Darling took this pic last year on the 4th of July
The other day I was looking for an image of a flag as I’d wanted to create a new T-shirt over at Cafe Press; one with the wild horses running and a transparent flag somehow worked into it. It would say Freedom, or America, or something else that would conjur up patriotic images, but stay with the whole mustang theme. That’s when I came across this website:
It’s also when I learned that having an image of the flag on a t-shirt or other article of clothing violates ‘the code’. Did you know that? There are so many shirts out there with the flag on it, one would never guess it was a no-no. But it is. So, being the patriotic American I am, I opted not to make my shirt with an image of the flag on it.
Are you doing anything special today? I’m not. Not really. I’ve got a herding lesson with Tait this morning, followed by a picnic at my folks’s place. The global warming has finally arrived and it’s supposed to actually hit 80 degrees or more today. That’d be just fine if it weren’t for the humidity that’s come along with it. (I’m such a whiner about the weather, aren’t I?) But the kids will be able to jump into the pool, finally! After that, the grandkids are spending the night with Grandma and Grandpa and going to see the fireworks. I, thankfully, am therefore relieved of the responsibility of dragging my sorry self down to the water front and sitting with throngs of people in the dark getting eaten by mosquitoes and watching the city burn up thousands of dollars in fifteen minutes.
So much for being patriotic, eh? But the fourth has lost it’s appeal beyond the watermelon and backyard BBQ. I’m just not into the ’show’ anymore. A few sparklers, a box of snakes, that’s enough for me. The little neighborhood block parties that had safe and sane boxes of whistling petes and fountains and the like were nice. They were cheap, they were exciting, and they didn’t require driving through throngs of people to get to.
As an adult, it’s lost it’s glory. I now have animals to be concerned about. The horses always worry me. The M-80s began going off three or four days ago here. If you haven’t got those where you live, they sound like a gunshot. Horses get nervous around gunshots. Jet was a bit jumpy with the first few, but thankfully my horses are taking it in stride. It’s bad enough when a dog freaks out over fireworks; Brigget’s dog, Skip, has run off twice this week and is now in his ‘bomb shelter’, aka her van, where he can safely hide. Neighbor’s of mine need to tranquilize their mare; they then sit in the barn with her until all the bombs have finished bursting in air. This can take quite some time as they live near the lake and parties go on all through the night. The little mare works up quite a sweat in the meantime.
But if you haven’t got horses or dogs, or some other spooky critter to worry about tonight, I hope you have fun! Don’t forget to say a prayer for our boys and girls overseas; their bombs are real.
I know all about watching the animals. My goat hide out in thier shed, shaking. Last year the horses were okay (we shoot at alot of coyotes here so they were used to it), but we have new horses this year. People have been shooting off fireworks for days and a couple of the mares run and run everytime. So, tonight we’re going to sit out there and guard the fence line and watch all the ones in the pens…. It will be a long long long night.
Have a safe one!
Happy 4th to all of you. When I was a kid, I rode a particular quarter horse. I shot (at) rabbits from her saddle. She never flinched. Nice horse.
And when I was a kid, I loved them fireworks. I’m still a kid. Looking forward to tonight when we go to watch two, count ‘em 2, displays.
I agree with you … people spend billions and billions of money on things you burn up that make noise. I resent the money spent and am not that excited about fireworks. Thankfully we live where there isn’t much traffic and so normally don’t have to worry but I won’t brag or something WILL happen.
Blessings and happy Independence Day!
Tracy, It’s been awhile since I’ve been here, glad to see you are still here. I love the sheep and the lambs are so cute. And it is true, “we like sheep, have all gone astray” but thanks be to God for his mercy and grace. I pray all is safe at your place and nobody gets to freaked by the fireworks. Be Blessed
Animals and the 4th of July is always problematic. We never could have a dog, and our cats were quite unflappable. But I remember our neighbor’s dog. -sigh-
And yes, every day may we remember our military. The sounds are real, for those deployed. And all military, and all of their families, are to be remembered for what they do and have done, to insure our day to day Freedom. Freedom isn’t FREE.
Mari-Nanci