THAT TIME OF YEAR

NOT TO BE UNPATRIOTIC...but the firecrackers are louder than ever.  I don't recall the firecrackers from my youth being so loud.  Through the years they have apparently become more powerful and so much louder with a more powerful pop.  The pop is more like an explosion.  If firecrackers were outlawed, there'd be heck to pay as I do not believe the American people would go for it.  At least the ones that want to explode their purchases.  

I'd be alright if the firecrackers were limited to being lit only on the 4th of July instead of allowing them on July 1, 2, 3, 4 and now the 5th.  That's five days of popping altogether.  There goes some whistling firecrackers as I type in the middle of the day.  

I love the sparkly ones high in the sky in the dark on the July 4th night.  The show must go on and it does around here on the prairie.  The entertainment that comes from a fireworks display is one that I have enjoyed for over 65 years.  As children, we enjoyed sparklers, small Lady Finger firecrackers, Black Cat firecrackers, and those round, black pill shaped ones that when lit foamed black foamy noodles climbing out of the pill like a snake.  My fav were the sparklers that I got to hold and would run down the sidewalk with waving the stick about to make designs as I held the wand of magic. 

 

As time passed, the crackers made larger explosions and were easier to purchase from the local Firecracker Stand.  

My younger brother had a Firecracker Stand when he was in high school to raise funds for College.  I guess he did well as he attended College graduating with a degree long ago.  About 1980.  I was a married woman with babies by this time.  

My memories come back to me how wonderful my younger days were.  I could move freely without hinderances.

Is there any place in the United States that provides a quiet place to retrieve to so you do not have to listen to the noise pollution?  Where do you go if you have PTSD from war experiences and sounds?  Where do you go to escape the noise if it gets on your nerves in a bad way?  Where do animals hide out to get away from the loud bangs?  Are there retreats in the country to where you could stay until the blasts are over?  Maybe I should check into this.  What say you?

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN.
  

THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS I CAN HEAR FIRECRACKERS GOING OFF WITH LOUD BANGS AND SIZZLES.  Sometimes I am taken by surprise which causes me to involuntarily jerk.  When I was over to the COTTAGE this week-end working, the neighbor lit some firecrackers that went BANG with no warning.  Jerk.  My body I mean.  Not sure I can tune the noise out completely.  It's worse than the lawn mowers purring in the mornings every morning.  

As tired as I was, I had to sit a great deal between errands.  Work a while.  Sit a while.  Carrying the boxes of bedding from the car was heavy so I have to consider this as strength training.  I wasn't sure I'd make it to the porch carrying the loads.  I did.

Later, I cleared off the Eastlake table by my chair, cleared off a parlor table and practically stood on my head to get the schefflera plant out from the corner of the Living room that was blocked by furniture. Moved it to the Dining room to sit in front of the windows.  Decided to place the Eastlake table in the Dining room as well switching it with the parlor table.  Not sure where to put the parlor table as it is wobbly and needs glued.

I may paint it white and sit it on the porch so a Fern plant can rest there.  Later.  For now, maybe it'll go in the Garage.  I'm running out of space inside.  The Cottage is extremely crowded once again.  I think a storage unit will be rented while we are moving from here to there.  Will check into that.  

Laundry.  I washed my peach colored housecoat and did a load of bluejeans.  Day dreamed. Loaded the book case with towels that is temporarily in the Bathroom until a Linen cabinet can be built.  It's moments like this that I have to talk to myself about not getting upset about there is so much to do after we get moved over.  I look at all of the things sitting in boxes and wonder where the heck these items will go. Time to go back HOME.   

This will be a working HOLIDAY as we celebrate the 4th.  I'll be boxing up stuff and shuffling furniture.  Hubby has been remodeling the main house Bathroom.  Just about finished.  I think he'll put another coat of paint on the walls, hang the mirror and call it done.  I need to wash the light fixtures and replace the light bulbs.  With the completion of the Powder room, that will mean three of the rooms on the main floor are completed.  The Living room, Dining room and Powder room.  I want to paint the inside of the closet, stain the stairs and lay new marble tile in the entryway.  Some painting as well. The walls in the Kitchen may get a fresh coat of paint as well.  Coming right along.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN.  We'll have bbq chicken, potato salad, baked beans and vanilla bean ice-cream with freshly brewed iced-tea for the 4th.  Sounds pretty good.  The city fireworks will be viewed from our front yard just like last year.  It's mind boggling how fast this year has gone.  Last year's fireworks show is still fresh in my mind.

SATISFIED,

~d