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From July Forth
Friday, July 4, 2008 at 11:44PM 
We had a great time today with family and one special friend ... that being Robyn, our lovely little compadre who occasionally gets "plugged in" and becomes one of us (a dubious privilege) for a day or two! Our three younger children were home and my parents drove down for the day.
Javier (pictured above) suffered the relative indignity of being made to wear his party scarf and his collar (neither of which he particularly cares for), at least for photo ops! He's nine years old (that's 63 in dog years), so take that into account and you come up with an all-around fairly cooperative doggie.
If you click on the pic, you'll be treated to more pics of Javier and a few of his humans!
For our lunch we had hot dogs, calico beans, green salad (not like what you might be thinking ... no lettuce whatsoever ... I used 3-color shredded deli cabbage, cucumber, green pepper, red pepper, broccoli, sunflower seeds, and strawberries), fresh homemade potato salad, fresh homemade banana pudding ... and to drink, soda pop and coffee! It was good, y'all.
We had patriotic music playing loud out by the pool, where we sat to eat until a sudden thunderstorm blew us inside. It lasted about 20 minutes, then the sun played peek-a-boo again! As the afternoon waned, some of our number departed for home and/or various other, later celebrations. Everyone who stayed enjoyed a refreshing swim in the pool where the water temperature has held steady for several weeks at 82 degrees. TG and Andrew work so hard to keep the pool sparkling and I appreciate it. We don't take a yearly vacation and I never miss it, because I have all I need for rest and recreation in my back yard (and no grass to mow there)!
There were so many fireworks in our neighborhood tonight! At the height of the celebration I think I could have doused the lamps, swayed on the deck swing, and read a book or written a poem by the light they produced. But then there was the noise! And the beautiful spark-flowers billowing in the inky sky, leaving spidery starbursts in your squinty-vision long after the bright blooms were only smoke and memories. Enchanting.
It seems to me that once the sun sets on July fourth, the balance of summer slides off the calendar like the last bite of a swiftly-melting popsicle. Summer garb populates the clearance racks; the oranges and browns of autumnal decorations begin to edge out brighter colors; the Christmas tree displays go up at Hobby Lobby. Soon, back-to-school sales will dominate the retail outlets where fall styles fill the windows. In other words, it will be over before you know it.
Meantime, how wonderful to live in the greatest country on the face of the Earth. Rather than whining about prices and taking heed of doomsayers, I want to rejoice in the blessings and opportunities that are mine because I have the distinct joy of living in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
A few weeks ago, my son sang this classic John W. Peterson song at church:
Proudly it waves, Old Glory
Over the land of the free
Promise of hope and freedom
Symbol of liberty.
Red, white and blue are its colors
Colors both brilliant and clear
Colors with far deeper meaning
Than that at first may appear.
Red is for blood
Of patriots who have died
To free us;
White is for justice
And government of law;
Blue is for honor
And faith in all we do.
This is my flag
This is Old Glory
The red, white and blue.
Long may it wave!
Reader Comments (21)
We don't take yearly vacations either because, like you, the most relaxing times seem to occur in our very own backyard! Javier does look quite patriotic - it was very generous of him to pose for the snapshot!
And I agree; we have many blessings to rejoice and be grateful about in this wonderful place we live in.
I had such a wonderful time. It was great to be a part of the family. I wasn't half as entertaining as y'all were. Thank you.
@ Keli ... absolutely, luv.
@ Robyn ... we enjoyed having you! Did you look up "curmudgeon" yet? LOL!
It sounds like you had the perfect 4th.
Javier is adorable. Smokey doesn't like clothes either.
God bless America.
@ Ruth ... your Smokey is a dollbaby! The 4th is certainly a special time. So much to celebrate.
Thanks for coming over to "tributaries"! Thought I would pay you a call... I love the song your son sang and have heard it many times at church myself. As a matter of fact check out old glory waving out here:
http://mm-tributaries.blogspot.com/2006/07/proudly-it-waves-old-glory.html
@ MaryMargaret ... I must tell you how I found Tributaries! I googled the lyrics to that song because I didn't want to get a word wrong (my memory not being what it once was, LOL) and your blog popped up to your post of the lyrics (and the lovely photo) of July 2, 2006! So I perused your site as long as I had time for ... and of course, like Gen. MacArthur, I shall return!
Cute pup! I hope he forgave you today for dressing him up yesterday. My dogs hate it (though they look so darned cute when I can manage to get hats on them). Thanks for visiting my blog!
Peace - D
@ Momma ... one thing Javier does is, he seems to readily forgive! Good thing! I enjoyed visiting your blog and I'll do it again.
Glad you had such a fun day and I enjoyed your photographs. Especially very cute dog.
I adore fireworks, my birthday is the day before Guy Fawkes night when we Brits have bonfires and fireworks to celebrate someone trying to blow up Parliament hundreds of years ago. Or maybe we are celebrating them not succeeding in blowing up the government....depends on your point of view I guess!
Don't say that about summer! We haven't had any yet...it can't be over so soon!
Sounds like you had an amazingly wonderful fourth of July! Yay for you! Especially all that cooking and food preparation - I hope your family appreciated that!
I remember swimming in warm pools during thunderstorms and heavy rain when I was a teenager. I know it's probably risky and all that, but it was a thrill! Your post brought it back to me quite vividly and I'd forgotten it, so thanks for that.
Little Javier is such a cutie!
@ Diane ... I like fireworks too ... so exciting! And bonfires are wonderful as well ... especially in the fall when that damp chill is in the air! I've heard of ya'll's expansive celebrations on Guy Fawkes Day and it must be doubly fun to do a birthday party at the same time. Re: summer ... there's still a lot left weather-wise! It's just the retailers who like to switch gears rather quickly this time of year!
@ Jay ... we love to swim when it rains too! It is fun and feels a bit dangerous but that's all part of it! I think my brood appreciate my cookery ... they certainly do eat with enthusiasm! It's good to have you "back" although that sounds funny because you were actually on my side of the puddle but it felt like you were gone! LOL!
That pooch is sooo cute!
Thanks windyridge! I think so too! He's even funnier in "person" ... quite the little character.
I absolutely love your descriptions of the fireworks and the turning of summer after the 4th. (I also love Javier.) Thanks for reminding me that the 4th isn't all about getting drunk on one and one-quarter beers!
JD you know how I feel about beer! And of course we agree on how lovable Javier is ... he's a noodle but I'd be lost without him. Thanks for your kind words, luv!
Aw. Him good dog.
Thank you for stopping by my blog.
I always enjoy your comments on Ruth's site, so I thought I'd say hello. I think I've been here before, tho, because I remember Johnny Depp! Glad you had a good 4th - you must be very proud of your son! I've been reading some of your other posts too - I love the way you describe things!
@ Bernita ... him sure is. You are quite welcome!
@ Rosezilla ... Johnny's nothing if not memorable, eh? I think I've been to your site too but I'll have to refresh my memory. Thanks for stopping by and yes, I am proud of and grateful for my son! Thanks for reading and for your kind comment!
Beautifully, wonderfully, truthfully put: "And the beautiful spark-flowers billowing in the inky sky, leaving spidery starbursts in your squinty-vision long after the bright blooms were only smoke and memories." Wow. And little Javier is adorable. Love reading your posts: you've got so many jewels packed in each one. It's like you're taking us on a lovely, memorable tour. Thank you!
P.L., it is an honor to have compliments such as these from one such as yourself! Thank YOU for reading and for your kind words!