Get red-white-and-boozy with the drink of your choozy

Published 1:30 am Sunday, July 2, 2017

1. Doggone fireworks

It might be a fun day for people to celebrate, but the Fourth of July is the worst day of the year if you’re a dog.

The bangs, flashes and burning smell of pyrotechnics drive many dogs into a frenzy. Some bolt to hide from the noise and get lost. To be on the safe side, get your pet micro-chipped and a collar tag.

Put your dog in a quiet place in the house where it can get away from fray. A bed to crawl under wouldn’t hurt.

Don’t take your dog to fireworks displays. Don’t light firecrackers around them.

Also, keep watch of the food and drinks on the picnic table so your dog doesn’t partake.

More at www.petmd.com.

2. Grillin’

Speaking of safety, declare a 3-foot “kid and pet-free zone” around the grill to keep them safe.

And keep yourself safe.

Before you fire up the grill, clean it. A clean grill is a food-safe grill.

The Grillstone Cleaning Block lets you sand away the grime. No bristles, wires or chemicals. The only thing needed is elbow grease.

Made from recycled materials. More at www.earthstoneinternational.com.

3. Chillin’

Get red-white-and-boozy with the drink of your choozy.

For brunch, how about cranberry juice, blueberries and vanilla vodka?

Stick a red-and-white striped straw in your blue raspberry lemonade (spiked with coconut rum, of course), for that late-afternoon cocktail.

Then for dessert, top a slushy strawberry daiquiri with whipped cream and blueberries.

Celebrate the fireworks with patriotic Jello shots from star-shaped molds.

This is the day when it’s cool to sport a red or blue tongue.

See recipes at www.goodcocktails.com.

— Andrea Brown, Herald Writer