Small Town America Celebrates

I'm a bit late posting our Independence Day celebration, but Buzzards Bay had a cute little parade. The kind of small town thing you had in the 70s.  It was a warm but cloudy day.  Very comfortable. The parade started with all the first responders using their sirens and horns and stuff.  It was loud.  

There were 2 bagpipe bands, one of which did Scotland the Brave which is my fave bagpipe song.

The military and veterans were well represented.  They all got the biggest applause. 

A few superheroes showed up.

And Uncle Sam.

BFFs Wonder Woman and Super Girl

Love old cars

This pirate ship was by far the best thing in the parade.  There is so much detail on it, plus it fired very loud cannons.  And they were also giving away strands of blue beads!  

Our local rural tradition also got a nice nod.

I think this whale is usually kept over in Bourne Village at the historical society.

The parade concluded with some ginormous rock trucks.

There was also Canalfest in the Park, but I decided to walk home instead.  Russell grilled up some steaks and a burger for lunch, which we had along w/ some broccoli salad and potato salad that I'd made.  Afterwards, we sat on the deck for awhile, watching the birds in the yard.  It was a very relaxing day....till the fireworks that continued well after midnight scared Sagan really bad.  

The next day was sunny and warm so I walked downtown to check out the festivities.  I know I took this picture last year and featured it, I just love how they did this pallet and how it looks on that fence. 

Canalfest was small and not too crowded.  Lots of awesome crafters and food, although I didn't get any food in the park.   Sharks are very de rigueur here right now.

Believe me, if I had room for one more tchotchke or wore jewelry regularly, I would have shopped till I dropped.

I'm not sure why flags were at half mast both July 4th and 5th, but they were.  

These paintings were great.  The RR Bridge is my fave.

Would've gotten one but the ribbons get tangled in my hair!  Adorable patriotic penguin on the right.

I grabbed a couple slices of cheese pizza at Jake's and walked home.  I couldn't resist doing this peace sign sand art in the park.  I haven't done it since I was a kid.  I kinda wish I'd done a second bottle in rainbow sand.  Oh well.  Maybe I will run across one somewhere else this summer.

I Heart BBay

Have I mentioned how much I love living here in BBay???  I like it way better over here than I thought I would when I was still in Washington and rented the house.  It was the best decision ever, although the decision was made based upon dog-friendly housing availability.  

These two businesses recently opened, side by side.  Canal Creamery, an ice cream shop, and Jake's Pizza. While it was tempting to stop at both places, I opted to get a slice at Jake's because we're looking for a new pizza place since our old standbys are starting to suck.

I got a slice of cheese, which is the only kind of pizza I like.  The crust is delicious.  So crispy the way I like it!  This is going to be our new go-to place for pizza!!!!!  Not only that, Jake is a very personable guy, his grandmother was hanging out there with him and she was very nice, and the young lady who works for him was also very friendly.  What more can you ask for?  

Then I continued to hit up some more of my fave places.  Loving that 60s or 70s era design on the 7up sign.

I love the center picture better than the frame.  I wish I could paint because I'd love to do something like this.

Love the bunting.  You don't see this out west at all.  July 4th is a totally different holiday out there.  It has way more meaning here because all of the Independence Day history took place here. 

I could have stood...or sat....on this hill above the beach for the rest of the afternoon.  The breeze was so refreshing and constant that the sun never felt too hot and uncomfortable.

I watched this guy launch his boat too.

But it was getting on to 2:40, and I'd left the house at 12:15, so I headed home to shower and kick back the rest of the day.

Banner plane on a banner day.

These were my humble purchases for the day.  That's a 45 of Gilbert O'Sullivan's 'Get Down'.  Some old jewelry I can use for parts, postcards, the pengie for Val and a bar of lavender soap made on Cape Cod.

Bourne on the 6th of July

Last weekend I got it in my head that going to Newport, RI would be a good thing to do.  It was a Sunday morning.  I don't know why I thought it would be deserted but I did, and when I got down there not only did I get lost, but traffic was a horror show.  Ticked off, I headed home without stopping in town to see anything.  I sulked for about an hour at a missed photographic opportunity, then decided to walk downtown, with only the intent to go to the bank and post office.  I ended up wandering around & shopping for two and a half hours!  It was a gorgeous day.  Very warm but the breeze was delicious.  Just 2 days past Independence Day, decorations and flags were still prominently displayed.

The bowling alley.  I learned to bowl here when I was 10 and my dad and uncle took my cousins and me. It was duck pin at the time but I think might be ten pin or candlepin now.

New this summer is the Crooked Row Farms stand.  Profits go to the Bourne Food Pantry.

This gas station is near my house and I never noticed the 'Established 1932' on the sign till today.  The station itself doesn't really look all that old, so I assume the current building replaced the original one.

I've walked by The National Marine Life Center, Inc. countless times and decided to drop in.  I knew they rehabilitated marine mammals but I wasn't sure if this was like an aquarium or what.  

So I went in and it's a small museum that displays info on marine mammals.  Like this sea turtle egg exhibit.

They have closed circuit TV showing the seal pups and sea turtle that are currently being rehabbed.  The public is not allowed access to them because they cannot risk the animals getting used to humans and human voices.   

Some of the seals that have been rehabbed.

This little guy was in a tank in the museum.

A painted right whale with lots of postcards and stickers.

The whale's name is Always.  He is, apparently, sending postcards to his fellow right whale friends.

I got this little cutie for my stepdaughter who adores penguins.