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4th of July: gentle on my mind

July 4, 2018 By Talya Tate Boerner

4th of July

Before we went to the lake for the 4th of July, we drove over to a fireworks stand near Luxora to buy a sackful of Roman candles, bottle rockets, stink bombs, and Black Cats. We carried them with us like luggage, as though we couldn’t buy sparklers in Mountain Home.

How the whole bag didn’t combust when we stopped for butterscotch malts in Lake City was a great mystery to me. In the time it took the Tastee Freeze waitress to whip up our orders and slide them through the window, Momma’s car morphed into an oven. We could have baked chocolate chip cookies on the dashboard, if we’d better planned.

We shot our fireworks from the dock, which was a three for one deal—the initial explosion, the echo through the cove, the reflection over the water. Sometimes we watched the official fireworks show at one of the marinas, but truth be told, our own private party was perfect.

The fireworks have already begun around our home. Last night, kabooms resonated from the mountains as though they came three houses down. Luckily, the dogs ignored the noise.

This morning, I look for fireworks in the garden. Explosions of color from nature.

fireworks in the garden

4th of July: fireworks in the garden

4th of July: fireworks in the garden
Another Independence Day is almost here. Maybe I’ll eat pie and ice cream, twirl a sparkler or three.

4th of july pie

Wishing you a safe and happy 4th of July filled with all the good things.

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Musical Pairing:
The Band Perry, Gentle on My Mind

Filed Under: Gardening, Holiday, Simple Pleasures Tagged With: 4th of July, Lake Norfork, memories of summer, summer gardening

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Comments

  1. creecy33 says

    July 4, 2018 at 9:24 am

    You do have a lot of “fireworks” in you own back yard. Beautiful.

  2. creecy33 says

    July 4, 2018 at 9:26 am

    Missing the lake this Fourth. ??❤️??

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 4, 2018 at 12:13 pm

      Me too!

  3. Christopher Mitchell says

    July 4, 2018 at 9:36 am

    Shooting stuff off a dock is fun.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 4, 2018 at 12:12 pm

      Yes it is!

  4. Trent Fleming says

    July 4, 2018 at 11:05 am

    Happy Fourth!

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 4, 2018 at 12:13 pm

      You too!

  5. Julie says

    July 7, 2018 at 11:11 am

    My first

  6. Julie says

    July 7, 2018 at 11:15 am

    My first lake fireworks show in Arkansas didn’t disappoint! I have finally finished your Gracie Lee book (taking so long as I only allowed myself the luxury of listening on audible when I walked the dogs and the heat kept those walks to 20 minutes). Loved it and anxious for your next book! Julie

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 8, 2018 at 7:37 am

      Thank you so much Julie! I hope you’ll do a review on Amazon! I’m glad you enjoyed a fireworks show. Lake fireworks are the best!

  7. Robin says

    July 4, 2019 at 10:28 am

    One of our 4th of July traditions was homemade ice cream. I’ve spent hours watching my dad turn the crank. No electricity needed! Thank you for bringing such sweet memories back to mind!

  8. Sharon Collins says

    July 2, 2023 at 10:56 am

    Most of my July 4th celebrations that I remember really well were spent with our dear neighbors who lived across the street. What a group we made. We were noisy and nobody cared. We would sit out under our carports and cook our ribs in the BBQ grills. At some point we would surrender and take a nap before rejoining the group and finally eat those ribs. The best ever cooked ! That group of 7 people had more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Old friends are the best friends.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 10, 2023 at 7:30 am

      Yay for old and new friends!


Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (2022)

THE THIRD ACT OF THEO GRUENE (coming 2025)

Recent Ramblings:

  • Sunday Letter: May 4, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Rainy Day Edition
  • Spiderwort: my love-hate relationship
  • Sunday Letter: March 23, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: March 16, 2025

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