I love those parties which conclude, like a sit-com, with...

I love those parties which conclude, like a sit-com, with the house being miraculously re-set to what it was before everyone arrived. My wonderful brother, sister, and nieces cleared away the dishes and did them, everyone helped me take down the tent, nephew moved the wooden gate-leg table back to its off-duty position in the living-room, and I don't have to come downstairs tomorrow morning afraid of what I'm going to see.

Lovely weather - mid-80s (one reason we have the 4th-July-Family-Reunion here), sunny, pleasant sitting at a long table in what I think of the outdoor dining-room: a patio half-covered with a trellis, to which I add a put-up shade-tent. A very relaxed atmosphere. Later this evening I'm driving up to a friend's birthday party in the Valley, and tomorrow the family will re-convene for a trip to the LA County Arboretum. For the moment, all is silent, the cats are out of lockdown, the dishes are clean, and I'M DONE WITH MY FIRST DRAFT!!!