A red, white and blue Hodgepodge

  

July is here!  And it's also time for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond. Joyce writes the questions, bloggers provide the answers!  Here we go ...

 1. What does freedom mean to you? 

 Borrowing my answer to a similar question from 2017:

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."  (Romans 8:1-2)

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"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."  (John 8:36)

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"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Galatians 5:1)

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 That is true freedom, but I also appreciate the following definitions:

2. How will you celebrate Independence Day this year? If you live outside the USA answer this question as it relates to your own country's patriotic holiday, wherever that may land on the calendar. 

We usually have a church picnic on this day, but this year we're waiting until fall for that.  My hubby is part of a group that waves flags every Saturday morning and they are participating in a parade in the morning.  In the afternoon, we plan to have friends over for  a visit and an early supper at our cottage.

3. This or that...red, white, or blue? Stars or stripes? Watermelon, home made ice cream, or blueberry pie? How do you feel about fireworks?  

Blue.
Stripes.
Homemade Ice cream.

I like fireworks a lot but at this point I especially enjoy the backyard fireworks displays some people do.  Much nicer than fighting crowds to see fireworks that are often not as good.

The above was from a backyard fireworks display a few years ago.

4. What have you purchased recently that made you excited? 

The ingredients to make some homemade tallow balm. 

5. I'm thankful to live in America (or fill in whatever country you call home) because____________.

Many reasons but maybe especially because of the Four Freedoms that Norman Rockwell depicted in his famous series of paintings: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, freedom from fear.  These are blessings that Rockwell presented in uniquely American ways.  

Beautiful graphic from Abby at Little Birdie Blessings

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We had lunch today at such a sweet little cafe!  Hoping to blog or at least write an Instagram post about it.  Everything homemade, great portions, excellent prices.  

And there's the Hodgepodge for this week!