I hope everyone had a fun and safe fourth of July. I spent most of the day with my Mom, and then my son and I made a sort of circle around the West side of town, looking for fireworks of course. We came upon a stand without much trouble, but we went further out because there usually is a ton of stands and one in particular that is cheaper by a few cents (not enough to pay for the gasoline to cruise around looking for it I am sure). So there were a LOT fewer stands this year, I am sure the drought and the fire danger being what it is has a lot to do with the decline in the booths... So does the current oil boom. A lot people that used to have booths are now working and don't have enough time to man a booth and really don't need to. Pay in the oilfield is high, and the hours are long. 

So we settled on the Truckload place and he got smoke bombs and sparklers. He stocked up so that he will have enough to last for a while, but on the way home we stopped at another stand and he bought a bunch more just in case...  When we got home he wanted to do a bunch but there was a storm brewing and the wind was up a lot and we waited for a little while. The Edwards family (neighbors to the East) had gone out in their motor home with their trailer, we suspected they were going to ride their dirt bikes, but they came in pretty quick, they had gotten into the storm and headed home before they got stuck in the mud and muck. Their grandkids came over and played with Paul the little boy threw smoke bombs that Paul lit for him... and the little girl loved the sparklers. 

Even though it was still a bit windy it was nice and cool, and the smoke blew away from me and that is what I was most concerned with!
  All in all it was a nice night, sitting and chatting with neighbors and enjoying the kids, that is the best part of a holiday.