Happy Flag Day

This week we celebrated Flag Day,  a day to honor  Old Glory and the great nation  she represents..

As  an Elementary School teacher  for thirty years, and daughter and grand daughter of  men who served in   both world wars, I understand  the meaning of our  glorious flag,  what it  truly represents and  how much  citizens should  show respect,  not to  a  pattern of stars and stripes, but  for the many who have served and sacrificed  to keep  America free and  to give us the very freedoms  that some use to   actually   treat  it ingloriously!  But  especially during this season  from Memorial Day  through  the Fourth of July, our household will proudly  fly  the Stars and Stripes  and  enjoy   how it gently waves  by our  front door!
So it  has been  a delight to me to  create a  table scape    to celebrate the red, white, and blue.

I am loving my  battery operated  lights  on the table... and  the fact that they twinkle will be  fantastic for  my  patriotic cookout  I'm planning!

I wasn't sure about using this Jacobean patterned   cloth,  but  it 's   almost faded  jeans  background color  just seems to work very well..  And I like it with my  English  transfer ware  pottery.

I love mix and match patterns... I just  got these  darling   Finlandia pattern  plates from  Tuesday Morning  for  $3.99 each! I am thrilled  that I have  some antiques  plates of the same pattern  that my mother  had collected... she loved navy  so much!  Here they are  paired with some Johnson Brother  transfer ware  I've had for some time!

Those super cute  red and navy flowers dotted with stars  were  picked up this week at Michael's  and I love how the daisy  blooms look so star like as well... 

 I'll enjoy this table scape for the next few  weeks  until  we  have our    celebratory  Fourth of July  party!

I especially love it  from my seat here in the kitchen  just as I glance into the dining room.  so much fun!!!

Tablescape Thursday

Thursday Favorite Things

Home Sweet Home

Home and Garden Thursday

I Borrowed a Great idea Today from The Enchanted Rose!!

I was  blog hopping this morning  and   when I  read Stephanie's blog, The Enchanting Rose,  I was   completely taken by her post today ....

where she  is sharing  the  things that she is really into  during these  spring days.

It  gladdened me  because so much of my spring Ive been dealing with breathing issues from   my terrible allergies  that  resulted in  sinus surgery  a couple of weeks ago.

This meme  makes me  ponder and appreciate the  small  blessings of life that  have  helped me though the trials  of the past few months..

Music is one  wonderful art form I  must  have in my life daily...

and  I am  so  enthralled  at this moment with the tiny part of the  Ark Encounter  that I brought home with me...  the music played  throughout the whole experience at the  Ark in Kentucky  is  so   amazingly beautiful.. You can get a taste of it here.The Ark encounter Promo  which is  on Youtube within a  playlist of other related  videos.. Be sure you listen to the "Promo"

The music on the  CD  is  available at the  Ark Encounter online store...  if  it touches you like it does me  I can only say it is  incredible  how it moves  me, it  puts you and  your spirit  right into the story, and I highly recommend  visiting not only the Ark, but, also, the Creation Museum located near Lexington, Ky.

Yesterday,  another  new  form of entertainment I recently ordered and  have  received is  the  fabulous  Blu-ray version of  the new film, Beauty and the Beast.  Hubs actually  watched it with me last night.  When I was  with  Amanda, our daughter in March,  who  grew up watching the cartoon version  with me...  so many times... it was  our very favorite  one  of all...   She and I  went to  see  "Beauty"  at the cinema and it was  thrilling and  so nostalgic to  watch it with her... I had to add  it to our film library...  and am sure I'll watch it again and again. I mean  what else is any good on tv...


On a more personal care note... for Mother's Day, Amanda  had attended  a session  in the Boston area  where  she was  able to create  her own essential oil (aroma therapy) I suppose.. She created a  wonderful  compound   including lavender, peppermint,  and  something marvelous that I can roll-on    that  aids  in breathing and  I just love it...my first  experience with essential oils and  I think Im a believer!!

With my Allergies Away  Roll-on..

Last fall  while visiting my  dear cousin in NC her guest bath was fitted out with everything we could possibly need... and I  fell in love with her shampoo...  and  what made it so perfect  is that it is readily available  at Amazon  and Walmart  at  very competitive prices...  it  makes your hair feel so  full and  luxurious  that lasts  for  a few days... my skin is so dry I  don't shower  but  about four times a week.  But I don't have to wash my hair each time which is great!!!

