A perfect 4th of July. Just a peek into my day.
which could be any day. Up early, fed the dogs and cats, made the coffee. Some home made cinnamon currant walnut toast with honey. A few hours getting our groceries and produce at the Farmers Market and Trader Joe. Microwaved some corn we bought, and leftover ratatouille for a quick lunch. Watered the garden, wrote a blog about how things are doing out there, watched the Red Sox - beer is chilling, soon off to get us a take out pizza. My wife spent the time doing a knitting tutorial. We will walk the dogs, watch a movie - I'll work on my presentation for an upcoming book promo trip (to Seed Savers in Iowa). One eye will be on DU - a cat or three will be curled up with me - then the crash into bed happy and tired at midnight or so.
That my wife and I are free to have a day like this - that we have each other, good hobbies, our health, our pets - feeling very fortunate indeed. And I try to remind myself of that every single day.
So it isn't really the perfect 4th exclusively - but 3rd, 5th, whatever. For as long as I can manage it!
tonight's beverage -
A toast to all of you at DU - Happy 4th!
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Your day sounds just perfect...organized just the way you want it around the events you have chosen.
Happy Independence Day!
how do you keep critters out of the tomatoes? In years past, the chipmonks would pester but not bother the entire group of tomatoes. Then we moved the plants into pots on the deck. That seemed to keep everything out because it's open enough for hawks to be seen by the critters. This year, nobody messed with anything up to a point. We got plenty of the cherry tomatoes. But when the others were large but still green, A SQUIRREL decided to try a bite. Then they began feasting until it was a dang squirrel smorgasbord on a daily basis. Now, there's not a single tomato left and they have even started eating the plants. We used a bit of netting with sticks but nothing that could keep them out. There has got to be a way!
Now, for my day so far. We got up early, had coffee and small snacks. Grabbed running belts and hats and left for the Peachtree Road Race 10K with 60,000 of our closest friends. Got soaked. Got muddy. Got tee shirts. Rode cattle car of rail train with the delightful smells of humanity. Changed shoes and went out for breakfast. Came home, got clean, napped. Ahhhhhhh....
Now fixing some sides for dinner which will be brats on the grill. If anybody (other than the kids) has energy left, we may see fireworks later. 
Cheers!
Squirrels and birds and the like - nothing is perfect. Ensure there are food and water sources for them nearby (birdbath, feeder of some sort). Having cats about help. But in many cases, physical barriers are all that will work. We are lucky that the squirrels and birds seem to leave us alone - of course, a rabbit is eating my beans and squash. Water Scarecrow motion detector activated sprinkler handles the deer. Each year it is a new and unique battle. Gardeners are made of tough stuff! And we are optimists!
Sounds like a glorious day - keep enjoying!
and got piggy about it. I guess they got frustrated because they cannot get to the bird food.
A few here and there shared with the chipmonks was no big deal. But the squirrels are ruthless! 
Thanks!
At least the dog will alert you to the SQUIRRELS! and how.
Nature is providing the booms..we are having a hellacious thunderstorm.
Dinner is cheeseburgers, on the stove, since we can't grill outside, with fresh local Silver Queen Corn,
and sweet perfumy local watermelon..damn, it is good.
The dog is loaded with Valium and panting under my desk, the cat is under the bed, and the power remains on,
so all is good.
Our dog buddy used to hate the 4th, but at 13, we've found a single advantage to his deafness (nothing is wrong with his, nose, though - or appetite - he searches out and eats any tomato growing on our deck that is Buddy proximal! No Sun Gold for us yet!)
The thunderstorms have danced around us - right now comfy, muggy, nice - perfect dog walking night given it is summer in the south. I smell the pizza - nearly ready!
thanks for the fireworks!
as I tell people - we have 10 times less money but are 100 times happier. good math!
about your day. It does sound like a lovely day.
What you posted is gratitude. I feel that, too. So many times a day, I just sigh happily and acknowledge that it doesn't get any better than this. This is almost always after time in the garden.
Based on some recent studies that have come out about how interaction with plants increases one's ability to focus, I have to wonder if this degree of contentment has to do with our regular interaction with plants.
Cher
