Friday, July 4 (NH)

There's nothing like the Fourth of July in NH. This is our 16th NH Fourth--we've been coming here every year for the Fourth of July since 2008, with the exception of 2012, which was when we moved from Brooklyn to Maplewood. Sixteen years of Fourth of July parades, rummage sales, bbqs, fireworks, fire pits. 

Today was exactly the same as every other year. We went early to the parade so we could visit the rummage sale, which, this year, was very sparse; but across the street was a giant sale, and the girls and I found lots to bring home, including a mug that says "Vermont All-State Cow Tipping Team." Then we watched the parade. The girls have officially aged out the candy portion--everyone throwing candy passed them right by. But we did get our chocolate milks from the dairy.

After the parade, we had hot dogs and hamburgers at the firemen's bbq, browsed the cakes in the cake auction area, and then headed home. 

While Andrew and his sister etc went to hike up Mount Ascutney, the girls and I hung out at home. L&G went to the pond for a little while, but it was too cool outside to stay for long. We played Rummikub, Chinese checkers, and pick-up sticks. We read in our hammocks. Once everyone got home, they went for a visit to a cousin's house while the girls and I went to the creek and the lagoon. We had to squeeze in these visits; there's always something that gets saved unti the last minute. After we explored for a little while, we joined everyone else.

Dinner was selections from our large amount of leftovers. Then we sat around the fire pit until it was time to go to the back of the house to watch fireworks being set off at our cousins' house up the hill. Then the kids through pop-its in the road while Patrick set off some fireworks he'd brought, and we all lit some sparklers.

It was a delightful, traditional Fourth. 

Tomorrow is our final day here, and it will be filled with packing and returning the house to its regular state. We've had a long stay, longer than usual, but I'm still not ready to leave.