7/17/08

Swap a Float for a Meal (and Canning WINNER!)

My friend Jeannie had a great idea. She asked if she and her husband could come over for a float in our pool, and in exchange, she’d bring dinner!

Who’d pass that up?


Little did I know what I’d be getting in to! When the two arrived, I was ordered out of the kitchen and into the garage. After a few minutes I was told to shut my eyes, and led back to our patio where Jeannie surprised me with a new tablecloth for my birthday! She made it just for me – and that was very special. I love the vibrant colors and the zip it brings to our outdoor eating area! (top photo)


The first course of our meal was incredible! Made by Minor – it was homemade cold avocado soup with shrimp, green onions and cilantro on top! After putting many hours into this soup, just for my birthday, my mouth started watering because I knew it had to be good!


Delicious! After we devoured it quickly, we jumped into the pool for a refreshing float. The rest of the meal followed with Chinese Chicken salad and a fresh fruit spinach salad and bread. Were we spoiled or what? And waited on!!

We had a robust evening – full of life!


So here’s an idea for you! If you are "pool less" and “hot” and looking for something different to do on a hot summer's night, take this idea of swapping a float for a meal, with someone you know who has a pool!


Thank you Minor and Jeannie, for a great night of swimming, awesome food, and for making my birthday special.

(Yes, my birthday came and went - I am now 45!)

And the winner of my Canning GIVAWAY is Andrea, from Sgt and Mrs Hub! I am so happy she won, because she has been a reader of my blog for a long time. Andrea is a young military (Air Force) wife, and a stay-at-home mommy of 3. Check out her awesome posts and beautiful photography!

Thank you for the 100+ comments and answering my questions regarding who you entertain! For sure these comments have generated stimulating conversation – which I will include in future posts!

Here's a great canning resource, for those interested.

32 comments:

Jill said...

Well, first of all...happy birthday! What a special night you all shared and I do love the table cloth. Beautiful.

Anonymous said...

What a cool idea, I have friends with pools, and I can COOK. Love
your blog!

Lauren Z said...

Happy Birthday!

Well I am a "young" girl, (just turned 25) and last week was my first shot at canning. My grandma was from the South, and she canned when I was young, but I had never tried it before now. It was kinda scary doing it all alone for the first time, but it all turned out GREAT. The Strawberry jam is a bit on the thick side- but super tasty :)

I have been called a "throw-back female" because I am a gal that loves to cook, bake, make food from scratch, host parties, drink tea from a tea pot (with loose leaf tea!), and now canning, and I would rather be a "stay at home girl".

I was called that in a negetive way--- kinda like I was not a "whole" woman because I didn't want a corperate job, and a high rise office and to drive a BMW.... but it is blogs like yours that reminds me that the world "needs" gals like me to keep the "old ways" of entertaining, cooking and decorating alive :) Thanks for all the great ideas and stories :)

Linda said...

What a great idea! I've got the pool...now I wish that someone would make me an offer of a trade!

Happy Happy Belated Birthday!

Kirstin said...

What a awesome idea and for you a fun treat. Happy late birthday!! I will be 20 x 2 this December (C: And my daughter turns 13, all within a month of each other. That just should not be allowed.

Anonymous said...

I think bartering is one of the most fun ways to exchange something. And who couldn't resist such an incredible meal. I'd eat anything with avocado in it, even shoe stew since you are I are on a shoe kick at the moment. You must send me photos of your finds. And yes, a second blog is a great idea or you could partake in Thrift Thursdays with an entertainer angle to it.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!
Thank you for your blog...it has been an inspiration and encouragement to me.

Jen said...

Andrea is awesome..I'm so glad she won....thanks for the great give away! I sent you another email earlier today...

An Adventurer in the World said...

yay Andrea!

and Happy Birthday, Sandy. What a fun celebration : )

deb m

~j~ said...

This is just the sweetest idea ever, how creative of them!
There is alota love oozing off these pictures! You have some amazing and inspiring friends Sandy!
Happy floating :)
love j

Barb said...

Happy birthday - if today is your birthday, you're sharing it with my daughter! That tablecloth is as cute as can be.