And  another personal item I  enjoy so much  is  an age old product  from Evelyn Crabtree...

the  lotion and body wash....

From the Mitford series, Father Tim's  lovely wife, Cynthia,  always  mesmerized him  with her  wafting scent of wisteria.. I love  wisteria, too.. 

When I wear it  I dream I am living here

Craftwise, I am deep in the throes of planning and assembling the parts for two fairy gardens for my dear granddaughters to play with when they come this summer.



This is just part of the items I have, as I will be creating one garden for each of the girls, Birdie, and Lady Bug!!! Then we also bought each of them fairy costumes to play dress up and create fairy dances while they are here... If only I knew when they were coming... the date changes everytime I inquire. Oh, well, they'll be here when they get here!!

Foodwise, I am so loving this product we recently discovered... I am not much of a fish eater, but I do love these filets.

  They  heat up for a  quick supper...  we  eat them  like  filets instead of  as  sandwiches..  the meat is  very nice  quality and  mildly  fishy... which for me is a  home run!  These with a  salad or slaw and  baked potatoes  and  you have a yummy,  healthy supper!

Well, I hope Stephanie  doesn't mind that I borrowed her idea,  but  to  really  recount those things that we love  is a  great  way to lift the spirit and  count our blessings!!

Wednesday Hodge Podge

Click the icon to return to Joyce's page!

1. The Hodgepodge lands on June 14th this week, Flag Day in the US of A. Do you fly your country's flag at home? Sometimes, often, or every single day? Have you ever visited the city of Brotherly Love (Philadelphia)? Did you make a point of seeing The Betsy Ross House? Have you ever made a trip to Baltimore? If so, was Fort McHenry on your itinerary? (where Francis Scott Key was inspired to write The Star Spangled Banner)

I would say  I'm a pretty patriotic gal.. I  cry at parades and naval  air force  flyovers.  We do fly the flag  pretty often.. although I do enjoy other  garden flags, as well.  We  do fly Old glory  at least  straight  through from Memorial Day to  the  Fourth of July.

We have been to Philadelphia....  it holds great memories for us...  we  picked up our infant daughter there  when she flew   from Seoul, S. Korea to  join our family!  We,  then,  drove her   there  when she was  six   to  retrace our steps  about her adoption and  to take her to the zoo  to  find her favorite  swans  from  E. B. White's book,  The Trumpet of the Swan.  Praise  the Lord  they were there!!!

The only time  I've been to Baltimore  has been as  Amtrak  passes through on our trips to Boston!

2. Red flag or white flag? Which have you encountered most recently? Explain.

I would have to  say red flags most often, as I am a super intuitive  person and  when I get a red flag or what I call a check in my spirit,   I  stop and  change direction.

3. Are you a stay in the car listen to the end of a song kind of person? What kind of person is that?Oh, yes,  especially for a beloved song  from  our ( hubby and me) past...  We listen to oldie but goldie  stations and  there are certain songs we sing  along to each other and we wouldn't dare  stop midstream just because we  pulled into the  driveway!

4. What are some of the traits or qualities you think a good dad possesses? In other words, what makes a good dad? What's an expression you associate with your father?

To me a  good dad  is  strong of character, sets  a great example and standard of  citizenship and leadership in the home,  yet is  gentle of heart  and spirit,  is hopefully  a  man of God  who  lives  by the tenets of  God's Word,  and loves his family unconditionally....who  wields a  compassionate but   unyielding authority...  His yes is yes,  his no is no, and his is the final word.Who sets  fair   and loving  parameters,  but  is willing to  talk, listen and  if he deems  a situation   is  worthy of  allowing  some lea way  he  will  respect his  children's  defense  for  consideration  on a  one by one basis...He  helps his  children  set goals and  helps   them attain those goals  with  encouragement and  expectation...  and  will lend a hand  as necessary,  but understands the  very necessary need for  his children  to  learn  and  accept  consequences    for their actions  whether at school or  where ever.  He will supplement  a child's learning.. in our case it was  algebra for  our sweet Amanda  who  unfortunately really didn't have a good teacher and  a good dad will  go the extra mile to help ,  but not too much,  so his child  can  succeed  on their own merit.

