For the first time in years all 5 of us and the dog will be at our cabin in the mountains for the 4th. It's going to be really loud. We're going to be taking down dead oak trees, cutting the logs into 20" lengths and then using the hydralic log splitter to split them for firewood.

Lots of chain saw noise we'll all smell like gasoline and we'll have a cheerful coating of sawdust.

And then to top it off - hamburgers on the grill.

I'll be cleaning the garage and the spare room.

Our friends son is coming home for the weekend. He is in the Marines and is probably going back to Iraq shortly. We belong to the Gold Wing Riders motorcycle organization and have been friends since forever. Bruce always came along on the rides with his Mom. He hasn't ridden with the group for quite a few years and has asked that the "old" group of friends get together and go riding that day. It will be great to see him after all these years. He isn't old, about 23 but hasn't been with us since he was about 16.

Sounds like a great weekend to me, mcmann!

We usually watch the parade in the morning. Then there is usually a picnic somewhere, it's my aunt's and my birthday.

Rita - it's a shame you and your husband aren't still on vacation - you could join us for the 4 th. how are you at stacking firewood?

We will be joining DD and her family at SIL's family's home in Anniston, AL. They have a pool so we will swim, eat, fish, and go to the fireworks show. It will be a loud weekend and I am very much looking forward to it.

Linda

We're going to some friends that live out close to I-20. They have hundreds of acres and cows and they're doing ribs, sausage, beans, salads, homemade ice cream, etc. They've invited 3 couples which is just the right size. We've had enough rain that they might feel safe having some fireworks. Great, fun, people. We've been friends 35 years.

DH is good at stacking firewood. I'm much better on the "iced-tea serving team." LOL!

We're having 10-12 for dinner/fireworks, so I'll be smoking chicken and cleaning house (inside and out) on Friday.

We'll probably be at the river/cabin, as usual, for the 4th. That is IF the weather stays as predicted. If it's going to storm/rain, I won't go. I used to love going there on the 4th. But DH died up there, on July 4th, 9 years ago. So that always puts a damper on it for me. I go anyway, because all my family is usually there. That reminds me. I better get some tranquilizers for Toby.
Leslie

Well, I've finally got a local nursery to come out on Saturday and help me plan some landscaping....our front yard needs some life! This with Christmas money I got, so I'm finally getting around to putting it to use!

It's my mother's birthday. I would love to have her and my step dad come over and eat grilled hamburgers, but my step dad has macular degeneration and has been slowly going blind. He's almost totally blind now and is still learning to get around in a dark world. He drops a lot of food on himself while he eats and is very sensitive about that. He doesn't like to eat away from his home. I've told him we don't care. We've dropped our share of food too and we have the dogs to clean it up for us, but he is still self conscious. Having said all of that, I am going to grill some burgers and hot dogs early in the day and take some to their house that afternoon. They can eat it whenever they want. I think I'll buy a jug of Community tea to take over there. I love that stuff. I'm going to fix some of those stuffed strawberries that were posted here the other day in lieu of birthday cake. I got mom two new folding lawn chairs and a red, white and blue tub of flowers as a gift.
There is a big park not far from us that has fireworks on the fourth. We can see them from the house. Sadly, we can hear them too and so can the poor dogs. :(

Linda

((((Leslie))))

We're hosting our umteenth annual block party. It's always outside our home and has been happening since 1985 or so.

Jodi-

Every year all the kids and friends if they want come here.

We usually have quite a lot of fireworks.

Denny and I have a LOT of tree branches to cut up and get out of the way before Friday. One tree lost four large branches (about 4inches thick and maybe 20 feet long) Two others broke real big limbs that we have to take a chain saw up in the tree to drop them to the ground then cut them up. Those two are going to be a real job.

There are other branches that will need some lopping to bring down to a size we can manage burning...three pick up loads of those. We have most of those cut. Denny and I worked on them Sunday afternoon until we got just too hot.

I love living where we have timber but it is a job.

You can come help us if you want then stay for the fireworks...I'm sure we'll have a bonfire big enough to roast some hot dogs and somores....

patti

We are going to a block party I guess (hubby's idea). Some of the people in the subdivsion pitched in for over $500. worth of fireworks. I'm not a big fan of those type of fireworks, I'd rather watch the big displays in town.

