July 4

Jul 4, 2009 at 9:27 AM
20 comments

It's a gorgeous day today; the perfect sort of day for a dog on a potato bread roll:

The weatherman said it was "perfect firework weather". Well, I hate perfect firework weather. It would be okay if the only fireworks here were on the National Mall, or organised displays; but they're not. Hundreds of people in my neighbourhood seem to have hoards of illegal fireworks waiting to set them off under the cover of darkness tonight.

Last year was our first year in this house and we had been warned by older neighbours. It drizzled all day and we were relieved, once the sun set, that our house and wooden decks were dampened down.

Tonight I will be sitting on the deck holding the hose, imbibing some good red stuff, nervously watching for errant embers and children on fire!

My local firehouse is likely to be busy tonight - just hopefully not in my row of houses!

Firehouse

Have a happy & safe Independence Day.

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Is that really your local firehouse? How quaint!

Yes it is.... it has an historic landmark designation. It was built in 1900 using roman brick and glazed terra cotta. It has a perfectly preserved stable out the back. The whole area is quaint - our row of rowhouses was built in 1920.

that is a cool firehouse. bears a strange resemblance to the one just down the block from me. damn that hot dog looks tasty! pass it over, sans the ketchup (blech!) and enjoy the wine!

I love old firehouses! It is dry here and I dread tonight. It is illegal to shoot fireworks here in town, but they don't seem to enforce that and don't want people calling 9-1-1 to report them. seems to me that there are too many laws and no enforcement.

Nice photo! We used to live in the city of Cleveland, Ohio and I can tell you it sounded like a war zone the night of July 4th. The next morning we would emerge from our house to a street full of firework debris from near and far. No fires, that I'm aware of, but it would not have surprised me. -- JG

My next door neighbor Doofus (not his real name) used to be the kind to set off fireworks from his front porch. Luckily our house has a metal roof. This year there's been no booming noises. They have a baby this year, and his wife probably threatened his life if he woke it up.

Fireworks, by the way, are legal ... but not in the city limits. Considering the "city" is only about a square mile big, you'd think it would be nothing to get out of town and fire them off legally. You'd think ...

I feel your pain. I live in a neighborhood where the houses are close and the rednecks are many. My poor dogs, (I have hunting dogs and I'm calling them rednecks) are in their kennels getting debris hurled their way. I keep a tarp over their kennels so they won't be struck, but still... The hotdogs look yummy!

I have my wine and laptop - and the hose nearby. It is almost dark - the main fireworks on the National Mall go off just after 9pm - I expect the "local" ones to start any time now. The hot dogs were great! I love how red the doors and seat are on this firehouse. It never seems to wear dull so they must touch it up continuously.

A terracotta firehouse- how lovely!

Hope you have a safe and fire-free independence day!

Firehouse like that! Awesome.
And thanks, you've made me hungries!!!! Hungrieeeeeeeeeeesssssssss!!!
The last time I had a hot dog... dang...must be years ago!

Yes, we had lots of home-grown fireworks as well. Some were pretty spectacular. I'm not sure where they got them, because they're illegal in Massachusetts. You do have to be careful that way. I've heard emergency rooms are packed with explosives victims that night. How sad.

Emjay replied to Skyrat (Gina)’s comment:
Jul 5, 2009
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It is legal here in the District for "approved" fireworks to be set but it seems that a lot of people get their hands on the illegal variety. I doubt the police have time to bother with them where I live.

I was surprised at the lack of debris in the alley this morning. I think the neighbours must have picked up before going to bed. I did have a few "bits" in the little backyard to pick up but not as many as I had last year. Yes, it certainly sounded like I image a war zone sounds.

Emjay replied to Grouchy Old Man’s comment:
Jul 5, 2009
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LOL - yes nothing like marriage and a baby to tame a young man somewhat. "Approved" fireworks are legal here too but people seem to get their hands on more exciting stuff. There is a rec center park and a school oval about a block from here (ie; stumbling distance) so I wonder the same as you - why can't they take their stuff over there instead of letting it off in the miniscule courtyards of row houses or the small alley behind them.

Emjay replied to scorpion1116’s comment:
Jul 5, 2009
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The hotdogs were yummy! :-) Your poor dogs!! All animals around me last night must have been pretty distressed for many hours.

The firehouse is really attractive isn't it - for a firehouse. Safe and sound this morning - just the way we like it! :-)

Emjay replied to Procrastinator’s comment:
Jul 5, 2009
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BBQ-ed hotdogs are fabulous! Much better than the heat in hot water sort we have in Oz. And the potato rolls are really good.

Yes, I'm sure our hospitals also had a number of fireworks injuries. Last year we saw a kid across the alley hold crackers in his hands which were designed to fly into the sky!! (where were his parents!!) This year we had neighbours who spent quite a bit of time escaping fireworks which were flying around and putting out a fire which started on their bamboo fence!

Over the weekend we also had frankfurters as well as hamburgers, steaks, and tenderloin. Can you say protien overload? It was all good. Hope yours was as well!

LOL - yes that is a lot of protein! The hot dogs were really good - I think they were called Ball Park hotdogs. I did have salad on the side though - just to balance the meal.

July 4

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