Independence Day, Weather, and Two Weeks of Prayer

Sunday, July 8, 2012. Independence Day fell on a Wednesday this year.



Wednesday was also the last day of the freedom rosary in the garden by Our Lady of the Angels church for two weeks. Nearly a hundred folks, have been out there, praying and singing for an hour each evening. I found out about it on the Sunday after it started, and was out each evening after that.


Last evening for the freedom rosary in Sauk Centre. July 4, 2012.

It was hot and humid on a few of the days, but happily we didn't get rained on. Then, on the night of July 4, there was a tornado watch. I haven't heard of anything more severe than a thunderstorm in central Crow Wing County, and southeast Cass County, north of Sauk Centre. Can't say I'm disappointed.

More about that freedom rosary:

• "Fortnight For Freedom Wrapup: Photos and Weather"
  A Catholic Citizen in America (July 4, 2012)
• Freedom Rosary: Two Days Left
  Sauk Centre Journal Blog (July 2, 2012)

Mostly, it's been hot this week: the sort of weather where I'm inclined to see blinking my eyes as "strenuous activity." Compared to some parts of the country, though, we've had an easy time of it:

• "UPDATE 2-Relief comes for U.S. Midwest, Northeast after heat wave"
  Reuters (July 8, 2012)
• "Unrelenting heat wave bakes half the US; 30 dead"
  Associated Press, via FoxNews.com (July 7, 2012)

Temperatures got down to more reasonable levels this weekend.

Finally, photos of someone's holiday decorations:


Flags and bunting for Independence Day. July 8, 2011.


Really small flags, but lots of them. July 8, 2011.

The Stearns County Fair is coming later this month, but that's a couple weeks off: July 25 through July 29, I think.