Fireworks – Valerie's Voice

The Circle of Life

I begin last Sunday afternoon, sitting outside on a hillside overlooking a lake, listening to music in the background, visiting with friends.

Monday morning I’m having coffee and catching up with a friend.

Tuesday evening we make a shuttle run to the airport to pick up friends and bring them back to their home in Northfield.

Wednesday was a beautiful evening for a pot-luck dinner and grilled hotdogs and a leisurely tritoon ride on Cannon Lake (toons and biminis…is this Dr. Suess influence?) and we celebrated a birthday.

Another birthday to celebrate on Thursday… flowers and a meal at Cosetta’s… with a lovely trio of multigenerational women.

Friday, being the Fourth of July, is yet one more birthday to celebrate – our country’s. We ate a piece of homemade pie and listened to a concert at a countryside gathering which claims to be the oldest 4^th of July celebration in Minnesota. Later in the evening, we enjoyed a great fireworks show back in Northfield.

But also, death came this week, to a dear friend and we gathered together to remember.

All in a week’s time.

The circle of life.

Grateful.

4th of July

Tonight’s Lights reflects the illuminations I saw walking home from a 4^th of July fireworks display one year.

Tonight's Lights

Twilight

Moonlight

Starlight

Fireworks!

Fireflies

Lamplights

Headlights

Garage Lights

Porch Lights

Interior Lights

and in a fire pit...fire light!

Happy 4th of July.

Earthquakes and Fireworks

Bearutiful Santa Barbara: Ocean on one side, mountains on the other.

We were in southern California last week, with our son and his beautiful family, when a 6.4 and 7.1 earthquake hit, on two separate mornings. The significantly high-magnitude earthquakes happened over 100 miles from where we were staying. We didn’t feel any tremors from either one, but a lot of folks in our area did. It was interesting to find out about the earthquakes simply by hearing others talking about their experiences. I’m grateful there were no injuries, and we were safe.

Another event of significance on our visit to southern California was the Independence Day fireworks.

We were able to witness some outstanding fireworks set off over the ocean beach, and we were able to watch them from the rooftop pool area of our hotel, one block away from the water. The rooftop area has incredible 360* views and it was a special place to ouuu and ahhh over the stunning display.

Lemon trees growing in pots…their fragrance is delightful.

Various flowers growing all over the waterfront area added additional color to our 4^th of July trip to Santa Barbara. Here are a few photographs.