Freckle PhotoBlog

I’m getting this post up just in the nick of time. Our Fourth festivities were delayed for hours due to rain, but it finally cleared up and we all moved from the kitchen out to the patio for a cook out. Phil is eating a feta and onion stuffed grilled nectarine that my friend Beth brought over. Above him, my friend Terra is pondering the drink that Beth made for the party–strawberries, basil and lemon with vodka and ginger ale. We thought all night and finally named it Free Sunburn, I forget why! And that is Phil’s sister-in-law enjoying one of the four pieces of watermelon she ended up eating. Happy Fourth!

My mom went to visit Camp Speelman yesterday, actually she met Melissa and children in nearby Vermilion. They watched the boats on Lake Erie and then walked around a bit. Owen found a pirate flag on a pole that he had to hug and kiss. And for lunch, Owen ordered the peanut butter and pickle hamburger–which is actually on the menu. He might just be the weirdest Speelman yet!

My mother has so kindly offered up for public ridicule some vintage images of her famous Polyester Bikini. That’s Melissa in the backyard kiddie pool and that’s me sitting in front of the record collection.

But I think the bottom photo of Melissa and two of her friends–who also had the pleasure of wearing the Polyester Bikini–best displays the swimsuit’s inability to stay in place while enjoying some fun in the sun.

In my mom’s defense, I do love that she sewed us cute clothes when we were little, I just think bathing suits are something best purchased.

Seems like I always end up writing about food when I guest post, and here I go again. We rode our bikes down to the Taste of Chicago today because a co-worker of mine’s band was playing. And of course we  had to sample the fare. Phil headed straight for the smokiest booth around and ordered the Sauteed Goat Meat with Plantains. I played it a little safer with a little cup of gazpacho and a giant plate of Sweet Potato Chips. We worked it off with a round of putt-putt.

We didn’t just eat new things in Mexico, we tried some new drinks too. In the top photo I am drinking a Berta in Taxco. It’s a refreshing concoction of tequila, club soda, honey and lime. Cheri’s newfound drink of choice is tequila and clamato (yep, it’s just what it sounds like: clam and tomato sauce). And in that frosted glass in front of me is Phil’s michelada: beer mixed with tomato juice, worcestershire, lime and hot sauce with a salted rim.

But by the far the weirdest thing I didn’t drink but could have was the pulke that Chris had to scour the market in Taxco to fine. It is a local drink made from fermented agave plant that is “bottled” in used two liter botttles (you can see those in the bottom right of the not very good photo). Phil and Chris finished off two bottles on the terrace at our hotel while Cheri and I shopped. Fun for all!