Happy Birthday, America, Home of the Brave, Land of the Free!

Happy Fourth of July to all of our fellow American friends, doggies and cats! On this day, we would like to reflect that, though there are many people living here who complain about the government, you are free to complain, the government's actions have kept your free to complain and you are still alive to complain. We just wish everyone, especially the political parties, would acknowledge the things we have in common instead of harping about the things on which we differ. We should all ultimately have the same goal and that is a free and strong country. The opinions on how we get there fill a broad spectrum but that doesn't mean anyone has to be nasty or underhanded to "win". We hope our country is around to celebrate 233 years from now ... and beyond.

Okay, enough of that political stuff. We want to talk about FOOD, the truly important topic. We see Mom getting all kinds of stuff ready. Our Aunt Sarah is here and, a little later, our cousin Jen is coming over to spend the day with us. Because it is a special day here, Mom is serving up some yummo stuff!

She has ribs, beans, corn on the cob and lemonade for lunch. Doesn't this look like a wonderful feast? We aren't getting any of it.



For dinner she has hamburgers with all of the fixins (that's a southern word for all the other stuff that makes it goooooooood). Doesn't this look yummy? We won't get any of this either.



For desert she cut up a watermelon. Do you think three women can eat this much watermelon? (We put a can in the picture so you have an idea of how much watermelon is really in the bowl!) Once again ... none for us. Sigh, sometimes it really isn't fair. Wait a minute, it is NEVER fair when we don't get the good smelling food Mom is eating!)



And, just on the outside chance they aren't anchored to the floor by all of the food they have consumed, there are cherry turnovers! We would take a picture of them after they have gorged themselves on food all day, but we don't have a wide-angle lens!



And now, for one last complaint. Do you see this? Do you have any idea what it is?



Here is a closer picture. It is watermelon rind on the OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE!!! Mom won't share any watermelon with us but she gives the rinds to the cowsdogs. You can be sure we will be barking at them the next time we see them!