Celebrating the 4th

New Freedom Parade

Our little town of New Freedom holds its 4th of July parade on the following Saturday.  This is because our surrounding towns have their parades on the 4th. The parade coincides with the New Freedom Carnival and fireworks on the weekend after the holiday.

Since my house is located on a street intersecting Main Street at the very end, the parade forms in front of my house and then makes a left turn onto Main Street.  We can be the first to enjoy this old-fashioned spectacle in which many New Freedom businesses and organizations take part.  I’ve included some photos of the charming small-town present and past parades that we have enjoyed.

A Visit to the Inner Harbor

The Inner Harbor at Baltimore was developed by the Rouse Company in the late 60′s and early 70′s.  I still remember the controversy surrounding the eradication of what once was a big field near the water.  Many folks at that time were completely against building the attractions that now serve as major draws for Baltimore’s tourist trade.  When the harbor pavilions first opened, I visited frequently.  In the last 10 years, however, my husband and I had not spent much time downtown.  With my sister’s visit, we all decided to have another look at the Inner Harbor that had entered the Maryland scene so dramatically 40 years ago.

Of course, everything had changed!  New restaurants and children’s attractions now crowded the waterfront.  The National Aquarium and the Science Center had expanded.  Phillip’s Seafood House had moved out of the pavilions and into the Power Plant.  The pavilions, which once hosted small stalls selling an incredible array of domestic and imported trinkets, were now given over to chain stores and restaurants.  It was a bit of a disappointment.  The $3.50 ride on the water taxi to Fells Point was now $17!

But for anyone who has not visited the Inner Harbor, this is still a great place to go.  I wouldn’t recommend Fells Point at this time because major construction has turned that small fishing village into a maze of chain link fences and torn-up streets.  However, besides the Inner Harbor, Baltimore has many other attractions that can easily consume a weekend. So put on your most comfortable walking shoes and come visit!

The Blue Dog

While I am none the wiser about the origin of the blue dog, I did see another blog post on-line with a photo of the same blue dog that we have.  It seems to have been a toy but I wrote to the blogger without success so blue dog remains a mystery.  Our little neighbor named him “Mysto”.  As you can see, my pooch Frazier still considers Mysto an interloper and has not made friends with him yet!

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