(no subject)

Fireworks have been illegal for seventeen years in Independence. This year, once again legal, fireworks tents have sprouted in every large parking lot. Sounds great, but the folks have forgotten how to sell their product. I asked one man about a particular firework - we like multi-shot, aerial break, no whistlers if we can avoid them - and he talked for three solid minutes. About his product? No. Anecdotes and misc details about other fireworks - a long, drawn out, almost Minnesotan discourse that amounted to one, three word sentence: "I don't know."

( The Hunt for Red Explosions... )

The gathering was relaxed and fun. Usually it's a block party in Blue Springs, but a few of the participants are sick so for the first time since Michelle and I married, the party was at our house. The Morrises; Michelle's parents and her grandmother; her sister and sister's partner; and Star. Good food (apple & gouda chicken brots...yummy), good drink (two gallons of sweet tea). The kids set off the little stuff in the front yard/driveway/sidewalk, and then we went to the back for The Big Stuff.

(Yeah, I let my four year old set off fireworks. Soon as he has better fine motor skills, I'll teach him how to use a knife, too.)

I built a firing platform from a couple of sawhorses and a piece of plywood to give the fireworks something to sit on and so I wouldn't have to kneel in the grass to light them. Made my job easier.

I will admit that by the end of it my brain had just about filled up with noise, and I'm glad it's done. A day of relative quiet will be nice.

And that was our 4th of July.

(no subject)

Fireworks have been illegal for seventeen years in Independence. This year, once again legal, fireworks tents have sprouted in every large parking lot. Sounds great, but the folks have forgotten how to sell their product. I asked one man about a particular firework - we like multi-shot, aerial break, no whistlers if we can avoid them - and he talked for three solid minutes. About his product? No. Anecdotes and misc details about other fireworks - a long, drawn out, almost Minnesotan discourse that amounted to one, three word sentence: "I don't know."

( The Hunt for Red Explosions... )

The gathering was relaxed and fun. Usually it's a block party in Blue Springs, but a few of the participants are sick so for the first time since Michelle and I married, the party was at our house. The Morrises; Michelle's parents and her grandmother; her sister and sister's partner; and Star. Good food (apple & gouda chicken brots...yummy), good drink (two gallons of sweet tea). The kids set off the little stuff in the front yard/driveway/sidewalk, and then we went to the back for The Big Stuff.

(Yeah, I let my four year old set off fireworks. Soon as he has better fine motor skills, I'll teach him how to use a knife, too.)

I built a firing platform from a couple of sawhorses and a piece of plywood to give the fireworks something to sit on and so I wouldn't have to kneel in the grass to light them. Made my job easier.

I will admit that by the end of it my brain had just about filled up with noise, and I'm glad it's done. A day of relative quiet will be nice.

And that was our 4th of July.

More tomato cages...

We have this thing around here with tomato cages. We make our own out of livestock fencing. They're indestructible, but dangerous.

I'm gimping around a little this morning.

Yesterday morning, I'm making a new set of tomato cages for the gardens and step on one of the wires in just the wrong way. It punctured the bottom of my shoe and stabbed me in the foot.

Now, it wasn't sharp, and the wire is large enough that it didn't break the skin, but damn it hurt, and still does. I've got a hard, bruised spot on the bottom of my left foot.

I still have one more cage to make.

More tomato cages...

We have this thing around here with tomato cages. We make our own out of livestock fencing. They're indestructible, but dangerous.

I'm gimping around a little this morning.

Yesterday morning, I'm making a new set of tomato cages for the gardens and step on one of the wires in just the wrong way. It punctured the bottom of my shoe and stabbed me in the foot.

Now, it wasn't sharp, and the wire is large enough that it didn't break the skin, but damn it hurt, and still does. I've got a hard, bruised spot on the bottom of my left foot.

I still have one more cage to make.