Tuesday 4 & Wednesday Hodgepodge

It's time again for Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 and this week our friend Susan suggested the topic of decorating our homes for the holidays, especially for the 4th of July as it is the USA's 250th birthday.  So, lets do that. On July 4, 1776 we declared our independence from the British Empire and King George III  when the First Continental Congress set forth the Declaration of Independence. We became a free and sovereign, independent nation on September 3, 1783 

1. Will or have you decorated for the holiday? Yes, all US holidays are celebrated, and I have decorations for seasons too. If you don't reside in the USA, do you have a special holiday you decorate for on the outside of your home? Yes outside too.

I put flags in the front yard too.

2. What special little touches do you add to the outside of your home? I like to put out my seasonal garden flags. I have yard signs and scarecrows for fall. Do you enjoy puttering around in your yard? I used to, but I have to stay out of the sun for the most part because of skin cancer. My neck and back can't handle anything heavy.

3. Are plants and shrubs an important part of your house decor? I used to really enjoy gardening. I love looking out at my palm trees in the backyard and the plumerias in the front yard.

4.  On which holidays do you spend time decorating either inside, outside or both? Christmas, Fall and Easter and the 4th. inside and out. 

This is my seasonal tree. The grandfather clock was a gift from my parents.

I made this valence after cutting a bunch of strips. 

I like to make things when I can. I am working on a wreath right now.

I had left over material from making the valence, so I made the decoration below.

1. What do you love most about your country? Our country has a lot to offer. I can go to the church I want. My kids have all done well in schools and have good jobs. Grands are all doing well. I don't think they youngest generation-grands really understand true freedom . It is something not to take for granted.  

2. Your favorite patriotic song? God Bless America & American the Beautiful.

3. Red, white, or blue? Stars or stripes? Something you own besides a US flag with some combination of those colors or decorations as part of its design? Lots of things are out in my house now, see above.

4. What's one thing you want more of this summer: fun, rest, adventure, connection, quiet, or confidence? Elaborate. My dog is sick right now and things revolve around her. We don't know how long she has with her mass in her colon. Things will be on the quiet side this year. Summer weather goes till October here. I am going to Israel in October with my church if it is safe to do so.

5. What was your ultimate, go-to summer activity when you were a kid? Do you still do any version of that today? If you answered yes, does participating in this activity as an adult make you feel like a kid?  

Just being out of school for 10 weeks was great and I know kids still feel the same. Days at the beach, swimming, bike riding and hanging with friends. At the end of the summer, my family went to church camp. It was more special when we graduated to the Jr High and High school cabins. 

The last time I went, my boyfriend went to and stayed with the boys. One of the boys I had like before him was in that cabin, but all was cool. Oh, I also enjoy the beach parties with my youth group.

6. Insert your own random thought here. I had some dental work done on Monday and my cataract consult on Tuesday morning. I am always thankful for health insurance. I will be having my cataract surgery after I come back from Israel in October. I can see pretty well in the daylight. With Minnie being sick, it is probably best. Enjoy the 4th of July!

Thanks to Annie and Joyce for the memes this week,

Friday Faves 5 & Saturday 9

Thankful for Facebook Memories like this picture above taken at church in 2017.

Thankful for Decorations to make my house patriotic festive. Also for the plumerias that are growing now.

Thankful that all went well at my dental appointment, I just need a cleaning that is next week. Both check up, x-rays and cleaning are covered under our insurance.

Thankful that I didn't have to pay anything for my ultrasound I had on Wednesday and my Book study group on Wednesday evening.

Thankful for my dog Minnie that is so loving and all healed up.

This meme is from Susanne who hosts theLink on the left.

Saturday 9: Lady Liberty (2018)

... because it's 4th of July weekend. Hear Barbra Streisand sing it here.

1) This song is a Valentine to the Statue of Liberty. Have you ever visited Lady Liberty? Not in the building but close enough while on the harbor cruise. Picture above and below from 2008.

2) When you combine the lady herself and her pedestal, she stands 22 stories high. What's the tallest building you've ever been in? Rockefeller Center, Top of the Rock Observation Deck 70 stories high. 2008 with my parents. We visited New York a couple of days before our New England Cruise.

 

3) Her crown represents universal liberty with seven spikes for the seven seas. Without looking it up, can you name the seven seas? No

 

4) The song was written by Desmond Child, a Cuban-American from Gainesville, home of the University of Florida. In 1965, a team of UF scientists invented Gatorade. Do you have any Gatorade in your home right now? No I do not like it.

5) While best known for his work with KISS, Bon Jovi and Cher, Desmond Child was nominated for an Emmy for his work on the Muppets 2003 holiday special. This morning, as we enjoy summer, what's the first Christmas carol that pops into your head? Hark the Herald Angels sing.

