More pictures taken on Fourth of July

Expectation Preparation Celebration

Expectation, Preparation, and Celebration

There is a sense of expectation in the air, on the first day of July. Children appear on their bikes as though they had sprung out of the roads. Some are not far out of toddlerhood, and eight year olds ride their banana bikes with wild abandon. Old folks walking their dogs better be alert. Walking Buddy one evening I happen on a little group of bikers, and one cute little girl on a scooter. She asks to pet Buddy. She is a picture with her auburn hair and a sprinkle of freckles on her nose. She is probably eight, and free as a bird. I ask her if she is here for Fourth of July. "Oh yes, I am staying with my grandmother." What do you like to do best when you come to the lake?" "I like to ride my bike and go to the beach." I don't know anywhere else in the world where children can ride their bikes up and down our roads and have this much freedom. Parents and grandparents can feel pretty sure that they will return in one piece. Everyone looks out for them, including the occasional car. Here at the point on Fourth of July weekend, children rule. Grandmothers prepare beds and food. Mothers and children work to decorate bikes and sometimes costumes in red white and blue for the Bike Parade on Fourth of July morning. Depending on the amount of time one is able to spend, some of the bikes can be quite a production. Wagons are included and if someone's family is really clever and industrious you can have a George Washington in a wagon boat, or Paul Revere on a bike wih a horse's head, or the Statue of Liberty carrying her torch. There is a panel of Judges and the best decorated bike get's first prize, and of course there are prizes for second and third place. We have a flag bearer and a ceremony to honor the recipients of these prizes. There are pictures taken. Hotdogs, baked goods and jackets with logos are for sale. People visit with friends and neighbors under the old oak trees in front of the community house. Grown children who are back with their children catch up with friends from childhood. It is like an extended family reunion. Suddenly a siren is heard, and around the bend and up the road comes an honest-to-goodness fire engine. With the siren blaring, it pulls in and parks in the driveway by the community house. The children crowd around and line up to get on. This is the second big thrill of the day. The driver allows about twenty children on at a time. They crawl up into the back and sit on the benches. Then off they go around the lake and in and out of all the roads where the cottages are. People wave from their yards, and the kids wave and yell in response. This continues for and hour or more, until all the children who are waiting, get their ride. I often wonder how many "Show and Tell" presentations there are about the fire engine ride after school begins. By now it's about one o'clock and it's home for lunch and then to the beach. There is seaglass to look for, and pretty smooth rocks, and sandcastles to build. Jet skiis tear through the water. Boats lanquish close to the horizon. Sail boats and kyaks, are by far the most picturesque. They glide slowly by our bank in a leisurely fashion. As the afternoon progresses into evening, people head for their cottages for showers and dinner. If you scan the bay you will see piles of driftwood built up in large cones ready to light. They look like upside down ice cream cones or skinny teepees. When darkness comes the piles are set on fire. From our deck we can see the entire bay, and it looks like a firey wreath encircling the beach. We have friends over to sit on the deck and watch the display. At ten o'clock the town fire works begin, and we can see them out across the water. People gather in grassy areas along the water to build small fires and to cook marshmellows and shoot off sparklers and firecrackers. It is noisy and colorful, and sometimes a little dangerous, but oh so exciting! What a great ending to a beautiful day! I hope as our children grow up, they will always remember the wonderful times they had, and that it will spark a love and appreciation of what our country stands for. I hope they develope an interest in our history, and come to understand the struggle and difficulties and dangers our forefathers faced in order that we could live in freedom. Without freedom there is no hope, not for us, or anywhere else. The children of this country are it's future, and unless they understand they have to keep it strong, and free, there will be no way to improve what we have, or to help others. The message to us is we need to be free to celebrate. May we always have freedom.

Sunrise on Lake Erie

A morning sunrise seen from my deck. I hope to take and post some more recent pictures as time goes on. I love taking pictures here on Lake Erie, and definitely want this to be part of my blog.

My neighbor's cottage..

Behind the fence is the sweetest variation of gardens. She has a rock garden and a perennial garden, and roses and on and on and on. I wanted you to see her cute cottage.

Garden Tour Continued

I am going to try to post some pictures. Wish me luck. This is my first experience doing this. this is the jumbled wisteria garden I love so well. this picture doesn't do it justice.