Happy Independence Day 2011

Americana Hand Stamped Necklace

The summer slump has arrived just in time to celebrate the 4th of July and kick off my favorite summertime addiction...

Big Brother!  I'm a pretty decent Super Fan of this show.  I watch the feeds and get waaay too invested, but it's a nice vacay right before the Christmas rush begins!  Thank goodness the Casey Anthony Murder Trial will likely be ending when BB13 starts 'cause I'm currently addicted to both!

~Lori

Patriotism for the Lifelong Liberal

WeeRPatriotic, Kim Bade, $15

The older I get, the more I feel like 'patriotism' has become code for something else in America today, and it's not generally something I want to align myself with.  I have a different view of 'American Exceptionalism,' the idea that America is the greatest country in the world regardless of the way we as a nation behave at home or abroad.  I think what would make America truly exceptional would be accepting the fact that we're one of almost 200 countries in the world and can co-exist peacefully.  We don't need to be the best, no country does.  We're part of a bigger picture on an ever-increasingly fragile planet.  The 'greatest country in the world' would know this, wouldn't it?

~Lori

Please Stand for the Star Spangled Banner - A Treasury

Okay, I had a lot of fun making this!  The first time I made it, it didn't save and I had to do it again.  Argh!  But, I like the end result a lot. :)  Click to visit...

~Lori