Shaking on the Fourth

Happy Fifth of July, readers!

I hope that your Independence Day was filled with family, friends and good food. Per tradition, I ran the Freedom 5K in the morning and Dan held up a sign along the race course next to our friends, Brian and Liz who had home-made chocolate chip cookies along with a sign advertising "Free Cookies". :)

After the 5K Ellen and David invited us to their pool and hot tub for cold brew, bagels and lox and fresh fruit. The soak in the hot tub was just what we needed after our jaunt through Claremont!

Suzi, Patriot Mary and Ellen pool-side post race

While in the pool a 6.6 earthquake hit the Mojave Desert region (about 150 miles Northeast of us)! Everyone out of the pool felt it, I didn't, but I did observe that the water got more wavey even though I wasn't splashing! Dan and I biked home to decorate our patriotic fruit tart, nap and prepare for the evening's festivities.

Dan and his beautiful patriotic fruit tart

Later that night we went to an early evening Luau then headed to Brian and Liz's house in our old neighborhood where they had an intense smorgasbord of food.

Friends at the Luau

Everyone was encouraged to bring food or drinks from where their ancestors were from. I brought Irish Soda Bread (and Michigan beers), Dan made a Jamaican Rum cake (Jamaica was originally part of the British Empire), other highlights included potato and cheese pirogis, spring rolls, spicy tamarind rice, latkes, potato salad and Scotch. :)

Annie's ready for the heat!

The fireworks were fantastic and although we didn't view a parade this year it was still an excellent Independence Day in Southern California!