Thursday, July 9, 2020

A Subdued Independence Day

Normally we would have lots of options for viewing fireworks for our 4th of July celebration. We live near Disneyland. They put on a huge display every year, as does Knott's Berry Farm and also our city. Not this year. As with everything during these dog days of COVID, Independence Day 2020 seemed weird and subdued. Kids lurking in the shadows setting off illegal fireworks (can you call something that sounds like a bomb exploding a firework?). But no large gatherings. We grilled burgers and hot dogs in the backyard and let my granddaughter set off some sparklers.
July 3 moon rise through my neighbor's palm trees.

I saw an article in yesterday's paper calling it "Interdependence Day", which seems very appropriate. If we're ever going to get through this mess, we are all going to have to pull together. Quit thinking about first person, and focus on "us" and the greater good. Why does that seem to be so hard for people?

Someone in our neighborhood organized a bike parade. Lilly got to participate. She had fun decorating her bike. I don't own a bike, so I tried to follow on foot. She quickly left me in the dust!

And for those of you who have forgotten what it's like to be 7 years old and run through sprinklers, I thought you might enjoy this. Lilly and I were at the local school last night when the sprinklers went off. It was very hot and, well, one thing led to another...

Linking with Skywatch Friday.
Thanks for stopping by! 
Stay safe. Stay healthy.

49 comments:

  1. What a beautiful shot of the moon! Excellent!

    https://nanchi.blog/

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  2. Here in England July 4th was "trim-dependence day" as barbers and hairdressers opened for the first time since March - I haven't risked a visit yet. I had to walk through an farm irrigation system on my walk the other day; I ran too but I was trying to keep dry!

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  3. Still subdued around here as well apart for some South African family having a noisy evening with friends then letting fireworks off after we had gone to bed. Not impressed at all. Lilly seems to be having a good time in the sprinklers

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  4. I like the thought of "Interdependence Day". Without the grocery workers, first res- ponders and hospital workers (among others)we wouldn't have made it this far. But now, it seems that we are tearing ourselves apart. Can we stop and buck the forces trying to tear us apart? Ah to be seven again and made happy by a sprinkler.

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  5. AH, to be young again, smiles. Thank you for sharing. Sure made me smile.

    At least our town had fireworks, sigh.

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  6. A child’s delight with the world is special! Great video!

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  7. ...it is so hot and dry here that I would love to play in a sprinkler!!!

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  8. Did you get the crazy war zone sounds of everyone setting off fireworks? It was crazy around here.

    Did you try to shoot the lunar eclipse? It was probably hard to see through all the smoke.

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  9. Fabulous photos as usual. Displays for fireworks are good, we have way too many idiots here in NZ that don't behave responsibly.

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  10. This is what happens when a country becomes divided and disaster strikes and leadership is nowhere to be found. Looking at Lilly and her wonderful childhood joy at just being alive, I can only hope things will get better.

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  11. No big fireworks here either but it sounded like world war III outside.
    I used to love running through sprinklers, such a joy.

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  12. When you said...... If we're ever going to get through this mess, we are all going to have to pull together. Quit thinking about first person, and focus on "us" and the greater good. Why does that seem to be so hard for people?.......

    YOu drove the nail all the way. I get so frustrated that we cannot pull together. I
    know WE are not alone, This is a great nation we must somehow, pull together to survive. It was subdued here on the first coast also.
    Sherry & jack

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  13. Oh, I just loved hearing Lilly giggle!! Wonderful to see kids having such fun.

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  14. Lilly is very lucky to have you as a granddad! I just became a great-granddad. I won't be running though the sprinklers with him anytime soon...

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  15. Lovely snippets of life again in these difficult times.

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  16. Hello,
    Love the moon and palm trees. Lilly does look like she is enjoying running through the sprinklers. The bike parade sounds fun too. We did hear sounds fireworks down the road from us, but they do a little show every holiday. Beautiful photos. Enjoy your day, have a happy weekend!

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  17. Oh I loved the video SPP, Lily reminds me so much of my granddaughter. Yes major ceremonies around the world have been postponed or toned down, hopefully it will be a different situation next year ✨

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  18. Nicely done with the moon and trees! I've stopped photographing the moon because all of my photos look pretty much the same. I prefer getting other objects with the moon like clouds, silhouettes, trees, etc. just to make it interesting.

