You've Gotta Love July 4th in a Small Town

We have had a really fun-filled Independence Day weekend, beginning with our grilled pizza cookout on Friday night. Then on Saturday morning Ed & I rode in the Smokey Bear Parade with our friends Jack & Linda Greene in his Model A Ford pickup.

Here's Linda's miniature schnauzer Barney (since they live on "Mayberry Hill") dressed in his "doggles" and cap.

He was not too impressed by himself, but he finally resigned himself to looking ridiculous and just enjoyed the ride. It was a lot of fun being in the parade and seeing everyone lined up along the highway, but Linda said I should have been in the front because all she heard were kids hollering, "Hi, Mrs. Vinson." I didn't get any pictures of the actual parade (which lasted about 45 minutes) because I was too busy throwing candy to all the kids (and my students) along the highway. This is one time that there were definite traffic jams in town but nobody cared.

Then today after church a few of us stayed for a cookout on the lawn. Everyone brought their own meat to cook on our new church "event" grill, along with side dishes and desserts. We ate under a tent and just enjoyed the 70 degree weather--no wind, no flies, no rain. For those of you who know most of the folks at our church, the guy in the cap in front below is Leon & Darlene Snyder's son Les visiting from McCamey, Tx.