Wishing you all a very happy 4th of July!
I love the 4th of July. It is a holiday that is about celebrating that is full of friends & family, food, and fun. Here in Boston the Boston Pops do a concert on the Esplanade (one of the stretches of green that surround the city), and there are fireworks at the end. Seven years ago my friend Mary Callanan performed with the Pops (she was on the road with Mama Mia), so I got to sit close, watch my friend, and be on the front line of the fireworks. There was a rainstorm in the middle, but it was all good. A perfect way to celebrate.
Here’s their performance.
What are other great ways to celebrate, besides going to a cookout? Here are some ideas.
Watch the movie 1776. It’s a big old musical, fair warning for some of you who don’t like musicals. I love the movie for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is that the Broadway cast is in it. That doesn’t happen often, and I do love seeing the stage actors reprising their roles. A few years ago I saw it on Broadway with Brent Spiner as John Adams, which was such fun. Here’s a example of the movie:
You could also listen to Hamilton, another favorite of mine.
Make something that is joyful to eat, and out of the norm. Here’s what I mean. A jello mold. (There are some good ones, so I don’t want to hear it.) A lemon/lime poke cake. A three-bean salad. (Do you know how much sugar goes into my grandmother’s recipe? 3/4 of a cup! Not everyday food.) Rice Crispie squares, with red white and blue Rice Crispies. This holiday is about fun, so now is the time to make that recipe you’ve wanted to try but you couldn’t justify a pound of butter in a pan of brownies. You could also bring S’More makings to the cookout, but shake it up a bit. Bring Ritz Crackers as well, or vanilla wafers. Have fun with the food.
Read a 4th of July themed mystery. There are a lot of them–here’s a list.
Watch a concert and fireworks on television. In person is wonderful, but I know that fireworks can be a lot for some folks, and for pets. But on television can be a decent substitute.
Watch Captain America movies. Okay, that’s my idea of a fun 4th. But seriously, the Cap is all about patriotism, integrity, and American values.
Friends, do you do anything special for the 4th of July? Let me know! Also, if you have a good jello mold recipe, pass it on. Happy 4th!