a lot of sardines for bait. Next time!

It's a beautiful day for those of us who live here and we're real glad we didn't plan the party for today. It's a day for curling up with a good book, a good cat (or dog, but they aren't on our agenda here at the shack), maybe putting on something for soup later. Or sooner. 

Settle in, it's going to be awhile 

Have a flower flourishing Friday. Do something forecastable. 

Many loved him, from the States to islands around the Caribbean and he will be dearly missed. Farewell, Gary. As Jo put it " The world has just lost one of its kindest souls, so glad to have had you in our lives."

Such a familiar sight.
photo credit - Jo Dechant