Happy 4th of July

     Happy Independence Day to you all.   A day of remembrance and celebration across the country, other countries also.  

     Denmark, England, Norway, Portugal and Sweden. Denmark  Danes and Norwegians celebrate American Independence Day because thousands emigrated to the U.S. in the early 1900s. Other European countries, like England, Portugal and Sweden, hold celebrations near American military bases and or spots frequented by American tourists to boost travel during early July.

    On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of Lee’s resolution for independence in a near-unanimous vote (the New York delegation abstained, but later voted affirmatively). On that day, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that July 2 “will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival” and that the celebration should include “Pomp and Parade…Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other.” On July 4th, the Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, which had been written largely by Jefferson. Though the vote for actual independence took place on July 2nd, from then on the 4th became the day that was celebrated as the birth of American independence.
    
   Personally I don't set off any fireworks, first because it is illegal in Iowa, which doesn't stop most of the state and 2nd, I am cheap.  They are expensive!  I listened last night, and all week, to my neighbors burning up thousands of dollars in a quick pop of noise.   I live in a lower middle class neighborhood,  money is tight for us all I believe, but not so tight my one neighbor isn't welling to spend a few hundred on the biggest and loudest noise makers he can buy.  I have nothing against them doing so,  just don't want to waste my money on them.  For one thing my city has had a large firework display going off every day for the last 4 days.  After their spectacular display, anything else seems rather silly.

   So building trust.   Hoss came to us 3 years ago a fearful and untrusting dog.  Having been shot and abused he was sure every blast he heard was aimed at him.  It would break my heart watching him shake and tremble, his panting so fast I thought he would collapse.  We tried hard to comfort him and distract him, Music, treats, lots of loving.  Last year he went 14 hours without peeing because every time we talked him into venturing out, a firecracker would go off and back in and under the bed he went.

   This year, we have completely won his trust and during the worse of it last night we were so happy to have him dosing on the floor, breathing relaxed, not a care in the world.  Took him out and even with firecrackers going off he went potty and even sat out in the yard for awhile.  We promised him we would never hurt him and he seems to know it.   He's happy, we are happy.

   Piper on the other hand is fearless.  I think she could go though a mine field going off and not be bothered, as long as there was a bug she could hunt she is just fine.  Tiny but mighty.

   The other night I took her out.  The lightening bugs have a bumper crop this year and she was thrilled.  Watching her leap and try to catch them was so funny.  Fortunately she didn't catch any.  

   Piper is so funny,  running across the yard the other day she ran into a Hoss poo.  She stopped dead in her tracks and lifted her foot, a sneer across her face.  She looked at me and came over on 3 legs, looking totally disgusted.   I washed off her foot and cleaned up Hoss's poo but she won't go to that side of the yard anymore.  Silly girl.

   Well, that's it.  Happy 4th.  I am going to bake a Old fashion rhubarb pudding cake and take it easy.  Tomorrow back to work for the first time in 10 weeks.  Please let it go well.