Fireworks on the Fourth!

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."--The United States Declaration of Independence

     Happy Fourth of July to you!  We did try to pursue happiness today and I think we succeeded.  Utah has been plagued by many wildfires and fireworks have been banned in all unincorporated areas of the state.  Our governor has even declared a day of prayer because the fires have become very serious and threaten to destroy more homes and lives.  With all this in mind, we started out the day by going to the parade in Grantsville.  We returned to our home for a barbeque and then the water festivities began.  We figured that playing in the water would not endanger  our dry country areas any further.  We started with a giant homemade slip and slide.  The kids of all ages loved that.  Then we moved on to launching water bottle rockets; and finally we ended by filling up the pool.    The whole day was topped off by returning to the city of Grantville and viewing the fireworks there.

 

A tradition we like best for the Fourth of July is to make homemade rootbeer and homemade vanilla ice cream.  It's such a refreshing treat.

Root Beer

1 bottle root beer extract

4 lbs. (8 Cups) sugar

4 ½ gallons water

5lbs. dry ice

Mix sugar and extract, then add water.  Stir well to dissolve sugar.  Add dry ice and allow about 45 minutes before drinking.

Vanilla Ice Cream

4 eggs                                                       6 cups milk

                      2 ½ cups sugar                                                 1 ½ T. vanilla

                     1 quart cream                                                   ½ tsp. salt

            Beat eggs in large bowl until light.  Add sugar ¼ cup at a time until hard to beat.  Add milk, cream, vanilla and salt.  Beat until smooth.  Chill in  ice cream freezer.  Makes 4 quarts.

Variations: You can add fresh or canned fruit.  Peaches or strawberries are good.  You can also add ground up candy bars.  Butterfinger or snickers are good.

Here are some mini quilts made from patterns from one of my favorite designers--Nancy Halvorsen  from Art to Heart.  Here are a couple of her booklets.