We had a very success Mother's day despite the weather. We started out with a tour of the Knox Family summer house mansion which was the Junior League show house this year. It was quite cold and blustery outside but the inside was pretty interesting. It must have been amazing to live on that giant farm property in such luxury. I wonder what it was like to be a Knox.

When we got out we made fried basket cheese on french bread as an appetizer. Its my mothers favorite kind of cheese.

Afterwards we had the full on bbq on the new grill at my house. We had to carry it back to the front porch because of the hail.

We grilled shrimp, lobster, chicken, italian sausage along with lima beans, string beans, fried brussel sprouts with parmesaen, asparagus, baked potatoes, and salad. We also had this really amazing raspberry and wine cheese.

For dessert we had banana bread and eclair with real whip creme. (e:mike) was disappointed because he loves cool whip.

To drink we had champagne with st germain and blackberries along with red wine.

This morning I went to the store to get flowers but after waiting 15 minutes in line I realized I had forgotten every form of purchase power and had to go back home to get money. As we were running out of time (e:mike) and I made a bouquet out of flowers from the garden. We also gave my mother a rose cutting I rescued from my grandmothers garden before we sold her house.

I think she had a great day.

We bought a new grill and put it together for mothers day like (e:mike) wrote about. Too bad it was just hailing and thank god I bought the cover.

(e:robert) and (e:mike) and I went to lunch at o3. I am in love with their caper and citrus tuna sandwich. I literally licked the plate clean.

The water line going up to the new bathroom needed some repair work done and (e:robert) and I played plumber. I would rate us as excellent pipe cutters and solderers now.

I wanted to do it last night but I had purchased the wrong diameter pipe so when we woke up this morning we headed right over the the headware store on Summer between Main and Linwood. They had everything we needed.

Cutting the pipe is pretty simple. There is this tool that clamps onto the pipe and spins around until the pipe snaps off.

We cut on either end of the old leaking shut off valve and had to do four solders.

First cut the proper size bits of pipe with the clamping pipe cutter using the old piece of pipe as a guide for length. Then polish the ends and inside of the joining pipe pieces with a metal pipe brush.

Then paint the outside ends of the pipes that you just polished with flux. just cover the part you will be sliding in the shut off valve or other pipe.

Next step is soldering. Definately the trick is to hold the torch flame halfway onto the side of the pipe facing you till the pipe turns color a bit. Then simply hold the end of the solder up to the other side and if its thoroughly hot enough it sucks into the pipe and makes a seal.

It was exciting to be part of the celebration of the clean air coalition's success. It didn't hurt that the food was amazing.