He who goes forth on the fourth with a fifth, may not live to go forth on the fifth ...

Oh! So sorry about the pains, but happy for the fire fighters. happy backyard fun!

We're doing something similar, but no fireworks. Way too much fire danger—it's illegal. We can see the local show from my bathtub, but without the smell of burning gunpowder and bugs and sea wet air, what's the point? We're having a while-still-light-out weenie roast. Apparently my group are really excited for an excuse to eat hotdogs. Some red, white and blue decor, guacamole, corn on the cob, my new bigger little barbecue, bean salad, coleslaw, ketchup, mustard, kimchi, scallions, brownies, ice cream, apricots. No actual cooking (everything is already cooked except the corn), just some warming. Lots of time for laughs, and we can go inside if it gets cold.

In my neighborhood, we have a predicted high of 72°, but it is supposed to get down to 68° by 7PM, which is cool but not too cold.

However, we did our BBQ last weekend and are not doing anything today. I'm leaving on Wednesday to go to the desert and will be there for 3-4 weeks, depending on how long it takes to get things done. I still don't know when my kitchen cabinets will be ready there, but I hope they get installed before my niece arrives in Palm Springs the last week of August.

Doing nothing in way of celebration. With my mom gone this year, holidays just are not the priority they were before. She was the hostess with the mostest.

Plus I have to get up early tomorrow for work. I'm in bed by 10pm and local fireworks usually don't even start until after 9pm. Plus it's too freaking hot to be standing or sitting around outside.

Very jealous of those in areas with cooler temps.

Nothing today. Or at all really. My sister had her 4th of July celebration on the 2nd for some reason. I did not attend the actual party because I was working. But I was pressed into service. I went to her house the day before and made some food for her. Mac and Cheese of course, Potato Salad, Olive bread, chip dip and buffalo chicken dip. I also instructed one of her oldest sons on how to roll the buffalo dip into eggrolls and fry them since that has to be done last minute. He was a star pupil and they turned out perfect I am told.

I am working tonight so no plans. SO went to spend time with his family and I slept all day. I hope I will be able to see some fireworks. Someone around here usually sets them off and I can stand outside my office building and see them. But its raining so maybe not. I would rather it rain all night, my poor plants need it.

carolb So sorry about your Mom's passing! We have found our family coming together in honor of our parents' passing! Cooking the same meals we remembered, passing that on to the younger ones, playing the same dorky games, teaching the younger ones how to pick veges and prepare them. It's bittersweet.