Small towns and summertime parades Roxanne Rustand

I just returned home from ten days in rural Wisconsin with three of our grandkids, while their parents were in Hungary and Austria.  I had been wondering if I could come up with enough activities to keep everyone entertained, but between the list their mom wrote and a few ideas of my own, the days flew. At least for me! Now I'm back home, and miss being with the grandkids more than ever!

I love small towns and rural life--the wide-open spaces, the feeling of community. The celebrations--the county fairs and parades.

My husband and I live on an acreage with our three horses, rescue dogs and a flock of friendly barn cats (all neutered), and all of my books for Love Inspired have been set in small towns or ranch country, where I feel right at home.

Hmmm..."flock" didn't sound quite right for describing our cats so I got sidetracked here and had to look up the correct term.
I had  NO idea that a group of cats is  called a "clowder of cats," a "glaring of cats," a "pounce of cats," or a "destruction of cats." A clowder?!  A glaring, pounce, or destruction of cats made me giggle!


At any rate, it was fun being in beautiful, rural Wisconsin, with the rolling hills and trees, beautiful parks, and lovely lakes.  It was also fun to go to the local parade, where the two oldest grandkids were on a 4H float.

The parade was amazing.  It's a  very small, one-stoplight town, but all of the communities in the region send their floats, bedecked with princesses, to each other's town celebrations.  I lost count at ninety-six units going by!

Marching bands.  Horses. Float after float after float, all topped with the beaming princesses and  royal courts from their town.

 The Shriners, whizzing by on their little go-karts.  A polka band atop an antique green
hearse.  :)  That's quite a group. Click on the photo to see them better!

Have you seen or done anything fun and memorable this summer? Maybe had some nice visits with family or friends? Read any good books?


Anyone leaving a comment here will be in a drawing for my newest book High Country Homecoming (Love Inspired, June, 2019.)

All the best to you!
Roxanne Rustand