Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Fourth Of July


I can not think of the Fourth Of July without thinking about my Daddy!!! My Dad love to have fun. He was always telling jokes and pulling pranks. The 4th was his favorite Holiday!

As I have shared with you before, we always planted a huge (I am talking Huge!!!!) GARDEN. We did not know at the time when we were dropping all those seeds for green beans and covering what seemed like endless rows of them , that they were for something special for us. We still did not know this when we were hoeing them out, pulling weeds and later picking them.

My Father worked for the L&N Railroad and he took the beans to what we called the yard office and sold them to his friends. I am sure as they knew what the money was for they paid extra. Then he would take us to the fireworks stand to buy "pretty" fireworks for the 4th.

My Father as was his way taught us if we wanted something we had to work hard to get it. Which I thank him for.

After this the fun would start. Our house was near the railroad tracks. We would get up early on the 4th have breakfast (Bacon, fresh eggs, from our chickens, homemade biscuits and homemade jams and jellies) then we would go with our Dad up the railroad to pick blackberries. I can still hear and feel the excitement we felt as children getting to set out on our adventure and begin our very special day. When we came home our Mother and Grandmother would turn these into the most beautiful and best tasting cobbler ever.

They were already busy preparing our picnic foods. We always had potato salad. deviled eggs, green beans with new potatoes, squash and if they were in sliced tomatoes, cumber salad cut into slices with onions placed in a bowl of salted water with a little vinegar added and corn on the cob dribbing with butter. For dessert we would have watermelon, homemade ice cream, and chocolate pie.

While they were doing this we were outside helping our Dad with the BBQ. He would cook whole chickens, pork chops, hot dogs and hamburgers. Now my Dad was a strict man but he had a very kind heart. He would send us kids around the neighborhood to invite all the neighbors to eat with us . Oh what fun we had!!! All of the adults chatting away, the ladies using paper fans to keep cool in the blistering summer heat, children running about playing and laughing. At dusk we were chasing lighting bugs and roasting marshmallows. Then came what we had waited for all day our fireworks. We were never allowed to touch them our Dad would shoot them for us. You could hear our squeals of delight for miles around!!! Even the adults were excited.

As I think back on these days I cannot do so without thanking all of the people who served and are serving in the military to insure our Freedom. My Father and Grandfather as well as my Husband"s Father and Uncle"s served in the military. My hat is off to all the men and women who are paying the price for our freedom even today. So many are in harms way protecting this Great Country of ours.

Happy Fourth Of July!!!!!!






34 comments:

Carole Burant said...

Oh Mary, such wonderful memories of past 4th of July holidays!! I love it when families have traditions like you had and it's something you will always remember. We celebrate Canada Day on July 1st here and I remember my dad always bringing us to see the fireworks display that the mining company he worked for would put on for their workers and families. We would also have a barbecue beforehand:-) xoxo

Mimi said...

what a very special memory of July 4th holiday and fireworks...
Your dad must have been a very special man...and he has given you an extra special memory!!
Blessings,
Mimi

bluemuf said...

Mary, What beautiful memories you have of past Holidays, I always enjoy how you can put all the excitement into words. Thank you for sharing.

Hugs Karen

~*Marie*~ said...

What an awesome and moving rememberence. I have such fond memories of my childhood and reading yours I can feel the love you put into putting into words your memories. Thanks for sharing that memory with us.

Denise said...

That was beautiful, just beautiful.... I have no memories like that of any holiday so I really loved the way you made me taste and smell and hear all the laughter....... It was such a beautiful post!

Hugs

Vee said...

Mary, I just loved reading this. What warm and wonderful memories you have...I would've loved such a holiday!

Becky said...

Thank you Mary, and a Happy Independence day to you too.
I hope you make more of those lovely memories.

Smiles,
Becky

ShabbyInTheCity said...

Fun, fun, fun! I miss my daddy often on Derby Day because of the cookouts he had for us. I hope I'm making such memories for my kids.
Happy 4th of July!

kari and kijsa said...

What wonderful memories- truly an American story of Fourth of July traditions like our flag-flying post today!!

Happy Independence Day blessings,
kari & kijsa

willzmom said...

Mary, thanks for sharing these special memories. Beautiful story of such special love.

Vickie said...

Mary - YOU have a wonderful 4th, too! Thanks for coming by to visit! I've been up to my eyeballs with work lately.

