Holiday Postcard

A few notes on the pre-holiday preparations

Today is Independence Day. It’s a sunny day, and will be warm. My husband is working in the morning, but I have too many unrelated domestic things in my head to focus on my book, so I will take the writing day off. But our celebration begins tomorrow with the arrival of our daughter and grandsons from France for a month-long visit.

We’ll be missing the parade this year. It’s one of my favorite things.

Normally, we are big Fourth of July people. It’s right up there with my three favorite holidays. But the dogs’ fear of noises means we can’t take them to the parade as we used to do with Moses and Pete, and it also means we can’t really take them to the lake, either, because of the fireworks that go off randomly all day long. Nor was I able to find a dogsitter. So I will continue my mad scramble to get ready for the French invasion (Which makes the Marseillaise come immediately to mind, inspiring the urge to stand and sing—I can’t help it.) There will be a solo trip to the lake, more laundry, bed changing, and housework. Later, we will sit on our patio and have a cocktail, and dinner will be something I can buy ready-made at the grocery store, which, of course, is open. We will be tired, but the party starts tomorrow.

Next year I’m hiring someone.

Happy Fourth of July!

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Since it is unlikely you are available to dog sit, there are two ways you can help support my work: You can become a paid subscriber (see below), or you can purchase my books—and pre-order the new novel—at your favorite bookseller. Some of my favorite shops are Honest Dog Books, Boswell Book Company, Mystery to Me Books, Books and Company, Barbara’s Bookstores, Barnes & Noble, Target, and, of course, here. My illustrated children’s book, My Dog Pete is available only here.

And now for your perfectly apt dog video:

Moses used to love to sing with the fire engines (the entire department starts every Fourth of July parade). He was both an enthusiastic participant, and much admired—as he deserved.