Somewhere west of Idaho Springs, Colorado along old US6
Summer Flowers
Independence Day
I lived for a time in Williamsburg, VA. A quiet little town dominated by “Colonial Williamsburg” – a “living history” outdoor museum made up of many of the structures of Williamsburg circa 1775 when it was the capital of the Virginia Colony. The museum attracts visitors from around the world; actors – many from adjacent William & Mary College – play roles of various characters of the pre-Revolution era. Although the museum has entrance fees, the streets are city-owned and not a legal entity of the museum. This means one may wander around Colonial Williamsburg for free with only entrance to some of the buildings and exhibits restricted. The taverns and shops are open to all.
Mrs DT and I would spend 4th of July at the site – special presentations went on all day. There were parades, exhibits, and historical speeches throughout the day, a reading of the Declaration of Independence from the Courthouse steps, a concert on the green at sunset, and of course, a fireworks show at dusk.
On the other hand, in a small town in Idaho – a farming town – one of the best fireworks shows I’ve attended takes place. For all the effort, expense, and professionalism of the big shows, the small towns seem to generate a more realistic celebration of the meaning of the day
Worth the 18 minutes:
Utube dot com/watch?v=m82nYY8Ywqo
Here’s to y’all having a glorious 4th..
In A Foreign Land
by SK via Comments
I am in a foreign land at the moment, staying with friends in a small town at the base of the Alps.
The heat you all are hearing about is real. The air is dry and the sun is scorching. Feels like desert heat. There has been rain but it mostly evaporates before doing the earth any good. Although lawns and fields are crispy and brown there is still a lot of green to be seen from heavy rains in May. The trees are huge and healthy. Oleander is in full bloom.
The food is delicious- fresh and simply prepared. No fussy sauces or dips, no crusts on fish or chicken. No gigantic appetizers. Ham is just air-dried or baked – no unpronounceable ingredients or plumping salt water injections. Good bread made from only 4 ingredients- water salt yeast and flour. No butter, only olive oil. Good yoghurt made from milk and active cultures, nothing else. People drink coffee, tea, water and wine, no fruit juices or soft drinks. They are on the menus but come in tiny tin cans if ordered, or fresh squeezed at breakfast. Fresh fruit is on every dessert menu. Berries are served in a bowl with lemon juice and a sprinkling of sugar.
Food is abundant and cheap. The fruit and vegetables are ripe and flavorful. The selection of cheese is dazzling.
Gas is crazy expensive and so is electricity. Few homes have air con. Windows are opened at night to let cool air in then shuttered in the day to keep heat out. Shutters and doors are always double locked and alarmed. Gardens are walled, fenced, gated and locked. There is an ancient, ingrained fear of invaders and thieves, now largely justified by the real invasion of folk from non Christian places.
People are generally cheerful and friendly. And slim. And patriotic. They all wear locally well made and beautiful sandals, shoes and boots. They walk a lot. Everyone talks about going to the seaside or the mountains for relief from the summer heat. A lot of very old people ride bikes on busy roads and up steep hills.
You dont need a watch. You can tell the time of day from the rhythm in the streets and the church bells that ring. The bells also announce funerals in long, slow, sad gongs. There are many, this is an old country.
No one seems deeply concerned about the world’s woes. Though you hear occasional anti Trump sentiment, fueled mostly by the press and their depiction of life in America or fear of tariffs, there is no real animosity, mostly admiration and fascination with the size and scale of everything American- it is still viewed as a land of opportunity and freedom. Mostly they talk here about food, music, football, cycling, beautiful women – but above all, food. It’s an obsession.
I’d say we still have a lot to learn from the old countries.
Happy “I Forgot Day”
It was yesterday.
July
It’s the time of year where everyone starts complaining about the heat. I just want to remind you of what’s coming … when everyone starts hoping July comes soon.
Happy Dominion Day
Being from Detroit, the week containing Dominion Day and July 4th was cause for celebration. In 1972, I was old enough to appreciate July 1 on a Friday and the 4th on Monday – and young enough to take full advantage of it. The fireworks shows from Belle Isle were something to experience.
Seems now most all of that is forced and over-celebrated … and even less so now that Canada is no longer our friendly neighbor.
Canada ceased being “Canada” when they changed their flag and went metric. I recall buying gas in Imperial gallons: 5 quarts to the gallon. Remember – the industrial Revolution which formed the basis of today’s technology was measured in imperial units, not French Revolution units.
Sorry, Canada – it was so good to know you.
Tunes For Tuesday – Uriah Heep “July Morning”
A sample of some obscure – and some maybe not obscure – tunes from my strange and off-the-wall collection.
Today’s selection: Uriah Heep “July Morning” 1971
Considered by some the best composition by Uriah Heep; released on the 1971 album “Look At Yourself”.
Formed in 1969, the band name still exits with only one original member – the lead guitarist, Mick Box – remaining.
A Regular’s Book Recommendation
Jean wrote me and recommended this book: “one of the best books ever written for all ages…“
I’m happy to pass on her suggestion to y’all.
“The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse“
by Charlie Mackesy
From another reviewer: “I can’t recommend this book enough, whether you are 12, 22, 42, or 92 years old.“
“How do they look so together and perfect?” Asked the boy. “There’s a lot of frantic paddling going on beneath,” said the horse.
“The greatest illusion,” said the mole, “is that life should be perfect.”
Have at it …
Bluegrass In Seattle
from a long time ago …
A couple of these guys were work buddies but I lost touch not long after I left the area. Seattle was funky weird then instead of psycho weird like it is now.
Comnenos Mosaic of Ayasofya
Last of three Eastern Roman Empire churches erected on this site; built 360, completed 537AD in a grand style of Byzantine architecture.
This mosaic dates from 1122
Emporer John II Komnenos (1087 – 1143) & Empress Princess Piroska (Eirene) of Hungary (1088 – 1134) m. 1104 stand on either side of Mary the Virgin and the Christ child.
The mosaic was plastered over rather than destroyed upon the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The plaster was removed in the 1930s.
I had a chance to visit while it was still a secular museum; the structure was re-converted to a mosque in 2020.
