Small Town Fourth of July

Fredericksburg has a great party on the Fourth. The parade was at 10, so we left the house around 9ish, got great parking, had some coffee and almond croissants, then found a space for the parade. Growing up in Ketchikan, the parade was a HUGE deal and all the booths. Fredericksburg had great Fourth of July booths. No lumpia, or fry bread, but great booths none the less. Lots of crafts, face painters, the fire department, good food, the Rotary Beer Garden. Lon and Grandma watched the parade together!

The parade was just like the kid's parade in Ketchikan. I thought they might have the *big* parade after, but no luck. The parade was so cute. Kids and dogs, with their parents helping out, all decked out for the fourth.

Lon enjoys the snowcones. It was 89 degrees ! He did so well. Yes, he did wear the outfit I made him. Glad I made the shorts!

Lon fell asleep and it looks like Mark would have liked to also!

We found a restaurant that was not crowded, one we had never been to, and the best part it was air conditioned! The place was called Bangkok Thai. I have definitely had better Thai. But it was edible and air conditioned. The Thai iced coffee was not bad. I got a cup of ice for Lon's water bottle. Yes, he is eating a lemon. He seems to enjoy them. After every bite he made a sour face, but he kept eating.

After lunch we took Lon home it was really getting HOT outside. The temperature was getting close to 100! At mom's house the outside thermometer on the screen porch (in the shade) said 99.4 YIPES! Too hot for babies outside! Lon and Daddy played Duplos.

My mom and I thought it was not too hot for US to be outside. Well, not really outside. We went to Belmont. Belmont is the former home of the Melchers. Gari and Corrine. They were artists, prominent in the early part of the century. Up into the 30s. It was a beautiful house and grounds. You could not take photos inside the house. They have some gorgeous antiques (of course, it is Virginia, after all) and their original art on the walls. Theirs and Gari's art partner (whose name I can not remember).

We left the wonderful house and museum just as those dark afternoon clouds were rolling in. It did not really cool things down though!

Lon enjoys weather. It was good we brought him into the screen porch. They were reporting tornados in the area, but none that came to us. BIG rain drops pelted the porch, the wind knocked over Matt's tree. (Karen got a a flower arrangement when Matt was born that had a stick in it. For laughs Mom stuck it in a pot of dirt, it grew. It is a very tall curly willow. Pretty tree)

The Fourth was good this year. Lots of things to do, lots to see, lots of fun for all of us.