On July 4th we celebrate Independence Day, the birth of our nation, with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.  Hope you have a happy and safe celebration!

We would like to celebrate the July birth of two of our past presidents who share many similarities.  On July 11, 1767 John Quincy Adams was born in Braintree, Massachusetts.  George W. Bush was born on July 6, 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut. Both men graduated from Harvard University, Adams with a Bachelor's and  a Master's in Art degree and Bush with a Master of Business Administration, the only president with that degree.  Adams was the 6th United States president and served a single term from 1825 to 1829.  Bush was the 43rd. president from 2001 to 2009, having served 2 terms.  Both men are the only United States presidents to have had a father that was a United States president.  They were both in their 50's  when they went into office, Adams at 58 years and Bush at 54 years.  Both men won the presidential election without winning the popular vote.    There were 5 presidents accomplishing this feat: John Quincy Adams in 1824, Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876, Benjamin Harrison in 1888, George W. Bush in 2000, and Donald J. Trump in 2016. 

Both men had animals during their time in the White House.  Adams had an alligator, given to him by the Marquis de Lafayette.  The gator was housed in the unfinished East Room and its nearby bathtub.  Much to the dismay of many visitors, he delighted in showing off his reptile!  He also had silkworms living in the Mulberry trees on the White House grounds.  This was a project mainly of interest to his wife, Louisa.  She would harvest the silk and use it in her sewing projects and her gowns.  Bush had dogs and cats; 2 Scottish Terriers, an English Springer Spaniel and a jet-black cat named India. 

Both men had fitness habits.  Adams would regularly go for a brisk nude swim in the Washington Potomac River at 5a.m. for 20 minutes to an hour.  If it was too cold to swim he would take a 2 to 6 mile walk around Washington.  Bush enjoyed jogging and before becoming President ran the Houston Marathon, a 5 Km run, in 3:44:52, the fastest ever run by a US President.  He also ran the NYC Marathon, a 42.195 Km run, in just before the 5 hour mark.  During his time in office he ran 6 times a week and it was reported that he could run 3 miles at a 6 minute pace.  He even had a tread mill on Air Force One.

Adams enjoyed billiards, swimming and walking, while Bush enjoyed running, fishing and painting.

Adams:  "In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress".

Bush:  "Some folks look at me and see a certain swagger, which in Texas is called walking".

On the 4th Sunday of July we celebrate "National Parents' Day."  This year it falls on July 22nd.  This celebration  was created in 1994 when  President Bill Clinton signed a Congressional Resolution for recognizing, uplifting and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children.  While your parents are still within reach  or  just a phone call away, never pass up the chance to tell them how much you appreciate them.  Don't wait till it's too late!  As Ezra Taft Benson said, "Our parents deserve our honor and respect for giving us life itself.  Beyond this they almost always made countless sacrifices as they cared and nurtured us through our infancy and childhood, provided us with the necessities of life, and nursed us through physical illnesses and the emotional stresses of growing up." 

In recognition of Parents' Day,  we give you "Air Meal".   This family of osprey was captured in Bonita Springs, Florida.  I was drawn to the nest by the loud, continuous  squawking of the mother bird.  I decided she must be sending a message to her spouse, so I set up my camera and waited about 45 minutes. Finally, the errant father showed up with dinner, having had a snack on the way(note the missing fish head)!  Mama finally hushed as father delivered his catch.   The mother became busy tearing up the pieces and feeding her two youngsters, while father quietly observed.  Occasionally the father would try to sneak a piece of the fish, and the mother would loudly object and flap her wings in disapproval.  Mother ruled the roost!

"Air Meal" is available in table top to wall size, triple matted and with or without a frame.  The matted versions are yours at a 10% discount and the framed matted versions in sizes 11x14 and larger can be yours at a 15% discount.

Visit our website, www.throughthelensoflee-margaret.com for available sizes and prices.

Stop by and see us on Monday through Friday from 10a.m. to 12 noon and 1:30p.m. to 5p.m.

The gallery is open for arranged Saturday appointments.  Call us at 904-387-8710 to schedule your special visit.  Come see us and order now.

"We never know the love of a parent till we become parents ourselves".

— Henry Ward Beecher