Our Fourth of July in Photos

Caleb lighting fireworks.





Peter helping.


Turtle taking off.


Pat grilling. Pat and myself preparing for grilling

I found this meme on Thom's blog on Saturday the 4th of July. I hope he doen't mind if I use it.





Yankee Doodle Dandy

1. What is your favorite 4th of July memory? (If you aren’t in the U.S., then use your own national holiday.)I have many, including this 4th. The bicentennial was the one I was most involved in making costumes,& making a float.

2. Do you consider yourself patriotic? yes

3. Do you like fireworks? Not the noise but the pretty ones. We have always have done are own fireworks. Dr. John at one time with the help of his sister and mother would put on a display for the small community that his sister lives in. There have been some scary moments.

4. What are your plans for this weekend?We had the whole family here. We did our fireworks, which I still have to clean up. Grilled steaks. Had strawberry shortcake.

5. Are you optimistic about the future? I think we are in for a change, do not know,for good or bad.

6. Do you think everyone should serve in the military?No. I think there would be some who if serving would be a hindrance.

7. Would you support a constitutional ban on flag burning?Flag burning makes me unhappy, but peaceful protest should be able to continue.

8. What end of the political spectrum are you?Depends on issue.

9. Where do you get your news? On channel 7.

This gives a outlet for what I was going to write about today. We had a very nice Fourth of July. No major problems. We laughed through the fireworks display. The males were all outside and the females inside watching plus Dr. John. We critiqued the display and the presenters. They put a cardboard box under the display table which at one time was smoking. My oldest grandson was wearing a green elf hat and beard not the safest get up which he was told he could not wear.

Raven challenge 70

Today I face another Raven's Challenge.

Next Week's Ten Word Challenge will be: Florida, spit, child bride, operatic, busy, holding pattern, sunflowers, ginger jars, office, superintendent


For the mini challenge: music to my ears, plot, powerful, braggart, super model





The gang with invisible animal companions were in a holding pattern waiting for the police to investigate the man in the multi-colored hooded sweatshirt they brought in for causing the explosion at Poets Corner. William and Stan had warmed up to Sandy after what they went through with her to get back her penguin. [The penguin that didn't need to be rescued.] Of course if they did not think the penguin was in danger they would have not caught the hooded man.
William paced back and forth in front of the office of the police superintendent and making the others nervous.
" I know a lady you should meet. Let's go over to her place, and get out of here. I will give them my cell phone number in case they need to talk to us some more. Her name is Winter Florida," said Stan.
Sandy followed Stan and William's car out into the country away from the busy city streets. They came upon a cottage nestled in the woods, and the car with William and Stan came to a stop in front of it. Sandy pulled up behind it. Sandy felt she was playing a part in fairy tale. The cute shuttered cottage had sunflowers lined around a winding brick path up to the door. She expected the flowers to burst into song. They were silent not even singing an operatic chorus, a bit disappointing. Stan knocked on the door, and a petite young dark haired girl opened it. A tall red haired gentleman stood behind her. Her face became glowing as she grabbed Stan in a hug.
"Oh, come in , come on in," she said. She dragged Stan in. William and Sandy followed him into a spit and polish clean house. Stan introduced William and Sandy to Winter Florida and Dale Florida. Winter led them into the living room past a kitchen door where Sandy could see ginger jars on the shelves. To Sandy, Winter looked so young. Sandy whispered to William,"She must be a child bride." Her whisper carried to Winter's ears, and Winter said," I was."
The three sat on a couch facing Winter on a recliner and Dale on a matching recliner. Stan told them about the catching of the man expected of bombing the Poets Corner. As they were speaking Stan's phone rang. He smiled as the conversation over the phone transpired. That is music to my ears. Stan related the conversation. The police had enough evidence they felt to charge the man. He confessed that he was with a powerful group that had plotted to cause fear in the community, and the braggart even confessed to wanting to kill supermodels. Once he started he was not able to stop and gave up other names.
"We can be a powerful force, but that power should be used to help those without, "said Winter. As she was speaking a wolverine curled up on her lap. Sandy began thinking about the beginning of seeing her penguin and how she wanted to get rid of it. It did cause some trouble for her, but maybe it had to grow up too. It now was part of a force for good.


Mini Challenge:

Super model Celeste was cruel to her step sister Mable. A braggart in their home she would rag on Mable about her hair color and style, her weight, and her gate. Mable could do nothing right. In her mind Mable would plot to bring the powerful model down.
Jim Rose, a very handsome man, a super model also, became interested in Mable not Celeste.
He came to the home with flowers and gifts to woo Mable. Mable's attitude slowly began to change about herself. The change showed in her demeanor. When Mable told her mother that Jim had proposed, her mother exclaimed," That is music to my ears."
Mable no longer wanted to humiliate her sister but found it enjoyable to rejoice in her success.


Happy 4th of July!

One + One = One

This is another story written by Dr. John and I,exchanging sentences.



