I will be dragging the smoker out and making some beef jerky while the briskets are on sale. Maybe i ought to mix up a big pitcher of mojitos to drink while i do it. It's supposed to get in the 100's again. Anyone know of a good artic tale to read to keep cool?
We aren't doing anything on the 4th but we are going to our daughter's this evening for a cookout. The weather is perfect - high 70's and partly cloudy. Enjoy your mojitos and I will enjoy my wine. :-)
.....as little as possible as the temperature is 102! Will be watching Wimbledon, eating watermelon and being thankful to live in the Land of the Free. Our town has a fabulous 4th of July parade, probably the biggest in the state.
Gonna be hot, but there is a 50% chance of showers. We are going to my daughter's home. I'm not much one for fireworks, but the little ones will enjoy the neighborhood displays and noise.
We'll stay close to home and probably do ribeyes and corn on the cob one night. I'll have to "Bing" the "mojitos" in case we're missing something, but it's pretty much Chardonnay and Pinot Noir at our house no matter what else is on the table. No fireworks or anything close to it allowed in our ever incendiary area - we never hear even a cap gun, let alone sparklers. 'Course there's always TV and Boston Pops to gin up some patriotic fervor, especially if they still do the 1812 Overture with real cannons. And all capped off by Sousa's ever-rousing Stars and Stripes Forever! Long may she wave o're the land of the Free!
I'm glad I'm not the only one here that has no plans, I don't feel so left out now. It's been days now since we've had any rain in my area and all that green has turned brown. Hopefully, Sunday will bring some showers. Probably will watch firework show on tv and be lazy.
Although my city will have its annual parade and Fourth of July fireworks tomorrow, my big celebration was last night. For the 9th year in a row, the Riverside (CA) Philharmonic Orchestra has given a free concert at Riverside National Cemetery. It is the only concert given at a national cemetery in our nation. It must sound like a strange venue, but there is a man-made lake with an amphitheater and plenty of grass for the overflow crowd. There were about 6000 people there last night. March Reserve Air Force Base is just across the freeway and we were treated to a display of touch-and-go landings by a B-52 (at least, I think that's what it was, a big cargo plane of some sort). We were treated to a variety of music from Alexander's Ragtime Band to a salute to the various branches of the Armed Services to classical. As always, the climax was Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever accompanied by a display of fireworks.
On a personal note, it gave me the opportunity to stop by my husband's gravesite before the festivities. It's been 3 years since Jim died and life has gone forward, but you never forget. I always bring him red roses....his favorite flowers, but ones that I never cared for.
What a special evening! I salute your celebration in honoring Jim and the others who loved freedom. "Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever" gives me goosebumps!
coronalady, for Tom's mom this will be the time of year to remember losing a loved one, too, as her husband, Tom's dad, passed away last night. So Tom's there with his siblings arranging things. They all seem to be doing ok, but of course it's never easy, is it?
Anyway, it will be me and Steve McQueen and Toomuch celebrating the 4th here, Toomuch will probably do her celebrating in the closet, LOL, and Steve and I will watch fireworks from the park across town. :D
Barb, so sorry to hear about Tom's dad. It's always a sad time to lose a loved one, but like you said, it's never an easy thing to have to deal with. I hope that you and yours will enjoy the day nevertheless.
As always going over to my parents, stuffing ourselves with food and then as soon as it is dark going out on the front lawn to shoot off legal fireworks. It is 100 degrees here, too, but it always is this time of year. My brother and his family comes here because fireworks are not allowed in the parts of California where he lives. I don't know how many more years it will be legal here since every year the complaints get louder because of fires and pollution. It is so traditional for my family so I will really miss it. But, for one more year, I'll enjoy and make some memories.
