Happy 4th of July!!

Yes, yes - I know, it's now the 5th, but I was celebrating yesterday.

There is nothing like celebrating the 4th of July on the National Mall. Yes, it's always hot. Yes, it's always crowded. Yes, the line for getting back onto the metro when it's over is horrendous. But it's worth it!

Last year we had a huge gathering out on the Mall, while this year it was only my sister and my friend, Kirsten. It was so hot this year, nobody dared to set up their blankets in the center section until about 6:30. I arrived at about 3:30 and decided to hide out under the trees.

The people watching is fantastic -- it wouldn't be the Mall with the occasional nut. Those who missed out this year will be pleased to note, we did see the "Hairy Christians" (Hari Krishnas) again this year (last year a member of our group spent a half-hour lost as we told them we were behind the Hari Krishnas, and they heard "Hairy Christians" which they couldn't locate . . .), although we sat closer to the Folklife Festival. We were still entertained by some bad would be Christian rock singers who competed against alone Evangelist singing solo and attempting to convert people at the same time. He'd get through one verse and stop to covert the masses, we'd think he was done, and then he'd pick up again. There were the drunk near adolescents and hot, tired, screaming children. There were the protesters, the locals, and the tourists.

We spent the afternoon eating fruit and keeping hydrated. Kate read, I crocheted, and Kirsten made fun of us. Kate got lost on the way to the bathroom and we almost had to send out the Mounties. We watched fireworks. We hung around afterwards for about 45 mins, and got kicked off the Mall because the police wanted to go home, and the metro was still crowded.

Nothing beats celebrating the Nation's Birthday in DC!

I've been a busy bunny - with more jamming and canning action happening, more crocheting, and I've even hung some fun things in the living room. Expect another update tomorrow.