Unless "normal" includes a trip to the Botanical Gardens first thing in the morning, where we did our usual "oooh"-ing and "ahhh"-ing over the Bonsai trees.
The crepe myrtles are in full bloom here- so beautiful!!!
On this particular trip we spent more time than usual inside the butterfly pavilion, which is also home to bunches and bunches of turtles.
I love turtles. :)
We spent most of the rest of the day at home working on projects in and around the house, but I did go out to Bridge Street for a little while just to see everything that was going on there. Darren opted to hang back since he doesn't like crowds, and it's a good thing he did- just look at all those people!!! It was cool that they had the gondolas out, though.
And the carousel was running, as well.
Back home I decided to break out the new pasta attachment for my KitchenAid mixer (you know, the one I got for my birthday in March and hadn't used yet) and give it a try. I love it!! Homemade pasta seems to have a lot more body to it than the store-bought stuff- so yummy!
And then it was time for my favorite part of Independence Day- the fireworks!! This year Huntsville had a double show with the Space and Rocket Center and Bridge Street coordinating their displays. Just look at the rocket with the bursts behind it!
I think this one may be my favorite of the night.
I had to move the camera (mounted on the tripod) fast when Bridge Street's show started up.
And unfortunately the parking lot and street lights were right in my field of view and created weird silhouettes.
Back to the rocket!
And then someone got the bright idea to turn off the lights on the rocket for the end of the show. I really think it looked better with them on!
All in all it was a quiet, calm, restful sort of day- the type we've not had many of this year!