Reminiscing over half a century of July fourths I've come to realize I've been blessed with many sweet recollections. With the cousins, as a child, I recall riding in the back of the pickup truck to Courthouse and Jail Rock and Bridgeport's evening rodeo with fireworks to precede our own sparkler fun. Then there was the honeymoon 'fourth' in a sweet cabin on Puget Sound and later with friends watching our kids do their own parade in Georgia. Most recently we've succumbed to letting the now grown kids do their own thing, while we clean the garage and watch the neighborhood fireworks. What a treat it was to spend this Fourth of July at Three Tree Point with our dear friends, Suzanne and Ty and family!
Three Tree Point is a close knit beach community on Puget Sound. For around 30 years they have been celebrating Independence Day right. It starts with a bugle call at 8:30 AM, then breakfast is served from 9-11 AM. The afternoon is highlighted with a flag raising ceremony, a children's parade, a small carnival, a treasure hunt and a kayak parade. Before the fireworks show a band plays and there's dancing in the street! The fireworks display was big, but sitting on the beach watching a 180 degree plus light show around the sound was spectacular. We've already made plans to join them again next year!
Here's our day in photographs.
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| Our home for the fourth |
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| First, unloading the kayaks |
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| Morning view up the street |
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| Time for breakfast |
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| View from the water |
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| More from the water |
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| Kids' parade |
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| Kayak/paddle board parade and Mount Rainier |
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| How do you keep the critters calm? |
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| Food is an important part of the day |
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| Time to party |
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| Dancing in the street |
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| Mount Rainier overseeing the festivities |
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| The night ended with a boom |
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| And a bang! |
To think such celebrations were taking place from sea to shining sea warms my heart. I am blessed to live in a country where we're free to celebrate or protest if we choose. This day I witnessed joyous celebration!
I brought the potato salad! I love making it. Most folks say they love eating it. Next week I'll tell the story behind it and how it's made!
Summer officially begins in the Pacific Northwest on July 5th. Happy summer to all!
