250 Years!!!!

 

Happy 4th of July!!!!! 

Started the day with Angel food cake, whipped cream and strawberries...it just doesn't get much better than that!

Stayed up late last night and watched the ball drop in NYC for the 250th Anniversary of the USA.

Ball Drop

https://youtu.be/blZ7jGBOhM8?si=CNDBo9c8hYtD81iI

Also caught 

Fireworks over Mount Rushmore

https://youtu.be/sbtYTuSyUYI?si=AC54WUfnzeunR-5z

And the

Fireworks and Drone Show in Texas

https://youtu.be/BFVe2vKhwRw?si=6NKP5it_iBRaIJxg

Proving that maybe EVERYTHING is bigger there.

NYC/Harbor Tall Sailing Ships Parade

https://www.youtube.com/live/8MXJV6HHi90?si=Qo7yMY_XoWVDKA1t

https://www.youtube.com/live/79xoRCVQCn0?si=mVnFli784miukx8r

Gatlinburg Tennessee had their MIDNIGHT Parade

https://youtu.be/Y-liiTr0bQk?si=JKtSFs-kCgw_ujss

And the Las Vegas Sphere was lit up

https://youtu.be/ZZ5w90cabWQ?si=j8pAVRYLU1aIfpBB

Some celebrations were more personal... 

https://youtube.com/shorts/XroUEyFT5nk?si=ksQfr_ZRYuTPSmdc

And Disney is celebrating for 3 days...

https://youtu.be/CogZztOZxzw?si=GNec6msAHZmKoH3N

https://youtu.be/10N2-_OXG1U?si=UK8XIXU0jpIHKx1U

with Epcot and the Magic Kingdom.

Philadelphia has Big Boy...the World's largest steam locomotive restored and running for our 250th...

https://youtu.be/TtlfG0FYroM?si=zqLMJ40oIs0JA1O9

as well as 5000 red,white and blue cupcakes to share!

https://youtu.be/4q_mOL6-Gpk?si=GIbetoNF9iO5svV_

and lines of people to see The Liberty Bell.

https://youtu.be/7bzq_SlYK5o?si=SqmDnAxGUE5uF-zI

So much more...and we will be updating this until morning!

 

 

 

 

Virtual Jamaica: Cecil Charlton Park

 Not far from The Hidden Oasis is a little slice of green-space in the urban sprawl of Mandeville.

It is tiny...well kept...beautiful.

The legacy of prominent Jamaican, Cecil Charlton.

History of Cecil Charlton

https://youtu.be/SoaUGUSDzy0?si=X0NYr-XG917Prq-w

The Park

https://youtube.com/shorts/sza6TKQwl9M?si=TGiG2P6q8XprBP1K

https://youtu.be/JP_mRiXOpzA?si=CHGlY18mrKR4lLcp

The Aerial View

The fountain is relaxing...the shade from the palm trees cool with benches for sitting.

   A quiet place in the midst of the city's bustle.

 

 

July

 Happy July!

Summertime is here with a vengeance. Every day this week is 90+ degrees...even the birds have gone quiet.

Getting the house down to 70 degrees in the early morning seems to keep it comfortable most off the day without the air con on 24/7.

Taking today to finish the cleaning and such before my sister and her grand-daughter arrives Friday.

She is bringing lunch and I will be doing dessert...something with fresh strawberries.

John is doing much better...increasing weights during PT...driving a little...very positive.

So....I thought life was complete when McDonald's announced they had brought these back

Deep Fried Apple Pie

But it was a cruel tease.

Although it was wonderfully crunchy (...like all things fried are...) it was not the fried apple pie of my youth.

(...sad emoji...)

Surface of the sun hot.

Blissfully crunchy.

But the filling has been modified...very little actual apple and a lot (too much) of cinnamon goo. Very cinnamony goo. 

So close...but so far.

They did release a baked blueberry/cream cheese pie that smelled delicious and was fairly serviceable. 

 So...there is that.

