Hello Bloggie Frens...and Happy Independence Day!
My tiny crop of striped and bright zinnia blooms are the garden "fireworks." Pop, pop, pop -- pops of color that I hope you will enjoy seeing! The photos don't do them justice! They are so bright!
And below is nature's "Cherry Bomb" - a big burst of flavor, for sure! I handed all the other ripe ones through the fence to some picnickers who had been admiring them!
And sadly, there were no Friendship Pagodas, which I always miscall as Happiness Pagodas, in our firework stands. I walked into three different stands but...did not find any. Something fun was that one of the stands was owned by an older lady, like me! And she suddenly remembered them and looked them up on her iPad thingie and said she will order some for New Years!
But I did find something interesting, as you can see above, and I will probably remove and throw away the fireworks part and just leave the cardboard, because I am like these fireworks - a big chicken when it comes to the POPS and BOOMS! Defused, these will go on top of one of my Mexican primitive cupboards.
Lastly, here is a lil' video of my fireworks "haul." The "crackling balls" are going to be given to the teens across the street, who love to light fireworks, as they don't exactly "crackle" but rather POP! I lighted one after the video and it was so loud that both my dear chiweenie and I cowered.
I will be lighting the smoke balls and smoke bombs tomorrow to celebrate, and as always, I have my "Freedom Fire" going in the firepit in the back yard. I go poke it up and keep it going all night, so that at least in my yard, the fires of freedom glow and shine!
I have been around the blogs today finally, and have seen a lot of lovely patriotic and interesting posts! So much beauty, so much heart, in this renaissance of the Blogosphere! Hip-Hip-Hooray! Although, I was sad to see a blogger I admire taking a month off! But -- that's how it goes.
And although I don't cotton to hymns being sung, as I have a terrible voice and a tin ear, I have been walking around singing "Yes, We Have No Bananas" for several days, and as much of "It's A Grand Old Flag" as I can remember, although sometimes I get the Mad Magazine version popping up in there, after fifty years! The Fourth just brings "forth" light-hearted summer songs!
If you are having a bleak day, sing "Yes, We Have No Bananas" and see if it takes some of the doldrums away! We had a real-life version of this, after asking at a restaurant if they had a certain dish: "Si, tenemos, pero no hay." Which is: Yes, we have it, but there isn't any. Oh, we laughed and laughed. It makes sense while not making sense.
Plans for the Fourth? As always, I cherish any comments you share!
Kind regards,
Olde Dame Holly
am glad you enjoyed your personal 4th of July Celebrations and what a generous heart you have, giving away your ripe tomatoes and buying fireworks for the kids across the street.
ReplyDeleteThose "defused" chickens will make a great display. You can keep your smoke bombs though - my poor lungs don't do smoke!! I have Asthma ...
Oh gosh, stay out of smoke and fumes if you can! Keep that inhaler handy, too! Do you have lots of smoke bombs on Guy Fawkes Day or Christmas?
DeleteWhat a wonderful, generous neighbor you are!! Your heart is big!!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of your freedom fire
Ha ha I'm that obnoxious neighbor who yells HOWDY HOWDY at everyone whether they want to be neighborly or not!!! And I keep a sharp eye out when I'm not working, to make sure their pets are not wandering (we have a lot of escape artist doggies around here).
DeleteHappy 4th it is rainy and cold here in 7 days we went from record highs to record lows. my zinnias have not bloomed yet but growing. Not a fan of private fireworks. The freedom fire sounds interesting though.
ReplyDeleteCathy
I love my Freedom Fire! I do it several times a year. I hope the rain and chill do not dampen your spirits! Show pics of your zinnias when they bloom!
DeleteI think they sing that "no bananas" song on a movie that I've watched, 'A River Runs Through It' with Brad Pitt. Your Zinnias are gorgeous, especially that firecracker looking one. They look like sturdy flowers. I like your firepit in the back yard. I was thinking of getting one, but with the fires we have in the mountains sometimes, I don't think that's a good idea. You have quite a selection of fireworks. Have fun today, Holly, and be safe. : )
ReplyDelete~Sheri
Sheri, get a firepit! Or a fire-ring at any feed store! Then use it only after it snows or rains! That way it stays safe, or maybe where you are it would never be safe, since you have so many trees. Here, if I put it in the middle of the yard, it is unable to carry sparks far enough and I have the spark catcher on it once it gets going lighted and I have taken the photos!
