Morning in the Courtyard

I woke up to find these beauties awaiting my eyesight this morning in my back yard! How devine! Dsis Liz loves to surprise me with visual lovliness from outside my back door. Once my eyes were open I took the camera and went out into the courtyard to embrace the morning and enjoy the beauty.

I looked around my little yard to see if I could capture the "Red, White and Blue" of the decor for our Fourth of July and look what my wandering eye did appear:

I will take time this weekend to sit outdoors, perhaps with a book, and take in all the sounds of the neighborhood. Reflect on our Nation's birthday and our land of the free. It is supposed to be a beautiful weekend. Enjoy!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July! Hoping everyone is having a weekend full of family, friends, food and fireworks. When I got invited to my sister's home for a bbq dinner, I quickly said "I'll bring dessert". I stopped by the local bakery in town and they had so many wonderful 4th of July desserts to choose from I couldn't make up my mind. I just had to get the flag fruit shortcake with fresh cream and fruits. And would you look at that 'corn on the cob'????? How cute is that? It was three cupcakes put together, iced, and decorated with corn looking jellybeans, a slab of butter (marzipan), and even cob holders on the end. It was a huge hit. How was your holiday?

Shades of Red White and Blue Just for You!

With shades of red, white and blue surrounding us, celebrations of life can happen any day. Shades of red, white or blue remind me of 4th of July parties and fireworks and special times with family and friends. Vintage aprons, adorned with red roses against what was once a vivid blue, now slightly worn with time. Blue and white checked linens - once grandmother's finest, still carrying traces of the 4th of July picnics I had as a child. Pale blue Depression glass against the finest white tablecloth, topped with a white milk glass vase and filled with the summer flowers. On the wall, a white French farmhouse shelf displays white china hand painted with red and blue buds Adding a little color to your table, shades of red, white and blue can turn any meal into a celebration. Blue and white Italian place settings against a red tablecloth. An angel food cake atop a favorite white cake stand, topped with fresh summer blueberries and strawberries. Red sugar-coated candies in a white candy dish hand painted with blue forget-me-nots. Hanging nearby, white and blue checked kitchen towels decorated with shiny red apples Placed somewhere unexpected, red, white and blue can create a burst of color in any corner. Red roses on canvas and hung on a freshly painted blue wall. A piece of broken china jewelry - tiny blue and red roses against pure white china. A white lace sun catcher, with a red and blue design, hanging in the window. In the guest bathroom, a blue tissue box holder painted with white and red flowers. Tucked into a corner of your purse, a blue hanky trimmed with red and embroidered with white daisies. And dangling from your wrist, a bracelet made of cinnabar, turquoise beads and bone. For a special touch of whimsy, plug in 4th of July light bulbs in red, white and blue. Use a white table runner with appliquéd blue rabbits and red rose buds. Display faux strawberries dipped in white chocolate placed in a blue cake box that looks pretty enough to eat. You can wear a soldered charm of red breasted robins against an azure sky, sprinkled with white German glass glitter or write on the white pages of a notebook decorated with red roses and blue ribbons. With shades of red, white and blue surrounding us, celebrations of life can happen any day.

Photo Contribution 1: The Sassy Beach Photo Contribution 2: Grandma G's Cottage Photo Contribution 3: Candy Lights

By: Joyce Lucas, Make Mine Pink (http://www.makeminepink.com/)