Two powerful military jets ripped through the atmosphere, as hundreds of people, who had gathered for the annual parade down main street, stared wide-eyed toward the sky. It was the beginning of the 4th of July celebration - 2009- Anywhere, U.S.A.
Leading the procession were men and women who serve and have served the country- working, fighting, willing to give their life for mine and yours. Their bravery, their diligence and their sacrifices keep us free!
Too frail to walk, veterans in their 80's and 90's rode by in an air conditioned coach and waved through the windows. We waved back wildly and clapped our hands high in the air so they could see. They earned the comfort. I owe the respect. It's my privilege to show lavish high regard, even if the only way to do it is wave, smile and clap. Tears caught in my throat, as appreciation welled up in my heart for these hometown heroes. I do not know their names.
But I know my own father, who served in Korea. I know the kid I graduated with, Roger, who served 27 years in the Navy. I know Cavan, who leaves in one week for San Diego- basic training for the U.S. Marine Corp. We all know someone who is giving up, or gave, something of himself, or herself, that we may live in freedom.
Thank you! Thank you U.S. service men and women, who are serving now,who have served in years gone by.
I echo the words of others I've already read today, that call us to remember the One who gave His very life that we may live- free from the bondage of sin now and eternally with Him- one day. May we all meet again, because of this- His great love for us!
Happy Independence Day, hope it's full of firecrackers!
Heidi
Our friendly welcome to the cottage bear was carved from a big tree that used to stand just to the right of this back door. It provided too much shade to the property, which caused moss to thrive on the roof and its roots were wrecking havoc on the drainfield, so it sadly had to be chopped down. It was one of the tallest trees on the lake. 
The cottage is humble. Simple. Care has been taken to keep it structurally strong and it is certainly functional. Food is kept cold in the fridge, we cook inside on the old stove from the 1930's or 40's and bake in its oven. The drain field has been reworked so that we can shower and flush without flooding the backyard. But we watch nature here- no television and we don't have internet. For years, before cell phones became commonplace, we did not have a phone while at the cottage. I remember the first time I.T. brought his first cell phone up to the cottage and it rang while we were there. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked up, "someone is calling us here?" It seemed very wrong- almost criminal.
We sometimes entertain ourselves with projects like this one. This is my family in pinecone. I.T.(with fishing pole), me (my sister made this one, what can I say), Outside the Box (with a big collegiate H painted on his birch bark shirt, denoting his alma mater), Pilgrim (acorn top beanie and moss hippie hair) and Fashionista adorned in green beads found on the beach. We listen to Lake Wobegon on this radio on Saturday nights.
We fish. I enjoy it! I just have a really hard time holding the worm while baiting the hook. Instead, I lay the worm on the carpet of my dad's bass boat and I stab it through the gut being careful not to touch the worm, so I won't feel its pain. I have to do this at least twice to be sure the worm will stay on the hook through several casts. It causes me so much emotional stress and actual illness (throw up caught in my throat) to do this, I wonder if it is even morally right. I prefer plastic lures.
Fash found fish first! I guess it looked good enough to eat right off the hook. She caught two small mouth bass, I caught one, I.T. caught one and he caught one perch. We actually threw them all back. No eating- except all the snacks we brought along. A bag of Good & Plenty, Jolly Ranchers, trail mix with M&M's- for some, baiting hooks causes an appetite apparently. I wouldn't know, personally.
This is blurry, but I didn't take this one. I just caught the fish with my agonized worm. We call this "cottage hair" by the way- all the rage up north on the lake.
Every day a new adventure awaits 
Seven swans a swimming, but I could not get them all in one frame with clarity.
Of course no trip to the cottage is complete until we've strolled the street of the local village. (blurry again, I was learning about all the settings on my new camera. I obviously do not have them figured out yet)
Astounding! Laundry calling, I'll have to post part two later- the swans, the fishing, the fish! 
Or we can get out the binoculars and zoom in on the bluebirds nesting at Grandpa's centennial farm. While we're at it, we just might see a herd of fifty deer in the field, especially at dusk. That's very exciti
