is finally here, with thunderstorms, weddings, and bugs, Bugs, BUGS! I mean, weddings, Weddings, WEDDINGS!
![family](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tKTxL_MER55R-3AgLbosYVzTnl0CDBrNilnIHdlgHyoMBUYDSb6aVzARQMoqoSOIigUXOVjNGLfUJKLpHNEBOe_f_-OK1zrq3Bbh8QUBO9waa51N67DA_tFKUQhMRv97c=s0-d)
Sonja & Jonathan chose 6-7-8 as their date, and had a perfect Saturday in the midst of a stormy week of weather. Which was important, as there was a planned procession from the church to the reception.
![arrival](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tecSCu7J02HPlD6NArmDqbq2XK1WEqXVLVGzMOEl5d8keCqt14_PDQhorh6URf-NZ_XnwIymowMidv1xD1m4YYVcLLI54HY-I9HJO5qV3zDKTX0fXjgzkvXxt_XRuZ6w=s0-d)
Upon our arrival at the reception there were toasts...
![toasty](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tnS9eEvypnq4lu-2KHVw-ADKrbDYXYS51M0lCQXb04i4mIv1zERyaZDteexZFdV2yCMDnqxHKdtyYtyPROY6Hh5zH7TyzlNKsRCeAoi_pXNADC-9alHsq_mi7Jn9MzDOc=s0-d)
and then, like a sudden summer storm, things got ugly.
![Trouble by the pool](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_twPlZ6axcQ9zFqm_EqJm_S67-1ADngJvX4BrLV-MVwYl5tVHTllW7WDK--H2vxpe-EfJKAOUaM8Y22ThGdAnqtdAD50-F_p5WcDq-fuIjl4aQLzpt4ICxX8m2xk7YeCw=s0-d)
![always wear protection](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tdda0ROfy-DWqcnSXqRAl7CP1OmfNRmTWZYjG4cKWD_qJ0BUCSv_nriWFMooO9lQSA1pReKMgWlGqZ4qxx1OE9aWkW1jroo0wvsvG7sWqiHeGsyJqPlo66KEJEHfZ2EDg=s0-d)
Or at least weird. But only for a little while. A more normal agenda of drinks, dinner, dancing, and sleepy babies quickly resumed.
![Alex & Calvin : photo by Val](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vx4Q05YxeLKntPqlOaYXdzvvLvH3Hejkga-eU_ImcEarKigiaJEi-WyIKhQIhbrq7XFOXD9uOcMKgMYmwG7Hk-vylYdleqAl_q955kYdNsW67EL6DDRcL2cMNDQuDzZjE=s0-d)
Yes, both Calvin and I are sleepy babies. It was a great visit, a great wedding, and Val and I took notes. CONGRATULATIONS to Sonja & Jonathan!
![First dance](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vylq_TiKN4_E32EctBN3QD1M9D4bO40fbRveEBd_1te53mDTS8RAUDzcnriwbX9ce12z1mM9AI7buB_Nd6Kb4GNN2i6b0mI4Nwxlpemp380mlExBXifUk5c4BzOIj9xns=s0-d)
We returned to CT via heatwave. Things have normalized to acceptable summer levels, but there were a few days this week that were sizzling. Things are looking good for this weekend, which is good because it's somebody's birthday.
![Val @ firebox](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_t9ovGFLXdHe2Ls92beS0LTbWDE8i-_Aw6qxah8vsW1DlQOT5nV_Bv0Q-UXcKS5xVLXBi2Y_4_HWfXyLAjnteurBnV3ihO4_oSxgplXydmjW7owl4cbZZjhxaoiITq-jco=s0-d)
Per her request, we returned to
Firebox restaurant last night, to dine on delicious Connecticut cuisine. We started off with two tatamagouche oysters (sorry, no picture, I was too excited), and then...
There was Fiddlehead Fern Gratin.
![fiddlehead gratin](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uy0AvJd0F48tjpPesvd3rXtOhxjMqu_E73YQuqu2BPheM5uR18052T8i8nA9yoVZej81zIkFkddFLqzSE4iEQQhZJ0fx1P5I8UqgK65ufS3XGGtTXog1QjeXVB33tpCA=s0-d)
Spring Asparagus with Smoked Shad
![Asparagus with smoked shad](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vAJYvlnlI_zrY8A9w1-yb5x-DCpm8pn1QODVjensYzP9vp71miiQoD8Xm3fwIHWO_hOwhE4JlyVoM43y7h3omvFLyWiVfGNxMRVk_rc_fQ9bllYyse4yg5y-qnKtNke1g=s0-d)
Flounder with peapods, lima beans, string beans, and olive tapanade
![Flounder](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sGaZP7Y9EN4Ogn8kNXyE8HsPaE9xNqWxju0gSaI5uLjF69lqQy7UQNpBw30ZJ6sjc4dZfv7Sfcal2QKQQmaTc_FozMCUFhcmX9bE0pDqMsYoUYJy4VLIiG78T8ZX6Ds4w=s0-d)
Salmon with peas, carrots, and more fiddleheads
![Salmon](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_syfQVPnbKGy5MNT1zudyZnXhS8XVmeElCIssxoAxVSYGLcQadX18uAosGyWQ355FJwNVf9peV9c3TMH6BB4xhXUN2F3fCP608r_WpjCeUwysDTt9ZfaCD708BeFz53RqM=s0-d)
With some white wine for the lady, some gin martinis for me, and this for dessert, with espresso, of course.
![firebox dessert](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sgG9rUWEeZf8lwt1qdl75TIiGf_NMIxzwvGSxXVAIDcSRNWWBRGc2j42ZOzGDpO64mOFRGLdkBYPJFmZ97AGtF8_688asvODqLDhCJ6ylWAFiOiL7kvYrYhEv5542wHuU=s0-d)
This is Chocolate Crème, according to the dessert menu. That means a sugar-wafer bowl, coated inside with chocolate, filled with a hazelnut butter, chocolate mousse-like substance, whipped cream, and some other variety of chocolate coated crispy/nutty wafer in the middle, with a sprig of mint, and orange caramel sauce. Yes, it was that good.
On a side note, here are the decanters from the silent auction. One for me, specifically...
![scotch decanter](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_stiSUkyT5qHyEWwUcZm8JwLMHZ4g3t6w_h4ao-FhN-LDwExGloE8_f81ZIKeFh0Y60Lkl9Z3jxRYlNJ5PDjOhKMe9ogJQjmsb9j5oi0_WYAJ7GiDFtcrbepoBpE3h32OY=s0-d)
...and another just because no one else bid on it.
![decanter 2](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_t0thhhSKOQrt5mbpiWBadigcs9IqZHKTHdrKiqV0idSgpBQTcVhMfuQgfhKuxECjVR7jv6vGtpOZZUQ3_SfC1PuOUtTWPZB6pZZ_PIGvWM3gGnjioAPukuAbDI6_9dvKw=s0-d)
I always thought decanters were a kind of cheesy, bygone-era sort of thing, but I had never experienced solid, heavy, "real" decanters before. I love 'em!
Also, I've decided to start knitting calamari.
![Inky Red Eye](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_s0AveeNBADHATqxmCM8GI0IvMeKdFOLf14gohC0VegBhwiNhdGSCNShVNqHY2QdYb5OuAattjQbFFv2Jzy4fRbtY3xiWR7m2WnwG7V_SSjt4uX2t55tyqKLrGvKir0pgg=s0-d)
This is my first prototype, but i have to adjust the body shape a little, and find the right kind of "eyes" for them. They are quick and easy, and besides looking funny, have great potential as cat toys.
See you soon!