Good late Sunday afternoon to everyone! My apologies for not getting to this weekly off television topic reflection of the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way earlier. But it's here now! If you're looking for
Big Brother 17 content, you can find it
right at this here link. I will be posting a blog party for the show at 8pm ET and another live feeds report late tonight. Trust me, not much is happening in the house today!
Most of the photos I have for you this week are from Plainfield's 92nd Annual 4th of July Parade. I'm lucky that I was off this year and it passes right in front of my apartment building. I just brought a folding chair, bottle of water and my camera down the elevator and had a front row uncrowded seat. I took a gazillion photos of the happenings -- more are on my Photobucket album for the parade
at this link. I have more I want to upload there!
I hope everyone is having a great 4th of July weekend!
 |
| Hillside Steppers |
These girls were adorable and quite talented! The Hillside Steppers with these young'uns and a group a bit older, were new additions this year. We also had a senior steppers group -- The Silver Steppers -- come from East Orange.
 |
| I messed with the clown |
Well, I messed with my photo of the clown. I'm pleased with the way it turned out.
 |
| Not a part of the parade |
Maybe not in the parade, but I've been wanting to get a shot of this guy. I keep seeing him whizzing by on that thing all around town. It's motorized, not sure what they call it. It would probably kill my knees, but years ago I would have loved to own one!
**CLICK THE 'READ MORE' LINK TO SEE THE REST OF THE PHOTOS**
 |
| Good sense of balance |
 |
| Flags line my street |
 |
| Those bikes are so cool! |
 |
| Motorcycle gang? |
 |
| Truly amazing stilt dudes! |
These guys danced to the beat of conga drums. One was even raising on leg/stilt up near his head, balancing on the other one and dancing to the beat! They're my favorite new addition to the parade.
 |
| Hmm ... |
While there is a large contingent on Muslims in Plainfield, I've noticed fewer Farrakhan Black Muslims (the bow-tie guys!). I was a bit surprised they smiled for my camera and gave me a flyer. They didn't give me a newspaper, though.
 |
| Flag boys |
These kids were handing out small flags to the crowd.
 |
| Yes, there's a child there |
Hispanic kids dressed in costume and danced to music as they marched.
 |
| Is that a camera? Am I an Internet star? |
The Crazy Faith Riders, a staple of the parade, seemed to have even more horses and ponies this year. Of course, I heard more than one child ask their parents what the smell was. These city kids need to visit horses!
 |
| Horsepower, no horse |
 |
| PHS Marching Band played |
 |
| It's Sparky! |
Sparky, the Plainfield Fire Department mascot, was there in his radio-controlled and human costume forms. As there was a delay right in front of my apartment, I noticed that his mouth moved every time one of the firefighters made him "talk." Unfortunately, it moved each and every time the firefighter said anything. He was talking about the delay. He was impatient.
 |
| Did I mention I loved these guys?!? |
 |
| Rebecca and a flag of another color(s) |
 |
| Honor our veterans |
 |
| Can't be a tough guy with a Teddy Bear |
 |
| Reflections on a flag |
*****************************
Back to real life for a bit ...
 |
| They have no necks! |
What the heck are these? They're in the window of a second-hand store on Watching Avenue.
 |
| Little bee, big weed |
 |
| "If I stand still, she can't see me." |
 |
| "I think she sees me!" |
 |
| The parade is much too loud for Vincent |
6 comments:
Looks like it was a great parade, Jackie. Love the Hillside Steppers!
I am so glad you got your photos up. I came looking at least three times today. I think my favorite this week (sorry, Vincent) was the flag reflection one.
Love these pictures!!!
Thank you. I Googled what that guy with the electric one-wheel doohickey had. It's an electric human transporter and goes for about $250.
Great pictures! The bicycles that you think are so cool reminded me of the bike I had from about 1957 - 1963. I'm not a big fan of parades, but I would have loved that one... Plainfield knows how to do it right... (though Vincent might wish that they would do it elsewhere...)
Well, Plainfield is anything but traditional (although there certainly was a bit of traditional thrown in). Any parade that the first music I hear coming is 'Give Up the Funk' by George Clinton and P-Funk (started in Plainfield, first as the Parliaments) is going to be a bit different. The mix of parade music was eclectic and representative of many countries, as Plainfield itself is a mix of peoples.
Post a Comment