Small Town Good Times

The Princess, The Hubbs, and I live in a very small town.  The main road (if you want to call it that) is two doors away.  There are only two lanes, and the speed limit is 40.

We have perhaps ten businesses on our "main" drag: a grocery store, a gas station, an outdoor power (lawn mower, etc.) repair place, a little hair salon, and a handful of bars.  Oh, well, I guess I should count the funeral home, the firehouse, and the auto repair joint, too.  And the vet, the liquor store, and Subway (that's still fairly new...the only place like it in the whole town).  Okay, so maybe it's more than ten, but still...

Every year, this little town puts on a "parade."  I have to put it in quotes, because if you're not from someplace like this - our entire town has something like 1200 houses - you totally wouldn't classify it as one.  But we love our goofy small-town traditions.

Yesterday, The Princess's beloved Auntie T and her sister, C, joined us for the festivities.  The Princess only made it a few minutes before retreating to her room (can't say I blame her, with all the sirens, people, and general noise), but we stayed out there for the duration...watching from lawn chairs in our driveway.  At some point, I remembered that I had charged up the ol' camera battery in anticipation, so I ran inside to get it and snap a few shots.

Here we have the 4th of July Fairies (seriously?).  Yes, seriously.  On stilts.

It just ain't a good parade if y'all don't line up all of the emergency vehicles in town and blare the sirens...

How have I not noticed this truck around town?  Really, I think I'd remember this one...

I *love* that the farmers ride their tractors through town.  No, really...I think this is my (honestly) favorite part.

Themes and a big hullaballoo just ain't what we're about 'round here.  Give us a flatbed and some outdoor chairs, we'll supply the flags and wave at the kiddos.

There were decked out boats, horse trailers, farm equipment...this really is small-town entertainment at its best, y'all.

Another tractor..yaaaaaayyy!

Shoulda heard the pipes on this bad boy...loud as a pack of Harleys.

Auntie T's puppy, Tootsie, enjoyed the show in her own patriotic getup.

After the parade, we had a small barbecue in the back yard, followed by The Princess splooshing around in her kiddie pool for a while.  When that got old, we dragged out the sprinkler, which was big fun.

The Princess was in bed by five o'clock in the evening - completely checked out.  Hey, give her a break...it was a big day.

Unfortunately, the fireworks down by the lake scared her awake.  After about an hour or so laying down with Momma, she went back to her own bed while the neighbors blew off their own boomers.  Not only was it an eventful day; it has also been one of those nights that no one recovers from quickly.  Every hour or so, she's been startled awake yet again and needed some help calming down.

Here's hopin' she makes it through school today without too many problems.