This week is a huge mix of things. Instead of posting everything seperately, I am going to get it all up at once.

June 29th is National Camera Day!  July 2nd is I Forgot Day! July 4th is Independence Day!

National Camera Day Celebration - We will celebrate this day by sharing photos that WE HAVE TAKEN! No stock pictures - just photos we have taken personaly. Doesn't have to be anything personal or included people (landscapes, pets, ect are okay - so are people, but you don't have to feel obliged to post a human) - it DOES have to be HP  appropriate.  Do this for a chance to win 5k points on any animal. At the end of everything - we will have voting on all the pictures provided. The first place winner will win an additional 10k points, second place will win an additional 7k points, and third place will win an additional 5k points! Entries will close on Saturday July 5th - and voting will take place the next week. If this event does good, I will consider holding a monthly photo competition with a theme every month.  Just let me know what you think.

You CAN post more than one picture, but please put ** CONTEST ENTRY ** By the one you'd like to enter into the voting. :) Only one picture per person in the voting.

I Forgot Day! - This is a day where you are allowed to just 'not remember' - it was created by a woman named Gaye Anderson from DeMotte, In. There are many ways to celebrate this day, but we will celebrate by sharing a story about something you once forgot. I have a horrid memory and I am constantly forgetting things (Just ask Jaya XD -hides head- Seriously though, she keeps me sane). Share your story to hear 2k points on any one animal.

Independance Day! Is the day that the Declaration of Independence was signed in the USA. I am horribly saddened that I MISSED the chance to celebrate Juneteenth as well - so this will be a combined celebration of both! We will celebrate FREEDOM all the way around. To celebrate this holiday - we will share our favorite traditions, recipes, stories, movies, books, and music (HP appropriate please) to earn 5k points on any one animal.

Canada Day is July 1st, so if that holiday applies to you more, use it in place of Independence Day (Thank you Ridgeway for the amazing suggestion!).  For our UK peeps - please tell use about FIREWORKS NIGHT! I know it isn't until November,  but I'd love to hear about it.  If none of these apply to you, tell us about a holiday you celebrate! I would love to hear more about it!

Please note, I know I have been slacking on INTERNATIONAL holidays, I am trying to do better - but most holidays are legit just another day for me. Even my birthdays are that way, I've had 2 parties my entire life. If you have a holiday you want to see celebrated on HP that I don't know about, please PM me! I'd love to celebrate your holidays with you!

You have until Saturday July 5th @ 10pm EST (HP TIME) to get your entries in.

https://i.imgur.com/qYD1SMb.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/h53scJE.jpg

I couldn't decide which photo to share. Happy 4th, HP! From my girl, Moxie, and her pasture pal, Dakota.

A 4th of July tradition in our house is having a big family barbecue, a bonfire, my husband launches fireworks in our backyard, and watching Gettysburg the movie.

All points here, https://horsephenomena.com/horses.php?id=338521, please.

Camera Day: here are some lovely photos of my newest additions, Myla and Miller.  The first photo is the contest entry

 https://imgur.com/a/ttyhdGp
https://imgur.com/a/FcKwGUY

I forgot day:  I once saw a commercial for a tv show (can't even remember the name for it now haha) but I thought the guy on the show looked like a lizard and I knew he was from a show my sister used to watch on Disney channel.  For the life of me I couldn't remember the name of either of the shows or the actor, but I wanted to see if anyone else thought he looked like a lizard, or if I was just seeing things.  We then spent the next two hours trying to google "Disney guy who looks like Lizard" and a ton of other combinations to try to find this actor.  I ended up giving up and then waking up in the middle of the night after remembering the name of the show.  

Freedom Day:  Every year for 4th of July we end up taking out boat out on the water to watch the fireworks.  It's nice to be able to get away from the crowds and have some space on the water alone.  The place we go usually lights off the fireworks on the dock area so it's a great view from where we are.  There's also a boat parade prior to the fireworks where everyone decorates their boats with decorations and LED lights.  

