Happy Independence Day, Americans! Remember to tip your pyrotechnician.

“A bit of a time capsule: below is the post that I ran here on the blog on July 4, 2004.

“The kids are now heading off to college, both of them, for their freshman and sophomore years. We live in a different house, in a different state. But as mentioned yesterday, I’m cooking yet another pork shoulder today in the current backyard.

“My wife and her mother were drinking tea back there a few weeks ago on her most recent visit. The picnic table mentioned moved with us, but has long since been eaten by carpenter ants.

“I’m getting that same microscope out today, though, because there’s some interesting algae growing in the birdbath that I’d like to investigate. I’m hoping it’s Volvox, which I haven’t seen in years.”

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