It’s the fourth of July holiday today here in the USA. Taking a few minutes to reflect on what that means to me and to my country. It is supposed to be a day to celebrate patriotism and freedoms. I don’t like what I see, read, and experience in current media and communications.

America’s problem is that too many Americans — including its lawmakers — are failing to understand what patriotism requires.

The true meaning of patriotism is the opposite of the current exclusionary White Christian Nationalism that is showing up in all sorts of media and various ways. Democracy is being challenged and I am uncomfortable with things I see going on with our current situation. I don’t know what to do about my feelings and what will help to change the situation. I can only control myself and I don’t have much influence in the world to change others.

America’s moral mission has been toward greater inclusion — providing equal rights to women, Black people, immigrants, Native Americans, Latinx, LGBTQ+, Muslim, Jewish, atheist, and agnostic.

I know that there is a lot of work to do but I am unsure if I am able to take on this challenge out of fear and if I am strong enough to withstand the fight. More self-searching is needed.

Finally getting the house painted. Been years and years. House needed painting before we bought it.

Started with hiring someone to just paint the area behind the deck so that the it was not so ugly when we were sitting at the table on the deck. Now have a crew doing the whole house with scrapping and painting. Will look really different since there are sections that have not been painted since the early 1950’s. The former neighbor said at one time the house was yellow but we are just painting it white with really good paint.

It is gardening time since it is now June and the chances of a frost are pretty much past. Ya never know though. Have put the plants in the garden and hoping that it will rain soon because hauling buckets of water is getting to be a lot of work. Seeds planted and house plants have been repotted. Hoping that this season will produce enough for canning and freezing later on. It has been a strange year so far. Everything is really dry and the air is under current warning advisory due to the smoke from the fires in Canada.

Just dropped off the worksheets and statements for the Accountant to prepare my taxes for 2022. Doing the work to put together the numbers and spreadsheets needed was an interesting experience. It clearly show me that my feelings I have had to pivot are going in the right direction.

Yes – today is the “wearing of the green” and making corned beef dinner.

The month of July is almost over. The massive heat has lessened so that it is more bearable. These high temps were killing any thoughts of working and getting things done.