My dad's   best attribute was  his tender heartedness...  he was a mild mannered man  and loved me unconditionally.

5. What's one rule you always disagreed with while growing up? Is that rule somehow still part of your adult life? Is that a good or bad thing?

I really was a  very good  child...  I was an only child and  very timid...  I think I actually feared my mom...  being a dairy farmer's daughter and oldest of six girls  she often felt the  leather strap  from her dad   who was  quite a disciplinarian..  I suppose she had  very high  expectations...  she did work hard  and  perhaps I was a bit  lazy...  I never  really did know  why or what I  really did   but    she used a switch on me  a lot  as  a little girl...  I  know that in her mind  I  needed  it  because that was her  mindset,   but  I did so  despise going to school with  switch marks on my legs..  I never used a  switch on our daughter...  although  we did  spank her bottom,   on occasion..I  know that  my  biggest concern  as a parent was  to  raise a child  to respect authority  and we  did try to  teach her to be  contrite,  understand   why she was being  disciplined and  to be  sorry  for her actions.  I  was always so sorry  and  showed  a very contrite nature  with my parents... so teaching that  was  hard for me... it came so naturally  for me.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

All I know is  that  we did  a  good job  raising  our daughter,,,  plus God is an awesome Father and  filled in for our  lapses,  but our daughter   grew into the most  amazing  student,  adult,  and now mother of two  precious daughters of her own...  We could not be prouder of her!!!   Love you,Amanda!

Isn't she a beauty!?!

Simple Woman Day Book

For Today~ June 12, 2017

The Simple Woman Day Book

Looking out my window... 

a  steamy, humid day is brewing....    not  so happy about   that...

I am thinking...

what to do about  my   badly blistered hand..  I burned it getting my tea cup out of the microwave Saturday....  dumb, dumb, dumb...  Hubs wants to pop the blisters on my  index finger...  yikes!!!

I am thankful..
that at least he is  wanting to do  what he deems best for me...   while I drum  up the courage,,  WAH!!

I am watching.....
I enjoyed my afternoon yesterday with Jesse Stone..   I wonder how many times I can  watch  it or the Blue Bloods  before I say, " aw,  I've  seen this one!"  It just doesn't seem to matter!

I am  reading...
Obviously Im not a fast reader..  still working on  Somewhere  safe with Somebody Good by Jan Karon

I take it with me    but never have a chance to open it..  but it  is great!!!

I am listening to...
Oldies Goldies, radio

I am hoping... 
to get to visit my  Aunt Janice today...  we have a funeral to go to  in  the same county  where  she resides...  I haven't seen her in a couple of years since  the death of my mom  .  Aunt Janice  was  the next  sister of 6  to mom's age...  who  was the oldest. It is so hard to see  beloved family members  knowing it will probably the last time  you'll see them  on this side of heaven.Aunt Janice was  a home  economics teacher and   was  so crafty.  She taught me and  my daughter how to knit.  I'll always remember that visit  with her with  such fondness and love!

I am learning...
to come to grips  with the finality in many things in this life...  loved ones  who are moving on  to eternity,   and just simple things  that  were at one time cherished that  have  fallen so out of favor  they  do longer exist except in my memory.

In the kitchen...
nothing spectacular..  too hot!

In my garden~

 This year we are  concentrating on potted   plants  all  around the porch...  My lavender  is  really doing well,, and  hopefully keeping  mosquitoes  away!!

I am loving my variegated  geraniums...

This  angel wing  begonia   is  very prolific this year!!!!  So showy!! 

We just planted  more  lavender  across the way    and they  becoming well established!  

I am hoping that  by midsummer when the kids  arrive  the porch will be a lush  haven  for dining and play!!

Around the yard,  hubs  used a bit of plant tone   to boost the blooming...

Things are looking great!!

Board Room

When the  weather gets too hot for me   to stand...  I love  to break out  my favorite old films  that  move me..Click the link for  my  board...need I even name these  blockbusters of their time!!!

  

just to name a few!!

Shared Quote
In research I found this lovely blog post
about whiling away an hour in a  Library...at home....  and  it  really  registered with me..... what a  great idea to just  peruse  the books on  our own shelves and  spend a bit of time in a restfully creative reverie!