The FREEDOM 250 (State Fair) has already been pretty much a bust...with Trump making it basically a MAGA rally and things breaking down.

(...who would have thought he would try to make it all about HIMSELF...)

But the Reflection Pool Memes have been lit...and even created a new drink.

Made with rum, pineapple juice, a blue liquor and a torn up blue fruit roll-up.

Very creative.

Locally, we have fireplugs painted random patriotic symbols...
 

And they have 250 Celebration at our nearby park and a fireworks display.

 Maybe we look to what has made this country great for 250 years...and not worry so much about an elderly man and his cult...who are (at best) temporary.

 

 

 

 

Virtual Jamaica: Manchester Parish

 

b

Tucked away in Manchester we find a small but comfortable guest house for our two week stay. 

It is called The Hidden Oasis...and it is centrally located to the areas we will be visiting.

It reminds me of a tiny B&B...and its selling feature beside the pool is a full kitchen. Maybe we can try some additional authentic Jamaican dishes!

Things to Do

https://youtu.be/0SZ3bpQ-bAA?si=9urld-FW9kjGMlRn

 

As well, Manchester has an eerie Haunted Church.

Until next time...
 

Bears...Bears....Bears!!!

And lots and lots of cubs this year...

Already, there are several sets of twins...two sets of triplets...and a bunch of singles.

18 to be exact...although we have already lost one to the raging river...so we are back down to 17.

Cubs have a rough start...and we routinely lose 50% before they turn three...which is why the parks department doesn't assign numbers until they are emancipated.

It is great  to start and end the day with the bear-folk, again...and we are soooooooooooooooo excited about the number of littles seen!!!

Holly's daughter, Jolly...and her three Jolly-Beans

https://youtu.be/kSily5TKQ_g?si=W92sbxfOILY7PitY

#164 Bucky

https://youtu.be/ZmJHg1uA2zM?si=Ae32tYbfuxBIf2A2

 #89 Backpack

https://youtu.be/h7zi7gQChFo?si=QUJqklupM0A_ddG7

#83 Wayne's Brother

https://youtu.be/yZXgKvP16yc?si=8pK0sddJ_lp27vCA

Who has the distinguishing aberration of white claws making him easy to identify.

 #151 Walker is back...

 

And hibernation has just ended. 

The salmon are slowly returning...

 and the gulls have returned...to divide the spoils when the bears start fishing.

...we call all the salmon "Reggie" and the gulls "Alice"...

Still missing Otis

...tears...

who will always be "KING".

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virtual Jamaica: Things are not Always What They Seem in This Place

 

 

Well...we didn't find a dirt-bike race...but there was The Donkey Festival.

Which did have donkey races.

Donkey Festival

https://youtu.be/t2gEJs1h-9w?si=NV80ECN1CYnuXxWm

https://youtu.be/b_8sG8PxjFU?si=EuXdCOC-WLG8NpwE

 Actually the (loud...braying....funny) donkey races was just the tip of the iceberg...there were also beer chugging contests...many vendors booths...food...and the locals (...some as colorful as their donkeys).

What an odd place this Clarendon Parish...of radioactive spa waters and donkey races.

 

 I have to wonder if it is the radioactive water, the ganja, the rum, the people or just Clarendon itself that makes this place a little odd...

 

https://youtu.be/VaJF59vvr14?si=icvfml5aGmcIoYWo 

Anyway...next week we will move on to Manchester...and not a moment too soon! 

 

Virtual Jamaica: Milk River Mineral Bath

Milk River.

It is peaceful...rich with minerals...a hot spring staying roughly 90-95 degrees...and one of the most naturally radioactive bodies of water in the world.

SAY  WHAT?????

Enough so that it sends a Geiger Counter clicking away.

 

 The water, which they tout as having healing properties, is so radioactive that you are permitted only 20 minute sessions per day.

Yeah...

 

No...I'm good.

 

You lost me at Radioactive.

 

 

Sorry I dragged you all out here.

 

Tomorrow, we will check out 

the dirt bike races.

 

Until then...