At Home with Lisa

Saturday, July 4, 2026

4th of July Crafts

Fork Fireworks !

Supply List:

A fork, plastic or metal, both work

A paper plate for the paint

Paint

Paper

Start with one color of paint, dip the back of the fork in and then “wipe” the back of the fork onto the paper. Do this over and over and make a circle pattern. Clean your fork off a nd then go to another color. Do this over and over until you have used all the colors. I used red white and blue but you could use any color

My firework

painted with toilet paper rolls

Salt painting...

Today the library is closed and we are going to join our neighbors for fireworks!

Stay safe.....

Stars, Stripes, and Suspicion: A Fourth of July Cozy Mystery Series

Goodreads author https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20469796.Maisy_Marple

Sometimes the Perfect Recipe is Murder

When former detective Frank Mitchell traded his badge for a baker's apron, he thought his crime-solving days were behind him. But when renowned chef and merciless food critic Thurston Lively is found face-down in a blueberry pie at the annual Stars & Stripes Bake-Off, the town mayor begs Frank to investigate quietly before the festival is ruined.

With his retired K-9 partner Libby at his side, Frank kneads through a batch of suspicious characters—from the humiliated avant-garde pastry chef to the local baking legend whose recipes were stolen decades ago. As the annual fireworks display approaches, Frank discovers that beneath the town's sweet exterior lies a recipe of bitter rivalries, stolen legacies, and long-simmering resentment that finally boiled over into murder.

Combining his detective instincts with a baker's attention to detail, Frank must identify the killer before they strike again. But in a town where everyone has a reason to want the victim dead, Frank will learn that justice, like the perfect pie, requires a delicate balance—and sometimes, a hefty dose of just desserts.

book review

This is a fun quick holiday cozy mister. With a detective turned baker who solves mystery with his K9 partner. Its the perfect small town holiday cozy mystery.

4TH OF JULY POKE CAKE RECIPE

1 white cake mix box
▢1 3.3 oz box strawberry jello or cherry
▢1 3.3 oz box blueberry jello
▢2 cups boiling water divided
▢1 cup cold water divided
▢8 oz whipped cream

Prepare cake mix as directed and bake in a 9×13 pan. Let cool for an hour.
Poke holes into the cake with the end of a knife or wooden spoon at 1 inch intervals.
Prepare jell-o’s separately as directed on box (but only add ½ cup cold water after adding jello mix to the 1 cup boiling water). Pour jello into a two tall glasses. Using a straw, fill it with the liquid JELLO and place in every other hole in the cake. Do this with both the red and blue jello.
Chill 3 to 4 hours and top with whipped cream. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

What Is a Poke Cake?

Poke-and-pour cake (also called poke cake) is a cake recipe that calls for holes to be poked in it after baking, usually with the handle of a wooden spoon or a wooden skewer. Then a liquid is poured over the baked cake to soak into the cake holes. Poke cakes are known for being incredibly moist (thanks to the liquid) and delicious (because of the extra filling).