Happy July 4th

I am a little short on time since I have to be at the museum in 20 minutes. I spent all morning trying to place an order for a new beach rock identification guide that I am printing up. It will be a tri-fold 11 x 17 inch guide that will help the user identify the most common 22 rocks found on the Lake Superior beach. It will be laminated so that you can take it down to the beach to ID rocks. I will have them back from the printer in around 9 or 10 days.

Yesterday, Grand Marais was packed with tourists. A good time was had by all, and the weather cooperated.

The parade....

The line up for the parade down Brazel St.

I rode in my friend's golf cart and did wear the bear coat, as did the museum founder for many years.  Here are a few shots from the cart...

I watched the fire works from the southeast side of the bay.  There are a lot of boats.  Notice the new breakwall in the center of the picture below..

Each year there is a HUGE bon fire that is lit just before the fireworks. 

The show...

Happy July 4th

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great Britain. After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the wording of the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

Adams's prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.

Historians have long disputed whether Congress actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, even though Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin all later wrote that they had signed it on that day. Most historians have concluded that the Declaration was signed nearly a month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed.  Robert Livingston and  Roger Sherman also were original authors of the document.

Thomas Jefferson...

Benjamin Franklin ...

John Adams....

Roger Sherman...

 Robert Livingston ...

The Declaration of Independence is a justification of the American Revolution, citing grievances against King George III. It is also a landmark philosophical statement, drawing on the writings of philosophers John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau. It affirms that since all people are creatures of God, or nature, they have certain natural rights, or liberties, that cannot be violated.

The Declaration and the American Revolution have since inspired freedom-seekers the around the world.

Sable Falls and Agates

Yesterday I went over to Sable Falls to check out progress on the new observation platform. I was surprised to see that there has not been any, other than the fact that the old steps located at the top of the bluff have been torn down.  This shot shows where the old steps were.  The park service have put brush there to persuade people to not walk on the area.

Sable Falls...

In my next web page update I'll include several customer agate photos.  But for today, here are some close ups of those agates.

Flowers and More Sunset Photos

Yesterday morning I captured a few shots of some of the flowers blooming in my garden. Due to all my projects, this is the first year in more than ten that I have not had a vegetable garden. At least some of the perenials are still coming up.

Two nights in a row I headed down the beach.  Here are the sunset photos from last night.

Notice the swimmer.  He was in the water when we arrived and was in the water for 20 minutes that we saw.  Since the water's temperature is probably still in the 40s, he has more endurance than I.

Notice the kayakers....

Going, going, gone...

The moon last night.....

Lake Superior Sunset

I had every intention to go hiking last night, but instead I was invited to visit with friends, Gerald and Jill, who returned from a trip down state. My priority was to get some sunset pictures, so we went down to the "front porch" board walk to do so. It was a crowded evening on the board walk since there were many others with the same goal. Last night the sun also cooperated. 

The moon also cooperated...

Au Sable Lighthouse ...

Jill with her dog, Bruce.

The Harbor Lighthouse... The three yellow orange areas on the break wall are not lights -- they are reflections of the setting sun.

The sunset...

An updated picture of the growing break wall...