All Points ot horse ID 334421 Under the Willow please :D

Okay, I already LOVE this contest... definitely vote for this to be a monthly thing! My fiancee and I recently visited Garden of the Gods and it was GORGEOUS: https://imgur.com/a/nvBBUPF https://imgur.com/a/YBu6zJ3

I nearly always forget where I put my keys, so we created a spot for our keys at the door so I have a place to put them everytime I come in, so I don't have to go looking!

And, a tradition of ours is to go out by a body of water. We may or may not be doing that this year, with the corona virus and what not. But, hopefully soon, things will begin to look upward.

Points on horse #338223 ;) thanks!

Camera day: https://imgur.com/a/WvotkXg

Forgot day: I forget things on a daily basis! I never know whether I am coming or going XD. I suppose the most memorable and unfortunate time I forgot, which really was because I just forgot what the date was, and not the actual event was on the day, was last year for my anniversary, :(. I woke up and just started my day, and my husband was the first one to say it!

Independence Day: Our favorite family tradition is that we always go camping over the weekend. And for the past couple of years we have rented a boat and gone to a huge lake and watched all of the fireworks from out on the lake in the boat!

All points to horse #337161 please.

National Camera Day: need to hunt one out

I Forgot Day: When I was younger I used to get home from school and just kick my shoes off any old where resulting in me not being able to find them the next day with my mum stressed and shouting at me while I'm frantically trying to find them so I wouldn't be late.  (This was an almost daily thing and even now I still sometimes struggle to find them).

Fireworks Night: I had issues with my ears as a child so fireworks terrified me with the bangs but as I got older and we moved in with my now dad he would buy fireworks and we'd have a mini party in the garden (not for very long as it was the 5th November and freezing).  The sky would light up with various colours and we'd have sparklers to wave around and make patterns with.  Our dog would sit and watch through the window. 

Points to: https://horsephenomena.com/dogs.php?id=128057

Canada Day is July 1st, so if that holiday applies to you more, use it in place of Independence Day (Thank you Ridgeway for the amazing suggestion!).  For our UK peeps - please tell use about FIREWORKS NIGHT! I know it isn't until November,  but I'd love to hear about it.

I will update the new post and the main post here after I get off work.

National Camera Day: I'm a documentary-style portrait photographer so I mainly take pictures of people, here are 2 of my favorites: 
https://i.imgur.com/jJFN91w.jpg 
https://i.imgur.com/XCWo8QB.jpg

I Forgot Day: Gah I forget things all the time, but one of the worst was from a few years ago when I forgot my brand new pair of Ray Bans in a bathroom at Disney World. And the time I forgot my camera on a monorail at Disney World. And the time I forgot my wallet on Splash Mountain. I forget a lot of things at Disney... 

Independence Day: I haven't really ever done much for this day, sometimes my family will go watch fireworks, sometimes I'll get together with friends to just chill and eat. I've never suuuuper gotten into really "patriotic" days like this, and this year I think me and some friends are going to a protest instead of celebrating. 

All points here, please! https://horsephenomena.com/horses.php?id=335766

National Camera Day - Photos of the dog I was pet sitting named Wrigley, he is a 10 month old Bernedoodle https://i.imgur.com/zCVyJLC.jpg and https://i.imgur.com/pq0piOF.jpg

National 'I Forgot' Day - I have forgotten things sooo many times. XD I think one of the worst ones was when I forgot my new sunglasses I had bought in Cancún at a friend's house and her child had been playing with them and they were broken when I came to pick it up D:

Independence Day - Our favorite tradition in my family is watching the fireworks! We always go in the parking lot by the fairgrounds and watch them from the bed of the truck. It's a fun tradition because we always invite family to come over and grill out hamburgers. We also always have music playing and we usually get ice cream.

All points on Monsters https://horsephenomena.com/dogs.php?id=128163

Thank you! :D

Camera Day-

this is a pic of a baby kitten I found on our patio. I called him Loki, I had to find a place to take him as I had just got 2 other rescues and they didnt like him, I was afraid they might hurt him he was so little and they were already so big. https://i.imgur.com/v2vgq0D.jpg  

this is Onnie my sons cat she likes to eat and drink with her paws.  https://i.imgur.com/uWFSkxO.mp4 CONTEST ENTRY

this is my baby Ebony she sleeps on my bed every night.  https://i.imgur.com/TSQeoB6.jpg

Forgot Day-

I dont make a list for the grocery store cause I know all the things I need but then I usually forget something, I should make a list but I never do. 

