4th of July ponderings

I won't deny it. I love to cook for my family. They have grown up having the opportunity to order from the menu, just like a restaurant, for all their meals.

It is a bad that happened but I had four kids so little that I wanted to please them by feeding them things they wouldn't fuss over so I could tend to the needs of the younger ones. Providing them with all junk food wasn't the case; they just each had different tastes and I wanted them happy.

And now, they are all still fussy eaters. It will be quite interesting when they have their own families; their spouses will surely hate me.

I love going out to eat, too, and my favorite place is one that offers a buffet.

It is interesting what you will find on them. I guess I am not one to want to try anything new even though it is before me. Austin, our fussiest eaters, once tried octopus from a buffet! That was crazy!

My point that I am getting to today is that I love feeding people and love buffets but I don't much care BEING the buffet for a swarm of bugs like what happened to me Sunday night as we were watching the fireworks by Storm Lake. I finally closed the "kitchen" down for those hungry mosquitos and went to the van where they could no longer graze on me.

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The 4th of July is over for another year. It makes me happy to see young visiting grandchildren and their parents with grandparents at the different events. That tradition of spending family time together during the holiday is so precious.

I took photos at the kiddie parade and came across several people fitting into that category.

I attended the United church musical Sunday morning in which about six churches participated. It was a very moving experience - even in the rain. There were many in attendance. I walked away with a wonderful feeling (and a very wet behind but I didn't care because many others did, too!)

It was a great way to begin the holiday events.

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Growing up in a small town back in the '60s and '70s, we enjoyed the 4th of July by shooting off our own firecrackers and fireworks. My mom in fact would take orders from the neighborhood families and make a trip to South Dakota to purchase the firecrackers and fireworks for everyone. Our neighborhood was noisy into the night. Fortunately, there were never any terrible accidents though I admit that a few firecrackers blew up in my hand over time. I can say I would never have allowed my kids to play on their own with fireworks or firecrackers. It is such a different time.