pa·tri·ot·ic: (pā'trē-ŏt'ĭk) adj. Feeling, expressing, or inspired by love for one's countryI am a patriotic person, but I don't feel safe on the 4th of July anymore.
I love every patriotic song ever written, but don't like firecrackers and other dangerous explosives that have become a part of the festivities today.
My heart skips a beat when I see the American flag and I am drawn to red, white, and blue, but find it difficult to sit by a person wearing an Uncle Sam hat while throwing firecrackers at their friends at a Fourth of July picnic.
I want to go to gatherings and celebrate our nation's birthday with a picnic or BBQ, but my dog can't bear to be left alone. She shakes and shivers at the sound of big kabooms that started yesterday.
It is a dilemma. A few years ago our dog ran in fear and didn't come back until the early hours of the morning. We spent a sleepless night checking the highway and searching for Emily. She was dirty, wet, and nervous when she finally came home. A student was playing with fireworks close to the school a few years ago and almost blew up his hand. Another student was killed on Fourth of July week-end by a person too tired after the festivities to stay on his side of the road.
Today we are going to celebrate alone at home where we feel "safe and sane". Annie can get to her carrier or we can hold her when the neighbors start letting of their fireworks. We don't have to be concerned about getting the last camp spot at the state park. We can be one less vehicle on the busy highway.
I think part of it is who we become. Spending time at home with the critters and JEJ just sounds like a better way to celebrate this holiday. It is important for me to feel safe and to make choices that make sense. We will get together with family next week-end. I look forward to that.
We gathered with friends every Fourth of July growing up and the evening ended with the singing of "God Bless America". Back then enclosed between friends singing around a campfire felt safe. My dad loved this song. We even had everyone sing it at his memorial service. I enjoyed this slide show I found on YouTube. It features Kate Smith and a series of images that reminded me of why I bless America. Enjoy and be safe and sane today!
This collage captures some of the things she loves in life. The pictures starting at the far left are as follows: her husband PKR, Milo, daughter Z2, daughter Kiki Aru, Silver Valley Girl herself posing in the kitchen, her first birthday, her dog Peaches, the blogging siblings posing for a Christmas card, and her daughter The Princess.
JEJ will have a quiet celebration here at home with just the two of us and his favorite foods. One of things we have enjoyed doing is road trips around the area with our dogs and the digital camera. Here is a collage of favorite flowers, a beautiful sky shot, and places we have enjoyed in our travels. May the next year be filled with more adventures, red roses blooming, the smell of lilacs, lots of photos, beautiful sky shots from the deck, road trips, treats along the way, and lots of laughs. Happy Birthday JEJ!
Finnegan is our strangest cat. He often disappears for days and sometimes weeks on end. We do this routine each day. "Have you seen Finny?" "No,have you?" We have no idea when he goes when he disappears. Sometimes we think he just runs around down the hill during the day, then comes back to eat at night. Last summer we thought he had a girlfriend across the street that he hung out with. I hadn't seen Finny since I arrived home from my trip. Neither had 
This evening when I was out by the greenhouse, I heard meowing. There was Finny in the greenhouse window. He always appears like he has never been gone. He always wants a can of cat food. After talking to him and feeding him the other cats surrounded him like the long lost relative that had come to visit.
He always moves to the dry food for dessert. Finnegan always seems healthy. He is a bit skinny, but has always been. It is days like today I wish my cat could talk. I'll bet he would have some wild adventures to share. For now, I am glad Finnegan has returned again!
to cloudy and sultry, 
to a beautiful pink. It was an amazing transformation. 
The thunder and lightening made lights flicker and Annie shiver, but the rain provided a bit of relief from temperature above one hundred degrees. 
I returned home today and watched the temperature climb as I headed north through Spokane and on up to Kettle Falls. When I stopped in 
When I arrived home this is what our deck registered out in the sun. 
A few hours later it dropped a bit. It is now 8:10 and it reads about 90 degrees. I mustered up the strength to take a garden tour to see how the flowers were doing.
Lilies must like the heat because they are showing their bright colors. 
I was surprised to see a