Independance Day-

we usually have bbq ribs, beans and salad, we set off fire works in the front yard then we watch movies. 

all points to shelti 126641 thank you

You CAN post more than one picture, but please put ** CONTEST ENTRY ** By the one you'd like to enter into the voting. :) Only one picture per person in the voting.

Camera Day: My cats have decided the best place to sleep is in the towels in the closet. Here's Ferdinand, taking up an entire shelf, fast asleep..... https://i.imgur.com/oxV2cDq.jpg

Forgot.... oh gosh. I'm known for driving somewhere, and then I start feeling in my pocket for my keys so I'm ready to unlock the door, and then I freak out becaus they aren't there. BECAUSE I'M DRIVING. It's really sad because the frequency with which this happens...

Independence Day: My family drives up north each year to my dad's cabin. Sometimes we watch fireworks shot off over the lake, sometimes we just have a camp fire, it doesn't matter. The point is being there together. Especially now that I have a child, fireworks are hard to do (who thought late at night was a good time for things that make loud noise?!?! obviously a man...), but we use it more of a summer celebration than anything else. :)

(any points to dog #126406 please)

Saving my spot!!!

National camera day Hm... https://i.imgur.com/1RGiPHQ.jpg wonder what they'd be saying to each other xD I took this pic while at the agricultural fair a couple years ago.

I forgot day; my life xD I am also in the 'forgets things constantly' camp. Here's a funny story though. One day, I went about looking everywhere for my keys. Literally everywhere. I upended the cushions of the couch, climbed under my bed, looked in every room. Want to hazard a guess as to where they were?

In my pocket. They were in my pocket the whole dang time! This incident prompted me to get a lanyard for my keys for the future. Hard to lose them when they are jingling about (but I did lose them in my own Pocket so I suppose that's not saying much X'D

Canada Day (in lieu of independance day with permission ^^) easily my favourite thing to do on the day is to go and see the fireworks. Sadly, they are not happening this year, but typically the harbour becomes a sort of mini concert ground. Food trucks line the street and a floating stage is brought in for an orchestra. (I'm a sucker for good old classical music) The fireworks conclude the evening and despite how packed it gets it's my favourite way to spend the holiday, and a fun tradition. Especially when I manage to haul all my friends out of their hidey holes to enjoy it xD

(please throw any points earned to Horse # 338404 :) )

Camera Day: 
My male cat, Beetle, as a kitten! His cuddle buddies are "Sheeple-beep" and "Fozzie". The grey above his foot in the bottom left corner is another cuddle buddy called "Halford", who is a cat handpuppet.

https://i.imgur.com/zfxfxy1.jpg

July:

I'm in Northern Ireland, so we don't do Independence Day, Canada Day nor Guy Fawkes Day (only England do). Many of us do "The Eleventh Night" and "The Twelfth". 

11th July: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleventh_Night
Bonfires: https://tinyurl.com/ydz2xtnb

12th July: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelfth

National Camera Day:  https://sta.sh/018leol464wt  my sister's dog Keely was posing for me in the flowers 

I Forgot Day:  Literally so many things...lol I'm always forgetting something!  Once, several years ago, I forgot how birthdays went (specifically cake, candles, and happy birthday song) as if it doesn't happen every year.  It was a group cake for my grandma, aunt, and me since our birthdays are all within a week of each other. And I blew the candles out before everybody started singing "Happy Birthday!" like the candles weren't even lit that long -facepalm- I completely forgot that you blow the candles out after they sing happy birthday lol I was so embarrassed and had to awkwardly stand there over prematurely blown out candles while they sang happy birthday (maybe my subconscious was telling me I'll get cake faster if I blow the candles out now?)

