I have to tell you, this weekend was great! It was low key and mostly spent at home and it was just what the doctor ordered.

We started Friday evening in the usual way. It was warm enough to be outside, not just for cocktail hour, but right up until bedtime. Warm nights like that are numbered at this point so we’re making the most of them while they last.

Also, I baked a pie for our town’s Apple Pie Contest. I mostly followed my usual apple pie routine but I did make the crust with butter and shortening instead of all shortening. And instead of using all Cortland apples, as my mom always did, I used a mix of Cortland and Gala.

Those extra details must have made the difference because my pie came in 2nd place! The way this contest works is that after the pies have all been judged the remaining pieces are sliced and sold. Dale bought a piece of my pie and I remembered to take this picture before he gobbled it up entirely. I was very pleased with how the fruit filling held together.

First place went to Sean’s pie and I bought a slice of that one. It was delicious! He used lard and butter in the crust and a mixture of Braeburn and Honey Crisp apples, I believe. The fruit was cooked perfectly, not mushy but still firm. He totally deserved 1st place!

We had things we were going to do in the afternoon and evening but when we got home from the events on the Town Common we didn’t have a lot of motivation. Well. I didn’t have a lot of motivation. Dale actually mowed the lawn. I did get up off the couch eventually and I planted these succulents from Jessica’s baby shower. That exhausted me, though, and I was done for the day!

Cocktail hour was on the deck again.

And then we came inside to play Mexican Train. As you can see, Mason was quite interested in the game. Heh. Dale kicked my ass this time but I think it’s because Mason was acting as his spy.

On Sunday we went to visit Jack. It was a great visit and it’s wonderful to see him really improving. Yesterday he was just like his old self and that made me so happy. I just can’t wait for him to come home!

We spent the rest of the day watching football (yay for a Pats win!) and hanging out. I knit, Dale napped, we had a little time on the deck, and then we watched Outlander.

It was a really really good weekend. Hope yours was, too.

On Saturday afternoon Hannah and I had a baby shower for Jessica. We held it at Sean and Michael’s house because their yard is beautiful and their house is big and I was concerned about having it at my house if the weather wasn’t great. I mean, I can have parties with 20 or 30 people or so in my house but they can’t all be in the same room at once and for a baby shower that’s kind of key. It turned out to be a glorious day and I was thrilled with my decision to ask Sean to host.

Our theme was a Baby Fiesta and, as I may have said before, just give me a theme and I can throw a party! There were margaritas to drink, along with beer and wine and cucumber water. The beautiful zinnia arrangements were courtesy of my sister-in-law, Mary, and they went perfectly with our colors of the day!

Dale set up the yard and decorations. We used blankets and tablecloths we have bought over the years in Mexico and everything was festive and bright.

For favors I bought mini succulents and decorated them with cupcake toppers with Mexican graphics on them like tacos and sombreros. So adorable!

Hannah was in charge of the games and she did a great job with bingo and guessing games and more. I think her school teacher skills really came into play for this!

Of course, what’s a fiesta without food? Jo-Ann helped me make these mini 7 layer dip cups and they were a big hit. It’s a lot of dip for one person, though, and I think if I do them again I will use smaller cups!

We also had buffalo chicken roll ups that Doreen made for me, a delicious grilled corn and pasta salad, grilled shrimp cooked to perfection by Sean, and deviled eggs and meatballs.

And the cutest fruit salad ever made by Jessica’s dearest girlfriends!

Jessica received some beautiful gifts, including this quilt made by my friend Lois. There was also a hand knit baby blanket from me – more on that later this week. And so much more – blankets and bedding and clothing and diapers. I think this little guy is all set now!

And the cake! Oh, that cake! It was big and beautiful and the colors were awesome. My friend Caroline outdid herself again.

As you can see, Jessica loved our theme! Seriously, I don’t know anyone who loves tacos more than this girl so throwing a fiesta was truly a perfect choice.

After gifts and cake we all took turns posing for photos with Jess and her baby bump. I can’t wait to meet this little baby boy, I can tell you that.

This group, right here, gets me all verklempt. They are Jessica’s friends since childhood and they still get together regularly and love and support each other so much. I was so happy that they could all be together with us on Saturday. They are Jessica’s posse for sure and she’s lucky to have them in her life.

And, finally, my girls together. The best of friends and sisters, they light up my whole world.

It was a wonderful afternoon and I had so much help. I’m grateful to everyone who came, everyone who pitched in, everyone who I know will be there to welcome and love our new little grandson!