Happy Independence Day!

Last year’s festivities, in the street outside our home.

I’ve allowed only legal fireworks for our family celebration of pyrotechnic patriotism, so it could be known as the Annual Pathetic Fireworks Show. Except that Steve and Luke figure out ways to to make it more entertaining, with music, lights, and other features, so it’s always splendid. I’m looking forward to tonight’s extravaganza, although due to our trip they haven’t yet purchased our fireworks this year. I was stopped by a police officer on the California border, asking to search our car for fireworks illegally imported from Nevada. I think he realized he wasn’t on a winner when I volunteered my Arizona-approved cactus plant as the only possibly-contraband item in the car. And the Agriculture Inspectors agreed that was allowed, too. Luke was highly amused to hear that Mom got pulled over.

Today, we’re planning to host the ritual barbeque with Grandma and Grandpa – and perhaps even make home-made ice cream, if I can find a hand-cranked machine to replace the ancient Fritz family heirloom that offered up its final batch last year. Otherwise, we’ll spend the day tidying up from our trip, and preparing for Luke to take off for London tomorrow, for four weeks of summer study.

We were in Yosemite with no Internet coverage from Sunday evening to after sunset Monday, then driving back up to Portland all day yesterday. Normal blog service will resume tomorrow. It’s good to be home.