Fireworks and the 4th of July

My favorite time of year--parades, fireworks, Jimmy Cagney in Yankee Doodle Dandy, and Fred Astaire dance routine with firecrackers!

As a kid the fireworks we were allowed were sparklers, visit this site for an interesting discussion on fireworks: http://www.howstuffworks.com/fireworks.htmtuffworks.com/fireworks.htm

I now prefer parades and fireworks on TV in the airconditioning.

Canada Day is July 1st and celebrates 140 years of confederation so a round of Oh Canada goes out to all.

I've always liked the pre 1965 flag the Red Ensign

--part of my anglophile propensity. I just found one a few weeks ago, the small kind stapled to a dowel, but color was good.

May both countries maintain a friendly border and celebrate in peace.

June sales looking up.

Sales at the mall booth are growing, despite road construction any way you turn. Just how much more expensive is it to repair roads in the winter? Maybe that asphalt or concrete would last better than the summer repairs. At least most spots the crews are out working and if drivers would really give the workers a brake and slow down we could all breathe easier. I hate the tailgater on these roads where you quickly switch back and forth with only a few inches on either side of the vehicle.Of course travel is more comfortable than dirt, dust and walking

Though a ride on the water in one of these would be a delight on a hot day.

And modern day nikes are certainly more comfortable than

Almost half way thru June

Took a few days off the grind and travelled to Niagara Falls Canada. Of course sort of a busman's holiday as I stopped at 2 large antique malls on the way over, 2 on the way back and drove around the countryside tracking down the independents. Best mall this trip-- Memory Lane on Hyde Park road in London and the one off 401 at the Tilbury exit. This was my second trip that direction and 2nd stop at Southworks in Cambridge. I was disappointed at this stop. It was too much the same --tea cups and saucers, corning ware, drinking glasses from the 70's on of the collectible characters. But it is large and best of all Mapquest gave me a better way to get to it without driving through downtown!
What a change in the land use going down the QEW. What once was fruit farms and orchards is now all vineyards. One could be on a perpetual buzz tooling down the side roads. With the exchange rate near par nothing is a bargain for the US traveller.
Yes, the Falls are still there but one can't park along the street anymore, you have to pay $12 to park in the the large lot down by table rock. The Botanical gardens are a treat and best of all the butterfly conservatory is an experience not to be missed.
Now that gas prices have come down to $2.99 a gallon more people will take to the road and visit all he antique shops and malls around, then my monthly sales will be profitable!