Explosive Reading

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

I never read the Declaration of Independence before this year when we studied it in history.

I always thought it was a lovely and important document written in fancy handwriting on parchment.

It is all that, but when I read it for the first time I was struck by what it says. Those colonists did not mince words. The independence we now possess and enjoy with abandon without realizing we even have it --- it all came at great price.

The fancy handwriting and eloquently crafted sentences stated in no uncertain terms what those colonists were sick and tired of and exactly what jolly old King George had done.

He has refused...

He has forbidden...

He has obstructed...

George was

totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation...A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Imagine the courage those men must have had to make that bold proclamation. It did not mean they fired up the grill and shot off fireworks. It meant certain and imminent war.

Support Group

Thank you all for your support of my procrastinating ways. We have a fake tree, otherwise, as TeacherPerson so wisely stated, it would be almost entirely in our vacuum cleaner bag (assuming, of course, that I vacuum).

I must admit that I rather enjoy the little white lights. They brighten up the joint. I'm thinking once the tree comes down I'll put some little white lights on something around here, like the fake topiary in the foyer.

What's feeding this procrastination is the ridiculous number of ornaments we have. I'm going to count them when I take them down and tell you exactly how many we have. I should go with a theme, like snowmen, my favorite. I have some fabulously terrific (!!!) snowmen. Glass, fabric, handmade, and several specialty ornaments I like to call Bartnetts.

Or perhaps next year I'll just buy outrageously large ornaments. So large that ten will cover the entire tree.

But let's hope the tree comes down soon, preferably before we have to start calling it the St. Valentine's Arbor de Amor!

Not that I'm procrastinating or anything.....

.....but, our Christmas tree is still up.

Good Taste

The making of the pralines is complete! Three batches and only the last one was a flop---and I didn't need it anyway---got all the gifts covered with two batches. Let the gift wrapping begin!

Quote of the day by FM#1: "Pralines are comfort food."

Ben Who?

Ben 10 Omnitrix F/X; it's all the rage this year;
For boys who watch the cartoon it's a must-have, I hear.
It's black and green and really cool;
A supply shortage I fear.
Ben 10!

The stores are sold out, only ones are waiting on Ebay,
For three times the retail price you can own one today.
Remember PS2 and Elmo,
Hurry, don't delay!
Ben 10!

UPDATE: HolyChow and my algebra buddy (nephew) found one! Score!

Pu-khan' or Pee'-can?

Today's the day. Can't you hear Rod Stewart singing "Tonight's the Night"? That song always creeped me out. Hey, what's the deal with us talking about the Rodster so much lately? See EuroMom's post for more.

Anyhoooo, today I will attempt to make pecan pralines. I am doing this for my husband's staff at work. No pressure, just ten boxes -- that's five batches, folks. FIVE BATCHES!!!

I figured I'd get started today so if it's a flop (HolyChow promises it's easy) I'll have the weekend to figure out something else. A couple of years ago we got them all a nice bottle of wine. I loved this option because it was one stop shopping, easy gift wrapping, and well, who doesn't love wine?

Apparently, someone on my husband's staff because they gave us a bottle of wine last year and I think it was literally The Same Wine we gave them the year before. Or maybe they thought we liked that particular wine since we gave it as a gift - in which case they'd be correct.

I'll let you know how the candy making goes. Meanwhile, if any of you have any great gift ideas that require a credit card rather than a stove stop, fess up, and save me from this chore!

Tales from the Turkey Trail

We hit the road for Thanksgiving this year. We usually switch back and forth from one parent's house to the other, trying to be fair. We usually end up forgetting where we were last year and where we're supposed to be this year.

It's a rather pretty drive, even on the interstate. Once off the interstate we jump from one little town to another, stopping at a traffic light every now and then.

In one little town I spied this sign, "Scrapbooking Supplies & Guns".

Now that's one-stop shopping.

The Sweet Life

My phone rang the morning of July the 4th. It was EuroMom wanting to know if I wanted to go out for coffee. I did, of course. A couple of hours later we were sitting in a local coffee shop talking non-stop about a myriad of things. Kids, vacations, school, relationships, our current phase of life. We were there close to three hours and could've stayed a couple more. I love that she called at the last minute for an impromptu get-together. I'm already looking forward to the next time.

I love having friends who are so comfortable with us that they invite themselves over. That's what our dear friends, the Willi, did a couple of Sundays ago. They rightly suspected we weren't doing anything on the 4th and suggested we get together for food, fellowship, and fireworks. What a great time we had. It rained on and off, mostly on, but that didn't stop the kids from playing outside. We moms didn't care. We were enjoying appetizers and Soco and lemonade inside.

Grandpop came over and even he, being the loner that he is, had a really good time talking about his pre-retirement days here, former church members, and reminiscing about Nana. Now she would've had a grand time that day.

After stuffing ourselves on brisket, sausage, garlic potatoes, baked beans, cobb salad, and cookies we went outside for the pyrotechnic extravaganza. It's been rainy before on the 4th, but this year broke the record. There's nothing like rain, heat, and mosquitoes all at the same time. The kids played in the rain, ran through the smoke, oohed and aahed at the show all around us. The older kids even got to light a couple of fireworks which further fed FM#1's love of fire. Every year CeanBounter fine tunes his fireworks purchases and vows to "buy more of those next year".
I think it was our latest night yet with these friends. At the end of the evening we were stuffed, tired, hot, sweaty, but what sweet fellowship we enjoyed.

Looking back on the whole day, what jewels God has given us in friends like these.