Rockets and Robots

                            The fourth is over!

I hope you did not get caught in all the storms that hit the east coast, messing up celebrations. My dau. Susan's family got nearly blown away and totally drenched escaping from a fireworks site. 

Me, I stood on my balcony and watched what I could see of the fireworks display being shot off downtown. Trees do get in the way sometimes. 

I know it was a special day, the television kept telling me it was! Yet, for me it was just another fourth, a time to remember that we fought hard and won our freedom. I had ancestors who did the fighting. Geez, my family has been here FOREVER....

It's hotter than blazes here so I am staying in my apartment and giving up thanks on a regular basis for the man who invented air-conditioning. I am old as the hills, so I know what it feels like to not have that cooler than cool air blowing all the time. I remember summers that were scorchers but we had never been exposed to anything else so it was just normal. It's funny how we get used to something and think we can't live without it.

I was thinking the other day about the Jetsons. Remember that tv show from way back when where Rosie, the robot was the maid? 

We all were saying, 'never in a million years will there be a man-made machine that can do what humans do.'  Well, folks, a million years have passed and those robots are taking over!! I even saw where there is an entire soccer team of robots playing soccer. CRAZY!!

It might be interesting to watch a game.... one team of robots, the other team real honest to gosh humans. Wonder who would win!

Celebrating Independence

 Independence Day...

That's tomorrow, the 4th, but we here at the Commons celebrated today. Had us a nice, cool salad lunch on tables all decorated in red, white and blue. No fireworks, though. They don't allow us to have fire around here!! Besides, fireworks are for nightime and this was LUNCH.... 

I made a new recipe. Grape Salad. I'd had my first in Alabama when I was visiting my son recently. I just loved the cool, crispy crunch of the grapes slathered in this yummy sauce. I made a big bowl of it today and now I have at least half of it in my refrigerator. But, I've discovered something. The reason I love that stuff so much is not the grapes, it's that yummy sauce. Who can turn down cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla all whipped up into a froth. When I made it for my salad today, I actually scaped the bowl with my spoon (well, actually it was my finger) and left that bowl clean as a pin. Better than cake dough any day. 

What are all you doing for the 4th? I guess I shouldn't ask that of my friends outside the U. S. but heck, you are gonna be doing something tomorrow, even if it's just going to work. I guess I will watch what I can see of the fireworks display from downtown. The trees have grown up so tall between me and the event so I only see the tallest ones, (the fireworks, not the trees). 

I certainly hope that everyone enjoys their day whatever it may bring. Stay cool, stay healthy and just keep on keeping on. 

My 4th of July

                                         I'm Home!!

Doing a blog post on my Kindle was too difficult so I just waited til I got back to my computer. Now, it's playing catch-up time! 

I've shared our lunch at Ruby's in downtown Rye, also our trip to Westport, Conn. to a place called Terrain. 

So, I'll do the 4th of July... which happened a week and a half ago... but you do what you can do, right?

4th of July is a big deal at Appawamis Country Club... they go all out. Inflated slides, bouncy thingys for the kids, pony rides. snow cone trucks. There is tons of food all under tents which are placed on the golf course. Red and white and blue and white checkered large squares are spread on the ground for familes to sit on. A lot of people bring folding chairs. There's babies in strollers, kids running amok, grown ups laughing and catching up with friends. There's a band playing folk music (Bob Dylan, John Denver etc) It's quite an atmosphere. 

With daughter Susan

Me and grandson, Griffin

A proud grandma with Owen, who has autism

Grandson Griffin's better half, Kelsey

Grandson Tighe with his Mom, Susan

One of the food tents 

And, then it's dark and the fireworks begin....

This and That and Something Else!

                      What have I been up to lately?

                           Well, just let me tell you. 

Of course, I watched the fireworks from my balcony on the 4th but for some reason they weren't as nice as in years past. I think something went wrong with the lighting. There'd be long pauses and then they'd start up again and there was no grand finale. But, I did see some! 

Shirley and some of her family left for Alabama the day after the 4th. Dylan, who is 12, is going to space camp at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. Michael lives nearby so the rest of the crew will hang out with Michael during Dylan's adventure. 

I tell you, it felt mighty strange, having them head down to visit Michael. Shirley and John always let me tag along but I had a dr. appt during that time as well as they are packed.. two cars, 4 adults, 3 kids, a dog, luggage... no room for me! 

The day after the 4th a bunch of us residents were treated to hotdogs, chips and ice cream in the community room. 

Oh, and I did a watercolor....

Happy 4th of July

                               July 4th is Independence Day...

                           What will you do to celebrate?  

I'll probably watch the fireworks from my balcony. My days to sit out in the night air and listen (and watch) the loud booms from fireworks exploding is over. I've seen a lot of it over the years... time to just sit back and relax and reflect.

picture made a couple years ago from my balcony

I did save this picture I took earlier this year of a flag hanging on the George Washington Bridge so I could use it for the 4th. That was ONE BIG flag!

I'm hoping that all of you have a very safe and happy 4th. God bless the USA

Happy Fourth of July

                              Wishing each of you a peaceful, safe Fourth of July. 

            While you are enjoying your barbeque or whatever you plan to serve today, 
                             please bow your head and pray for this country. 

Memories of the 4th

                                                               Today is the Fourth of July

It'll be a quiet one for me.  

I remember some pretty doggone good ones from the past, though.

When I was a child and Mom and I were living with my grandparents, the whole gang (aunts and uncles included) would gather on the front porch, a great-uncle rolling lemons to get the most juice out of them. He was in charge of making a churn full of sweet lemonade.

If we didn't have enough milk, my aunt would scurry out to the barn with a bucket, milk ole Bessie, come back to the kitchen and strain it. It was then mixed with all sorts of yummy stuff and poured into the crank style freezer. Somebody would have had to make a trip into town to get ice. There just isn't anything better than sitting there waiting in anticipation while a grown-up turns the crank until it won't hardly turn and you know that ice cream is ready. No pictures made of that back then but here is one of our grandson helping hubby and my son make some ice cream back in the 1970s.

When we lived on Midway Island, as small a place as that was, we put on a humdinger of a parade... floats, marchers, music, a flatbed with a huge home-crafted gooney bird on it. And, there were games on the beach and all sorts of stuff.

In Annapolis the hubby and I took the children up to the fourth floor balcony to watch the firework. Scared the beegeebees out of the dog but we loved it. 

There are the times Hubby and I flew to New York to see our married daughter and there would be tons of country club members and their guests out on the golf course where everyone was sitting on these blankets that the club provided. And, a scrumptious buffet under a tent... and the world-class fireworks display. 

But, today... it'll be a quiet one for me. I may hear a few booms from far-away fireworks and I might see a few explosions of color if they shoot high enough to be seen over the treetops. I'll get an ice-cream bar out of the freezer. No lemons so no lemonade.


Hey, this is sounding pathetic and I surely don't mean for it too. I am thrilled to be in my little apartment,  watching some fourth of July on tv and then I'll go to bed, happy in the fact that I have seen another celebration of the independence of our country. 

                                                 Happy 4th Everyone