Today a friend of my husband decided we'd host a cookout by supplying the grill.

They have some extended family but decided to spend the day with us.

Really that is great! He & his father brought lima beans, tomatoes and hamburger for the grill. I'm heat up the lima beans for lunch and put the plates on outside. I'll load the condiments in a plastic tub and set out the plastic table. Oh yeah.

It's overcast and cooler, great weather.

I wonder what others do when they do not have family on family sort of holidays? I hope it is hanging with their friends.

I wish my lady friends had more free time, but I sure see a lot of my husband's friends.

We did get an invite to drive a few hundred miles to see one son, but when DH figured out the gasoline costs, feeding that big family & extended ones that live with them, buy their gas money (they always want money)... he decided staying at home was the best option. Even meeting halfway was costly. The son is 46 and never calls except when he wanted something, so no real surprise when DH said, no road trip for us.

Actually his grown kids don't visit.
Friends are a real blessing when you don't have much for family
or they are very far away.

And yes, I 'am' the stepmom (We've been married 35 years this autumn!)