Happy Independence Day!

What a wonderful epitome of a place: "...the land of the free and the home of the brave"

I grew up (in England) amid Western films about 'cowboys and Indians' and, later, frontiers people - women eking out a living from the land (like Doctor Quinn, Medicine Woman, Little House on the Prairie, the Waltons etc) and the realisation that the so-called 'Indians' were so wise and civilised and nothing like they had been portrayed in old films. In my teens came the influence of McDonalds and baseball caps and Dallas and Dynasty - the era of oil magnates, followed by all kinds of crime scene stuff. Then I met real Americans and, dismissing the Hollywood view of life, saw the wonder that is America! What a place! What incredible people! So vast, so diverse, so founded on ideas of individual freedom and opportunity; and founded on the idea that each person can think for him/herself! And a place from which so many new ideas emerge because of the diversity! Could there ever have been a more ideal setting for such a 'dream' than a whole untried Continent, ranging from forests and swamps to deserts and mountains, with such a diversity of species of animals, and into which came people like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, who spoke such wisdom as:

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."

And: "A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference. "

and who founded a nation built on the idea that each person has the power to think for him/herself!

God bless America, Americans, and freedom of belief, freedom of race, of dreams and Happy Independence Day from England to everyone American!
Happy Independence Day!

This Week in Princesses

This week was an intercontinental week for royal ladies as the English queen headed to North America and the Belgian queen visited Africa. Back in Europe, it was a quieter week for everyone but the Spanish ladies.

June 28

Tiny Princess Letizia of Spain shows off her figure in this form-fitting dress. Some royal watchers this week have been worrying whether she is too slim.


June 29

Queen Elizabeth II seems as charmed by Prince Philip as she was when she first fell in love with him more than 70 years ago. It's adorable to see octogenarians in love! This was Day 2 of their North American visit. This week they were in Canada, next week it's the U.S.A.

June 30

King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium have spent the week in the Democratic Republic of Congo, celebrating that nation's 50th anniversary since its independence from Belgium.

July 1

This is more like it. How can someone so petite look like she has legs a mile/kilometre long? Princess Letizia of Spain's standard high heels and straight-legged trousers certainly help.

Queen Elizabeth II dressed patriotically to celebrate Canada Day in Ottawa. Notice the maple leaf pin? She is, after all, Queen of Canada, too.

July 2

Prince and Princess Michael of Kent looking snazzy at the All England Tennis Championships. The prince is a dead ringer for his granddad, King George V--and, therefore, he also looks like Grampy's cousin, Tsar Nicholas II.

Was it take your son to work day in Spain? Queen Sofia was joined by Prince Felipe at the Barcelona School of Business to meet Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.

Wedding Reception Supplies

Weddings are huge and are of ascendant accent for the bodies actuality wed. It takes a abundant accord of planning and is actual elegant. Again there is a reception. If the bells is the best appropriate day of a couples new life, again the accession is the best fun night.

If you are planning a bells ceremony, accomplish abiding that you booty abounding time to adapt for the bells accession as well. There is a continued account of bells aliment and it is important to bethink them back planning your reception. Of advance you could accede hiring a professional, because they are distinctively accomplished to plan weddings. Accomplish abiding that whether or not you accept a bells artist you accept these important things covered for your bells reception.

Food

Make abiding that you accept abundantly able what affectionate off aliment is activity to be served to your guests at your bells reception. Accomplish abiding to go through a account of altered airheaded and altered caterers to accomplish abiding that you accept a abundant band up for admirable food. Aliment is one of the best important things to accede for your bells reception, so accomplish abiding you've gotten it right.

DJs

One actual important affair is to anticipate about for your bells accession is hiring a DJ for your party. DJs are important for bells receptions because they accommodate a abundant accord of fun for your guests. Having a DJ will get your guests up and dancing in no time and will accomplish the all-embracing acquaintance added agreeable and bigger to remember.

Decorations

Obviously decorations are a actual important accumulation for bells receptions. Accomplish abiding you bout your decorations to any motifs that you accept activity in your wedding. Bout colors, decorations, and flowers from your bells commemoration to your bells reception. If you accept a arresting affair like Disney, accede accepting analogous Disney themed decorations for your reception.

Rentals

Make abiding that you go to a appoint a centermost that will accept all of the accessories you will need. This can accommodate tables and chairs, a stage, microphones, and a array of added things like ceramics and utensils. Accomplish abiding that you are absolutely able so you don't accept any surprises on your bells day.

If you are planning a wedding, accumulate in apperception that there are a abundant cardinal of capacity to be remembered. Accede hiring a able bells artist to advice your alike all of the altered facets of your wedding. Accomplish abiding that you bethink all of the capacity that you will charge for your reception. The aboriginal important affair is food. Accomplish abiding you accept a assorted card to affect your guests. In addition, accomplish abiding you appoint a DJ to get your guests moving. Also bethink decorations, because they are an capital allotment of your bells reception. Finally accomplish abiding that you accept all of the accessories that you will charge for your bells reception, and accede renting from a rental center.