My friend Penny e-mailed to say that her family participated in the annual 4ht of July parade in Chatham, NJ. It warmed up to the 70s for the occasion and she said the humidity was low and the weather was beautiful, and judging by the pictures she sent, her holiday was too. It’s hard to imagine a high in the 70s when we were melting under 90-plus temperatures in sauna-like humidity. But I love a Southern summer day, especially in July.
Last evening, we headed over to my husband’s TV station. He and his co-anchor Janice have been hosting the fireworks …read more

As we celebrate the Fourth of July, I think of other years…of my childhood and with my daughter and grandchildren.  Although most of us in this multi-generational household have work schedules (four of us work at a supermarket), we still have time to engage in patriotic activities.
There are fireworks in a neighboring town on Friday night.
A parade also is held there on Saturday morning.
We prepare special foods that have become a family tradition, including a barbeque. 
If the weather is good, we also may hold a yard sale this weekend.  Yard sales have become traditional over summer holiday weekends in our …read more

You may not be a big American history buff, but you can still appreciate the wonderful cultural tradition that is the Fourth of July.  Holidays like this are a great time for meaningful bonding with friends and family.
I love American holidays for their celebration of families and traditions.  National holidays provide a day off so hopefully there can be that one special day when fathers and mothers get to spend time with their children, and friends and family can travel across long distances to see each other for a special weekend.
If you have are having a Fourth of July celebration, …read more

Many of the traditional quilt patterns of yesteryear carried names of  patriotic events or people.  As a celebration of the Fourth of July (sometimes called Independence Day), let’s discover these.
(From your knowledge of American history, do you recognize these patriots’ names or the event?)

Clay’s Choice
Lincoln’s Platform
Little Giant
Old Tippecanoe
Union Square
Union Star
Whig Rose
Democrat Rose
President’s Wreath
Alexander Hamilton’s Quilt
Burgoyne Surrounded
Yankee Pride
Fifty-Four-Forty-or-Fight

Do you have favorite patriotic quilt patterns…those of yesteryear or today?

July 4th memories often entertain the Alzheimer’s parent and help you preserve your family heritage…for yourself, your children and future generations.  Since Alzheimer’s patients like to reminisce, you may be able to do this with them about memories of this holiday.

Record the memories
Jot them down
Pull out pictures and have the patient tell you about them (if they’re able)
Make some scrapbook pages with these memories
Involve the whole family so they can have memories of doing this with  the Alzheimer’s family member
Take the patient to July 4th events if they’re capable
Prepare foods the family member did or enjoyed on these occasions in …read more

The Fourth of July is our theme for this week, in our summer series of activities for my posts under the Blisstree Parenting section. 
What are you doing for this holiday weekend, which in our tourist area of New Hampshire, constitutes the beginning of the summer season?
What family memories are you creating?
How are you recording these memories for your family history? 

Scrapbooking,
Making photo CDs
Journaling,
Taking videos
Developing special traditions
Incorporating family members of all ages into these activities

Share with us your Fourth of July traditions!

As we prepare for barbecues and fireworks this Fourth of July, The American Kennel Club has offered up some tips on how to keep your pets safe and calm during this noisy celebration.

Does your dog freak out at fireworks? Our Honey does, but Chip is usually fine after he figures out where the noise is coming from. We’ve several of the techniques below for Honey, including keeping her in her crate with a towel over it and keeping the television on so she’s got other, “regular” noise to distract her.
~ It’s safer to keep your pets at home during Forth …read more

With the Fourth of July just over a week away, it’s time to start putting together a menu plan for those who are going to be getting together for more than just firework-watching! What barbecue/picnic/get-together is complete without some cool, refreshing drinks?

Whether you’re wanting to keep things non-alcoholic or plan to imbibe over the holiday weekend, you can still keep a festive theme going with tons of summery, delicious drinks. (Just remember that anyone drinking the harder stuff should not be the ones setting off the fireworks!)
Firecrackers
from sofakingdrunk.com
1 1/2 oz Tequila
Cracked ice
Tonic water
Lime wedge
Pour tequila over the ice in a …read more

I’m not usually one to dress up my dogs, and even less so if there’s the possibility they’ll be seen by other people (unless it’s Halloween!).

This little patriotic dog costume is too cute, though, and if we had plans to leave the house on the Fourth of July (currently we plan to be sitting on the patio with some barbecue in the backyard) I might consider getting one of these for Chip.
The outfit is fully lined and made from cotton. It features little tuxedo tails, a matching removable bowtie collar and top hat.
Tails by the Lake has the …read more

QuiltingAndPatchwork.com
 In the United States, we’re celebrating Fourth of July, or Independence Day. There are parades, fireworks, community activities, and for many a weekend off from work.  You may be involved in a craft or quilting show since come towns often feature such events.
When I was growing up, we couldn’t take a day off from the dairy farm. However, we usually visited relatives for a holiday meal, a family reunion type of gathering, then returned home for the evening chores. Then as dusk descended, we watched fireworks from the “Big Hill,” a hay field on a hill top from which we …read more