4th of July Style. . .

 As above post-shower.  The seersucker shirt is a recent Father's Day gift from The Grand Duchess.  Highly appropriate for July 4th.

It is amazing the transformative effect that a tepid shower and something cold to drink after donning fresh clothes can have.  After a morning on the lawn with Mr. Toro to beat the forecast thunderstorms -- of course, now the sun is shining, and no sign of the predicted weather -- that is just what I did before some lunch and then rehanging a couple of troublesome cabinet doors in the kitchen.

Amazingly, that little unexpected side project went well the first time.  It is not always so.  Typically, my "handiness" does not go beyond some basic interior painting, use of a hammer, screwdriver, and pliers.  In short, I know when it's time to call a service person!

Anyway, it is a quiet, warm Fourth of July.  Many people are away, so the neighborhood is blissfully quiet while North Carolina Pork Barbecue and red slaw (my late maternal grandfather's recipes), prepared by yours truly, await in the refrigerator.  The Grand Duchess will whip up a batch of her cornmeal hushpuppies shortly before we sit down to the table on the screened back porch.  

Speaking of which, The Grand Duchess and Young Master have gone somewhere to pick strawberries, which will become dessert in some form.  Bergman jokes aside, my preferred method for the fruit is sliced in milk with some sugar sprinkled over top.  Delicious any time, day, or night, but to each his or her own.

As I have written here recently, ah Summer.  If you hail from the United States and are celebrating today, wherever in the world you might find yourself, Happy 4th of July from Classic Style!

-- Heinz-Ulrich

So below, one more variation of my typical summer "look."   Easy, comfortable, and presentable both at home and away. 

The front yard after the latest mow.  Experimenting sweeping curves, where possible, as opposed to more typical long, straight rows.

And part of the backyard, featuring a stars and stripes pinwheel from last year that The Young Master put in the ground post-mowing.

The Independence Day 2019 strawberry haul, courtesy of The Grand Duchess and Young Master.

 Plenty of sugary, minty iced tea, pork barbecue, peppery red slaw, and perfect hushpuppies cooked at 300F.  One of the nicest 4th of July dinners we've ever had.  Fireworks followed the meal before the rains moved in.