Thursday This, That; TBT

 

One more day of "to do's" to get ready to do fun stuff over the Independence Day holiday weekend. 

At this point, it's all a matter of how things look around the place and how things are going to taste. 

More lawnmowing, more vacuuming, more preparing food dishes in advance lie ahead on this July 2.  

Last night it was the preparing the garlic bread (and freezing) and boiling the eggs to be deviled. 

Today will also involve another run for the store.

Happily, with the company we've had over the past few weeks, we've gotten in the groove for more company to arrive. 

So, the preparation doesn't feel so much like a big urgency with too much to do and too little time. 

This holiday weekend we'll be concentrating on family members, friends and the neighborhood. 

I have to admit having mixed emotions about celebrating this country's 250th birthday.  

It just doesn't feel the same as it did 50 years ago when we were so proud to participate in activities like the Bicentennial Pony Express Trail Ride, prior to the big celebration, where scrolls were passed from community to community. 

Fifty years later, the bitterness, meanness and cruelty of our leadership has cast some dark clouds over what should be a universal celebration in our country. 

I still love America, and I love its basic principles and values, which I know millions of Americans still respect.  Too bad we couldn't all find some commonality in those values.

Under the cusp of elected leadership comes volunteer leadership and age-old caring and respect for others. To me that is what is most impressive about our country.  

In the midst of all the constant, noisy, unnecessary chaos, the "common" people of this country make up the common thread that keeps the country going.

 Within this group is a continued spirit of doing our best to do what's right and what's good for all.   

That said, here at the Lovestead, we're going to enjoy the Fourth of July like we always do---food, visiting, making sure the 4-legged beloveds are okay, lawn games, rides around the place in the 4-wheeler, visiting with neighbors and then, for some of us earlybirds, trying to sleep during fireworks. 

As we do so, deep in our hearts, amidst all the organized fanfare, we shall celebrate the true unsung and often unpublicized heroes who do their best in quiet, unselfish ways to make our America great.

So, it's off to do more to do's.  

Happy Thursday.  Enjoy the photos.    

Thursday Throwbacks:  Photos of past events, places, people, etc.  Enjoy.