We Have a Date!!!

It is in the calendar...in ink! June 20 is the date for our long awaited, BIG family celebration of all of the birthdays, anniversaries, home reno house warming and college, high school and elementary school graduations we have missed while in "stay at home" mode. We have finally found a date that we can all be together once again. Some of us haven't seen each other since Christmas!

Of course, these mile stones haven't gone un-noticed. Cards have been sent, face time and Zoom meetings were arranged but...with a noisy, talkative family like ours, none of that comes close to a real life visit.

I have showed you the get together we had for Morgan's graduation from Flagler that we had for those who could make it to Gainesville. She did recently get some out on campus pictures also.

We were able to see Caitlin's virtual graduation from FSU but still don't have any cap and gown pictures to share.

Olivia graduated from the IB program at St. Petersburg H.S. They may still have some kind of a recognition later in the summer but for now, we got photos and then there was a drive-by through St. Pete past all of their houses with an ESPN sports announcer broadcasting all of their names and achievements while they all stood on their porches and waved. Actually, Caitlin's graduation was recognized again at this time also.

And last, but certainly not least, is Presley's 5th grade graduation. I know this may not be a big thing in comparison with other graduations, but, first of all, this is the last of my grand children to leave elementary school. It IS a big thing. No more little ones...and as fabulous as the older kids are, we have had "little" ones for so many years that this will feel strange for awhile.

And then, there's the fact that she missed her traditional walk through the halls while "Pomp and Circumstance" plays and the rest of the school claps and wishes you well as you leave the school for the last time. It is a tear jerker and a tradition that is loved.

But, the teachers did the next best thing. They had the music blaring and the streets roped off as, one by one, the kids arrived in cars to receive their diplomas and awards.

And then, the moms got permission from the city to have a little get-together at a neighborhood park so the kids could say their good-byes. They will be scattering to all of the different middle schools throughout the county so some of them won't be seeing each other every day any more.

So, while none of this has been in ways we are used to, it has been done none-the-less. The kids may have missed some things but they haven't missed everything. They were celebrated and they know they are loved and supported...and, June 20 will be a big day!!!! And, you know, there WILL be pictures!! Lol

Stay safe and stay tuned.

Moving Along

Things are looking...and smelling... pretty good around here. We have had a bit of rain lately - yay - and it has definitely "greened" things up. There are so many flowers outside waiting to be cut but I grabbed these a few minutes ago and my house already smells wonderful! If I plan to be outside - and I do in just a bit - I will leave the blooms where they are because I like to see them while I am out there. But, when I am ready to call it a day, you can be sure I will be snipping most of them and bringing them inside to enjoy.

These are just some of the blooms from the smaller plants in my yard that got beaten down with a heavy shower the other day.

I LOVE huge bouquets of hydrangeas in my home whenever I can get them but I am being a bit judicious with what I am cutting this year as I did a MAJOR trim back on the hedge earlier because it was just getting too leggy. The bushes have come back nice and full but I want them to be a bit taller since they are a hedge so I am kind of leaving them alone. My soil must have all sorts of different levels of acidity as the blooms are going from light pink to dark blue as the hedge moves away from the pool deck. My absolute favorite are the beautiful shades of purple!

And, here are the beautiful alstroemerias that daughter #2 brought the other day. They are one of my favorites because they last so long. I have a bunch in my garden but they have finished their first bloom and will be back - I just never know when. Lol

OK. I promised that we would move along so let's hit the dining room today. I can't believe how much I still love this console table that I rescued from my daughter's back patio. It took a lot of "filling in" of holes and chips but now it looks as good as new - or should I say as good as "old" as that was the intent!

I truly have no idea why but I love these silly fire crackers made from some left over 4X4 pieces.

I had to "steal" this urn from the shelves in the family room. I actually bought it for the shelves because it is large and white and can actually be seen in those deep, dark spaces. But, I had forgotten that this is the first time I've decorated for the 4th since I moved out the old fireplace and replaced it with this piece. I love this piece so much better but I lost some much needed "merchandising" space with the change. Ever since I have had this piece here, I have used a large urn of some type on the left. I have filled it with something of the holiday/season. My eye just got used to that so now I can't tolerate anything there that doesn't fill that bill. And, since I can't get out to find a new treasure, this was all I could find that pleased my eye.

  This isn't the greatest picture but I threw it in to remind you of where the shutter landed and how nicely it balances with the other side of the room.