DeleteIt is a day for celebration. I no longer do fireworks but I love to watch them.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping I can see the fireworks the college is shooting off from my back yard. Two years ago we were able to see the high ones!
DeleteHappy 4th of July to you and hubby.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your Freedom Fire. We must treasure our freedoms and do everything we can to keep them. I want my son and grandson to always know the freedoms I have enjoyed.
May God Bless America ~ the GREATEST Land on earth!!!
Amen! "God shed His grace on thee..." truer words were never penned.
DeleteI love your pretty Zinnias and I'm sad only one single one of mine came up. Next year I will go straight to buying the plants instead of depending on seeds. I'll try to find some like the amazing ones you pictured.
ReplyDeleteHaving a 'freedom fire' burning all night___ Great idea!!I hope your 4th of July celebrations are (were) fun.
Oh Granny M, I do wish more seeds have come up for you. I bought the Peppermint Stick zinnias I think they were called, and also some seeds I was given, but I think the live plant idea is a better one. After these zinnias, I am going to plant a lot more in the future! They are such pretty blooms!
DeleteHappy Independence Day ~ Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your time celebrating. I will be doing the same!
Love, Carla
Yes, three cheers!!! Happy Happy Fourth!
DeleteMy neighbors got some of those chicken fireworks one year and they left the cardboards on their driveway. I picked them up and used them in my Asian altered book. I'm so glad you got a few fireworks for yourself and I think you were brave to get the crackling balls.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are enjoying your firepit tonight. I'm sure the fire will burn bright while you celebrate. I'm a wee bit late, but hope you are having a fun, safe, enjoyable Independence Day dear friend.
That was clever of you to get those chicken fireworks for your art! I have mine on top of the cupboards. I lighted one and it made so little noise that I lighted the others, too. Perhaps they were "duds." But I have the pretty shells left!
DeleteZinnias, love them. My just popped in the last few days, and I have a few others in pots that will soon. I so enjoy the flowers.Yours are so pretty, my favorite is the first one.
ReplyDeleteZinnias are so sturdy, too!
DeleteI should have had a freedom fire too in my backyard...but alas the mosquitos are tenacious this year. So love your zinnias! Hopefully you will have your fireworks you so cherish next year. Janice
ReplyDeleteUgh, mosquitoes! And the smoke from a Freedom Fire does NOT chase them away unless the wind is switching all around!
DeleteI have problems to leave comments on blog, I hope it will work this time.
ReplyDeleteHere we are having fireworks On 14th of July.
"Yes, we have no bananas!" But yes, we DO have bananas here today! I bought a bunch this morning, and we ate peanut butter and banana sandwiches for lunch! Ha ha! I enjoyed your zinnias...so very bright and cheerful, just like you! Thank you for sharing this today. Although I am behind in reading it. Now I am going to be singing Yes We have No bananas all day, and my hubby will think I'm crazy because we DO have bananas! He'll think I'm bananas! LOL.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your beautiful zinnia blooms, they are gorgeous, such pretty and vibrant colors! How kind of you to share your produce! And it is so wonderful to celebrate this great country!
ReplyDeleteYour zinnias are so vibrant! I have some that re-seed every year. How nice of you to share your cherry tomatoes. It sounds as if you had a wonderful 4th of July! God Bless America ππ»πΊπΈππ»
ReplyDeleteDear Holly, never before have a seen the zinnia in the first photograph. What a hoot! It just made me smile with delight. And I delighted also in your keeping a fire burning all night to celebrate the 4th and the privilege we have of being citizens of this country. I ache for what is happening right now, but I am trying to be hopeful about the future. Peace to you, pressed down and overflowing.
ReplyDelete