The 4th in Tuscany

American Cemetery  Florence

Happy 4th of July to everyone! in honor of the USA we will be cooking cheeseburgers and having a Budweiser...the only American beer we could find at the COOP. We also found hamburger buns (a package of 6 which seems to be the way things are packaged here)in a wrapper complete with the American flag. There were also hot dog buns. Who would have guessed?

After we put Kellie on the plane in Florence we stumbled around and got to the American Cemetery where about 4000 soldiers from WWII are buried. It is a beautiful, peaceful place and there were several other Americans visiting just as we were on this holiday. If I had lost a loved one here in Italy during the war, I would have found solace thinking of this spot.

The fallen

To the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice

The other positive news flash of the day...Rider is standing on his own. He hasn't taken the first step alone but can holding to just one of my fingers. I'm sure he will boldly step out soon. Additionally, he has the 8th tooth in full view. Hopefully that is the last for a while and he'll be more comfortable.

The negative...some not very official girl was here today and put small official looking signs over every water spigot in the house proclaiming that the water is not potable. Now, I don't speak Italian but I'm thinking this is not a good thing since we have been sometimes drinking the water, making sun tea and ice cubes and such for over three weeks. At least we have only been giving Rider bottled water. Hopefully someone who speaks English will soon give us the straight skinny.

Well, time to put on the burgers and no fireworks but a heart felt....Happy Fourth.

Rider's first popsicle