What a great idea, swapping a float for a meal. Everybody wins.

Congratulations to Andrea - she has a really nice blog and her photography really is beautiful.

Thank you for hosting this great giveaway, Sandy. I'm sure Andrea will be posting some great photos of her canned goods soon.

Julie said...

Happy Birthday. I pray it was blessed....

Julie

Lissete said...

I should foward this post to everyone I know! They can come float every single day! ;)

Happy Birthday!

Nadine said...

Happy Birthday. What a nice gift of love.

I have one question - can you get the recipe for the cold avocado shrimp soup. I love anything avocado.

Andrea@Sgt and Mrs Hub said...

Thank you again! I have been excited all day thinking about canning :)

Happy Birthday! May 45 be the best year of your life!

-Andrea

Anonymous said...

We have a pool, and this very thing has happened to us many times. (well, not the tablecloth and waiting in the garage) It is so hot, people love to swim...and we love to eat. It's a perfect match!
Cousin Peggy

Donnetta said...

What an incredibly fun and thoughtful gesture that was on their part!

Happy Birthday friend!!!

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

Happy Birthday dear Sandy! Just coming by to get inspired by all of your posts and yummy recipes!

Happy night, friend!

Blessings,
Melissa

grace said...

first and foremost, happy birthday!
secondly, avocado soup? are you kidding me? i'll dig a hole in my landlord's yard and install a pool myself if it means i can get me some of that! :)

Anonymous said...

such a good idea, it gets hot here in the summer and we don't have a pool yet, to bring dinner for a pool is a fab idea

happy birthday

Kim @ Homesteader's Heart said...

Happy Birthday come and gone. Mine is Sunday. We have a lot of July birthdays in my family. I always said that the winters are cold in Maine lol. Now I live in Florida so none of my kids where born in July ha ha. I love your blog and it's such an inspiration. You have great ideas and I need to start writing them down in a book.
Blessings,
Kim

Southerner said...

Happy Birthday!

willzmom said...

Happy birthday-mine is Sunday! You are surely well loved. What a great way to spend your birthday.

tammi said...

Happy belated birthday!!! You don't look a day over 30!

Looks like you had a wonderful night. You have some amazing friends! And that table cloth is just beautiful ~ what a perfect gift for you!! I must try using a cloth every now and again. If nothing else than to hide a table that quite badly needs refinishing...

Stephanie said...

This is a great idea. I've known some people who bring a meal to someone with a new baby and stay to eat with the family. I've always liked that too.

I could use a dip in a nice cool pool right about now ;)

OKGardners said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY a bit late. My hubby has been in the hospital twice over the past 2 weeks, so it has been hectic around here. (Severe kidney stones and lithotripsy)

How thoughtful your friends were to bring you supper for your birthday. What a special treat!

Betty in Oklahoma

Anonymous said...

What a great idea! I'll have to remember that and brush up on my cooking skills!

Happy Birthday! Glad it was so much fun for you.

Mrs. Darling said...

What a wonderful thing for your firends to do. Thats what I call real friendship!

I too have been canning since I was very young. I cant imagine a life without canning in the fall. Im glad there are others that keep this old tradition afloat. Who knows when times will change and we will all have to know about canning and gardening as way to stave off hunger. I hope that doesnt happen but ya never know.

Kim @ Homesteader's Heart said...

I would love it if someone wanted to bring us dinner in exchange for swimming in our pool. Especially because our pool is about 6ft. across and 3 ft deep lol. It makes for a funny picture when all 5 of us are in it. Well it draws us closer together I guess. Great post as always!
Blessings,
Kim

Robin said...

I like the swap idea, maybe I'll make friends with a person in the South Pacific who has a pool! HA! Happy Birthday. Thanks for the link to Sgt and Mrs. Hubs, cute blog!

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Hi, Sandy, what a neat idea. Happy belated Birthday! You're still gorgeous. How fun to have a pool & swap it out.

xo,
Rhoda

Darla said...

Happy Birthday! Mine was last week too and DH will celebrate his tomorrow. Yay for July birthdays!

What a fun time you must have had.

Darla