Independence Day

 

American History is always a fun topic to explore. Sometimes we celebrate things we really don't even know what they are or why it's a celebration. I wonder how many people actually know the history of our Independence Day celebration, and how the fireworks came into play...

I go to history.com for many great articles on several historical topics. Links to the following quoted articles can be found below at the end. I encourage you to visit the links and learn more about our great countries history and how it came to be what it is today.

The Fourth of July—also known as Independence Day or July 4th—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues. The Fourth of July 2025 is on Friday, July 4.

Did you know..

John Adams believed that July 2nd was the correct date on which to celebrate the birth of American independence, and would reportedly turn down invitations to appear at July 4th events in protest. Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826—the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

Fireworks
“Yesterday the 4th of July, being the anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America, was celebrated in this city with demonstrations of joy and festivity,” reported the Pennsylvania Evening Post on July 5, 1777. “About noon all the armed ships and gallies in the river were drawn up before the city, dressed in the gayest manner, with the colors of the United States and streamers displayed.”
After each ship’s cannon fired a 13-gun salute (in honor of the 13 colonies), the festivities continued, including an elegant dinner, a military demonstration and a performance by a Hessian band. “The evening was closed with the ringing of bells,” the Evening Post reported, “and at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets) on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated.”

To read the rest of this article

 go to The Fourth of July - History, Celebrations & Traditions

To learn more about 

the fireworks   .Why Do We Celebrate July 4 With Fireworks? | HISTORY

Blessed by God

Life's bright and beautiful @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for stopping by

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails.

Living with Pain

Well I did it, I finally broke down and bought the first plant. I sold off all my plants, house plants and the pots outside, just before moving out of the house a year ago. It's been different living without them. Funny thing is, when my energy was good my plants thrived, when my energy went negative, my plants would get sad looking. 

I have avoided getting plants while in this temporary situation, not knowing when or where I would be relocated to. I couldn't help it the other day, as I walked into the store, I noticed this little guy outside looking a bit shanty and the price was reduced to $7.99 on him.

 I had to bring him home.

I have the pot my grandkids decorated for me for Mother's Day a few years ago, and the kitty stand that has always been sitting on the front porch {even when it's empty}, the only one I couldn't part with. So now it has a plant, you can't see the kitty but he's there. I cut off the dead heads and added fresh plant soil and plenty of water and the plants looking pretty good again. It's my hope to go HOME soon. Looking forward to the day when I have a house full of green plants and bright colored flowers. 

I couldn't take the pain anymore in my left foot and finally went to the doctor. She became concerned about the lumps on the bottoms of both feet and will be monitoring them more closely, and I'm being sent to the hospital for X rays on the left ankle as it's not looking good {or feeling good} I was given another brace, and a prescription for pain pills as it has become an unbearable pain to walk on. The brace is impossible to put on as I can't point my foot outward to slip it over the heel, so I will be looking for a boot that attaches differently.

Getting up and down have become harder, with not having any support on one foot, needing a wall or some sturdy object to pull myself up with. The lower back pain has become a part of my mornings and nights. Becoming really hard to lay down and be comfortable in any position. Getting up from a laying down is almost as painful as laying there. My weight is going nuts, and I really need to shed a few pounds. I have never been this heavy and have no intentions of getting any heavier. 

I think the weight might have a bit of something to do with the reoccurring heartburn, which my doctor is suspicious may not be heartburn at all. My diet has become so limited as to not trigger it into acting up. I miss so many of the foods I used to enjoy and love the taste of. Again, today I'm in pain of the abdomen and feel bloated. Hoping a warm cup of coffee will help. I get headaches when I don't drink a couple cups before bed, so I woke up with a migraine today, as well.

Living with pain is no easy task. Keeping your pain to yourself and not letting it show or become the concern of others is a chore all its own. Limping with a smile. Not asking for help. Not being able to do the things you need to do. It's work of its own kind. 

People can look at you and see nothing, to think that there is nothing wrong. "Why does she have a disability plaque in her car?" "How is he on disability, he looks fine to me". We judge and assume that there is nothing wrong with someone, when in truth, they are in more pain than you could ever tolerate. 

Be mindful and keep the dirty looks to yourself next time you see someone in the disabled parking spot. Yes, they may not look that old, they may not look that crippled. You don't know how painful it is for them to get in and out of the vehicle and walk the distance to the store. Or how much more painful it is to have the weight of a bag of groceries on their arm while they try to keep their balance. 

It's not easy to live with pain, that people can't see. 

Blessed by God

Life's a miracle @ the Bright Side of the Barn

Thanks for stopping by

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails