We spent a quiet day. There were birds to watch, clothes to hang, and yard work to do.

The past two days were hectic for George, getting his summer run worked out and on schedule. He seemed happy today to stay put.

He worked some on his model, and I began a new cross-stitch project. While looking for my cloth and threads, I came upon this sampler I made one summer long ago, appropriate for the 4th of July.

Garrett had forwarded a new chicken recipe earlier this week, knowing George couldn’t resist something with hot peppers and a mix of spices. After a trip to the store for the ancho and guajillo peppers, the marinade was prepared, and the chicken cooked on the grill for our early dinner out on the deck. It was pretty good, and something to consider for a steak marinade in the future.

Throughout the day, we watched a crew tear down the neighbor’s deck and move the plantings that had been around it, to other locations in the yard. It was a day’s entertainment for us, but a great deal of anxiety for Martha. She’s glad it’s over.