A moment in my day:

While  enjoying  our luncheon on our front porch last week,  we  had  an exciting visit..

A few pictures  tell the story!

Closing Notes

Take  some time to just be ... and read!!!

The Simple Woman Day Book

For Today~ June 5, 2017

The Simple Woman Day Book

Looking out my window... 

rain...rain...rain!

I am thinking...

how blessed I am  by  my dear husband   who just handed me my fruited yogurt and  morning coffee!!!

I am thankful..
That even though my recovery last week form sinus surgery resulted in  a sinus infection,,   that  laid me low  mid week,  God provided me the strength and endurance to be able to go on  a    bus trip   with our  church to  Noah's Ark and  the Creation Museum...  It was  completely   awesome...  

I am wearing...white tee and  blue gingham Capri's

I am watching.....

HGTV and  Food Network...  plus  Netflix...   I don't enjoy much on network tv.

I am  reading...
Jan Karon's  Somewhere safe with Somebody Good!
Judges 16-18

I am listening to...
the  pitter patter of the rain!!!

I am hoping... 
hubs and I can get back into   the    floor work upstairs this week...  We still have two bedrooms to  move furniture,  and  tear out the  glued down carpet...   (installed  before we moved here) but  praise  the Lord  once we get the mastick off the floor  which  Hubs does with a  scraper and a heat gun,  the floors  are in good shape..  a  good cleaning and  waxing is all they  need..  then we  can put down our  gorgeous new  rugs  and  the  master will be  complete!!!

I am learning...
how to live with disappointment.   But it must be learned with  a huge  dose of grace and  forbearance.

In the kitchen...
the cupboards are bare and I have no  plans!   Today  I  go  for my post op  then  marketing..   hope something  materializes thereafter!

In my garden~

I have some  lavender  plants I purchased  last month and have been keeping  well watered...  I need to plant them  in planters for the front porch....lavender keeps mosquitoes away!!

Board Room
I  am anxious  to  see our master in its completion..  This board  was my inspiration!

We   took the color and the  shutters  from  this photo!

Shared Quote

A moment in my day:

Deep in the bowels of  Noah's Ark....  it is truly amazing!!!

This is a representation of Noah's  compartment on  the upper level of the Ark.

A  store room.

Closing Notes

Go and be blessed!

Wednesday Hodge Podge

Click the icon  to return to Joyce's.

1. What makes you feel accomplished? Explain.It dawns on me  that this far into retirement  I can't remember    the feeling...  it seems everything is so  streamlined now  it is  just do enough...unless  I have pointedly  set  out to  prepare an amazing meal  for  a dinner party  and I actually  got it all done  and it was a hit  with everyone. But  those times are  far and few between these days..years ago  it was  the  positive feedback from one of my patrons  or  a  sweet note from a student  slipped  just under my desk blotter... then I knew that something I had done that day  was  right and  worth  anything that went into  it!!!

2. If you had your own talk show, who would your first three guests be? Tell us why.

Well, I know my talk show would counterpoint the View...so I would want  people of great  moral, patriotic, and  heroic  renown..  perhaps from the  entertainment field.

1)I love  Blue Bloods so I may have the whole cast    to  just talk about their views on the show and  what the main principles were they held dear..  how important it is to be reminded of the  proper standards of living and not to lose sight of them.

2)My show would also highlight great   men and women of faith  and how their faith  has  led them through the  trials of  life...

 perhaps  families like those showcased on the Memorial Day Concert in DC  over the weekend  ..  wounded warriors  and their families.

3)Heroic  young people who have felt  that their  conservative views have been compromised  in the classroom..  and how they stood firm  with the backing of the ACLJ    and  the law  on their sides  in defense of their  principles  even  at the risk of  offending their    teachers/professors... who  should know better than to limit the thinking and  voice of  all of their students.

3. Do you have a great burger recipe? What's in it? What do you like on a hamburger and where is your favorite spot to order one out?

We always  break our  lean ground beef down...  sort of like  meatloaf...  so  once they are cooked   it isn't knotty.  We  then add a bit of  catsup, onion flakes,  salt, pepper,  garlic powder,  and  Worcestershire..   then  we  use the  old  patty  presses  we  bought years ago from  Tupperware so they are standard size and  thickness.  Then    get them a medium grill.. done in the middle..We  will dress our burgers with   lettuce ,  sliced  tomato,  a thin slice of vidalia onion, and  cheese.