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  19. Love the balloon arch. And the moon. And being 7 again :-)

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  20. Awesome moon rise shots! Lilly looks she had great fun running through that sprinkler!

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  21. I remember decorating my bike as a child, it was so much fun. Love that balloon archway as well, I've not seen anything like that before.

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  22. Awesome shots of the moon! Lilly is so cute! Glad she gets to do some fun things during this crazy time!

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  23. Cools photos! We didn't have sprinklers when I was growing up, but I do the same thing when it rains. Even now, I enjoy a walk when it's raining.

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  24. Fun fun fun!!! Running through sprinklers---a right of childhood that last through adulthood--LOL
    MB

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  25. Beautiful moon captures. Love the video, the days when we, as kids, didn't have to worry about the problems of the world. Glad Lilly had fun running through the sprinklers.
    Have a wonderful week!

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  26. It certainly was a weird 4th. Usually we hear the neighbors popping off fireworks well into midnight. But not this year. If we heard half a dozen that was a lot. So sorry the pandemic has taken so much out of our lives.

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  27. It sounds--and looks--like you made the best of a Pandemic Independence Day. Glad you and your family had fun!

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  28. You are right about the interdependence thing. The world has become so divided now and everyone is ready to get offended at almost everything.
    Loved the independence of running through the sprinklers!

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  29. Lovely shots. I'm sure all the animals were thankful not to have big fireworks displays this year.

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  30. Beautiful moon rising through the palm trees. Lily is having fun with the sprinklers. Everywhere everything is on low key.

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  31. Fantastic moon shots and great to see your granddaughter again ~ missed her ~ ^_^

    Be Safe, Be Well,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  32. Don't own a bike? Looks like you had a fun day even without the fireworks.

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  33. you work with what you have/can. we are supposed to have national day on 21/07 and usually, it is a very lively and animated day with tons of activities, great opportunity to take photos. well, not this year.

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  34. Great moon shots,and love the palm tree "frame." My dad's favorite cousin (now in her mid-90s) once had a pig farm in Porterville called "49 Palms" and I remember seeing a moon like that through a couple of them. I also envy Lilly's joy in the sprinklers. Around here we can only have them on between 6 pm and 10 am on Mondays and Fridays. But it's so bloody humid in North Texas these days that you can just walk out of doors and sweat for a couple of minutes and be just as wet! But I have one of those old fashioned two-hole sprinklers that I might try running through just for goofiness's sake! Thanks for the smiles!

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    Replies
    1. Interesting how things intersect. My mom lived in Porterville for a while. And we have an area we like to hike out in Joshua Tree called "49 Palms Oasis". Thanks for your comment!

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  35. Super Fun Post - Didn't Realize You Were So Close To Anaheim - My Buddy And His Wife Lived Down The Street And Asked Their Family For Season "Quick" Passes To Disneyland Every Year For Their Anniversary Gift - Great Way To Check Out After A Long Day And Not Feel Guilty About Spending Two Hours On Treasure Island And Then Boogying On Out - Anyway, Excellent Photos! Dig The Moon For Sure!

    Stay Strong,
    Cheers

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  36. I'm glad you and Lilly had a good time. Love the moon shots.

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  37. Amazing moon shots!! Fantastic mood!

    stay healthy and safe.
    isabella

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  38. Oh, the joy of sprinklers on a hot day! Those big ones are a kid’s dream come true. It was a very subdued 4th here, too, and truthfully, we weren’t feeling much like celebrating our country anyway.

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  39. Hi there. I will be happy to send your granddaughter a postcard. Please drop me a note with your address at stories.scribbles@gmail.com
    Apologies for taking so long my to get in touch. Have been very busy?

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  40. Your moonshot are gorgeous. I'm glad Lilly had fun biking and in the sprinklers. Did you get wet too?
    We do need to all pull together and think of one another. Many people don't seem to have the ability to do that or to have any empathy any more - and it's very sad.

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  41. Moon is beautiful. And I would have been right behind you two (imagine you ran too) in the sprinklers.

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