I, too, have some great memories of my daddy cooking outside and having homemade ice cream and watermelon on the 4th. Our community had a fireworks display where we'd all go watch after dark. It was SOOOO much fun! I miss it! WHen my boys were a little younger and since we were outside the city limits, we'd sit out in the front yard and watch them do fireworks in the road. They had such a blast! (no pun intended) Take care - Vickie

Donna said...

Wondeerful post sweetheart....and, "corn dribbling in butter"???? OhMANNNNNnnnnn...hughugs

Donna said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Carol said...

A very Happy 4th July Mary.
What a lovely story and happy memories of your Dad.
big hugs,
Carol x

kari and kijsa said...

Happy, happy Fourth of July!

Have a blessed and wonderful day!

smiles, kari & kijsa

Sandi McBride said...

Wonderful post Mary, aren't our memories of childhood the best? I know how you feel when thinking about your dad...so glad that your memories are so warm...hope your 4th is a grand one...
Sandi

Unknown said...

Thank you for sharing your memories of your childhood 4th of July parties with your Dad.

God bless.

Lallee said...

Happy 4th to you, Mary! What a wonderful and charming post about your dad. I really enjoyed reading.

Hugs,
Lallee

Cathy said...

I can see why you love to remember your dad today. Such wonderful memories ~ Blessings and a Happy July 4th to you and yours ~

Justabeachkat said...

Awwww Mary...what wonderful memories! Thank you for taking us along. You certainly have a way with words. (I'm hinting I'd love to see you write more stories.)

Happy Happy 4th! May you have a safe, happy, love filled, memory making day!

Hugs!
Kat

BittersweetPunkin said...

Happy 4th!! I hope you have a great weekend!!
Hugs,
Robin

Oliver's said...

Wow! As I read your blog entry I cried. My father was a railroader as was his father and uncle. I have alot of the same memories as you do. My father is the most patriotic person I know. I fly my flag for him and what he did for our country and for all those who I don't know and all they have given to us. I hope you had a wonderful Independence Day thank you for stopping by, Paula

Anonymous said...

Mary,

What a great childhood story. Isn't it great that we can blog now and share these stories. I loved it.

Brandee :-)

Unknown said...

Mary, this was such a beautiful post. I got lost in your word pictures, and could vividly see each and every detail. How blessed you are to have had such a wonderful dad, and that you memorized these moments for today and forever. You also made me very hungry and it is quite late as I post this comment. My grandmother always made cucumber salad, and as I recall the corn tasted better when I was little.

Happy 4th of July Mary.

Blessings, Karen

Anonymous said...

First of all thanks for all your prayers.I LOVED your post. Your family sounds like a great family.I love the way life was in the good old days.I also love how the special memories passed on are something we can enjoy when those days are no longer.

kari said...

thank you mary for sharing that wonderful story. in the end it's all about relationships and it sounds like you have many special loved ones.

have a blessed sunday!
kari

a portland granny said...

I've been off line and today is my first day back. I so enjoyed catching up with your posts that I missed. Loved your post to your daughter, the one on your anniversary and your very beautiful description of your fourth of Julys. I felt like I was one of the neighbors called in to enjoy it with your family! I did a post, also, about our wonderful fourth of Julys. Its a wonderful holiday for family, country and reflections of all that we hold dear.

Thanks for sharing your life with us in such a beautiful way!

Rejoicing,
Joan

Shannon said...

Thanks for stopping by! What sweet memories! I hope you had a great 4th.

Neutral Dwelling said...

What a wonderful family memory! I enjoyed reading your post, it put a smile on my face.

Trixi said...

This was such a sweet post. Thank you for sharing.
Blessings,
Trixi

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

What wonderful memories! I really enjoyed hearing this story. It brought back great memories for me too!
Penny

Back Through Time said...

I loved your memories you shared with us and the feeling you seem to put into your words.
I hope you had a great 4th!
*hugs*
Michelle

Unknown said...

Mary, this is a heartwarming post!!! What great memories! I would love to see a photo of your Dad someday. It sounds like he left you a marvelous legacy.

My 4th of July's were varied with my Dad. Veteran's Stadium tradionally hosts a huge firework show in Long Beach. Dad used to work for General Telephone and they had a building right next to Vet's Stadium. He used to take us to watch it from the building's rooftop until GTE put a stop to it. Every 4th of July was different, but Dad always saw to it that we did something.

Hugs, KJ

Anonymous said...

Hi Mary and it's so nice to meet you! I'm thrilled you came to my blog. I will have to come back to yours and explore some more. Please come back to see me anytime.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)