It has been a little tumultuous with Hurricane Arthur blowing up the coast – but today is bright and sunny.

We are grateful for Food, Friends and Fireworks… Come Fourth!

For our gathering, I decided to keep it easy with a festive fresh blueberry and raspberry cheesecake bars  from Recipe Girl.

Made in square pans and cut into bar size pieces, I doubled the recipe and have 36 bars.   I smeared one with the oven mitt, so we sampled last night – festive and delicious with a nice lemon note.

On to  Dark Chocolate Pretzel sparklers – from Martha Stewart.   Easy peasy!   Did not chop the chocolate chips and it melted just fine.   Next time I would plan earlier so that I could source more of the round sprinkles as the sugars sprinkles tended to melt and not as festive impact – I’m sure no one but me will mind!

Back out to the garden to gather flowers for my traditional Red, White & Blue Arrangement:

Hydrangea, Mondara and Fallopia japonica! I can never remember the new name: Polygonum cuspidatum ‘Freckles’

Now off the visit friends at their lake house for sharing food and fireworks!

Have a lot to be thankful for!

Enjoy – living the EntwinedLife

Jayme B