Happy 4th of July! It’s a different year for celebrating the anniversary of the publication of the Declaration of Independence from Great Brtitain in 1776. Many communities across the U.P. have canceled their usual celebrations, due to restrictions and in caution of the spread of the coronavirus, with much controversy all around. It’s a year for celebrating our nation’s independence a different way, perhaps with family and friends on a smaller scale and with social distancing in place. Thank you to Marcy Bessolo Hermanson for the beautiful photo of our nation’s Stars and Stripes!

Here on the Pasty Cam, we’re joining Chad Johnson on a kayaking adventure from last weekend on Rice Lake and Little Rice Lake. Peaceful, serene, with plentiful Lily pads, White Lotus flowers and a Blue Flag Iris to join our American Flag on this 4th of July.

Chad also shares a video he took of the peace and calm in the midst of nature there on Rice Lake. I can’t think of a better way to end the week, than with the peaceful sounds of nature!

Good morning, all! Have a wonderful and safe 4th
of July!

Happy Fourth of July everyone. May our United States become united the way it used to be. Let's hope the current divisiveness will be a thing of the past before long and that we can all move forward. Together.

Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous! Enjoy the 4th! Be safe, be patient: "And this, too, shall pass away."

How stunning, hey? I remember, when we were little
kids, Grandma and Grandpa would truck through the
beach sand road in a VW and all us kids, and we'd
swim in Little Rice. We'd always come out with them
sucker things attached and Gram would just pull
them off. No big deal. I wouldn't go in the water
after the first time that happened to me! lol

I'm totally with you, George L. and Alex! God Bless
the UNITED States of America!

Happy Independence Day everyone!

God bless America!

I totally second that jb. Happy Independence Day and God bless all.

Kurt Vonnegut really nailed it in 1961. Due to a recommendation today, I just finished watching "Harrison Bergeron", based on his short story where secret elites forced the entire population to become average in every way.

That Iris is just beautiful. I never knew there was a "Little" Rice lake. I see it on the map now. I wonder who "Giles" was/is. It's the name of the creek connecting it to it's big brother Rice Lake.

The pictures reminded me of a picture I took on a little lake where Manganese Rd and Burma Rd intersect by Estivant Pines. I especially like the ripples.

Beautiful shot D. A. (Midwested)!

Such great pictures. We proudly fly our flag
out here.

Those pictures make me think of my husband
because he wants me to learn how to bass fish
in the lily pads. But I like to catch fish and
get impatient if they're not biting. So I'm
thinking not. But I love the pictures.