Want to get things done? Throw a party.

That's why I haven't been hanging around the old blog lately: Too busy preparing for a wedding shower we're throwing tomorrow night. Thanks to "party pressure," the family room got painted and redecorated, ceiling fans were replaced, the hot tub got a new lid (the old one was literally in shreds), window boxes will (hopefully) be replanted with ornamental kale, wicker porch furniture's been mended, and strings of Italianesque globe lights have been added to the deck. We even dragged this antique copper washing machine from the bowels of the attic to the bar area, to hold the iced beer and white wine.

I completely forgot we had this thing! Parties are hard work, but the pay-off can be great.