On June 30, 1826, a group of citizens in John Adams’ hometown of Quincy, Massachusetts, visited the 90-year-old former president to ask for a message to read for the upcoming 50th Fourth of July celebrations.
He stated, “I will give you, ‘Independence Forever!'” When asked if he would like to add anything else, he firmly replied, “Not one word.”
Just a few days later, on July 4, 1826—exactly 50 years to the day after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence—John Adams passed away.
When my kids were little we made Chex Candy a lot–mostly on Sundays. It was very easy, very quick and the recipe made a ton. That meant it was pretty much the perfect treat for a family of seven.
As the kids got bigger we found it was also a great neighbor gift at Christmas time–for all the same reasons. So there are a select few of my children that only remember it as a treat for December. Kinda sad, when you think about it–considering it’s…you know…JULY…and I do have that stray box of Chex just laying around.
But I’m a clever girl….and not one to stand on convention.
The first Patriotic Bunting that I made a few years ago was fine…cute even. But this one is soooo much better. Not so….
boring.
I particularly love the little white buttons. A lot more work but worth it.
I originally made the old one for me, before I knew any better. Then while perusing Pinterest one day I came across this pretty little pattern. I was smitten.
I promptly whipped one up for Dane because when he saw it, he was smitten too and asked me to make him one.
Then, Jillian said, “Well if that’s all we have to do to get you to make cool stuff for us, then I’m asking too!”
When I was a little kid, I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to be the beauty parlor girl.
I wanted to do all the fancy ladies’ hair in buns and beehives and poofy curls for all the balls and parties they went to. I knew I’d be good at it because my mama used to let me sit on the back of this very couch and brush out her hair, all the time. Sometimes she would even let me take her curlers out after the Dippity-Do was dry. I couldn’t mess with it too much after the rollers came out or the curls would go flat, but it was so much fun anyway. Her hair always smelled so good.
One year for Christmas I got a real beauty parlor doll that I could practice on. In fact, before I was out of my pajamas that morning I already had that dolly’s hair in the sink for a good scrub. Everybody knows that’s the first thing that happens when you’re at a real beauty parlor.
Mama said, “Oh, you’re washing all her curls out so soon?”Â
But Daddy said, “Aww let her go. That’s what the doll’s for.”
I knew I was going to put the curls right back. And I did, a million times over.
I know I brushed that doll’s hair within an inch of it’s life and sprayed so much Aqua-Net that it ran in her eyes. My hands we sticky for days. I used up a bucket of Dippity-do. Of course, Mama’s rollers and her brush and comb worked better than the pretend ones–so naturally, I borrowed them too. If I used too much stuff on the doll’s hair, it gave me an excuse to dunk her in the sink and shampoo her all over again. I don’t really think mama thought that part of the deal through, but she was sure patient about it.
To my surprise, the doll started to smell just like…my mama.
I loved it.
I looked it up the other day and do you know—that doll with all it’s fancy-schmancy beauty parlor stuff–the chair, the curlers, the play hair dryer and everything cost a whopping $9.95?
Considering my mama got $25 dollars a month for groceries–that was a pretty pricey doll.
I wonder if she was counting on all the free hair cuts and styles she’d be getting from me someday, so then it would hopefully all be worth it.