With disgust Rex threw both the rope and the old drumsticks on the ever growing pile, filled with memories of long past days. Some of the items brought pain, memories such as the rope from his once owned yacht. The next item in the closet was that great big safety pin and as he took it out he began to cry. This was a wall decoration in his babies room. He could almost hear the baby cry, and knew he would never hear it again.
He was questioning how he could begin anew, and removing the painful memories was a way to begin again. Over and over he could see the yacht exploding with his wife and baby on board.
Sue was offering a new beginning with her Sweet shop. They would be partners , he would make the baked goods while she served customers. She was a lady that always had a smile, and a get up and go attitude. "At least I will get out of this house" he thought as he put on his hard hat and walked through the never finished addition. "I should go and contact her to confirm, and then contact a realitor," he thought.
Sue was waiting for him as she hoped he could let go of the past and just maybe fall in love with her. She had cared for him since high school, but he had picked another lifestyle marring Joann the millionairess. Now she wanted to help him get over the guilt he felt, because he got carried away playing the drums, and was late getting to the boat.
He need not feel guilty, because she planted the bomb not knowing how much he cared for that woman and her brat.

POW

Smiles Lake lived in the small island community of Harbor Bay. Harbor Bay was an ideal place to vacation in, with small shops catering to the tourist trade. Fishing was the main occupation of those living on the island. Before Smiles retired he worked as a fisherman, a hard dangerous job. His wife Leslie worked and was still working in Sweet Sues shop, which sold home made candy. The sound of the lapping water and the cry of the seagull, Smiles did not want to leave behind. For many years they rented, but plotted and planned to build their own home on the island. They managed to save enough to start building that home. Smiles had obtained enough skill as a carpenter to do some of the work himself.
Leslie ran the Sweet Sues for Sue Elder. Sue would drop in now and then but Leslie was really in charge. It was one of the favorite places to visit There were three other employees who would make the candy. People could watch the candy being made from 8:00 AM until 2:00 PM. Samples were given out.
It was just before closing time and there were three people still in the shop. One made Leslie feel uncomfortable. A gentleman , handsome, medium height, fair skin with a nice haircut, was wandering around ,but his eyes did not study any item. Leslie thought he was waiting for something. A young lady brought up her purchase and Leslie checked her out. An other customer checked out. Leslie used the store phone to call Smiles. She spoke in Finish to him hoping her last customer could not understand. Smiles did. As she turned back to the counter the gentleman had pulled out a gun and demanded the money from the till. Her suspicion proved to be true. Her hands shook as she placed the money into a bag. They did not have a security camera a fact he had probably check out. She knew her life was in danger because she had seen his face. His back to the door he was about to shoot her when the police came through the door. The message, suspicious customer get police, understood by Smiles. Small community police knew she was in trouble.
Sue was grateful for Leslie and Smiles action and she gave her boat as a reward, and took time to run the shop while Smiles and Leslie went for a boat trip.




Left the dock.

Raven challenge 69

Today I face another Raven's Challenge.
The words for this week's ten word challenge were: Chorus line, clam chowder, apples, jack-in-the-box, puddles, Iran, quarry, housekeeping, speed, letter For the mini challenge:motorcycle, grandiose, summer, flying off the handle, blue jays




The next few moments made William wish that he could bring in a chorus line to rejoice.The penguin encased in the clear plastic box sprung out of it like a jack- in box. The attitude of the penguin as he moved around the room just out of the reaches of the polar bear, was one of ah ah I fooled you. With the penguin released, the polar bear wanted nothing more to do with the panther, William and the penguin, so with great speed he departed the barn, and headed for the quarry.
William wondered what had transpired at the Toy Shop. He began his trip back, walking now, but with the panther and penguin. He was tired and didn't bother to walk around the puddles. He also became aware that he was very hungry and a bowl of clam chowder would taste great. Passing by an apple tree he reached for an apple on a lower branch, and pulled it off. As hungry as he was the bitter taste did not deter him from eating it.
Arriving at the Toy Store, he found a letter taped to the door, addressed to him. Sandy explained how they caught the multi-colored hooded sweatshirt man, and had taken him to the police station.
He went into the store noticing that it needed some housekeeping. He did not volunteer to do it, but went to the police station meeting Sandy and Stan. Sandy wanted to run over and throw her arms around her penguin, but she figured that would detract from her creditability since the officers could not see a penguin, or panther or llama. The only information that Sandy could give William about the man they caught was he was not Polish but from Iran.




Mini Challenge:

It was summer,with twittering blue jays and finches, and Terry Fox could ride his bike and play for as long as he liked. As he drove to the playground he had a grandiose day dream that he was riding a motorcycle and was Evil Knievel, suddenly the balloon he had tied came flying off the handle startling him.He lost control of the bike and he fell to the ground causing a scrapped knee. He thought to himself as he inspected his bike at least I am not going to the hospital as Evil has done many times.

The bird house

Pictured is the bird house that my granddaughter and grandson Alex help me put up on Sunday. It looks lonely with out birds, but I am happy to report that this morning I saw a bird at the door. On further investigation I saw grass or straw in it. I will try to capture the birds with my camera, but they move fast.
We did put up the bird house in the wrong direction for us to see the birds from inside our house, but the birds do not seem to care.
Because of our recent heat of upper 80's to mid 90's with high humidity my daughter and I have begun walking Maggie at 5:00 AM. Pennie is training for New Orleans making sure that we walk at least a mile. There is a mile walk there between events. For the first two days we walked we had to add distance to our usual walk. Today we discovered that what we had thought was a mile going around the soccer field two or three times did not come near to a mile.
Report on gardening. My up side down tomato plant has two tomatoes. I have transplanted my grown from seed tomatoes to a large pot and put them outside. My hanging strawberry plant has flowers. The weeds have grown very well. I weeded the front garden after Maggie's walk., also I watered all my flowers.