Fireworks, Featherbones, Family and... FREEDOM

As Independence Day fast approaches, I look forward to our annual family festival. I have always loved the 4th of July. But when our oldest was born on the Fourth (during the re-dedication of the Statue of Liberty in 1986), this day took on a new significance. Our July holiday is filled with tradition and is a day I truly look forward to as it brings our family back together.

We have always made the Fourth of July a huge celebration. We celebrate a family birthday, our country's birthday and the apex of summer. Our day is filled with activities from morning until night; we love to cram as much fun as possible into the holiday. 

July 4, 2010

The day usually begins with the traditional posting of the flag on the front yard family flag pole. We don't always fly the flag but we do on the Fourth. It seems like a great way to set the tone for the celebration to follow.

My wife usually pulls the ice cream maker down from the attic before breakfast. We received this appliance as a wedding gift (some 29 years ago) and it has reliably churned the ice cream ever since then. She often makes two flavors - plain vanilla and some exotic "Ben & Jerry's"-type flavor. I always opt for the vanilla no matter how tempting option two sounds. Her vanilla ice cream is the best and it is goes well with cupcakes or cake to celebrate our daughter's birthday!

There is usually some family fireworks involved. As the kids have grown older, there is less of that. But since fireworks are legal in South Dakota, there are plenty of fireworks stands and the prices are pretty competitive. The front yard fireworks seem to bring out the kid in everyone. No anthill is safe when the Knust fireworks infantry opens fire! I have vivid memories of my father lighting fireworks with his five and six year-old grandsons and sprinting away from the pending explosion as if he was running the 40-yard dash at the NFL combines. I hadn't seen him run in 25 years!!!

"Krawdaddy" 

Because we live on a beautiful reservoir of the Missouri River (Lake Francis Case), boating has always been a traditional part of our Fourth of July celebration. We have had several boats through the years, but we had a 65 foot pontoon boat for ten fun-filled summers. If those ten Fourth of July celebrations on "The Krawdaddy" were the only ten times we had used that boat, it would have been worth the investment. We usually had 5-6 families with us on the river all afternoon before heading to the slip in the early evening to cook on the grill. After dinner and cleanup, it would be time to watch the community fireworks display from the top deck of "The Krawdaddy".

Our days on the river are now on our sailboat. "The BlewJay" offers a new angle on boating fun on the Fourth. We spend several hours on the water, usually in shifts, before returning home for the family Fourth of July cook out.

I have always enjoyed preparing a special cocktail for the Fourth. Whether margaritas or sangria or vodka lemonade prepared in volume or mint juleps fashioned individually, it is fun to prepare a special summer cocktail that is refreshing and relaxing. On occasion, there has been an extraordinary amount of relaxation!

It's time for the feast!

Perhaps my favorite Fourth of July tradition is to fire up the grill. We always have extended family, family friends and/or our kids' college friends celebrating with us. I enjoy cooking for a large group and especially enjoy grilling and smoking food. For years, the menu has included smoked featherbones and burgers as the main course. I usually smoke 15-20 pounds of featherbones in the days leading up to the holiday. Depending on the mood of my assistant chef, the accompaniments may include corn on the cob, baked beans, potato salad, watermelon and other delicious summer delectables.

Finally, we sit on our backyard patio overlooking the town and river and watching the community fireworks display. Because we live at the extreme western edge of the Central time zone, our fireworks don't usually start until after 10:00 pm. Often set to music, it is a fine show. On a calm night, you get the extra effect of the fireworks' reflection on the water. There is nothing like a fireworks display over water.

Our view of fireworks with an assist from Mother Nature.

By this time of the evening, mosquito repellent may be a very important part of the holiday festivities. If it has been a wet early summer, the aroma of sunsceen is replaced by the scent of Deep Woods OFF.

So each year on the Fourth, our celebration includes fireworks, featherbones and family. But let us never forget the most important part of our celebration - FREEDOM. Without it, there would not be a celebration.