Happy 4th of July

Life is so good when you get to have snack time outside.

 A couple weeks ago we did some serious yard work. Family working time is our favorite - sticks, bugs, worms, mud, flowers -- could life get better?

It takes some really big muscles to drag huge bags of leaves across the yard.

 A couple of weeks ago I went to the 8th Asia Pacific Conference on Clinical Nutrition, in Tokyo. Here I am with my friend from Reunion Island and another woman from Japan. Below is my complimentary lunch from the first day. I think that was my first bento box - and it happened to be vegetarian with all the complementary nutrients that are currently the rage. A woman from Africa summed up my feelings nicely when she said, "I think I am going to be hungry this week."

Last year I ordered this fabric, it came around Thanksgiving time and I finally started working on the dresses in May. One of the challenges is that it doesn't really feel like July here until August. The girls love the spinning potential of the dresses best. Don't worry, Alice is not in the choke hold, as it may appear.

We have a great new foil dessert that got 5 stars in our home. Take a sugar cone and spread peanut butter inside. Mix together marshmallows, chocolate chips, and pieces of banana. Put tasty morsels inside cone and wrap with aluminum foil. Cook for 3-5 minutes on coals (or in oven when it is typhoon season).