While I’m feeling a little less joyful this year, the kids are looking forward to the holiday! We bought a smoker for the occasion, and my SIL spent 12 hours yesterday smoking a port butt for pulled pork sandwiches—yum! Of course, we have all the fixin’s to go along with the pork. We have sparklers and some low-explosion fireworks for the littles. Before goats and horses, we used to do a huge fireworks display, but we’ll watch the neighbors’ fireworks from a distance while the animals hide in their goat hut and barn. The poor dogs will be complete wrecks. Think of us, hunkering down with barking dogs (all 9), bleating goats (3), and a neighing old horse (Kansas is like 35 years old!). The cats (4) are always too cool to fuss.

I am sighing right now thinking of what I want to say, but zipping it, because my liberal ways annoy some people. I’ll just wish everyone a lovely day. Feast, give some comfort to your animals, and watch the lovely lights. I hope you spend the day with family—that’s always the best.