Happy July 4th Everyone.....

[gimmethesimplelife]

I am about to take off for the kitchen to make sweet and sour lentils and it's a new recipe for me and I hope it turns out OK. SO is coming over with his sister later - pretty much everyone else, my Mom, my cousin, and his parents are out of town. My fiance is such a good cook - I'm really hoping I pull off this lentils dish - I can follow a recipe but cooking is not my strong suit. We'll see how this goes.....Rob

What are you'all doing today?

I also wanted to add that of my own will, I am not flying any foreign flags today. I'm doing this out of respect for the recent Supreme Court decisions re: ObamaCare and same sex marriage.

[Alan]

"If the history of animals were recorded, the most ferocious species would not equal the carnage perpetrated by men when they choose force as their method for dealing with one another. It is in this context - from the perspective of the bloody millennia of mankind's history - that I want you to look at the birth of a miracle: the United States of America. If it is ever proper for men to kneel, we should kneel with we read the Declaration of Independence." ~ Ayn Rand

Happy Birthday America! A fundamental turning point in human history.

[catherine]

1776: One of my *favorite* musicals of all time.. And I also give thanks to the wonderful historian/authors like David McCullough who presented us with our history in living color.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds4dv4IS0PM

[IshbelRobertson]

Happy Fourth to those of you in the USA!

[Miss Cellane]

In a letter John Adams, second president of the US, wrote to his wife Abigail on July 3, 1776, he said that this day "ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Act of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."

I did the church part this morning, but mostly because I attended a Baptism. Then I watched the town parade, which ended with the local theater group actors as Ben Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson reading the Declaration of Independence out loud. Then I had my siblings over for burgers, hot dogs and ice cream--the all American meal. Tonight, I'm heading over to the park for the Air Force band, followed by fireworks and mosquito bites. And this year I bought red, white and blue bunting for the front porch. So I've managed the Act of Devotion, the Parade, the Shew, the Pomp (the bunting), and the Illuminations. Next year I'll try to work in the Sports and Bells and Games. (Bonfires and Guns are just too dangerous for me to handle.)

[bae]

What are you'all doing today?


This is the busiest holiday weekend here. Our population triples.

So, 3 days of 12-hour-on, 12-hour off duty shifts.

Trying to keep the tourists from burning down the county (extreme wildfire danger here now), rescuing the ones who fall and break bones or have heart attacks or heat stroke or fail to hydrate or get stung by bees or are hyopthermic or ..., and cooking about 4000 pancakes and about 500 pounds of bacon for a fire/rescue fundraiser. Got issued my own personal nasal Narcan kit Wednesday night and a pouch of Epipens to prepare for the onslaught.

Last night's catch was: 1 small wildfire caught before it burned down the largest park here and killed hundreds of campers on our busiest holiday weekend, 1 child camping at park who developed Very Bad Illness, 2 hypothermic kayakers delivered to a dock by a passing boat that fished them out of the water, 1 car wreck involving 2 people and a dog, one broken bone suffered by a hiker down a trail, one allergic reaction to bees, one propane grill on fire (regulator failed, flames shooting out of tank) about to burn down a house, and one diabetic emergency.

Back on in 2.5 hours, yee ha?

[Gardenarian]

Parade this morning, then checking out all the community booths in the park. Wading in Ashland Creek, listening to the bands and reading of the Declaration of Independence, a small picnic.
Back home now and enjoying the AC and lounging around.
Fireworks at 10:00 - we'll go to slightly higher open ground nearby. I haven't seen real fireworks in a long time; I'm really looking forward to it!

Happy Independence Day everyone!

[gimmethesimplelife]

Well I'm happy....My lentils did turn out well after all. Best wishes for the rest of the holiday to all - Rob

[Miss Cellane]

This is the busiest holiday weekend here. Our population triples.

So, 3 days of 12-hour-on, 12-hour off duty shifts.

Trying to keep the tourists from burning down the county (extreme wildfire danger here now), rescuing the ones who fall and break bones or have heart attacks or heat stroke or fail to hydrate or get stung by bees or are hyopthermic or ..., and cooking about 4000 pancakes and about 500 pounds of bacon for a fire/rescue fundraiser. Got issued my own personal nasal Narcan kit Wednesday night and a pouch of Epipens to prepare for the onslaught.

