July 4th Redux

We in Calaveras County celebrate July 4th on a nearby Saturday. There's a parade in Arnold, 20 minutes up Highway 4, and in Murphys, we have a big wingding of fireworks and music at Ironstone, Kautz Winery and venue for big name concerts and other more local events.  But we were not at Ironstone; we, Gail and I, went to Barbaranne's new house on five plus acres, a couple of hills south or maybe west, from Ironstone. Barbaranne was hosting us and her son, Kelly, for supper, games, and dinner. 


Before dinner, we talked and tried to solve computer mysteries. Barbaranne is very on top of all things computer; Gail is a teensy bit computer phobic; I am a moderately skilled user. We had a tablet going, we tried to get a desk top Mac going, we even preempted Kelly's computer for a while. Barbaranne served ice tea punch and chips and salsa and guacamole.


The next thing on the agenda was a game - Ticket to Ride. You might know it, but Gail and I didn't. It's simpler than it seems at first, involves strategy and some luck and its rules are interestingly different from many games' rules. We got tucked into the game, and then decided it was time to eat, while we played.


Barbaranne brought out chicken Caesar wraps, and the melon balls I had brought, and we ate and continued our game. We were waiting til dark when the fireworks were to start. The location of Ironstone from the house was plotted and we kept starting hopefully at the hilltops for the first rocket's red glare. It took a long time to get dark enough, so we started in on the dessert that Gail had ordered from a local chocolatier in Angels Camp. 


It was a chocolate pizza! They made the "dough" from a spicy (i.e. peppery) chocolate, and Gail had chosen a turtle topping - chocolate, caramel, pecans. Only the spiciness of the chocolate kept us from eating second helpings right then and there, I think, but we brought seconds home. Sadly, I can't get my camera to download right now (what's with that?) so I can't show you a picture of my slice. 


The pie was almost finished when we saw the first burst of fireworks. We went outside in the cooling summer night and had the best seats in the house for 30 minutes of ooh and ahhh! It was a spectacular view of wonderful fireworks display, with good friends, good food, beautiful country.


When the last burst faded, we went back and finished the game. Kelly won.