6) Desmond wrote this song specifically for Barbra Streisand. Watching her record it was a dream come true and he found himself standing very close to her as she sang.  When he asked if he was "hovering," she suggested it might be better if he gave her a little more space. Does it bother you when someone stands very close or reads over your shoulder? Yes, it bothers me if I do not know them.

7) Fireworks were introduced to celebrate the 4th because they represent the "rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air." When did you most recently sing "The Star Spangled Banner?" On Memorial Day when my granddaughter sang at a special service in our city.

8) John Adams predicted the 4th would be observed with "pomp and parades." Does your community have a parade in honor of the day? Yes, there is a parade in the morning and a fireworks show later at a park near us.

9) Celebrity chef Rachael Ray says she considers mini-hamburgers, or "sliders," the All-American food. 

What will/did you dine on this 4th of July? Hamburgers and hot dogs. We will stay home with Minnie because the fireworks really scare her. I like to watch the different Patriotic shows.

Friday Fave Five & Saturday 9

Thanks to Susanne and Sam for the memes. Links on the left.

Thankful for:

1. My husband's great salsa that he made for everyone!

2. A great 4th with my family! Lots of great food.

Many family members were missing.

Old movies of when we grandparents were little.

My little brother, barbecued carne asada, marinated beef

and chicken then chopped up for soft tacos.

3. My plumerias are blooming now!

4. Watching Despicable Me 4 with on comfortable reclining chairs.

5. Relaxing in a warm spa after a cold theater.

Saturday 9: The Star Spangled Banner (1991)

... because Thursday was the 4th of July and we're still celebrating!

Unfamiliar with this Whitney's rendition? Hear it here.

1) Whitney Houston originally performed this in front of over 73,000 at the 1991 Super Bowl. What's the biggest crowd you have ever been in? Harvest Crusade at the Angel's Stadium. (42,000) and Honda Center (18,000) Women of Faith Conference, Michael W Smith, Third Day and Maxy Lucado.  American Idol tour 2006.  Does Disneyland count? 70,000.

2) Whitney's version of The National Anthem was released 10 years later, after 9/11, and the proceeds went to support New York's first responders. It was her last Top Ten single. What's your favorite Whitney Houston song? All her songs are great, but I Wanna Dance with Somebody is fun and upbeat. I also love the duet she did with Mariah Carey called When you Believe from Prince of Egypt.

3) Whitney's friends recall she loved lavender -- both the color and the scent. What's your favorite color? What's your favorite scent? I do love lavender essential oils that I get from Young Living. I also love the scent from my plumerias. my color choices depend on my mood and the season. 

4) Whitney had a sweet tooth and loved Fruity Pebbles. If you reached for a snack right now, would it be sweet or salty? Salty. If was hungry, I would have my husband's salsa with chips from Superior Market.

5) Whitney's grave marker bears the words, "I Will Always Love You," so clearly her family is proud of her best-selling recording. How would you like to be remembered? A woman with a strong faith and who loved Jesus and the Bible. A woman that loved her family. A woman who was creative and shared her creativity with others, especially Bible journaling.

6) Going back to 1991, when this recording was first popular, consumers who had a cell phones likely had flip phones. Technology has come a long way, hasn't it? What did you most recently use your cell phone for? (Calling, texting, looking something up, taking a photo, posting on your blog or social media ...) Taking pictures.

7) In 1777, Colonists celebrated July 4 with the firing of cannons and muskets, followed by a public reading of the Declaration of Independence. What did your neighborhood to celebrate the 4th of July? Our city had a big fireworks show at a big park near us and we can see some of them from our house. But I watched them inside because there was a lot of illegal loud one in the neighborhood. It really scares our dog. So, I watched them on tv.

8) The Revolutionary War still raged during that summer of 1777. General George Washington allowed his soldiers to celebrate with a double ration of rum on July 4. Do you know anyone who is serving in the military this 4th of July? Not personally. On of my friends at church has a son that is in the military and is stationed in Hawaii.

9) Celebrity chef Rachael Ray says she considers mini-hamburgers, or "sliders," the All-American food. What will/did you dine on to celebrate the 4th of July? My niece made poppers. Small grilled peppers and shrimp wrapped in cheese and wrapped in bacon and baked. They were so good! My brother cooked carne asada and chicken on the grill and then chopped it up. There were small corn and flower tortillas so that you could make soft tacos or mini burritos. My sister Ann brought home made beans and potato salad. My sister Terry took strawberries and a sweet dip made with cream cheese and cool whip. My husband made large pot of salsa and there was enough for dinner and for everyone to take a batch home. We also bought two very large bags of tortilla chips. There was also a lot of fruit. There was homemade peach cobbler and vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Over There (1942)... because it's 4th of July 

Great movie!!!

Unfamiliar with this rendition? Hear it here.

