July 4th Surprises

Ever since we moved to this area, I have always enjoyed attending the Independence Day Parade in one of the nearby communities.  If we are in town, this tops my favorite list, for sure!

So, it should come as no surprise to read that Marty and were in place, at our usual hang-out along the parade route, in plenty of time to participate in some camaraderie with our friends, whose house has always been a welcome haven during the festivities.

First surprise:  Our friends must be out of town!  I'll admit that I was a tad bit disappointed, as this is the one opportunity that we have to catch up, but this year it didn't appear that would be the case.   

No worries....our attention was soon on the alligator leading the way:

followed by the  Hawk Mountain Highlanders playing bagpipes for our enjoyment.

And this little drummer certainly added to the entertainment!

 He wasn't the only cutie:  This tyke certainly came prepared for any type of weather:

And she brought her little friends along as well.

We saw patriots

And just a few doggies:

The Statue of Liberty:

Some fabulous floats:

One even featuring the Pope!

The Reading Phillies were certainly represented with the Evil Candy leading the way

followed by the crazy hot dog vendor riding his ostrich

screwball, of course

and some characters which, I must admit, are a bit foreign to me:

But they certainly did add to the festivities!

There were entertaining bands playing

And the Reading Royals were represented as well!

This newlywed couple had just exchanged vows yesterday!  How cute are they?

 

And then, there was the Presley car, playing music and lights flashing to the beat

with Elvis himself on the back seat!  Now, how's that for a surprise?

 Then, it was time for the antique cars:

always entertaining!

It was nearly the end, when we spotted a bright orange vehicle, loaded with kids and happy adults, coming along the parade route.  Within seconds, there was smoke billowing from the hood, and some wondered if it was part of the show.

It was soon obvious to all that the vehicle was in some sort of major distress, and the crowd became quite concerned. 

Needless to say, this was quite a surprise to all, and no one was more relieved than I, when the vehicle's driver decided to pull off the parade route, and the firetruck followed suit!

Firemen jumped out of the truck, hurriedly donned their gear, and headed with hose to the car, which by this time, was REALLY smoking!

Thank goodness they were on the scene quickly, as the smoke was eliminated in less than 30 seconds, thanks to the quick thinking of many involved. 

We certainly hadn't expected that kind of excitement at the end of the parade!  Wait until my friends find out what they missed!  

All was well, and Marty and I were looking forward to attending the RSO performance at the stadium tonight, to be followed by a spectacular fire works show, another recent tradition that we really enjoy.

I was promised dinner at the ballpark as part of the festivities of the day.

Well, imagine our disappointment when we learned that the show was cancelled....or at least postponed until tomorrow, due to rain.  Looks like they made the right call, as the rain is falling and the frogs are croaking as I write!

Not the best of surprises...but there's always tomorrow...right?

Well....perhaps I should check the weather.  Someone owes me dinner out!

Final Day at the Beach

The morning began with our early baking ritual.

Little sister stirred while big brother read the instructions.

They almost don't even need Gramma G's assistance!

After enjoying our breakfast treats, we had every intention of heading back down to the beach for a full day of fun in the sun.

Unfortunately, we were greeted by the Red Flag!

The winds were even stronger than yesterday, and the ocean was off limits to all.  

So, we had to come up with a back up plan. Luckily,  one of the perks of our rental house is the use of a community pool, which is actually oceanside.  So,  the little ones were able to enjoy themselves in the water while we could all enjoy the beauty of the beach.  

It was certainly breezy, but much more comfortable on the deck.  

Back at the beach house, there was always Baby entertainment

puzzles to finish

Games to play

And, as you can see,  Grandpa G is always good for some kiddie fun!

After dinner, Amy and I walked to the sound where we were able to view the last glimpse of the sunset.

And, on the way back to the house, the rising of the full moon, complete with the reflection on the water.

The perfect ending to an awesome week!  Hope you enjoyed following along!

Blustery Day at the Beach

Yesterday featured fast moving grey clouds with the forecast of rain, and when Marty checked the Doppler, he said that it kept showing storms rolling in from the North.  It didn't keep us from venturing down to the beach, but the winds were really strong, and there was the threat of something big arriving.....in about 15 minutes.

That was the prediction that we heard throughout the day.  Funny thing, though.....the storms must have skirted around us, because we never saw rain.  But beach time was certainly limited for me, because when I have to hang onto my hat,  relaxation is difficult to achieve.

But, no worries, there was no lack of entertainment, as you can well imagine.

The morning's culinary delight involved making chocolate donuts with peanut butter frosting.

Everyone got their turn mixing

and decorating as well!

Here you can see the step by step process of creating a delectable delight: 

Yummy!

We had to bid fond farewell to this little guy,

But not before getting a photo of Grandpa and Gramma G with all of our grandchildren in one spot!

With the newest additions matching Gramma G!

A little afternoon entertainment involved decorating the Cannoli Cake

And, of course,  how could anyone pass on the opportunity of holding one of these cuties?

Yep, another perfect day all around!