![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/SummerSolstice-67-scaled.jpg?fit=2048%2C1365&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
the lower deck overlooks an additional pond, that one being more of a wildlife sanctuary pond
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
With family in town (a new baby!), and nowhere to really be, I’ve decided to make it a night when we’re all together.
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
we need ways to mark summer 2020
we didn’t eat until the sun went down, I’m sure they’ll all remember that
For summer solstice 2020 I originally had grand plans to do a big kind of barn burner, have a band, do a chicken BBQ, dance all night, maybe watch the sun come up. Yes, I looked up the date months ago during those long grey winter days and found that summer solstice, the longest day of the year! would be on a Saturday, the perfect night for party.
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
no tablecloth on the buffet table, I was putting a huge lobster pot on there once everything was steamed up nicely
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
Lexi cut and arranged the flowers, it was her idea to use the empty blue and white tequila bottles as vases for a little height and punch
her dad Mike always brings us a bottle of tequila when he visits and he sneaks in the kitchen while I’m prepping and gives me a little shot, I kid you not
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
it was a huge effort for me yet so worth it
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
he actually drove sarah, caroline, and peyton from Boston on Thursday
sean came in on Friday
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
we had thirteen humans and three dogs for our celebratory dinner
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
Invite the neighborhood, invite the kids, invite whomever. Not this time, instead I did a pivot and decided on a clambake, that little baby and the original six. Of course, there was our new son-in-law, two girlfriends, a college boyfriend, and a lifelong friend of Lizzie and Mary’s; that was it, dinner for thirteen it would be.
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
the blue rimmed glasses I bought in Ellicottville
the blue tin chargers I bought probably twenty-five years ago, I decided to use them as our dinner plates as the clambake would be messy
the white and hot pink linen napkins I bought at Pottery Barn at deep discount two years ago
when linen napkins are on sale I usually scoop up all that’s left, I like having a stockpile of them
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
I bought the food, cooked all day, and made the kids move the picnic table down to our lower deck. It was really kind of a huge effort, no matter.
We all changed our clothes, grabbed our cocktails, and with good spirits meandered down to a romantic rustic clambake on the deck.
With 4th of July weekend right around the corner, I write this to remind myself that creating a moment or two is what I love most, and maybe to inspire someone else out there that might not ordinarily take the risk to do the same. It’s work, but nothing worthwhile really isn’t work.
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
Every day dress, why not make it a night?
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
he’s our creative director
![](https://i0.wp.com/everydaydress.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif?ssl=1)
5 Comments
Absolutely Beautiful Rebecca!!! Great Job!! Cheers to Summer 2020! ❤️
Thank you Kathi, coming from you I know that is a compliment! Cheers to you and yours for a memorable summer 2020 as well. Here’s to many shared meals with family and friends. xoxo
Beautiful! So inspiring!!! Have a wonderful 4th of July weekend!
Monica, wishing you and yours a happy and safe 4th of July weekend as well. As always, thank you for the love! xoxo
[…] youngest daughter Mary recently sent me this link to a post I wrote years ago, and she reminded me that she loves looking at my blog, so here I am; hello, how are […]