More Summer

J has spent the last week at Myrtle Beach with a friend, she had quite an uneventful trip home on Allegiant Air into Clarksburg, WV, as compared to the relatively awful trip there.  She was supposed to ride down to SC with her friend's family, leaving last Friday at 5:30 AM.  They decided to leave Thursday night, and drive through the night in order to have an extra day at the beach.  J called home Friday morning, and reported that they had been camped out in a parking lot about an hour from home the entire night, with a flat tire.  They finally got repairs and headed south by 9:30 Friday morning, but lost their "extra day."

On the way home from the airport, we stopped at a little restaurant that we were told had amazing desserts, for dinner and amazing desserts.  Lauren got a slice of "mile high pie" to go, as she wasn't feeling great.  This is what JP, Jenna and I got:

Yes, these milkshakes are in quart jars.  Yes, mine actually has an entire slice of pie on top AND a sparkler.  Yes, they were a bit pricey...but oh, so worth it!

On the home front, the blueberries are still producing, although we are down to the last few pickings...I think.  I have frozen some more, and made syrup and another cobbler, including some wild blackberries that I picked out back, plus peaches.  On the docket after I pick today:  blueberry pie.

I will bake said pie in my new oven.  My top oven died a couple of weeks ago, and after the headache of it croaking and having to be home between 10 and 2 for the repair men on 6 separate occasions before it was finally repaired last summer, we decided to just get a new one.  Although JP ordered one that was 1) on sale, and 2) supposed to be the same size, it was not.  He and my dad worked for the better part of Wednesday getting the cupboard renovated to install the new ovens, and actually getting them in.  I did try them out right away by baking my friend, T's, amazing molasses/ginger cookies, and a batch of dark chocolate/peanut granola.  It works just fine!

During all that renovation on Wednesday, L had a friend over for the afternoon.  They spent most of their time in the pool, which JP finally finished working on.  He has now surrounded the pool with netting in order to keep balls and assorted pool toys IN, and a gate to keep various and sundry random people/children OUT.  I think it is very innovative, and looks great.

I'm sure we will need to get in to cool off after picking those blueberries this afternoon!

I hope you all are staying cool this summer!