Today... I'm off to court. Not divorce though. Still. We'll go for the next to last step in divorce in another week and half. I'm close to my whole new life!

Happy Canada Day to our Canadian neighbors and happy Independence Day to everyone here in the United States. I have nothing in particular planned, Elery and I have been working hard renovating the kitchen. I just painted countertops and they can't be used for a couple of days. Ashley is in the hospital, the docs think it's her gallbladder. No, kidney stones. No, wait.....oh, they don't know. Ugh. Makayla is signed up for ballet camp and I've been driving her back and forth to Grand Rapids. Fireworks used to be fun until they started popping them off at every amusement park, ball game, car dealership opening, whatever. Now I don't care if I ever see them again, but Amanda is working on the 4th of July and I might end up with Bud and Makayla somewhere. Have fun, everyone! Annie

I am not sure I have pics but since 9-11 we always fly the flag from our mailbox, 24/7 illuminated at night. So we are always set for the 4th(and Armed Forces Day etc). I plant red geraniums, blue lobelia and white baptisia together in a pot on each side of the porch steps. Little flags are in the pots. More little flags march across the front sidewalk. Most people on our street do this too! We hang a red white and blue bunting underneath one second floor window(the other is right over the porch roof and it doesnt fit) Buntings are big around here- lots of huge porches(not mine and we have roses growing up it so we don't hang anything on the front of the porch.) I do have red white and blue flowers in hanging baskets on each side of the porch. I cover my front porch chair cushions with red white or blue fabric(just wrapped for the day) In the back yard, my hanging baskets of flowers each have a little flag in them. red white and blue tableclothes. A small galvanized decorative bucket filled partway with sand with a red white and blue taper candles stuck in each bucket for a centerpiece.(like roman candles) And even tho we are 3 hours from the beach I like to scatter some shells around on the tables. Our town hosts a huge regional 4th parade- for the last 50+ years. The route is a block and a half up from our house.We have a huge number of people walking to the parade by our houses so we all go full out! Not competing- just enthusiastic! HTH Sue

patty, we paid a company who is specialized in golf courses to treat our grass once. I don't know what we were thinking, i guess with all the excitement to have golf course grass we signe a contract with them. Its very difficult to have perfect grass bc, first of all it's expensive, and second it takes many sessions reseeding it to perfection.... My front yard is extremely shady, and for this reason the grass is a different type, kind of weird to be honest. The back is sunny from 11 am to sunset, and the grass is a brighter green and lusher..... It was expensive to do and as soon as the company left my house, the dog went outside to pee and poo... It keeps burning the grass since dog urine is so acidic. So, we gave up and canceled the contract. And now it is in God's hands. HalloBlondie, my soil is red heavy clay....on summer time, its impossible to dig in it. Its basically concrete. When i planted my 4th of July i had to soak that spot for almost 30 minutes with a hose to loosen it up.... I dug a big hole, and filled it with everything i could find at Lowes..... Lime, mushroom Compost, Cow Manure, garden soil, clay breaker with gypsum, Organic Hummus, peetmoss, perlite, a little bit of the original soil and voi- a-la.... In April I put a bit of Epsom Salt on them and May, June and July I feed them with Holly-tone...Seems like it works very well. I have been gardening for only 3 years, and doing it since i started planting roses.. Looks like roses love it...and they grow like a vine.