A Feast of Fireworks

Going to see fireworks a year ago, in a county outside of Baltimore, was a disappointment we didn't care to repeat, as we hadn't been able to get anywhere near where we had intended to park. So we decided this year to go to the Inner Harbor. We arrived at the garage, where Ed has a parking pass for work, at about eleven a.m., determined to get a parking space. As it turned out, the garage was nearly empty when we came, perhaps because it's some distance from the harbor and many visitors don't know about it.

Wanting this to be a thrifty day, we brought our own lunch and we didn't bite on any of the many ways to spend money: boating, shopping, boating, and...did I say boating? There were all different kinds of boat rides available and it was pretty tempting, but would also be pretty expensive. We did buy some good hamburgers for supper.

Our primary recreation? Walking. We walked all the way around the harbor, way beyond where we'd walked in the past. We walked through the malls. We saw fudge being made in an open factory. Highlight of the day: we saw a fire show, a man playing with torches of fire. (If you've read the child's book Inspell, think of Dustfinger.) Our other occupations were sitting to rest our legs, talking and laughing, and looking at our watches to see how much longer until the 9:30 p.m. fireworks.

All day the moisture hung heavy in the air. We had one afternoon squall, but after that the sun came out. About 9 p.m., though, another squall came. And at about 9:10 God sent his own fireworks for the appetizer, lighting up the whole sky again and again. The two huge cruise boats came in, blocking the view where the fireworks were to be set off. Apparently seeing the boats coming, or knowing they'd be coming, the bulk of the crowd moved down to a better vantage point. We didn't yet know where all the people were going, so we stayed, moving up to an awning with the thinning crowd in front of the visitor's center. By this time, the wind had whipped up, even our umbrellas hadn't kept us from getting soaked, and the radio station had gone quiet.

Still, there was a holiday atmosphere among most. And soon the rain slowed and the radio announcer said, "There is a rain delay in Baltimore...no, a monsoon delay, but the fireworks WILL go on." And - very nearly on time - the fireworks did go on! And what a feast it was.

Although there was just a little "window" of space between the two cruise boats, we were among those who were able to get up close to the edge of the harbor...I was especially happy that where we were standing was a "ring-side seat" for Peter. Burst after burst of colorful lights appeared in the sky, accompanied by patriotic songs from the radio station and the feeling of excitement from the crowd. After about twenty minutes of bursts had slowly lighted up the sky, we got a surprise. From a different place, yards across the bay from that spot, suddenly came more bursts, bigger, better, and lots faster than the previous ones. It was like we hadn't been expecting dessert...and here it was, gourmet and delicious. This finale lasted about ten minutes, concluding in clapping and yells of approval; and then we trudged, tired, wet and happy back to the car.

Catholic Family Expo in Baltimore

If you live in or near Baltimore, it's not too late to register for the Catholic Family Expo in Baltimore on June 28th to July 1st. You can save $10 by registering online, or you can get your tickets at the event, which is held at the convention center. There are various prices, depending on what events you plan to attend.

Thursday will be Home Educators' Day at the conference, with speeches, workshops, and NACHE used book sale.

If you're a Catholic homeschooler living in the Baltimore area, and you have a child with special needs, you're invited to come join us on Thursday, the 28th at 3 p.m. in Room 321, where we will be discussing "Happy Homeschooling With All Kinds of Disabilities: Learn What Works!"

Note added later: If you just wandered onto my blog and don't know me, my specific experience with homeschooling a student with special needs is with a visually impaired son who became legally blind at the age of nine and is now fourteen.

Baseball in Baltimore

Would you like to know why I didn't blog yesterday? I wanted to let the flowers live at the top of my page! Really. I would go look at the page, and then I just couldn't write anything and bring the top post down out of first place.

Last night we went to an Orioles baseball game. The company Ed works for got the tickets. "Our" team won! On the way home, we were thrilling about the fact that we were finally at a game where the home team won. I said laughingly, "We just needed to get the right home." Guess that means I'm starting to adopt Baltimore.

Now I just need to get a book/find some natives to help me learn the history of the fascinating architecture in this historic city, such as the clock tower, seen from the baseball stadium, with the top that looks like a castle turret.

Fort McHenry

The War of 1812 was precipitated by British ships capturing Americans to help sail her ships in her war with France, and conflicts over the Northwest Territories and the Canadian border.

In 1814, British troops attacked Washington D.C., burning important buildings. Americans frantically moved documents to safe places. Then the British troops moved up the Chesapeake Bay, where their next target was the important city of Baltimore. American troops were ready at Ft. McHenry, the water entrance to Baltimore. Infantrymen and sailors exchanged cannon fire through the night of September 13, 1814.

An American lawyer, Francis Scott Key, had been on a British warship when the battle started, trying to effect the release of an American doctor. Dawn brought him the moving sight of our flag flying over the Fort. The American troops had triumphed. Key jotted the Star Spangled Banner on an envelope, and passed it around later that month as a handbill.

We got a feel for this era of our country, during our visit to Fort McHenry, where we saw canons similar to the ones that had been used, and visited the barracks where the soldiers had lived and worked.

The Battle for Baltimore had been the turning point of the War of 1812. Our young nation had once again proven our liberty from Great Britain as a separate country, so we could then move on to become allies. Today we can work side by side; and learn from one another's literature and other contributions to society.

One More Picture

Greg had to work when we went on our field trip yesterday, so I got his picture with Mary today in the courtyard.

More Pics from Our Field Trip

Here's Mary with Robert and Peter.

Guess Who Came to Visit!

Mary is here! We went to visit Fort McHenry today. What a neat field trip!