July 4th in Maine

Happy Birthday, America! We started out the day in an appropriately manner, with the raising of Old Glory on Dad's new flagpole:

I bought some little American flags at Target before we left Atlanta, and the kids added some patriotic flair to the cottage and the road:

After breakfast we got ready to go the local July 4th parade, which is always entertaining for people-watching, if nothing else. The Boy hates loud noises, people in costumes, being hot, and marching bands. He lucked out because Dad said that he would stay with the Boy at the cottage where they looked up crazy sports team names, listened to classical music, and drank coffee and hot chocolate. Have I mentioned that the Boy and Dad are essentially the same person? They are.

The parade was in Thomaston, which is a booming metropolis of just under 3,000 people about ten miles or so from the cottage. The town's major tourist attraction is Montpelier, which is the former home of General Henry Knox, who served in the Revolutionary under George Washington and became America's first Secretary of War. Just to make you feel unaccomplished, he was Secretary of War when he was about 30 years old. It's only slightly comforting that life expectancy back then was about 50. I'm hoping to be a late-bloomer.

The Baby with Montpelier in the background.

The parade is awesomely small-town. Anyone with an unusual vehicle is invited to participate and all the emergency vehicles in the area appear to be there, so good luck getting an ambulance in the area on July 4th. The parade participants all throw candy and other trinkets to the children. The girls cleaned up with a bunch of candy, a copy of the Declaration of Independence, a couple of mini-frisbees, and some Mardi Gras-style beads. I let them eat the candy, but thought it was a little ironic that I only allow them to eat candy that's been on the ground if it's been thrown by strangers.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the parade:

I love this because the girl on the right is wearing a life jacket.
The boat is on a trailer in the middle of the street.

Tractors are always a crowd-pleaser.

Kids these days. I seriously hope the "she" he's talking about is his mother
and what "she said" was, "I can't believe you're wearing that shirt in public."

Moon's Wild Game Processing. Need I say more?

This Humane Society Smart Car was wrapped in a fur-like decal and
was pulling this ferris wheel full of stuffed dogs.

Speakers were playing, "How Much is That Doggie in the Window" on
an endless loop.

For some reason, this parade participant was dressed in Victorian
mourning attire.

This is a float from a children's consignment store. There were dolls (I hope)
in baby seats anchoring each of the four corners of the float. All I
could think was baby bumpers!

How'd you like to eat that fellah with some melted buttah?

The Gorton's Fisherman and another Lobster.

This guy takes the parade award. It was 90 degrees
and he was dressed as Smokey the Bear.
As an aside, I never knew that Smokey wore Wranglers. 

Here's one for you punctuation and grammar policemens.

Sometimes the parade was a little loud.

But we still had fun!

Happy Independence Day!