Happy 4th!

Today's 4th celebrations include B and I at home cooking up a storm and eating up a storm. Well, it's mostly just me cooking up a storm. I made some deer chili and cornbread, as well as a nice pasta salad to go with our doggies later in the day. Though I don't believe in shopping on holidays, we may go back to Food Lion and pick up some ice cream to break the insufferable humidity today.

We're also in the midst of a painting project. My adirondack chair that B gave me for my 30th birthday has mildewed sitting on the front porch. It was a rather expensive chair from Bean and I'm surprised that it got into such a shape so quickly—the porch is covered after all. Anyhow, since we had a nice bright, sunny day on Wednesday, we dragged the chair and stool into the yard and scrubbed it down with bleach water. (Yes, I cracked and bought bleach and am loving it! I went around with a bleachy white towel wiping down everything. And am now hoarding the bottle for the next time I clean the shower. I can hardly wait.) After scrubbing all the mildew out of the chair I hosed it off and let it dry out in the sun. B packed it to the building to let it finish drying overnight. Yesterday, we got some clear polyurethane and put on the first coat. And we will buff it with fine grade steel wool and do a second coat perhaps later today when we need an hour or so diversion. 

Alas, I have not much to write today because I think I have a sudden and severe onset of carpal tunnel syndrome. My right hand has gotten so painful that it is with some misery that I type this post. Cooking so much this morning didn't help matters.  

But hope all are having a nice holiday.