"Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:

I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

~Emma Lazarus

A week and a half ago, I went to New York City with my mom, dad, sister and two of my guys (a.k.a. sons - Toby and David.) It was a short but very sweet and fun visit and for the first time - finally - I had a chance to see this beautiful lady with my own eyes. We took a clipper ship sail at sunset and that's how I got these pics but, actually, we took the subway down to Battery Park, got off the station, rounded the coast guard building and a fresh ocean breeze blew in my face and I saw her and...

I was moved to tears!!

Happy Independence Day!!

=)

xo

George Washington Slept Here!

Hello! Do you remember me?? I miss all of you so very much!! I miss this little journal desperately and have so many things waiting to share!

I just couldn't let this Fourth of July, Independence Day pass without sharing these pictures. In fact, I've been waiting all year to show you these, since, these were from last year's celebrations!

And, last year, it was another homemade, very casual, easy event! I gardened for most of the day and was pretty tired; so, I cooked and Mom (MIL - a.k.a. the lady next door, up the hill) let us use her clean house to eat in since thunderstorms threatened!

I am not very gifted with large, family style salads and was determined to make a good one, this time. And, it was!! So fresh and crisp!! I can't remember what else we ate, though. =/ Apparently, I was too busy enjoying the moment to take pics. I just remember the fun!! =)

Inbetween dinner and dessert, we had a 21 spud salute with the potato gun (from Lliam's science project. That thing comes in handy and it's such a comfort to know that if zombies or squirrels ever DO invade the world, we'll be ready to turn them into mashed potatoes!)

Then, as dusk fell, we headed down to the little pond behind the barn for s'more dessert and s'more noisy fun and chatting into the wee hours with the fireflies and mosquitoes!

It was grand!!

My sister was trying to write a message for you.... I think it says 'Happy Fourth of July'!! ;)

 

Great Grandma!! =)
(She lives next door, too, in a cozy and adorable hobbit hole underneath MIL's house!)

And this one has a message for the future, too! I think it says, 'snow'!!
(I like to think so, anyway, it's so hot and humid today...)

So,

Off I go to make potato salad and shuck corn!!

Happy Fourth of July to you!! =)

xo

The Fourth

I didn't have a chance, last year, to blog about our Fourth of July celebrations, up here on our hill. They were very homemade - a pleasant, warm summer's day.

My niece made a Fourth of July cake

and, then, after the traditional barbeque dinner, we went down to the small pond (spring fed = great, cool, fresh swimming!) that is down behind our barns for some fireworks and some s'mores and some mellow hanging out around the fire 'pit'.

I took my camera but no tripod - no pressure - no 'serious' attempts at photography - just fun

and look at what we came up with.... =D

The setting.....

 

 What happens when too many mosquitoes land on one's hand at once. (Kind of cool, though! ;-))
 

Lighting the sparklers!

 Wand wars! "Expelliarmus!"

 

 and something magical passing by....

and, whatever it is, it circled back 'round for another marshmallow!

Silliness and fun - all of it!

I hope that your Fourth of July (whether you're celebrating or not) is just as wonderful!

xo