1) George M. Cohan wrote this song in 1917, inspired by our country's entry into WWI. It was not only popular with the young men who enlisted, it was reassuring to their families. Tell us about a time when music was a comfort to you. Music has been so important to me my whole life. Especially when my dad died. Music, songs touch the heart of my soul. I especially love Christian music. Patriotic music makes me think of my dad. He use to play this album when we were kids and we would march around the living room.

2) "Over There" was revived at the start of WWII, and President Franklin Roosevelt cited this song specifically when he awarded Cohan with the Congressional Gold Medal. What's your favorite patriotic song? God Bless America and God Bless the USA.

3) This rendition of the song is from the 1942 film, Yankee Doodle Dandy. James Cagney won an Oscar for his performance as George M. Cohan. Also nominated that year was Gary Cooper, who portrayed a different Yankee, Lou Gehrig, in Pride of the Yankees. Tell us about a movie biography you have enjoyed. The Greatest Showman,  Hidden Figures, A Beautiful Mind, Hamilton, Sound of Music,  Remember the Titans and the Ten Commandments. Big list here.

4) Cagney had a rebellious streak. His boss, studio head Jack Warner, nicknamed Cagney, "The Professional Ganister." Cagney joked that he was proud of the title. How about you? Are you rebellious? No, I try to be a peacemaker. My husband might question that at time.

5) In the clip linked above, a woman sings with Cagney. Her name was Frances Langford, nicknamed the "GI Nightingale" because during WWII she performed for the troops at bases throughout Europe, North Africa and the South Pacific. Do you have any nicknames? Most of my family calls me Susie. My mom. Dad spelled my name Suzy. I had a great aunt that called me "la Chugie" My grandma Louisa called me Susanita when I was little.

6) In 1942, when audiences were enjoying this performance of "Over There" in movie theaters, the fashion trend was for mothers and their young daughters to wear identical dresses. Moms would buy lots of fabric and patterns for the same casual day dress in both their own sizes and their little girls'. Can you sew? A little bit, mostly crafting now. In jr high, high school and college I made a lot of clothes, even with zippers.  I am on a virtual crafting cruise and stitching in the focus weather hand or machine. I made these things.

7) The Fourth of July means we're in the middle of summer. Are you careful about applying sunscreen?

Yes, especially on my face. I do let my body get some sun for the vitamin D.

8) Mosquito bites an be a major summer annoyance. Are you scratching any itches right now? No. I have not been out much.

9) Celebrity chef Rachael Ray says she considers mini-hamburgers, or "sliders," the All-American food. What will you be eating this 4th of July? Not sure yet. Hubby and I were just discussing it. I have a cold and hot chicken soup sounds good for now. But normally he BBQ's something. I do like corn and the cob. He made a really good salad the other day. Quiona, avocado, chicken, mushrooms, and broccoli. 

Tuesday 4

Happy Fourth of July and welcome once again to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4!     

Let's talk about Independence Day.

1. In previous times every family read the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights on July 4 to keep in mind the huge price paid by a minority of patriots for freedom and liberty. What do you think about this tradition?  I hope you will institute it and value it.  It is so important. I have only read it a few times. I think the kids learn about it in 5th grade when they learn about the Revolutionary was and the Constitution. During the Covid lockdown, my granddaughter had to watch videos on it. I watched with her. We also watched Alexander Hamilton on the Disney channel. The grands said they had a better understanding of what happened. I remember my grandparents telling me how they had to learn this when they became citizens.

2. Fresh made lemonade was a huge deal in the Midwest when Laura Ingalls Wilder was a young girl. It was a very special treat. Every family brought a dish to the town celebration.  What foods and drinks will you have on this important day? We had hamburger, hot dog, chips and pork n beans. I drank water with pineapple juice. We had a quiet day to ourselves. Oldest son's family getting over Covid. Other son had to work. Daughter and family went to a friend's house. I am trying to say heathy for my craft vacation that begins on the 9th. We stay home because our dog gets really scared with the fireworks.

3. Will you be watching fireworks.. a great American tradition on this day?  They are deeply rooted in the American tradition. We could see some from our backyard. We watched it on tv as it was on various channels. I like the ones that play patriotic music while the fireworks are going off. The music always reminds me of my dad and how he loved patriotic music. He would put on his album, and we would march around the living room. 

4.  Will your flag be out?   Do you own one? Yes, we own a flag and put it out throughout the year. I took a picture that does not show the big flag. I do have various small banners that are for the 4th. I also decorate my home with a patriotic theme. My seasonal tree has red, white and blue lights. It also had red, white and blue stars. My patriotic decor stays up until Labor Day weekend.

 Quick 4th fact: Did you know that the term Commander in Chief cannot be used except in times of Congressionally declared war? A president has no authority over the military until then.   Thank Goodness!