Image by CR Artist via Flickr
Stop and smell the fireworks
I’ve been inspired by Bob over at Satisfying Retirement to lighten up this weekend. We aren’t going away on a family trip like Bob. For us, it means spending the day with one of our sons , cooking some ribs and maybe watching a ball game. There is stuff I need to do but the whole idea of retirement lifestyle design is enjoying life. Work is a necessary part of the overall plan but if I’m not having a good time along the way, then I might as well have a job. So today will be a light duty day. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Saturday my wife and I did some shopping and had lunch in town and Sunday I did my shopping to prepare a feast on The Fourth. We are having ribs with coleslaw and homemade ice cream. Maybe some guacamole and margaritas to set the mood. Our local son who works retail got the fourth off and we will try to talk to our LA son on the phone. I’m getting all the ingredients lined up today. so tomorrow I can just put it all together.
A mix of new and old favorites
I like to try new things but my family prefers the old favorites. I don’t understand how they think we ever discovered the old favorites until we tried them but I try to mix things up. I’m trying some new twists. I’m improvising chocolate ice cream from a favorite recipe and I’m trying a new lick on the ribs. I have a rib recipe that works great in the oven but I recently discovered something I never knew. It seems that you are supposed to peel the membrane off the back of the ribs. You learn the darnedest things on YouTube so I’m going to strip the membrane -or at least give it the old college try. I think it will let the rub penetrate the back side more than usual. Whatever they try to tell you, I’m proof that you can teach an old dog new tricks.
When it’s all over maybe we’ll go looking for fireworks, maybe not. ‘
So Happy Fourth of July. I hope that you are enjoying the time with friends and family because it’s a big part of retirement lifestyle.
Hope you had a great 4th July Ralph. You certainly were making the right preparations, my mouth was watering when you described the barbecue food.
John
Leamington Spa, England
John,
It was a great day. Some good food. Time with one of our sons and watching the Giants lose. A Great old American birthday party. Thanks for your good wishes. Does the UK have anything like the fourth?
The nearest national celebration is Bonfire Night on 5th November; plenty of fireworks to mark the occasion when Guy Fawkes tried to blow up parliament. It’s only an evening party though and no barbecues.
John
John,
What’s the point of a big bonfire if you don’t cook something?
Sounds like a good day Ralph, that’s the beauty of retirement, you can have as many days like that as you want.
I’m with you on the cooking,there’s nothing like being adventurous and trying different recipes and other countries cuisines.
We have St. George’s day but it’s nothing like your 4th July, it’s hardly celebrated and passes without any fuss.
Bill
A-U-L, UK
http://billmurney.com/blog/great-british-comedians-part-3/