Independence Day has a lot of good memories for me. Growing up in Houston, my father would host a big party every Fourth. Lots of his work and other friends would come to our ranch for the day. We’d have barbecue brisket, watermelon, potato salad, and all the usual fixings. My absolute favorite Fourth of July treat was pecan pie. There was something about tasting that first bite of pie at the end of a hot day that was just about perfect.
I think my dad’s last party was in 1998, so those parties are long gone. Since I love having things to look forward to, I usually have a little trip planned. Last year we went to West Virginia and went white water rafting. For a few years before that, we drove to Chicago and stayed downtown. When we lived out west, we used to drive to Lake Powell or Las Vegas.
But this year, we’re staying home. My son, who’s about to be a senior in high school (how did that happen?!) is going on a school trip to Europe on Saturday. So I’ll be packing him up and making fried chicken and apple pie (his Fourth of July favorites!).
Although I've tried my best, not all our Fourths have been fabulous. The worst was about six years ago. We were in Chicago with my sister-in-law and her family. A restaurant served my daughter their ‘special’ chocolate ice cream. Their ‘secret’ ingredient was peanut butter-which she is very allergic to! After two bites, her tongue started swelling up, and I was hailing a cab to the hospital. I watched the fireworks over Lake Michigan from a window next to my daughter’s bed in our hotel room.
One of our best holidays was two years ago. We met another family in Colorado and watched fireworks from the banks of Grand Lake outside Winter Park. It was a little chilly out, which felt great after a hot day hiking in the mountains. We sipped hot chocolate, piled on the blankets, and oohed and aahed over a batch of fireworks that looked so close we were sure we could reach out and touch them, if we really tried.
So,what makes the fourth special for y’all? Staying home, going to your parents’ place? Taking a vacation? Brisket, fried chicken, hot dogs?
No matter how you celebrate things, I hope everyone has a wonderful day, and happy Fourth of July!
Shelley
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8 comments:
We normally travel to see family for the 4th, but we did that last weekend because of hubby's work schedule and my deadlines. It'll be nice to just walk down the road a bit tonight and watch the fireworks shot off from a nearby water park.
That's awful about the ice cream incident with your daughter! Yikes.
Usually our Fourth of July celebration is a family barbrcue.
I love, love the fireworks!
Happy 4th, everyone! :)
I'm hoping to find some cold watermelon because I grew up with the "rule" that watermelon isn't ripe till the 4th of July. My siblings and I would wait all summer for that first bite of bliss. It defines the holiday. (I'm the only one in my family who salts it.) And corn on the cob, slathered in butter; burgers my dh is cooking on the grill. Then we'll take my mom to see fireworks.
Trish, hope you had a wonderfully relaxing fourth!
Shelley
Estella,
hope your barbecue was fun. We had rain here all day! ugh!
Shelley
Cheri,
hope the fireworks tonight are good ones!
Shelley
LOL on the watermelon, Megan! I salt mine, too! I made a gigantic batch of fried chicken and am looking forward to eating it tomorrow cold. : )
Shelley
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