CELEBRATING 

INDEPENDENCE 

DAY!!!

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Lots of rain & stormy weather during the 4th of July holiday week 

& so much happening & so many fun things to do, that we tried not to let it dampen our spirits! ( a little pun there!) 

First, of course, is the holiday decorating which is always fun & really puts me in the mood when listening to seasonal musical orchestrations.

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"Catch a falling star & put it in your pocket...🎶"

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I've made several of these bunnies in patriotic, Easter & Christmas attire. They are so cute & chubby!!

I decided to add this 'before' picture of the bunny that was done "accidentally".  

Pretty cool huh? & truth!! (I just removed the swag.)

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A little wire basket filled with blue & burgundy napkins, a faux candle & Teddy looking on. We don't often use real candles because our curious cats always seem to be especially drawn to lighted candles & once, one of them, Gus by name, actually caught his tail on fire!!! My husband was right there & quickly just blew it out & Gus didn't even realize what happened so was none the worse for wear, but ever since that happened, the only time we use candles is out of kitty reach or the cats are contained somewhere because sometimes a candlelit supper is so nice & romantic.  💗

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I see that sly Merry has sneaked into the picture when I wasn't looking! & here she is posing with her big, lovable, friend Solly!

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There are so many July 4th festivities that it can take up to a whole week to celebrate! There is a "Rodeo Roundup" each year & this year was the Centennial for it in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. My own personal favorite is the 'Ranch Rodeo' which is on the first night of the Roundup. Before that though is the Longhorn Cattle Drive down mainstreet Belle Fourche.

Now these are serious Longhorns! They are actually called Watusi Longhorns & were part of an act at the rodeo! Pretty impressive!

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The National Anthem....

always brings tears to my eyes & thankfulness to my heart.

Now, time for the "Ranch Rodeo"!!!!!!

It's hard to figure out what's going on, but this is wild cow milking at it's muddiest. It rained the entire rodeo, was windy & pretty cool, so these cowboys were pretty much 'mud pies' by the time this was over.

This is where a cowboy & horse part company. One cowboy lasted the eight seconds but then did a somersault right over the side into the bleachers! Imagine meeting your future husband that way?! Sigh....I'm a romantic.  😍

 Obviously this cowboy was trying to get a-head!

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Ohhhhhh, the agony of de-feet. (The bull's feet that is!)

That's a lot of bull! Pun intended & true!  

& with an attitude!!!

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"I love a parade.....🎶"

Who doesn't love a parade?! & a 4th of July parade is so much fun!

'The Lone Piper'

Really sharp looking vintage vehicles.

But I have to say, this kind of horse power is my favorite! 

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Just about anything goes for 4th of July picnic fare. Fried chicken, barbequed chicken, different varieties of potato salad, baked beans, cole slaw, all kinds of grilled meats & vegetables, the ever popular watermelon, & as Mark Twain said,

'When one has eaten it, he knows what the angels eat.'

Aren't those red, white & blue chips perfect?! I love them!!

We always make homemade icecream on the 4th, among other times during the summer, just plain vanilla. It's definitely tradition. We like to eat it while we watch the spectacular entertainment, the pinnacle of the holiday.....some fanfare please.....FIREWORKS!!!

YEA!!!!!!!!!!

This year, it rained every single day & sometimes the night during the week of the 4th of July celebration, some real whopper fireworks straight from heaven!!!

So, we had an extended holiday, from July 1st, through July 7th, at which time we had fireworks going on all of the nights except the 4th because it was storming & pouring rain! But as one who LOVES fireworks, it was 'The Wonderful World of Disney".... 

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It looks like millions of bursting stars!!!!! I think that every time someone goes to heaven, there is a display of fireworks that would stagger our imaginations! Can't wait!!

On a much smaller scale, but no less exciting, is the first showing of fireflies which also happened this week, such quiet, gentle & unobtrusive little creatures, tiny fireworks themselves, blinking in the night. Every time we see their little sparkle, we always whisper as if we were afraid we would scare these little fairy lights away. 

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I want to end this post with a poem by one of my favorite American poets, Edgar Guest, called ...

"A Patriotic Creed"

To serve my country day by day

at any humble post I may;

To honor & respect her Flag

To live the traits of which I brag.

To be American indeed

As well as in my printed creed.

To stand for truth & honest toil

To till my little patch of soil.

& keep in mind the debt I owe

To them who died that I might know

My country prosperous & free,

& passed this heritage to me.

To do my best & play my part

American in mind & heart.

To serve the flag & bravely stand

To guard the glory of my land.

To be American indeed

God grant me strength to keep this creed.

Because God established & gave us America, that is reason enough to love our country & do what we can to make it an honor to Him & for Him.  Proverbs 14:34 says, "Righteousness exalts a nation..."

We as Christians can make our country great again, one nation under God.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves & pray, & seek my face & turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin & heal their land." II Chronicles 7:14

& our great Liberator from sin, Jesus Christ, our Champion!, gives  each one of us through His beautiful salvation, our very own & personal "Independence Day"! YES!!

CELEBRATE!!

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Raintree perk of the day:

"Therefore if the Son (Jesus) sets you free, you are free indeed."

John 8:36