Dear Reader:

I decided to forgo any serious, personal commentaries on freedom and our country this Independence Day, but selected instead, humor for this Fourth of July. Sometimes when the times we live in and the images we live with are so emotionally daunting…time taken to be with family, to laugh and love, is exactly what we need. Because in essence, isn’t that why our country was created…at such a high cost of lives…so that we could gather on this special day with the ones we love best to remember the sacrifices of so many… for so many.

When I came across this adorable little anecdote I knew I just had to share it with you today…right now. I hope you enjoy it, re-tell it, and just have a wonderful Fourth of July!

A Parable for the Fourth of July

(Author Unknown)

Once, in the 1820’s, a little boy called Sam was playing in the yard behind his house. During his pretend fighting game, he knocked over the outhouse. 

Now Sam was upset and worried that he would get into trouble so he ran into the woods and didn’t come out until after it gotten dark. When he arrived back home, his pappy was waiting for him.

He asked suspiciously, “Son, did you knock over the outhouse this afternoon?”

“No, pappy,” Sam lied.

“Well, let me tell you a story,” said the father. “Once, not that long ago, a young boy named George Washington, received a shiny new ax from his father.  

Excited, he tried it out on a tree, swiftly cutting it down. But as he looked at the tree, with dismay, he realized it was his mother’s favorite cherry tree.”

His pappy paused. ” Just like you, he ran into the woods. When he returned, his pappy asked, ‘George, did you cut down the cherry tree?’ George answered with, ‘Father, I cannot tell a lie. I did indeed chop down the tree.’ 

Then his father said, ‘Well, since you were honest with me, you are spared from punishment.”I hope you have learned your lesson.” 

“So,” Sam’s father asked again,” did you knock down the outhouse?”

“Pappy, I cannot tell a lie any more.” said the little boy. “I did indeed knock down the outhouse.”

Then his pappy proceeded to spank Sam red, white, and blue.

The boy whimpered, “Pappy, I told you the truth! Why did you spank me?”

Pappy answered, “Because George Washington’s father wasn’t in the tree when he chopped it down!”

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

I hope you got a chuckle or two from this story. I, also, love these cartoons and hope they bring a few more laughs today.

I think most of us remember hearing that the Chinese first invented fireworks. But did you know, like so many other inventions, is was by mistake. Apparently they were burning bamboo…when the popping noises first started that would eventually lead into the modern fireworks of today.

You know how much I complain about the vastness of bamboo across the poor little fence, between my rental neighbors and my garden… that is going to cave in any day now under the weight. I keep control of the bamboo popping up daily on my side of the fence but time is definitely not on my side.

I was thinking that if lightning was to accidentally hit that forest of bamboo I would go down in local history as having the biggest fireworks ever in our little town!

So until tomorrow….Father thank you for love and family…for the food we enjoy on special holidays. Let us be ever mindful of the farmers, gardeners, and grocers who make it all possible. Blessings to one and all.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*My garden provided my own red, white, and blue flowers for this special holiday… while a  Summerville antique shop showed us that sometimes the beauty is all in the creative containers.

Some flowers, both inside and out, just stand on their own, no special colors needed…a holiday of simple beauty…free to be gorgeous!

I am heading over to Mandy and John’s for our family picnic gathering…just being with the children and grandchildren is all I need to remind me how blessed I am to live in this country. I pray that we allow others to have this same experience!

P.S. Our neighborhood did get a thunderstorm around mid-afternoon yesterday, the first day of Dog Days.…so I am hoping the Old Farmers Almanac is right…according to their predictions that means we will get a shower every day during the Dog Days season! I wouldn’t have to water all summer! One can only hope!