Independence Day!!

Celebrating another birthday today..... our country's! Went to Mass this morning and the closing hymn was "Let there be peace on Earth". A great sentiment; yet how unlikely given our human tendencies to not compromise (& to always see others' faults and totally refuse to acknowledge our own!) I seem to always find myself remembering events of my childhood when holidays come around... like the fact that there was a period during my childhood when we no longer went to firework displays because my parents felt they glorified war. The firework boycott was during the time of the Vietnam conflict, so in retrospect, I can understand their point. At the time; however, I just thought it was yet another weird thing about my family, and I missed my Mom making a huge paper bag full of buttered (none of that lite microwave stuff!)popcorn to munch on while we watched the display light up the sky. I also recall how in the year of our country's bicentennial we each had make a project for sophomore history class to celebrate our country's 200th birthday! I decided to make a needlework based on a photo of a hand pump and pump house on our farm. The strange thing is my teacher okayed the project despite the fact that the pump/pump house were only 100 years old. I always thought it was weird how I was able to do a project that celebrated my pump house's 100th B'Day instead of my country's 200th. Maybe "A" students, like 'jocks', can get away with just about anything?! It was a beautiful needle point, by the way...... just not relevant to the assignment! :-)

It's rainy again today- got 3/10ths overnight. Muggy with lots of mosquitoes now! Yesterday was sunny, breezy and pretty nice. We had a good day with extended family having a 'barn raising'- started constructing a 60' quonset to be able to store machinery in- particularly the combine with its head attached. I had a chance to bond more with my nieces and nephews which was nice. They all live states away, so don't get to see them much.

Well, I've got butter softening to make "super chip cookies" in celebration of my son's B'Day. (The recipe is one he made for 4-H and got considered for State) He'll be passing though on Wednesday on his way to a conference, so he can have some..... maybe I should wait to make them 'til Tuesday night??!! They are REAL yummy, ya know! :-) Had garden fresh beets with lunch today. I just love them. I eat them peeled and boiled with no added toppings. Awesome!! Well, have a great 4th with family, friends or just your best friend- YOU!!!! Peace! Let it begin with US!!!!!!