For a fast food burger I do like  Junior Whopper... with cheese..I do not care for   those    huge  multi-ingredient  monstrosities so many   of the  pop restaurants  have these days.

4. What's the biggest anxiety producing thing you do on a regular basis?

It used to be  getting up  anywhere to speak to  a group of my peers.  Praise God He has healed me from that one.   Like -wise  I  used to  get pretty anxious going to dentists,  but  the science is so great now,   that doesnt phase me..  I guess it is when I  get weighed in at my regular doctor's office or waiting for my AC1 report to  be  given to me...  I  am so relieved  when it is a good  report. 

5. This is the last Hodgepodge of May. Tell us about your summer plans. 

They start soon...  as we  join a church group trip to  Noah's Ark in KY.  Looking forward to that.  Nothing much  as far as travelling goes.   Our kids come for a visit this summer...  so getting things  ready around the house  is paramount.. We are  taking up  glued down  carpet  upstairs and have purchased lovely  rugs for the  bedroom...  anxious to get those floors  cleaned,  polished, and ready for the  final  application of   beautiful  rugs. Then  finishing touches on  the guest, and  kiddie  rooms  ....  working on my fairy gardens for  my precious   grand tots..  So  coming to  Ga Ga's will be a  great memory for  my family! They haven't been here in  over a year.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Just thinking of  our grand tots  reminds me  this spring  when  we were there  and  visited the botanical gardens with them....

The Simple Woman Day Book

For Today~ May 29, 2017
Happy Memorial Day

The Simple Woman Day Book

Looking out my window... 

Sunshinny day!

I am thinking...

how very delighted I am that  my  sinus balloon dilation is behind me..  along with the three days of recovery  and  things  are truly looking up.. I am actually  breathing  better and  more  than ever in my 66 years!!!

I am thankful..
for  God's providence, watch care, and gifts of technology,  and  healing mercies!

I am wearing...
my  seer sucker Capri's and  blue tee!
More loosely I might say..  lost 6 pounds lately!

I am watching.....

last night we watched the Washington Dc  Memorial Day presentation..awesome!!

I am  reading...
Still reading Jan Karon's  Somewhere safe with Somebody Good!
Such a great book,   but  truly her  books are  preferably for her  old time readers..  each one a quiz of remembering  previous  citizens of Mitford...  but for fans it is like coming home  from a  long  journey apart for the  hometown we love!

I am listening to...
Oldie but Goldie radio..
Could it Be I'm Falling
 in love with you!!!!!

and Unchained Melody!   Love it!!

I am hoping... 
this afternoon I will really be feeling   much more myself... yesterday I had  a lot of vertigo...  I  rebuke that for today!!
we  are invited  out to a holiday cookout with  friends and  I am very hopeful!!!

I am learning...
the goodness of our Lord is  unchangeable,  unwavering,  and completely  unconditional  for His  children!!

In the kitchen...
today I am taking  baked beans..using  Bush's Country Style  baked beans..
Because  the country style beans already much of these ingredients  I only add anything to taste.. and  bake  for  about 85 minutes   or until set..  then  cook  before eating... 
Unlike Paula's beans, I don't want mine soupy...   but  set..  and but hard!

I am also taking farm fresh corn on the cob...  just  prepare the  cob  and  cook  covered in microwave for 3 minutes..  just almost al dente...  nice and  freshly  crisp!

In my garden~

Thinking about how I  can  thrill my now granddaughters  with their  fairy garden at Ga Ga's house.  This one was a couple of years ago at  our cookout hostesses  home...  I'm still  working on  mine    for  our  precious wee ones to  grow their keen imaginations!  Just a bit of mine so far... 

Board Room

Here my pinterest  board  on fairy gardens.
I love this site for  creating  gardens even indoors..  


which for me  works beautifully..  especially with  tiny tots...    Doodle Bug is  under 2!

Bless her pea-pickin' heart!

Shared Quote

Closing Notes
That's it for today!!!   Time passes too quickly!  hehehe  When you're having fun!!