Celebrating the Fourth!

How are you celebrating this fourth? If you haven't signed up for BBQ hosting or potlucking and you're still debating what to check out, there's plenty of fun and *free* activities happening around Central Texas tomorrow for you to enjoy!

You can find more on About.com or Statesman.com.

• H-E-B Austin Symphony July Fourth Concert and Fireworks— 8:30 p.m. Symphony performs; fireworks display at 9:30. Auditorium Shores. www.austinsymphony.org. We'll be checking this out from a sweet view downtown.
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• East Communities YMCA July Fourth Family Fun Festival — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Swimming and other activities, food and contests. 5315 Ed Bluestein Road. 933-9622, www.austinymca.org/events.php.
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• San Marcos Summerfest— 5 to 11 p.m. Kids' parade and costume contest. Live music begins at 6:15 p.m. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. San Marcos Plaza Park, 401 E. Hopkins St. www.summerfestsanmarcos.com.

Speaking of ideas...
In preparation for the fourth, I surfed around .gov sites and the History Channel to read up on 'fun facts' about Independence Day. Here are just a few that I found on Census.gov.

• * U.S. population
  July 1776 - an estimated 2.5 million
  July 2009 - 304 million
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• How far we've come...Check out these early maps of the US!
  
  
• * Firsts
  7/4/1776 Continental Congress (13 colonies) approved the Declaration of Independence
  7/8/1776 first reading of Declaration of Independence
  9/17/1787 U.S Constitution was signed
  4/6/1789 first day Congress conducted business under the Constitution
  
  It just so happens that my birthday is 7/10...so it was neat to read that the Declaration was first read to Washington's army on 7/9 (close enough to 'my day.')
  
  
• * On the grill
  More than a 1 in 4 chance your hot dog came from Iowa
  Beef on the grill is likely from TX -whether you're in AZ or NY
  
  My ideal 4th of July menu? Hmm, that's easy! Real barbecued brisket, grilled chicken basted with homestyle sweet-and-spicy BBQ sauce, grilled corn with Tex-Mex fixins (butter, cayenne, mayo), classic Deviled Eggs, my Momma's potato salad, and for dessert...chilled watermelon cut in slices for easy chompin' and whipped cream topped strawberry shortcake. Bevies: homemade sweet tea and lemonade, beer optional.
  Ah, ya' gotta love summertime celebrations!
  
  
• * Fireworks*
  $217 million worth of fireworks were imported to the US
  $14.9 million were exported
  *2007 figures
  
  I don't know what it is about fireworks, but I never get tired of seeing those flashy bright lights and thrillin' loud bangs!
  

• * U.S. Flag
  $4.7 million in US flags were imported ($4.3 from China)
  $2.4 million were exported -Mexico purchased $1.2 million (top purchaser)
  
  The mini-flags are easy to store but also easy to loose! I need to find mine for tomorrow. Chances are...I'll find them on the 5th. Pooh!
  

Click on Declaration of Independence for more history about the declaration and colonists.

Archives.gov is another great source for U.S. Charters of Freedom.






Happy fourth of July!