Last night's catch was: 1 small wildfire caught before it burned down the largest park here and killed hundreds of campers on our busiest holiday weekend, 1 child camping at park who developed Very Bad Illness, 2 hypothermic kayakers delivered to a dock by a passing boat that fished them out of the water, 1 car wreck involving 2 people and a dog, one broken bone suffered by a hiker down a trail, one allergic reaction to bees, one propane grill on fire (regulator failed, flames shooting out of tank) about to burn down a house, and one diabetic emergency.

Back on in 2.5 hours, yee ha?

Related to this, I called the fire department today because the folks in the house behind mine, a 1900-era wood frame three decker, were using an open charcoal grill on their back porch. Which is not allowed by the fire laws, or by common sense. Because open flames and a porch roof of 100 year old wood are simply not a good combination. And there are about 12 houses of the same vintage, all closely clustered around an old alley way, that would all be at risk if one caught fire.

The big fire truck came, many firemen jumped out. The grill was extinguished and the grillers fined. I felt bad about spoiling their fun, but not about preventing a fire risk. It's been very, very dry here for the last few months.

[Float On]

The kids had to work. We're in a tourist town so a super busy weekend. No big family meal for us. We're walking up to the scenic overlook here in a couple minutes to watch two displays at the same time.

[Valley]

I fly our flag whether or not I agree with the latest supreme court decision...I fly it when my choice for president doesn't win...I fly it when I disapprove of the latest appropriations bill. I fly it because I'm a citizen of this country. Like my children, I don't have to like everything they do and choose in life...but I'll always love them!

[gimmethesimplelife]

I fly our flag whether or not I agree with the latest supreme court decision...I fly it when my choice for president doesn't win...I fly it when I disapprove of the latest appropriations bill. I fly it because I'm a citizen of this country. Like my children, I don't have to like everything they do and choose in life...but I'll always love them!That's cool. I see flags very differently, but i find your post reasonable and cool.

To me, a flag is a very symbolic and political symbol, and if I'm going to fly it, I have to be a good fit for what it represents, at least at the moment. I will say there was one time I broke out the US Flag and flew it - completely voluntarily and of my own free will - which may surprise some folks here. It was the night back in November 2008 when Barack Obama was first elected - I was so proud. Really I was. This was the first time I ever remembered being proud to be an American as I honestly could not see Obama getting elected in any other developed country. So I did fly the flag not only that night but for a few days afterward and I did end out explaining this to many neighbors. Rob

[ApatheticNoMore]

I made lobster broth with some saved shells (It wasn't even my lobster - I guess we're getting into weird frugals at this point). I saw a free concert making use of some public transit, left when it was going downhill towards the end. Yes, I also ate some dead cow, some homemade potato salad and a few potato chips. And I bought a berry pie. I'll eat healthy *tomorrow* :~)

[Tradd]

I went shooting. A bang up way to celebrate Independence Day.

[catherine]

I had work to do in the morning--an interview to complete and a report to work on. DH and BIL and I just hung out in the back yard--DH made hotdogs and hamburgers and a portobello mushroom for me. I had picked up kohlrabi and spring turnips at the local farm last week and I've never eaten nor made kohlrabi, but it's delicious! I braised both vegetables together in broth with onions and garlic and added peas at the end.

We listened to the neighborhood backyard fireworks. It was a beautiful night. Nessie stayed inside (4th of July being a bad day for a lot of dogs).

I fly the flag. I don't want to be unduly nationalistic because of the dangers in that, but I have "bought" it with my citizenship, my respect for people who came before me and lived and died for it, my belief in the values it embodies, and my hopes for its role as a unifying force in this country.

[iris lilies]

Re kohlrabi

DH has grown it for years, he grew up with it. I like it fresh from the garden.

[catherine]

Re kohlrabi

DH has grown it for years, he grew up with it. I like it fresh from the garden.

Yes, our farmer friend said the same thing--it can be uncooked or cooked. Seems extremely versatile. It's like a sweet turnip. I love it!

[Teacher Terry]

WE had a great time going to a festival with great food, live music & vendors. Just a fun day. However, I always stop to remember all the people that served & gave their lives for our freedom. Freedom is truly not free.