Backyard Entertaining

Casual entertaining in the backyard is one of the joys of summer. If you're like me and you've decided to invite a ton of folks to drop by throughout the day, it's more fun to play the day by ear than come up with a formal plan.

• Having a few activity stations set up is perfect for spontaneous fun, be it a vicious game of croquet or a light-hearted round of badminton.
• For the kids, have hula-hoops and music for a contest, as well as sidewalk chalk, water balloons, and so on.
• Don't forget to arrange some chairs in the shade and have a tub filled with non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic beverages to beat the heat. If you live in a hot and sunny clime, consider a kiddie pool for instant cool-offs.