Tastes like chicken

I can't think of a better way to celebrate the birthday of our nation that to eat a bunch of food from other countries. That's what our country is all about, right? A big melting pot of earth's humanity, all gathered in this mighty country of ours to celebrate their differences and to share their cultures and and express their ethnicity on every street corner and grocery store shelf and even in the mailbox.

This friend graciously complied by surprising Emma yesterday with a big, ol' box of goodies from her husband's native country. In case you can't read the small print, here's a closer look:


What, still can't read it? Sorry, I forgot -- it's in Polish! But from what we could tell, these chips really are chicken flavored, and they were reallllllllly tasty! Thanks, Lisa, SOOOO MUCH! You have no idea how much this made Emma's day!


We had to take a quick picture of all the loot before everybody devoured everything. My personal favorite: the cherry chocolate bar (we're talking YUMMY) and the twiggy colored pencils (which, of course, we didn't eat, but nevertheless put to good use!)

(Apologies for the sideways view -- it wasn't sideways when I attached it, I promise!)

And while we're on the multi-culture subject, here's a quick glimpse at the costumes for "Once on This Island." Anne is modeling the outfit I made for 'Agwe', the god of water. The vest is made from an iridescent green/blue taffeta, embellished with a teal brocade and turquoise lycra waves, complete with strips of the taffeta to resemble seaweed. The pants are made of the turquoise lycra, with a wide-leg overlay of teal and gold-glittered nylon netting, embellished with brocade waves at the hem. Her hair is hanging loose from a recently broken ponytail elastic, curling naturally over her shoulders, enhancing the aquatic theme. (Which isn't totally accurate, since the god of water is going to played by a boy and he's getting his head shaved for the occasion so we can paint waves across his head! Talk about dedicating yourself to the craft...)

So much fun! I can't wait to do 'Erzulie', the goddess of love!

Now, back to our regularly scheduled holiday:

This friend , my brilliant photographer friend from days gone by, issued a challenge for the month of July which I was glad to meet. July is the best month of the year -- Indepence Day (I consider myself a very patriotic person), my wedding anniversary, my birthday (twenty-one shopping days, people!), and officially the half-way year mark all happen in this month (which happens at exactly noon on July 2nd, in case anybody's wondering).

So, I dutifully got out the camera and purposely went to a major department store to find matching shirts and a new flagpole just so I could take these:

(And Carin, by the way -- recognize that first pose?)

Tonight we'll be heading out for a good, ol' fashioned neighborhood barbecue, complete with swimming pool, volleyball, burnt shoulders and peeling noses (not if Roy can help it! If they made a sunblock with SPF 2000, he'd buy stock!) and lots and lots of amazing food, including but not limited to the teriyaki chicken I have marinating in the fridge as we speak. Hope you all have a fabulous Fourth!