Happy 4th of July to everyone!

Recently, Joe and I traveled to Chicago, and then when we came home, we had visitors here: my brother and sister-in-law were visiting over the weekend, and so there's been no time for a paintbrush of late.

I'm sure you've probably given up on me, but I will get to it again...I promise.  Wishing everyone a really beautiful holiday weekend. 


July 4th has always been one of my favorite holidays.  


I remember being little and heading to the playground near us, where they gave us root beer popsicles, (which I've never seen again since,) and of course,  red, white, and blue popsicles, for the occasion.   Mom dressed us up in little romper suits that had red, white and blue stripes, and our hair would be up in buns on our heads to stave off the steamy hot day.  We'd grill outside, and since we didn't have air conditioning for many years, we'd haul our whole wooden kitchen table and chairs set outside for a meal in the summer night.   I can still recall being transfixed by the tall, green glasses that held my parents' iced coffee, and I'd watch as they poured a little bit of milk into the glasses, as it would slowly swirl around, and create a magical pattern on the sweating glass.   


 My parents would haul us all off at night to the local fireworks, where we'd all lie down together on blankets and gaze up at the skies, ooh-ing and aaah-ing at the brilliant colors that filled the night.    In summer, we'd catch fireflies in mayonnaise jars, poking holes in the lids and gently placing leaves inside, for the little critters, until they'd light up periodically, and then,  we'd release them into the night air.  


We rarely head to the fireworks these past few years, but I always love this holiday, and we always celebrate with good friends and foods.  I still head outside and place flags in our planters and think about how fortunate I am to be living just where I am...


Joe and I will spend the evening with his son and daughter-in-law, and we'll eat, drink, laugh, and reminisce.  I'm totally looking forward to it.  


"The greatest lesson we can learn from the past...is that freedom is at the core of every successful nation in the world."  (unknown)


And just in case you're going to miss 'em tonight, here are some fireworks to enjoy: