Sharing My Secret With The Girls!

Last Wednesday, I invited my girl friends to have a luncheon picnic and then go swimming with me. I decided to have the picnic in the secret garden. I started grilling around 10:30 AM. I made some Filipino style barbecued pork in skewers, barbecued ribs and grilled some veggies (squash, zucchini, mushrooms and bell peppers). I just threw everything on the grill. I also served corn on a cob but I bought the frozen ones and just microwaved them.

This is one way of accessing the secret garden and probably the easiest.

Bird handled flatware is appropriate for outdoor use.

There is hubby spreading more moth balls in the yard. He did not know I already did that earlier but there is no harm in laying more. He is determined to keep those snakes away. He knows I will stop gardening if I saw even just one. I am so terrified of them.

I moved the picnic basket and flatware from the table to the railroad ties when I was ready to set the food on the table.
I wrapped the flatware with cloth napkins before I laid them down. This way the flying bugs would not get to them. I opened the napkins just for the picture taking and when it was time to eat.

I placed the plates in the picnic basket for the same reason, so the bugs would not get to them while I was cooking. This allowed me to set everything ahead of time in the garden.

Everything's all ready now.

But of course, we could not leave my mom out. While we were picnicking down below, I had her eating up on the deck where she could see us. I just did not want to risk her falling down the steps cause some of them are pretty steep.

Here we all are, the happy hungry bunch! John came home at lunch time but did not join us. He said he will leave us ladies alone:-)

I set the dessert table on one of the deck tables. I knew we wouldn't be hungry for dessert yet, right after eating all that food.
The cups had sea shell shaped saucers.

The teapot is a vintage Bavarian Tirschenreuth. I love the colors and the flowers on it. We had raspberry/cranberry tea. They loved it, in fact they asked for the site where I order them from. They are Whittard of Chealsea's instant tea. I don't think I have tried any of their flavors that I did not like. I kept the teapot in a warmer so we can drink tea anytime while swimming

I like using these screened domes to cover the food. Even if I do not see any bugs, it gives me peace of mind that the food will stay sanitary.

Yummy carrot cake!

Unfortunately, Doris and Mercy had to leave right after eating and could not join us to swim. Doris' office manager had to leave town to visit a sick brother so she had to take over managing the clinic.

Here's Brenda and Debjani.
Way to go, Brenda!

We really all had a great time. We even talked about going night swimming sometime soon.

Debjani shot this. Good thing my feet were clean, lol.

Linking with the following memes:

Sally's Blue Monday at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

SJ's http://www.homemakeronadime.com/
Marty's Tabletop Tuesday at http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

Lady Katherine's Teatime Tuesday at http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/

Martha and Terri's Teacup Tuesday at http://www.marthasfavorites.com/

Sandi's Teatime Tues at http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/

WandaLee and Pam's Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday at http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/

Susan's Outdoor Wed. at http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/
Watery Wed at http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/
Susan's Tablescape Thursday at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
Sherry's Home Sweet Home Friday at http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much for hosting and thanks to all for visiting!

New Smyrna Beach, FL and Pink Flowers

Before we moved here, we lived in Florida. John took a temp locum tenens 6 month job in Sanford, which is about 1/2 hr drive from Orlando. Our home was 2 hours away from there so the company put him in a hotel suite and gave him a rental car throughout the duration of his duty. It was a fun job because although he was on call 24/7, he did only work when the hospital needed him. He did not have to see patients in a clinic. The only downside is that he had to be available in case he got called, so he was not able to go anywhere far. That was the reason he could not come with me when I was house hunting here. Yep, I found the house by myself, did the closing by myself and moved by myself with the help of my nephew who drove the second vehicle. John flew in when he finally quit his job to relocate and that was the first time he saw the house. Luckily, he really liked it too!

I am getting ahead of myself here. Anyway, my granddaughter, AJ and I really enjoyed his time there. I was still working full time in a laboratory at that time but every weekend, I would drive with AJ and stay in the hotel with him. The hotel was surrounded by my favorite stores: Ross, Marshall's, TJ Maxx, World Market, Joann Fabrics and many others and AJ's favorite store, Toys R Us. Needless to say, the vehicle was always full when we went home.

We always went to nearby beaches too. Today for Sightseeing Sat., I am showing you Smyrna Beach. John was all smiles here because he was getting paid while relaxing on the beach.

Noah was so little here.

Isn't the dog cute? He is not ours, just saw him in the parking lot.
Even my mom, John's daughters and sister enjoyed going there.


Hope you enjoyed a mini tour of Smyrna Beach.

I am also linking with Beverly for Pink Saturday at
http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

I would like to share the pink flowers that are growing in our garden.

I did not know that petunias climbed up. You can see it climbing up the trellis here, which is good because I am trying to conceal the pool equipment.

Dianthus in a small flower bed by the vegetable garden.
These are bushes by the driveway in the front yard.

I know these dahlias are yellow but you can see the pink petunias in the background hanging from the gazebo. The small orchid bloomed also.

Double petunias hanging on the back porch.
Thank you for stopping by and I would like to thank Beverly for hosting. Please go visit her and her participants too.

An Outdoor and Pool Party

I have a winner! Congrats to Cindy of http://applestonecottage.blogspot.com/ for winning my giveaway! Cindy, I'll pack up the items and take the box to the post office tomorrow. I hope you like them!

After I redid the secret garden, John invited some of his colleagues for an oudoor barbecue party last Saturday. After having a week of warm weather of temps almost in the 90's, I was surprised to wake up to a 67 degree weather. But John turned on the pool heater so guests were still able to swim.


Although this is just a buffet set up, I am linking to Susan's Tablescape Thursday at
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

and Michael's Foodie Friday at
http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/

I was going to use cloth napkins but after realizing how messy barbecued ribs are, I decided on paper napkins instead. I also used plastic plates. I found these cool colors at Walmart, 4 plates for a $1.

dessert plates

Rolls and pecan pie for dessert.

After eating, we walked to take a look at the creek behind us. The picture below was taken before the Mississippi River has swollen. As you can see, the creek was almost dry. This is how it usually looks.
This is the same creek now, with lots of water.

We are safe from flooding because we are on a bluff but our biggest concern now is the migration of snakes and other wild animals. They have been displaced out of their natural habitats and are searching for safe higher grounds. Today I spread moth balls all over the yard, especially in the secret garden since we had a picnic there today and I am terrified of snakes. I will post pictures of that event next Thursday.

Thanks for stopping by. It is highly appreciated! And thank you to our hostesses Susan and Michael! I hope you get a chance to visit them and their participants.