Let Freedom Ring!

Our family's Independence Day celebration is probably a lot different from most people's. But, it is our own in this beautiful place we call home, and we love it.

We disregard the fact that it is 80-90-ish degrees out, and dress in our thermal underwear and fleece and collect our warm hats and gloves, and head up as high as we can get along a ridge that overlooks the valley. We go until the snow stops us, and we can go no further. Then we turn around, and head back down to a point that accesses the edge of the ridge with a view of the valley.

We get out, and wander around and play with sticks, and stones, and the camera. We take some time to be very thankful that we're warmly dressed, because it's cold and windy up here. This ridge takes the ribbon for the place that I've been as cold as I ever was--I'm sure the time will come when I'm colder than that, but even so--In the midst of Summer, you dress warmly up here.

And, we watch the sun slowly set, and relish the moments...

And, when it's finally dark we snuggle down in our blankets together...

And listen to the wind in the trees while we watch the tiny, silent fireworks below with just us four for company.

Then we head home in the dark. The midnight offroad run is a total bonus to our Independence Day celebration.