Star Spangled Summer

Now that it's July it feels like summer to me. Here in California we experience an annual 'June Gloom' which means most days of summer school break until now have started out overcast and cool. But once July arrives we get long sunny days! 

 

  

The 4th Of July holiday brings back childhood memories of being allowed to stay up late, playing with my cousins, drinking hot chocolate after the fireworks were over, and warming my hands by the little charcoal fires my Dad made inside large coffee cans.

PHOTO FROM TIDALLIFE DOT COM

Me, around age 10, getting into our pool. Loved it when Dad set up the pool each summer!

 

  Are you going to a parade or firework show? The three of us are staying put and plan to spend some time in the backyard. While setting everything up, I finished my late morning cup of tea. This teacup, called Historic Colonial Scenes Old North Church, was made in England.

It has a scene of Paul Revere. I'm fond of transferware and really like blue and white, don't you?

I set up the patio table with games and snacks.

 College Girl made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. 

We have the board game called Sorry set up to play, with Scrabble, Yahtzee, and Othello stacked and waiting on the table.

 I cut up some watermelon.

 I found these bandana print napkins at Target. I like using fun printed napkins for personal use at the table or even to line serving dishes and platters.

  I also found this little wire lantern at Target and placed small red acrylic hearts from Michael's around the candle. A straw dispenser comes in handy.

Handyman won the first game of Sorry and College Girl won the first round of Othello - but don't worry - I'll catch up when we play Yahtzee! The sunflowers are blooming now and I was thrilled to see the first buds on our Gladiolus. Woohoo! They're going to be gorgeous.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday with your family and friends.

  

                                 

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The Poetry Of Being Four Years Old~

The greatest poem ever known
Is one all poets have outgrown:
The poetry, innate, untold,
Of being only four years old.
~Christopher Morley

A few days ago Handyman was helping me spade a small area of dirt where we planned to plant gladiolus bulbs. Our soil is virtually solid clay, so it takes a bit of elbow grease to break up the chunks, remove rocks, then mix in mulch and some nice bagged soil. We chatted as we dug, turned and examined the dirt. Handyman lifted something from the patch in front of his knees. What could possible be bright yellow this far down? He rubbed the object in his gloved hand.

Flounder from The Little Mermaid movie!

Handyman and I looked at each other; this 'artifact' was a reminder of our sweet daughter's childhood. She must have been playing with her Little Mermaid figurines in the backyard years ago. Somehow Flounder was left outside in what had been a patch of Lambs Ears. Perhaps younger College Girl thought it was a great place for him to 'swim' or take a nap.  

I have Flounder sitting on a shelf in the kitchen now. He makes me smile. Every time I see this colorful little toy I think of the small child who would climb on my lap for a story, hold my hand wherever we walked, and call me by her own affectionate nickname for me. I think Flounder is going to have a permanent spot in our display cabinet once he gets a bath - he still has a little bit of childhood playtime dirt clinging to him! Or, maybe I'll leave him just as he is~

College Girl as a child

 I made this scrapbook layout using eyelet, my sewing machine, and hand made 'lollipop' flowers. I doodled around the perimeter and cut the title out with my Cricut. 

 I'd give all wealth that years have piled,
The slow result of Life's decay,
To be once more a little child
For one bright summer day.
~Lewis Carroll

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