Yesterday was the final Father’s Day celebrated in our home of 25 years.
We have had countless celebrations over these years in our backyard (for years we grilled on the grass until we had our patio built).
From everyday barbeques to Bar-Mitzvah celebrations we have so many memories of good times in what to us has become a little bit of paradise that we developed over our time in this home.
From a new home without so much as a a stick in the backyard we created this with a lot of hard work and perseverance…a work in progress that was truly a labor of love.
Each Spring I would look forward to planting pots on the patio, but always something different than the year before…here are just a few from previous years…
This year I had to rely on my perennials since there was no time to plant with us moving by the end of June. In fact, I’ve been gradually giving my perennial pots away to family and friends…parting gifts that are hard to part with, but knowing they will be in good hands makes it easier.
So with my husband still recovering from his surgery, and in the midst of my packing I really wanted to have one last cookout for Father’s Day.
The weather turned out to be perfect for eating outside (a rarity in our area in the summer), family and friends turned out for the day, and we enjoyed a really great summer meal.
My husband rose to the occasion and even managed to man the grill, cooking the brick chicken and hot dogs and Italian sausage to perfection…
There was corn on the cob…with all the toppings…
and I made Ina Garten’s Greek Panzanella Salad , a terrific salad to serve that can be prepared ahead , dressed 30 minutes before serving, and served at room temperature.
For dessert I made the Strawberries and Cream Spectacular Cake and my best friend brought fabulous homemade brownies.
And by the end of the day we had one more memory to tuck away and take with us to California.