Wednesday
Need Some Ideas Here...HELP!!!
I need to find a feminine name that ends in U or OO. Any suggestions?
Saturday
An All American Town and Fireworks Display...
Tonight I yield the blog to a guest who's not a blogger yet, but an absolutely fantastic photographer and Father to my Grandsons, my "Son" J. J had this to say today...Before I sign over to J, let me first say that all the different fireworks displays that Dave and I have seen over the years, the display in Jefferson, Texas is ever so special. The pride of being an American shows in this East Texas town and once bitten by that pride, you'll feel it too.
Jefferson is a small East Texas Town that holds so much history and secrets, that makes one want to come back time after time to try to uncover those secrets. Because of those secrets it is heavily active with the paranormal. I have been on one of Jefferson's Ghost Walks and I did experience "something". This small town has some of the best preserved pre Civil War homes and if they could tell their stories, oh my what stories they would be. My "son" J has many personal stories of the supernatural experienced there in the town. Truly, what does lurk there in the shadows?
I now turn it over to J...
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Having fun with glow sticks, J managed to capture lots of fun colors and designs.
Remember...When it comes to freedom, one must not become complacent, but vigilant. For a government that is big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
Thomas Jefferson
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| Paul and his trusty steed warning that the red coats are coming |
Jefferson is a small East Texas Town that holds so much history and secrets, that makes one want to come back time after time to try to uncover those secrets. Because of those secrets it is heavily active with the paranormal. I have been on one of Jefferson's Ghost Walks and I did experience "something". This small town has some of the best preserved pre Civil War homes and if they could tell their stories, oh my what stories they would be. My "son" J has many personal stories of the supernatural experienced there in the town. Truly, what does lurk there in the shadows?
I now turn it over to J...
We once again celebrated this great nation's birthday in Jefferson, TX and yet again, they didn't fail to amaze! This year we went earlier than usual to watch the children's parade and participate in the kids activities (and a homemade ice cream contest!).
We had a blast, as usual! However, this year, I want to dedicate this album to the memory of the greatest patriots I've had the pleasure to know and love: Dave Smeal. He passionately loved this country he wasn't born in, but called home most of his life. His patriotism isn't something that was debatable to even questionable, it was felt and shared. If everyone born in this country had the national pride he did, this would be a different and happier place right now. I will work to instill the love of country and fellow citizens he had in his grand kids, so that his legacy may live on through them (and maybe their generation). The other thing he was passionate about was photography and we both loved fireworks and capturing them. Last year we talked about experimenting with how to photograph them, playing with how we could "push" the art form. I continued that this year with him on my mind the whole time. And I think they turned out pretty cool! These are for you Dave!
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| Noah and Andy watching the children's parade |
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| Noah loves his turtles! |
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| The boys being extra good getting their faces painted. |
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| Our little Patriot! |
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| The "Crew" waiting for the show to start. |
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| 1. This one looked like a colorful dandelion ready to fly! |
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As you can see, J loves to experiment with color and motion.
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Tell me in the comment box below, which one is your favorite.
Mine is 18, as it looks like Dave's spirit in flight!
We hope you had a wonderful 4th of July, celebrating and remembering the hardships and sacrifices that our Founding Fathers so willingly fought and died for, to make this country a great nation that the world looks up to today. We are exceptional! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Have your ever read all four stanzas of the Star Spangled Banner
by Francis Scott Key?
They are worth reading. As Americans we only know the first stanza which is the one we sing.
Francis Scott Key wrote those words as the battle raged overnight September 13, 1812. Key, accompanied by the British Prisoner Exchange Agent Colonel John Stuart Skinner were aboard the HMS Tonnant trying to negotiate the release of prisoners. Unable to leave the ship when the battle began Key and Skinner had to watch helplessly as the British fired on Fort McHenry. Salvo after salvo was aimed at the fort. Key penned the words to the poem during the battle. As the sun rose the next morning, there stood, proudly waving in the breeze "Old Glory"
The Star Spangled Banner
Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wiped out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wiped out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Remember...When it comes to freedom, one must not become complacent, but vigilant. For a government that is big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
Thomas Jefferson
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