Celebrating Independence Day – Walker Pond Style

Yesterday was our neighborhood’s annual Fourth of July party.  We don't always  hold our big party on the actual fourth, but this year since the fourth was on a Saturday, that was the day we picked.  I heard someone say yesterday that this was the 49^th year that our neighborhood of Walker Pond here in Sturbridge has been celebrating the Fourth of July together.  I’m sure someone could verify that for me, but it sounds about right to me.

As usual, the day starts off with a Fishing Derby.  Greg used to chair that event but has turned it over to someone with more interest in fishing.  The Derby starts at 7am so I think that Greg’s interest in sleeping in a bit had something to do with it, too.  The Derby is followed by a road race at 8am.  That’s an event that neither Greg nor I have ever been witness to.  But the Parade is at 10 am and I don’t think we’ve missed it but once or twice it in the 28 years we’ve lived here.   Here are a couple of pics from this year’s parade.

Winner of Best in Show were this pack of Patriots:

We don’t have a Best Dressed Dog category, but if we did, this handsome pooch would have gotten my vote:

Olive, the pug, watched the parade closely from the comfort of our golf cart and was pretty excited about that good-looking bulldog, too, but she didn’t get to attend the party, poor girl.  She just gets too excited among all those people and smells.  And while it’s a dogs dream, people would give her far too many bites of their hot dogs than would be good for her, so she had to go home after the parade.

The day continued on with field games one of which is an egg toss.  We had a lot of participants.

This year a new event was added.  The Wellie Wanging involves standing on a half barrel and tossing a Wellington Boot as far as possible while maintaining your stance on the barrel.  Not as easy as it sounds as it turns out.

Here’s a neighbor in mid-wang (?). We were told that this Wellie Wanging is a tradition across the Pond, but I’m not completely sure I believe it.  Verification needed! 

It rained on us for a while so everyone got cozy under the tents and had a few drinks and eats.  But it turned out to be a beautiful evening and every one, including Uncle Sam, enjoyed the day.

The Life and Times of Olive the Pug: Doggy Independence Day...

In the neighborhood where we live, we humans celebrate Independence Day each year on a day on or near the The 4^th of July.  This year, we celebrated on July 5.  It turned out to be a good call as it was pretty rainy up here on the actual 4^th thanks to Hurricane Arthur.  The 5^th turned out to be a glorious summer day.  Here comes our parade with our Grand Marshal John O’Brien leading the way.

Most of the time when we celebrate Independence Day, Olive the pug can’t do anything but watch the parade in the morning because a pug just can’t tolerate the hot weather.  But yesterday with the weather being so fine, she was able to go to the party for a while and mingle with dog and human alike.  What a day she had!

Here are some friends she met.

This beautiful little Sheltie is our neighbor’s dog.  He is actually on a leash, but because we were celebrating Independence Day, I cloned it out.  He’s a sweet little guy.  Doesn’t he look dashing in his summer haircut?!  It is my human weakness that I can’t remember his name.  I’m sure Olive remembers, but she’s not talking.

This is Freedom.  He sure has an apt name for the day.  He and Olive have been friends for all of Olive’s eight years of life.

Of course, making new friends is always good, like this beautiful seven month old Boxer pup.  We like to welcome new pups to the neighborhood.

Sometimes partying gets to be too much and a pug has to take refuge under a picnic table, but she will usually poke her head out if someone says they are willing to give up a stray piece of kielbasa or is willing to give a nice ear rub.

Olive and I are hoping all you fellow citizens of the USA have had a safe and fun Independence Day weekend!