(((((Leslie)))))

My sister in law was in a very bad car accident in like 81 or 82 when she was in high school. She and her boyfriend were on their way to the Cheesaw Rodeo in Washington. They are from such a tiny community, that many people from surrounding communities and that community all go to the rodeo. It ends up being a huge event.

She and her boyfriend were driving there (she being the driver in her convertible) on a dirt or graveled road. There was a car coming towards them that came into her lane, and it was obvious that they were drunk or asleep at the wheel. There was a lot of distance and they saw it coming, so she simply went into the left lane, to avoid them hitting them. The driver woke up, realized he was in the wrong lane, and swerved back over into the correct lane, and hit my sister in law and her boyfriend head on. The boyfriend was thrown into the back seat but was trapped there under the car. Colleen was trapped in the front. The boyfriend died. The 4th of July is still hard for her. Makes me sad....

((((Mscsippy...)))) I keep reading your posts and am amazed at you and your kindness and thoughtfulness. You are my kind of gal....

Here is a link that might be useful: To the moon and back, I love you buddy...

Mscsippy, July 4th would have been my mother's birthday too. If she was still living, she would be 104 years old! So, of course, I will be thinking of her.

I will be alone...blissfully, peacefully alone...and plan to spend it home, working in the yard. My husband has a job that requires him to be gone for two weeks at a time, so it will just be me here at home.

Big get together at DB's as usual on the 4th. We all bring food. We meet at the parade in the next town over, watch it and go back to his house, stuff ourselves silly and sit around in the afternoon or go to a mud run or demo derby if we want and there is one. Come back for the 5 pm parade in town and then eat more and sit around til dark, watch the fireworks. There is like4 street dances too between towns and Friday and Saturday nights. LOTS going on.
Saturday we are grilling steaks at my house.
I don't know if DS and Maddie will be here or not, its Daddy's holiday but her Mom wanted her, I dunno what they'd worked out. DD and Drewbear will be here, Hunter will be with his Dad.

We are in a drought and a Burn Ban is in effect. So, I hope no one does fireworks around my house. For the actually July 4th I will remain at home with Fire Extinguishers ready. People like to drive to the "country" to shoot fireworks. (Not to mention idiots with guns).

On the 5th we will probably head down to the Lake to join my Daughter and Friends. There are several Barge Boats among us and we like to get together in the middle of the Lake. Cook and swim and even dance. Great way to beat the heat.

We are taking the Jet Skis, which the young ones love to ride. Our Friend has a good Ski Boat and he pulls the Wake Boarders and Tubers around.

Gayle

Friends and I are going to the National Mall in Washington, DC, to watch the fireworks.

I'm fortunate enough to have access to a cordoned off area reserved for family and friends of US Park Police officers. Reserved parking, no crush of people, and toilets!

We are having company so my husband is smoking brisket and we will have hamburgers, potato salad and whatever else I decide on. I think I am going to make a german chocolate cake from scratch. The company will probably take their kids to the water park or somewhere in the afternoon and they might go out to the park and watch the fireworks, but I won't go. Too many people and mesquitoes for me.

We're having a cookout at my house,about 16 people,and everyone contributes.Let the fun begin!!!
Kathi

I'll be working 9a-6p on July 4 th.

Playing golf during the day.
In the evening, going to a local amphitheatre to hear the San Francisco Symphony perform Disney followed by fireworks.

Most of our celebrating is being done early.

Husband's BIL (husband's sister has passed on), his son and DIL are here for a visit right now. They'll leave this afternoon. On Thursday we're going up to Chilhowee, MO to spend the day with friends, coming back Thursday night.

I expect Friday to be very low-key, other than neighbors and their fireworks. We've been to the vet and gotten doggie-drugs for the two furkids who freak out over the loud pops and bangs.

DH & I aren't doing anything special, but I over heard someone asking a guy what he was going to do on the forth, his reply was to drink a fifth, Lol. Happy 4th to you all. Dottie

long with 3 other couples in our club, we're taking our street rods to a couple of July 4th community picnics in the area.

we are celebrating greg's 50th birthday!!! Wow he is getting Old!!!lol..Actually greg's b;day is the 5th.So we will celebrate on that day Saturday.We have him a cake order that saids "50th" and we will have some balloons and cake,ice cream,chips,dip.coke.Not too big but something to let him know we love him.