Hello all! Sorry I haven’t posted in a bit. But, we’ve been busy enjoying back-to-sorta-normal summer activities with family and friends. Rather than living a more virtual existence on the computer or watching TV, I’ve been out and about. How about you?
Following ten days in Philadelphia, we drove back across the state with my mom and Whiskey — the puppy, not the alcohol lol! She spent nearly three weeks here with us enjoying summer activities, including trips to the zoo and aviary.
A couple of weeks later, we had the best July 4th in years! Both our adult sons were here for an extended visit. It was a big dose of happiness and fun!
There was a Pirates baseball game, riding roller coasters at Kennywood, dining out at favorite restaurants in different parts of the city, and playing amusing games together. On July 4th we all pitched in to create a wonderful meal on the porch, followed by fabulous community fireworks.
Since our adults sons will be here to celebrate July 4th with us, I went out and purchased a few inexpensive patriotic decor and gift items to add to the festive stash I already have.
Other existing items I’ve simply rearranged where I place them around the house. And I stuck flags or a stars and stripes spinner in every planter or pot — inside and out!
For updated table settings, I mixed up different red white and blue dishes and linens from my collection. Then, I added festive favors at each place setting; to take later to the community fireworks display.
It was fun heading out to Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Bed Bath and Beyond, Walmart and Dollar Tree to look for patriotic decor. Things were rather picked over by last week, but almost everything was marked down 40-50%. And, I was still able to scoop up a few festive and fun items.
After all, its not like I don’t already have an abundance of decorations and tableware lol! Come see my latest patriotic decor updates toIndependence Day Decorations, Banner Yet Wave.
Twenty-twenty will be a very quiet and low-key Fourth of July — for obvious reasons. It’s caused me to reflect on the first Independence Day. And, to honor the memory of our family’s Patriot ancestors.
Originally, I had hoped our sons would come home for a couple of weeks at the start of the holiday. We’d planned to setup offices in each of their old bedrooms. Instead, I’m crossing fingers and toes they’ll be able to come home later this summer.
So, we invited my brother-in-law and his wife to come up from Virginia. But, with the dramatic increase in cases, we’ve pushed that visit back. After all, it’s not like there will be fireworks, an outdoor concert, or any community festivities. Sistah B and her family are also postponing a trip. So, we’ll reassess in a couple of weeks. Life on pause.
That’s when I starting thinking about how hard and frightening life was during the Revolutionary War. And, I’m remembering the sacrifices made for the freedoms we enjoy today. Even if it’s muted and isolated, I’m still celebrating Independence Day.
Just in time for fireworks, I’ve set a patriotic July Fourth table on the covered back porch.
It’s good to bee back in the country to celebrate our nation’s birthday. Hubby and I have recently returned from a nearly three-week vacation in South America. It was a bucket list, post-retirement trip that was about two years in the making.
I’ve been on a blogging break since about the middle of May, after my dad went into hospice and passed in Florida. That was immediately after my niece’s wedding in Charleston (see Hand Painted, Wedding Champagne Flutes).
Although it’s been an extremely hectic two months, the vacation turned out to be good timing for processing my grief and beginning the healing process. We left for Peru and Ecuador, less than a week after my mom went back home. Dad would have absolutely loved all the birds and wildlife we saw up close and personal in the Galapagos Islands.
But, now it’s time to try to get back to normal routines.
It’s so hot and humid outside, I’ve set a July 4th patriots table in the kitchen, with Betsy Ross and Paul Revere as guests of honor.
There’s more than hotdogs and hamburgers cooking out there LOL!
The Give Me Liberty Blue Tablescapeis set alfresco, out under the covered back porch. In the cool of the air-conditioned kitchen, I’ve set another July 4th patriots table. It uses the same Liberty Blue dishes, but with different linens, embellishments and centerpiece.
Betsy Ross and Paul Revere are actually Muffy Vanderbear and Hoppy Vanderhare. Today, they are masquerading as a pair of colonial patriots. I have a number of different holiday and seasonal outfits for them. See more at Thanksgiving Figures, Pilgrims and Indians Decorate Home.
I think the figures add a bit of whimsy and fun to the tablescape.
Join me inside on this red hot day, for a little tour of the holiday-decorated kitchen and July 4th patriots table.
I want to wish you a happy July 4th, by sharing old-fashioned Independence Day decorations around my porch.
Because I’m still putting Alice in Wonderland, Unbirthday Party decorations away, and since it’ll only be hubby and I celebrating July 4th together, I elected not to bedeck the covered porch in traditional bunting this year.
I usually pull out lots of red, white and blue Independence Day decorations— bunting, pinwheels, rosettes, garlands, banners, balloons and lots of flags. Lots of ’em!
Let me show you how I typically celebrate our country’s birthday, with pictures from years past.
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Hi! I'm Debbee, a maker of all manner of things, who likes to incorporate themes into craft projects, holiday and seasonal decor, table settings, and parties. My friends call me, the Queen of Theme lol!
Home is the suburbs of Pittsburgh, but I also enjoy exploring the world with my husband. We raised two wonderful sons and are now early retirees.
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Meet Whiskey
Meet Glenfiddich "Whiskey," a brindle coat Scottie and full of vim and vigor!
