It was a beautiful day yesterday on the Palouse. Maybe it was the weather, low 80s with a lovely breeze. Maybe it was the long bike ride we took getting to the Farmers’ Market. Maybe it was the live band that was playing all my grandmother’s favorite big band tunes. Or maybe it was the happiness these two daughters of mine exude over the simplest of things.Or maybe it was the brunch date at our favorite outdoor breakfast nook with Nanny Jane.

Probably it was all of it that made it so fabulous! (We love our little town.)

How do we celebrate Independence Day? Why, with a parade, of course. But this little gem is no ordinary parade. In the neighboring town of Johnson, Washington (population about 50-100 on a good day), hilarity, innovation, and creativity ensue while some 3,000 people converge on either side of a rural road leading to a huge grain silo, one of the only structures in Johnson. Marchers gather in an open field about 1/4 mile down the road, stroll to the grain elevator, and march back the way they came. Not only do attendees get to enjoy the parade as it passes by, but also when it passes BACK by! And what they might see includes a crazy array of kinetic sculpture (including a working Ferris wheel), a fire truck and firemen with large water guns who spray delighted youngsters with water, a flock of grown-up girls parading as pink flamingoes, the motley crew of the Moscow Volunteer Peace Band (think feather boas and tie-dye), bagpipers, soldiers, politicians, classic cars, a train made from recycled materials, and even farm equipment, both adorned and unadorned (a farmer loves to show off equipment). The year Michael Jackson died, a group of college girls dressed up in paint masks and single sparkly gloves and danced their way down the road and back. You’ll even see a little car that splits in half, each part driving independent of its other half. The parade was organized on a whim more than 40 years ago by a local farm family, the Druffels. Each parade is loosely organized around a theme; last year’s was Star Wars. Druffel patriarch, 93-year-old John, said he hadn’t heard of Star Wars, but he good-naturedly joined the fun, parading with a lightsaber dressed as Luke Skywalker. John passed away earlier this year, but on July 4th, his large family (over 70 members to date) will join with thousands of participants from nearby communities to honor this fun-loving farmer.

It’s no surprise that NannyJane and Carol share a birthday. They work together every day but before that they are BFFs in every way. And we hope they both enjoy a beautiful sunny day filled with flowers. Happy birthday!!

My sister’s daughter, Tina Withers, her husband Ron, and three of their children stopped by en route home from Thanksgiving with his family in Spokane. I asked their son Andrew, an 11th grader, “Has anyone ever said you look like Matt Damon?” “They have,” he replied. I wonder though, can Matt play the piano? Andrew can; he plays at church and school functions. Does it help that Andrew’s younger brother is named Matthew? What do you think? Look-alike? Easily a stand-in? Carbon copy? Ringer or dead ringer?

  Here’s a post from the last time they were here.