Not for the skittish

You know those large-ish road message signs? The kinds that can be programmed to say various things like "right lane closed ahead" or "parade next Tuesday." There have been a few set up around town for the past week and they all say" Firework Illegal In City Limits." There must be some sort of letter limit, since Firework has always been singular.

At any rate, we do not live in the city limits. Starting around 4pm today our neighbors have gone bang crazy. It's been sounding like the revolutionary war. Right now it's 11.30pm and there are still pops and bangs and sizzles in the distance. Nothing says "I live in the country" like holiday-inspired munitions! Henry tried to sit on my lap during the movie but kept a wary ear cocked for each explosion outside and never quite relaxed.

Charlie came home from work at a civilized time this evening and we made a lovely salad and then watched a movie. When I first lived in Seattle my apartment was down on puget sound and the fourth of july was Amazing. One memorable summer the Blue Angels actually flew Right Over My Balcony. I have a photo somewhere of the plane's underbellies, writing on them crisp and clear because they were so very close. Seattlelites take their fireworks very seriously. The shows are lengthy, choreographed to music, and extravagant. Several shows compete. There are some vantage points in town where you can watch multiple shows at the same time. But now? For as much as I love fireworks, the logistics are excruciating. You and tens of thousands of your neighbors are competing for parking spots, picnic spots, even public transportation. It's a total nightmare. So our fourths now are pretty mellow. See: salad and a movie.

The movie: Blazing Saddles. I had never seen it, and it was.....unlike any movie ever. Gene Wilder is tops in my book.

The salad: from the July issue of Gourmet magazine.

Dressing:
1/4 c rice vinegar
2 t dijon mustard
2 minced garlic cloves
1/2 t sugar
1/3 c olive oil

Salad:
1 lb green beans
1 lb tiny potatoes
2 cans tuna, drained
12 oz cherry tomatoes
1/2 c kalamata olives
3 T capers
1/2 c flat leafed parsley
4 hard boiled eggs

Make dressing: whisk together vinegar, mustard, garlic, sugar, and salt and pepper to taste. Whisk in oil in a slow stream to emulsify.

Make salad: Cook beans in a pot of water until tender, transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop cooking, drain, and pat dry. Add whole potatoes to boiling water and simmer until tender. When still warm, cut into bite sized pieces. Flake tuna and toss with 1 T dressing. Toss potatoes and beans with tomatoes, olives, capers, parsley, and remaining dressing. Season with more salt and pepper and top with tuna and eggs.

An excellent meal for a warm summer night. Briny, salty, and mouth puckering. I think it can be adapted to any wild array of ingredients. Left over grilled salmon instead of tuna, perhaps some fresh corn. With a base of the tasty dressing and cooked baby potatoes you could go in almost any direction.

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Eggs laid in the coop today: 0
Eggs found in the woods today: 0
Chickens cursed for waking me up at 7am by cackling and yelling to be let out: 5