4th of July celebration!

This year was my first time back to San Francisco for the 4th of July Independence Day holiday since 2004. I was up for a quiet and relaxing Saturday and wasn't quite in the mood to go out and fight any crowds to watch any fireworks. I wonder is it age that makes one want to rest and relax more?? ;-) Since I like dinner parties, I've invited my sister Susan and her family, and my aunt Elaine over for a home-cooked dinner. I planned the menu and was happy to do all the cooking. Here's the menu:

Appetizer:
Red Merlot Wine
Mesclun Salad with my own olive oil/vinegar/honey mustard dressing with gorgonzola cheese

Entree:Lemon Garlic Oven Roasted Chicken
Zucchini & onion mix
Steamed white rice

Dessert:
Fruit Basket - kiwi, plums, apricots, grapes,
Strawberry & Lemon Fruit Bars

Here were some shots taken in the evening by me & my niece Perri:

fruit bar bites:

Perri posing:

Sue & Perri & kiwi!:


We really enjoyed a relaxing evening with some light rock music. Just before dessert, my mom arrived home. Early in the day, she went to Oakland with my other aunt for a walking excursion follow by dinner with a few friends. The weather is always warmer and sunnier on the East Bay and South Bay compared to San Francisco. I'm glad she enjoyed herself! Later, we all went out to the living room and shared Michael Jackson's music videos with my nieces Perri and Carlin. They wonder what's the big deal with MJ's death. So, my sister and brother-in-law Brian tried to sketch an answer for them by showing MJ's TWO famous videos: Smooth Criminal & Thriller (we had to fastforward the part where MJ turns into a warewolf, and where the zombies appear out of the cemetery). We don't want the girls to get nightmares! The dancing part was fantastic! My nieces wanted to watch that part again! It reminded me when we as kids were mesmerized by Thriller. By 11:00pm, we heard firecrackers, and fireworks going on outside the window of our quiet neighborhood. It happens every 4th of July. I don't really miss that part. Instead, I missed the times spent with family. It was a great evening to be together. Cheers and many more happy memories!