Independence Day:  We don't usually go all out for independence day.  Usually, we'll cookout and maybe watch some fireworks.  Last year, we spent all day at the pool with my sister and her roommates, had a cookout, and then crashed by like 4 o'clock

Points on https://horsephenomena.com/horses.php?id=336127, please!

Camera day: https://imgur.com/BofiIEd   This was a picture I took from my car as a storm was coming through. 

I forgot day: I am always, always forgetting where I put my car keys! The worst one that I can think of is when I tore the house apart in an angry rampage (because I was late for a friend's surprise baby shower - didn't want to ruin the "surprise!") and they ended up being IN my car.

Independance Day: Having horses means this day is the WORST! Fireworks are super spooky! So my tradition every year is to hang out in the barn with my horses ear's plugged, the radio up loud and the windows covered. Usually while enjoying an adult beverage ;) 

Points to horse #336305 please!

Camera Day
The Pacific Ocean in February. One of my favorite pictures I've taken so far this year.

I Forgot Day
This still plagues the corners of my mind when I try to go to sleep sometimes, haha. Ugh. When I was 14, I was at a horse show and just got done with our flat class. Lined up for the judge and hoping for the best. Well, that judge was having a tricky time deciding who to place in the top 3, so she asked to have 3 riders return to the rail to be seen again. They called one number at a time, then they called the same number a couple more times, only to my horror that it was my number they were repeating. Yeah, I forgot my show number....Guess who placed 3rd with a side of embarrassment? This kid, me. xD

Independence Day
This year we were going to go to the beach and watch the fireworks being shot over the ocean, but thanks to people not following the danged rules and covid running amuck they are closing the beaches down again....So I think this year we are just going to be home and hope none of the crazy neighbors blow themselves up lighting off the illegal fireworks they somehow aquired. They've been lighting them off for the past 2 months now and we are so over it.
One of my favorite memories though, is my best friend and I finished our college internship early and had a few days to kill before returning to school. We were in upstate New York in the Adirondack Mountains and we walked from our hotel to one of the lakes and watched a beautiful fireworks display then walked to McDonnalds and got ourselves some ice cream since it was the only place still open, haha!

Points to Horse: (#333068)

National Camera Day - https://imgur.com/P1cFAg7

I Forgot Day - I literally forget where my phone is ALL the time. I work from home so I barely need it when I'm home and therefor never can find it when I need to leave. I also lose my keys so now I just leave them in the parked car in the garage cause I don't need to be hunting two things down every day. xD 

Independence Day - We used to do a lot as kids but now the hubby and I usually stay in because our dogs are afraid of the fireworks. Last year we attempted to go out *with a new baby SO DUMB* and I ended up having to drive back alone because she needed to be put down to sleep and it was too hot to sleep in the stroller. 

Points to dog https://horsephenomena.com/dogs.php?id=127027

All points on: Horse #335736

National Camera day/ Contest: https://sta.sh/0kmifdat3hd (or https://i.imgur.com/pVyfS4l.jpg if that link doesn't work)

I forgot day: Look man, I forget everything. My life is just constantly trying to remember people's birthdays. I barely remember my own birthday..but birthdays are the worst for me. I always get my family's birthdays mixed up. Or my glasses. I always forget I'm wearing them. I'll be driving and freak out because I don't have them (but I'm wearing them!)

Independence/freedom day: Well I live in the desert, in a town where there's never anything exciting or fun happening. But every year we have a fireworks show at the local park, which isn't too far from my house. So every July 4th up until I decided I was too old, me and my siblings would sit out in the front yard and watch the fireworks. While waiting for the fireworks we'd look for falling/shooting stars and eat icecream!  Sometimes when it was really hot we'd watch in the pool.

photo contest:

forgetfulness: my headphones! i literally forget my headphones all the time and always have to wonder where they are. and if i find one, i certainly am not going to find the other, because for some reason i dont believe in keeping them together.

4th of july: my tradition used to be putting towels in the dorways and windows because my cats HATE fireworks LOL. not really that spectacular of a tradition huh?

points to: M. SWANN (#338351)