The Unexpected Christening of a House

What do you do when you expect around 50 people at The Lake for the annual 4th of July picnic and fireworks display.... and it hasn't stopped raining for a week? Why, you cross your fingers and hope for the best, of course. And then when it continues to rain and the temp plummets? You grudgingly let the picnic happen in your beautiful new log house, which, unfortunately, is perfect for hosting a rainy-day BBQ.
It's the most expensive picnic pavillion ever made.

This beauty was a big hit, though. I've provided a flag cake of one sort or another for years now, and this year I used a Barefoot Contessa recipe, brought to my attention by Pioneer Woman. Hmmm.... I'm starting to get all my best stuff from other blogs. (I *SO* would not make a good pastry chef, though, since my first priority is getting the decorating done quickly, and neat and beautiful is way down on the list.)

Fortunately, the weather broke just in time for.... July 5. At least the cousins got one blue-sky day while they were here visitin' from Dee-Cee.