By the way...

...that wasn't the post I've been talking about. :)

Summer Kick-Off

First things first: I apologize for being such a lousy blogger! My mom told me the other day that the frustration of clicking onto my site and never seeing a new post makes her want to scold me like she would if I ever slacked horribly in cleaning my room or something. Haha!

Now, for the post's topic: Every year my little brother and I create a little party on our porch at the beginning of summer. We've called this event many different names, but all the names help to show why exactly we created this event: Summer Kick-Off, Summer Porch Party, Initiating Summer Celebration, etc. We love summer! Freedom from school, warm evenings, annual trips like camping in Sequoia or ministering overseas. So, we decided that summer deserves a celebration. This year, I took care of the food and Hunter took care of the outdoor decorations, lighting, music, etc. Our menu included beef back ribs (thanks to Dad for grilling them!), corn on the cob, mashed potatoes (thankfully, this was the first time that my mashed potatoes tasted good! Usually there's something wrong with them, but this time God decided that our summer celebration would include yummy potatoes!!), cornbread with honey butter, grilled asparagus (TOTALLY recommend), and chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream with hot fudge sauce for dessert! Accompanying our twinkle light and candle-lit meal was a summer music cd mix that Hunter put together. Hunter is really good at understanding the kinds of sounds that go with certain feelings. He creates atmosphere like a chef creates soup; he knows the flavor that he wants to end up with so he adds the right spices (music, lights) to maximize the enjoyment of the flavor.

We began our meal as the sun was beginning to set. The pictures don't really seem to capture how romantic our porch really was. I think the flash made it too light or something...oh well, just understand that the atmosphere was perfect for our event!

Hunter created a summertime memories picture circle. Kind of cool, huh?

When Hunter and I saw the Virgil's Cream Soda Party Keg at Whole Foods a few weeks ago, we knew that it had been designed for our Summer Porch Party. Isn't it perfect? And we had the best beer mugs to go with it! It was really good cream soda, too. I know some cream soda connoisseurs that need to know about this. :)





Oscar couldn't believe his senses!!! Two whole ribs, just for him?? He cleaned 'em down to the bare bone!

This was after we cleaned up the dinner mess and brought out the tasty dessert! (P.S. I caught mom and dad dancing together to the music out on the porch as Hunter and I were preparing for dessert! So sweet!)
Super full, but super happy tummies!

This is for Heather: Prince Winston decided he needed to help me sleep off my sedation today after my wisdom tooth extraction, but I think he was just a little more focused on his personal comfort. He just loves midday cat naps! Such a cutie cutie.



By the way, the extraction went really well! No pain yet, simply all pleasantness as I was forced into a deep sleep and continue to feel relaxed hours after the procedure! And I'm greatly looking forward to my all fruit Jamba Juice smoothie for dinner tonight!

Wistfulness

Can anybody cure wistfulness?

I think I've figured out that at any point of the year, especially the very beginning of summer, I get super wistful for whatever took place exactly one year previous. I'm dreaming of watching the last weeks of last year's American Idol with my sister, determinedly voting solely for Elliot, getting my haircut (even though now I HATE the haircut I got this time last year), then leaving on a jet plane for romantic NYC. I get so wistful for New York that it puts a lump in my throat. Why? What happened there that was so special?

If this continues every year, then next year I'm going to get tearfully-wistful over wanting to get my wisdom teeth out again. That's gonna happen in less than two weeks! Finally, a little REST!

maybe that's just it. Maybe I get wistful for rest periods. NY was the bestest-estest rest period ever, because that was the toughest semester of my life. Late nights practically every night trying to finish up assignments (never taking 17 units again as long as I have my perfectionistic personality, that's for sure), feeling attacked in speech class as the whole class seemed to be against me and my beliefs, then BAM! Four blissful days in New York, spending time with the happy smiling couple that would soon wed, attending my first formal event on the historical West Point Campus.

Enough for now. I think you're all going to really enjoy my next post (Lord willing I'll get around to it soon after school's out), or at least I'll have a blast writing it.

I was about to say "Love, Hayley." Hehe.

Well, okay, maybe I will.

Love,
Hayley