Pardon Me For Asking: Pardon Me For Asking, But Did You Have A Great Memorial Day Week-End?

How much fun did you have this week-end? Did you go away or stay in the city? Wasn't the weather perfect?

I spent mine relaxing, eating and hanging out with friends right here in Carroll Gardens, with just one excursion into the city. It was perfect. Let me tell you all about it...and then, please tell me about yours by leaving a comment.

First the relaxing part:

the hammock in our back yard is the perfect way to escape.

It may not quite be the beach, but in so many ways, this is better.

I did not spent nearly enough time in it this week-end.

Of course, we fill the house with friends and family.

Here are daughter Celina and her boyfriend Ben who came over from Manhattan on a scooter. Earlier in the week-end, our friends Joe and Eunice came over, and last night, Carolina, David and Baby Alaia stopped by.

Playing a game of pétanque (or boules) in Carroll Park

is alwasy fun, especially when one is on the winning team...

By the way, if anyone would like to join us for a game, please email me

at pardonmeinbrooklyn at gmail dot com. It would be super to get some more people together.

It is actually really fun. All you have to do is to try to get your boule close to the cochonet, the bright little wooden ball. See, there is (almost) nothing to it.

And now for the best part,

the food!

Proving once more that the food we prepare ourselves is better than that in many restaurants in the neighborhood, my husband produced one magnificent pizza on the grill after the other.

(yes, you read correctly, on the grill... The charcoal gives the crust a great flavor.)

Topped with arugola, it is heavenly.

Oh and the very, very best part of the week-end? My husband and I got to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. (It is actually today, but who wants to celebrate on a week-day...)

We had a lovely dinner at El Quijote on 23rd Street in Manhattan. It is an old Spanish restaurant in the Chelsea Hotel, which just celebrated its 80th Anniversary. That seemed rather appropriate. Besides, the place holds many memories for the two of us.

After twenty-five years or marriage, may I just say, my husband is still my best friend and still makes me laugh at the silliest things. He makes me fall in love with him over and over with his caring, responsible and dependable ways.

I hope to be able to celebrate our 50th together.