Fireworks

Living where we do, there were many opportunities to view Fourth of July fireworks displays this year (08). The weekend before the Fourth (it was still June), we took the convertible SmartCar to Bangs , sat in the car and just looked up for a rousing exhibition of color. It was fun to just sit back and enjoy from the comfort of our own vehicle--no hard bleacher seats, no trek w/ lawn chairs, just recline and enjoy. It was a good show.



The actual weekend of the 4th, we were invited to stay w/ relatives in Granbury to experience their celebration. We looked forward to a "fair around the square" in downtown, a carnival, fireworks on Friday over the lake, and a parade on Saturday. We loaded up veggies fresh from the garden, and stopped to get barbecue in Bwd and headed out. After arriving and appreciating the improvements to the "new" house in the outskirts of Granbury (I love the new sink and faucet in the kitchen) we had lunch. Naps enjoyed, we headed out to see what needed buying at the fair. Lots of folks beat us there and parking was at a minimum. It was a typical booths around the square sort of fair, with paintings, t shirts, hats, air gun toys that made an annoying noise (over and over and over), the newest cooking gadgets, and just generally sparkly stuff. After indulging in a banana slushy thing with accompanying brain freeze and some curly fries, we headed to the carnival to watch the relatives and grandchild ride the ferris wheel, and the Tilt-a-Whirl.



Went back home to get folding chairs and then drove to the Methodist Church parking lot to wait for the fireworks at "dark-30". We waited and waited, saw some low but impressive explosions in various directions and about the time we were getting antsy to go somewhere else--it began. Really nice! about 18 or so minutes of color and design. And it was over. When we go back, that is the perfect place to watch them. Far enough away that the initial sounds fade away and close enough to see perfectly. And we were the only ones in the huge parking lot.

I am not great taking fireworks pictures.


N and his sister stayed up late doing computer stuff and talking, but I crashed the minute we returned. Sat morning we were a little rushed getting everyone ready to go to the parade at 10. A sad note, during the night with all the extraneous neighborhood fireworks (noisy) one of the pet bulldogs ran away. Folks went out looking for him but he wasn't found while we were there. Hope he has been by now. Grandchild's parents met us at the parade and it was LONG, and REALLY HOT (and of course I hadn't thought to bring a hat). A highlight of the parade (for me) was a group of about 16 marching folks each carrying an aluminum folding lawn chair which they lifted to one side and then to the other side and generally used the chair as a dance prop. Not a great deal of talent was needed, but the precision shown was almost as good as a display of precision rifles or flags. Oh, Yeah I didn't mention each chair's back had a paper flag taped on it. CLEVER!
After leaving the parade when it wasn't quite over (did I mention it was LONG?) we snaked our way around downtown Granbury avoiding the traffic blockages to get to a favorite restaurant. Good food , good friendly atmosphere. We got back to the house, loaded Smartie up and headed back to Bwd. IT WAS A FUN BREAK!