... happy birthday America...
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4th of July. SC Style.
First things first, what am I going to wear... Amazon. Yes, I said it. I searched "red romper" on Amazon and to my surprise, I found what is now one of my favorite articles of clothing I own.
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Throw on a necklace and some neutral wedges and you're good to go! I was in a pinch this year so I Amazon Primed (best.thing.ever.) and had a sweet delivery in two days.
- Traditions -
One knows a good tradition when it has been happening for over 35 years and you still want to go, even as an adult. As a kid, we didn't have a choice. What started as a Hollingshed 4th of July gathering (before I was even around) has now grown and moved to the shores of Lake Murray still using old traditions and mixing in some new!
BIG thanks to Meg & Kenley!
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Tradition #1 - Smoking the Pig
Every year we smoke a pig. And it is an all day thing! There is no better smell (food wise) than smoked pork. It just screams "welcome to the party" as soon as the smell hits your nose. To keep the men entertained during this, they partake in tradition #2.
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Tradition #2: Ring of Fire
(thanks Steve for the pic!)
The original worm: Words we hear every year. For over 35 years, this worm has made it from bottle to bottle and makes an appearance once a year during the Ring of Fire. Do they even have worms in tequila bottles these days? Not my cup of tea, but it's tradition. This started with only a few and now the "ring" has many!
New Tradition (or maybe one just for me):"Who can be better dressed than precious Leighton". I was pretty excited about my 4th of July red romper until this cutie-pa-tootie made her appearance! She was hands down probably the best dressed (& happiest!)
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only the cutest little firecracker around!
What is the 4th of the July without watermelon? One of my dearest friends and her husband grow watermelons (& many other things!) on their farm in Summerton, SC. As a retainer for helping her decorate her guest house, I got free watermelon. Lucky me! So I shared the wealth this past weekend.
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Cypress Creek Farms
Summerton, SC
Talk about refreshing & delicious. These slices were heavenly! In the SC area? Look in your local Wal-Mart or Costco for these. New Yorkers, you're in luck too, some have made their way up North! Another Southern staple are boiled peanuts. I can never get these right! But it is a snack that is present at every 4th of July. YUM!
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Night #2 - Keep it Simple
There is no better way to relax after a day full of celebrating than hamburgers & easy appetizers. My suggestions? Apps: Cheese, crackers, pretzels, & dipping sauce. Burgers: pimento cheese, blue cheese, & american. Or plain. But that's no fun!
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Keep things easy. Use any type of leftover cheese to throw on top of your patty. We had pimento cheese that was used earlier in the weekend that we topped ours off with.
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To keep things festive, we had our drinks in holiday appropriate cups (you can find them at Swoozies). For any production, I recommend taking a look at Swoozies for all things festive. It is one of my first go-to when I have anything coming up. Even if it is just sitting on the porch with friends!
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The older I get, the more I cherish these times with the friends and family that I love. I'm beyond blessed with the people that God has put into my life. Although the next generation has taken the reigns with the annual 4th of July shindig, the laughter, love, and fun have stayed and more memories have been added to the book. One of the best things in life is family, and the memories that are made every time we are all together. I found my tribe & I love them!
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"I sustain myself with the love of family." - Maya Angelou
The whole weekend was phenominal (minus the flat tire & two new tires, womp womp)! Happy belated 4th & I hope everyone's weekend was a great as mine!
xo
-W
