Let freedom ring!

We enjoyed helping America celebrate her birthday so much!! We can't even begin to tell you how grateful we are for all the privileges we are blessed with here. I can't imagine what it would be like to not have the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, or the freedom to go wherever we want in this great country! God bless the U.S.A. and all those who have fought for these rights!!

 

Like we have done for the past few years, a group of our neighbors all get together for an evening of fireworks, desserts, snacks, and drinks/cocktails. We have so much fun, and since everyone contributes to the fireworks, it is a very long evening, but well worth it. Everyone laughs and has a good time, but the one thing I think is really special that we do is before any fireworks are set off, we all stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. How's that for patriotism?!?

          Our neighbor laughing because the fireworks kept growing bigger!

 

 

Some of us actually got hit with some of the sparks from this one...sent us running! haha

 



 

Our neighborhood backs up to a Del Webb/Sun City community and every year on the third of July, they put on a firework display for their residents. We have a nice view of it from our backyard, so after swimming all afternoon and barbecuing, we settled down on the patio for the show. Theirs are much larger than the ones in our home show, but both are beautiful and fun to watch!

 

Our city puts on a plethora of activities for families, including the annual parade, so my daughter and her family chose to participate in the city offerings. We touched bases at the end of the evening to share what we had all done, and I'm really happy my grandchildren had so much fun!!

Each year, the mobile home park my mother had lived in for twenty years, had a Fourth of July parade for the residents and their families. My mother had a little motorized Jeep for her great grandchildren, so one year, we decorated it, and two of my grandchildren drove/rode in the parade. I just love these pictures...my grandson is now 11, and my granddaughter is now 13. I think in these pictures, they were about 6 and 8. They had the best time! I still have family and friends that live there, and this is the first time since my mom died that I haven't visited for a holiday. That's my mom walking next to the children in the first picture. My grandchildren still remember doing this, and when they talk about it, it puts a smile on my face! It was a good day for sure!!

 



Driving back to grandma's after the parade.

 

Yesterday was the start of Tour 'de Fleece, and I decided to participate informally...just challenge myself. I won't have access to my wheel for part of

the time, so I'm just going to see how far down I can spin my fiber stash. I've gotten off to a great start! I have spun approximately two ounces, maybe a little more. I'm not sure since I failed to weigh it before I started. This will make up the third skein of this merino blend. The other challenge I gave myself is to spin a true worsted weight...so far, so good. One full bobbin and one already started this morning that will be plied together.

 

 

Very little knitting, and I mean very little, took place over the weekend. A few rows on my Vodka Lemonade sleeve #2, several rows on my Bad Oyster scarf, and that was about it. I can't keep my nose out of this book:



I am now on chapter six, and I can't remember the last time I read a book that has made me think, and have to focus on so many different characters. It is so good!!! I worried about keeping up with everyone in my book club, but the book is so good that I'm managing a good pace so far.

 

On Friday night, my sweet, sweet husband told me he was taking me on a date Saturday afternoon/evening. At two o'clock we left our house, and he took me to a restaurant for a meal. Usually, we sit across from each other, but this time, he sat right next to me. It was so sweet! We had a cocktail...ummm...if you have never had a watermelon margarita, I highly recommend them!! We finished our meal, and he drove to a theatre complex near our home. He knew I had wanted to see the new movie out called "Tammy", with Melissa McCarthy, ever since the trailers for it came out. It was hysterically funny!! I love Melissa M., and Susan Sarandon!!!

When we got home, it was still pretty hot out, so we jumped into our pool, and had such a great time floating around and holding hands. I love those laid back, relaxing times we get to spend together. I am so blessed...a good man that makes me laugh, a genuine mutual love for each other, and both of us are proud to be Americans!