So that brings you through the dining room. There is a bit more to share so I will be back. Stay safe and stay tuned.

Next!!

I'm ready to take you into the kitchen for a peek at my 4th decor in there. As I am editing and posting these pictures, I am getting more and more sad that I can't add any new crafts or treasures. Believe me, after we get the all-clear, it will not be toilet paper and cleaning supplies that I will be heading for. It will be garden and crafting supplies. I always have a pretty good stock pile of "all the things" but the last three months have sure put a dent in that! Any way...

This little shelf always looks so "blah" in pictures but it really does add a cute pop to the kitchen and, at night when that candle pops on, it adds a pretty glow to the space.

I follow a number of craft sites and occasionally I will post my holiday decor like I do here. Every single time my pig shows up in a post, I have numerous people tell me that they have the very same one - he's a popular fellow! I actually originally saw him in a home on the Christmas house tour in the historic district of St. Pete. Something about him spoke to me and I never forgot him. Imagine my joy when I was eating at "Lunch on Limoges" in Dade City one day and looked up and saw him being used in their restaurant to present the day's special. When I asked our server, I was told that I should roam through their shop after I was done eating and I would find him there - for sale! I can't tell you why, but I love him so much. Maybe it's his expression? And, he has been known to withstand the indignity of being dressed in boas, necklaces, glasses, etc. over the years by my grand children
without complaining! Lol Maybe that's why he has that expression?

So, that's the kitchen for this year.

This has been a fun week. I finally got to go get my hair done. My hairdresser has her own shop. It is small and she is the only one there so she is being very careful to book appointments 30 minutes apart so she has time to clean everything between clients. There is no overlap of people and she wears a mask and has actually been quarantining herself for 3 months so, I felt as confident as I could going 3 weeks after our governor opened salons. Then, daughter #3 came down for a lovely visit yesterday and brought me all of my favorite goodies from the Fresh Market and today I am waiting for my brother and sister-in-law to arrive for a visit. And, not the least by any means, but I have been enjoying the company of daughter #3's two dogs while their family is enjoying a break over in St. Augustine. I love it when a week that starts out with an empty calendar can takes so many unexpected and fun turns!

And then, I was able to pull off a little craft - I'll take anything I can get these days. Daughter #2 and her hubby will be married for 26 years this Friday and with no Hallmark in sight, I needed to get a card made and in the mail. I found this idea on Pinterest and it was so easy to copy. I actually love the way it turned out and it was so simple.

Looks like we're in for some rain this week but I will not complain because it has been so hot and dry already that moisture is sorely needed. I'll be back soon. Stay safe and stay tuned.

Finally!!

If you are at all a follower of this blog, you have probably heard that this is just NOT my favorite time of year. I live in Florida but I am by no means a fan of heat! Things will be so hot here soon that even getting in the pool doesn't seem to help. But, there isn't anything I can do about it so I do my yard work as early as possible and then I try to stay busy indoors until early evening.

But, with the exception of the 4th of July, there isn't a lot more that excites me over the summer - indoors or out! I grew up in south Florida and am just not a fan of coastal design so, seashell crafts are out for me. Coral and fish are out for me. I'm also not much of a fan of the colors associated with summer. And so, this is definitely the time of year that I find it hardest to come up with substance for a blog post...especially since we're all pretty much still staying home.

And so, I just had to jump into my patriotic decor. I needed something to keep me busy The few new things that I made I have already shared with you and, since I am pretty much out of most craft supplies, there is nothing new on the horizon. Although, I will admit, I truly haven't found any new ideas of things I want to make anyhow. Sorry...just not my favorite time of year.

In any case, I will try to share the 4th decorating slowly so we can stretch it out until at least June. Lol After that, it's anybody's guess what I might come up with!

I still love this wreath. I am really not very good at wreath making but I like this one.

When I posted these two older projects on a craft site that I follow, I was inundated with comments and requests for instructions. The pledge on the flag is pretty much a no-brainer but that flag holder was a doozy to make. The idea was from Martha Stewart, so no wonder. Does she ever do anything easily?
 

So that is this year's living room. I just realized that none of my new crafts ended up in here so you will have to wait a bit longer to see where they did land. I know, you're probably on the edge of your seat. I know by my lack of comments that most things are pretty much as they were last year. I probably would have added a new treasure or two if I could get out and about, but that isn't happening so I'll go with what I have. I am holding out hope that we will be able to have our big family gathering for the 4th...fingers crossed. Stay safe and stay tuned.