Don't Wait To Have Fun

Play Games (The Right Kind)

Our youngest daughter invited my husband and I to join her family for a long weekend in Craig, Colorado. My son-in-law found an incredible VRBO property for the 13 of us, ranging in age from 11 to 72. We spent almost the entire weekend together at the house as a group, making memories as we swam, ate s’mores by the firepit, cooked in the perfect chef’s kitchen, and competed fiercely at shuffleboard and innumerable board games. I’ll treasure this time with all those wonderful people for the rest of my life. This weathered mural greets travelers on the highway into Craig, close by our rental.

Become A (Temporary) Wild Bird Sanctuary

A pair of double crested cormorants delighted us when they discovered the waters of our scruffy neighborhood pond. What could lure these big birds to play in this small bit of water?

Someone donated several gorgeous koi to the pond, including this amazing creature with a luxurious lacy tail. Sadly, all the koi disappeared a day or two after we spotted them. The cormorants left a few days after that, probably in search of their next exotic fish buffet.

Enter Third Places for The Fourth

Third places are the spaces, such as libraries or cafes, where we connect and build community with people we might not otherwise meet. Those kind of informal, low commitment connections help our communities become stronger. This year, I’ll be out and about at our local 4^th of July celebration at Fort Collins City Park, which is an easy to access third place. It will be lovely to come together as a community and say “Happy 250^th Birthday, America!”

How are you celebrating America’s 250th? Let us know in the comments, please!

If you’re wondering, first places are our homes. Second places are our work or school. The more you know…

I don’t have a fireworks picture, so enjoy this tiger swallowtail feasting on my neighbor’s milkweed instead.

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