In the small town where I grew up, the 4th of July celebration was a big deal. Of course, we considered a supermarket opening a big deal. In the morning, everyone would go to Main Street and find a good place to sit. The earlier you got there, the more likely you were to find shade; so it was worth getting up at 6:00 in the morning. Most of the town turned out including lots of kids and many senior citizens. And, some times we brought our dogs.

America celebrates July 4 as our Independence Day because it was on July 4, 1776, that members of the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. In the next year on July 4, Philadelphians remembered and bells were rung, guns fired, candles lighted, and firecrackers set off. Now it is a tradition you should enjoy, too.

To add to your fun during your 4th celebration, how about dressing Spot up to show that dogs are patriotic, too? You can get a real Yankee-doodle dog costume from Tails By The Lake. The red, white, and blue outfit includes tuxedo tails, a bow-tie collar, a top hat, and a blue body covering with stars. The outfits come in several sizes from extra small to double-extra large.

Posted by Barbara.